Olivia Ong - Little Nyonya Makes It Big In Japan

Above You Tube video from: nytatai

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TODAY'S NEWS/60's MUSIC:

Oo! Initials for a pretty package from our shore. The younger lot will know her. It's Olivia Ong, a Singapore Chinese, who's made it big singing the theme song, Like Swallows from one of the most successful TV drama from Media Corps called, The Little Nyonya. Together with two other Singaporean girls she is a member of a Japanese-Pop group called, Mirai. And they are a hit in the land of the rising sun.

Now what's her connection with 60s music? Looking at her repertoire, Ong sings evergreens like:

Fly Me To The Moon 
Quiet Nights And Quiet Stars 
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You Sometimes When We Touch 
One Note Samba
Close To You
First Of May
L-O-V-E
My Favourite Things.

After Japan, she was in Taiwan and goes to Hong Kong and China to promote her English album Olivia in April and May. It has been tough going for her without her family around but ultimately persistence and hard work prevailed. She realised that it takes more than one song to make an artiste famous and that there are many more hurdles to face.
The information from Wikipedia describes her singing as "sultry, soulful, prestine and innocent" and that she's one of a "new wave of Singaporean talent exported internationally". 

This young lady, who sings Bossa Nova in her debut album is only 24 years young. And she's been lucky to have a guitar master to tutor her on the instrument; he's one of Singapore 60s most reputable bass-guitarist, Henry Chua of The Quests.

Latest: July: 2012

Olivia Ong will sing the 2012 National Day Parade theme song, Love at First Light with 7 year old Chen Hui Yi.  Countdown with Olivia to Singapore's 47th birthday!

Image: Google

Information/ Video: Wikepedia/YouTube/Yahoo
Original Article: Andy Lim.

'Dil Deke Dekho' - Pop Hindustani Song - 1959

SONGS I LOVE:

Dil Deke Dekho is a Hindi movie (1959) shown at the Garrick Theatre in Geylang Serai, Singapore about 50 years ago. I vaguely remember the movie but is familiar with the song and listened to it for days afterwards at a Malay neighbour's home. (It is common knowledge that Indian pop songs influenced the Malay pop yeh-yeh wave of music in the 60s.) And YouTube is a blessing because when I found the song and played it again and again, my wife asked me if I had a new Indian girlfriend!

The music is composed by Usha Khanna in this her first film and the cast includes Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. These were big names in the 60s and the movie was Nasir Hussain's second film as director and gave star Shammi Kapoor a new image as a comedic, dancing hero. Husain and Kapoor reteamed here. Asha Parekh, a former child actress, made her film debut as a heroine.

It was also the debut film of comedian Rajendranath, brother of Premnath (another 60s Hindi movie screen hero). When the film became a hit at the box office so did the songs. Husain, Kapoor and Parekh would reteam again as his leading lady in five other films.

4 edited comments from You Tube:

Dil Deke Dekho - Dil Deke Dekho Ji - Mohd Rafi. Video by Greg Pelka. Thanks.

1. This film was the first for Usha Khanna. She copied some songs from English and did a tremendous job by giving us these memorable melodies. This song is copied from a song with the lines, "Sugar in the morning, sugar in the evening, sugar at suppertime... (Sugartime - Johnny Cash and also McGuire Sisters Hit in 1958).

2. Dil Deke Dekho means, "Try and give away your heart." He sings, "Try giving your heart, oh the heart snatchers, learn how to give as well... /Ask the mouth how enjoyable it is to burn slowly in love's fire./May you learn to enjoy love's heat as well.../Understand the lover's language,/If there's no love, there's no life/ May you learn how to sing this song as well..."

3. I don't like the acting but the music keeps rock & rolling. The main stuff!

4. Many of these old Hindi film songs are naive and a bit silly. But they are full of light humour and innocent charm that you simply don't find anywhere else now.

Anyone has seen this movie? And the song? It's still spinning in my head. Lovely!

(I have been trying to get a Tamil speaking friend to review some of the older Tamil movie classics and songs that were shown in Singapore but to no avail. Anyone know about Tamil movies or music?)

Info Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dil_Deke_Dekho

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tLsLXVqBQA

Danny Koh: Have Piano Will Travel - Part II

Image: Danny Koh at the piano (2nd left) leading his 15 strong Key-Signatures Orchestra at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Singapore.

When I asked Danny about his recordings, he said he made six albums so far. In terms of television recordings and contributions to our local music scene, he has made numerous appearances and accompanied vocalists on our home screen. He represented Singapore in the first ASEAN Song Festival and won the award.

Always with a giving heart, Danny assisted the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board in Korea and Australia, appeared for charity in aid of Tsunami victims, The Red Cross and the Child Watch Phuket Orphans Society.

In his early years Danny worked as music director for Rediffusion Pte Ltd and was the chief judge for the talentime series on Television Singapore (presently Media Corp, Singapore). He has also worked for 5 cruise ships as Music Director and travelled extensively for 6 years on these ships.

He recollected that it was one of the best times of his life, seeing the world and simultaneously doing what he loved best. He has performed in Sweden, Norway, Holland, Italy, Greece, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and the Philippines.

He has appeared and tinkled his way at the various hotels in Singapore, namely the Raffles, Hilton, Shangri-La, Ritz Carlton, Pan Pacific, Four Seasons, Grand Hyatt, St. Regis, Amara Sanctuary and the Carpella on Sentosa Island.

He is presently doing a CD comprising popular songs he has sung during his 35 years in show business. Danny, with a broad smile on his face, hopes to write a book on the Memoirs Of A Musician before he calls it a day.

Image: Arpeggio Productions Collection.

Singapore Disc Jockey And Compere In The 60s

Old Victorians who have made their names as radio/tv comperes and DJs include the legendary Tan Swee Leong and the late S R S Naidu, popularly known as the Birdman of Singapore. Both were listed in the Who’s Who in Singapore and Malaysia, a publication on prominent personalities.

Singaporeans of the older generation would remember with fondness the great voice and witty presentation of Tan Swee Leong, first on Redifusion and later with RTS and TCS. He is seen in the picture interviewing Indonesian pop songstress Anneke Gronloh at Rediffusion Singapore on 6th December, 1961.

Naidu was omnipresent as a compere at beauty pageants and high profile functions and also one of those instrumental in organising the Victoria Secondary School Carnival in 1968 which was adjudged as one of the best and most popular carnivals hosted by a school then. He was the compere for the talentime contest which was a great success, no doubt boosted by the presence of the Birdman himself.

Anyone out there with a picture of our birdman Mr SRS Naidu? Blogger has a picture of another famous compere, also called SRS Naidu, for exchange? Takers?

Image: National Archives of The Netherlands (National Heritage Board, Singapore)
Edited article from Old Victorian's Association blog, comment by: 1960sVIC on June 10, 2009.

http://blog.ova.org.sg/2009/05/satay-night-reflections/