Gesang Martohartono - Riwayat Mu Ini, Sedari Dulu Jadi, Perhatian Insani...

GESANG MARTOHARTONO (image) has passed on at 92. One of the more familiar Indonesian composers, the song Bengawan Solo (inspired by the River Solo in Java) was penned by this gentleman in the 1940s.

It has been sung by numerous artistes and these include, Rebecca Pan, SK Poon, Waljinah, Toshi Matsuda, Frances Yip, Anneke Gronloh, Sam Saimun, Sajekti and many others. English versions are by Hong Kong pop star Mona Fong and The Sundowners, a Singapore vocal group from the 60s, sing it in their own easy style. Instrumental ones are too many to mention. One of the better interpretations of the melody comes from The Stylers. And it's hot. (Check side-bar) >>>>>

The song's bigger than the composer. It has brought Gesang lots of royalties and for a song that was composed on a bamboo flute in keroncong style, it has been translated into a dozen languages. In 2009 Gesang said, "Unfortunately (the river) is not as beautiful as before..."

"Air mengalir sampai jauh/Akhirnya ke laut..." May you rest in peace pak!

Image: bocahiseng.blogspot.com/2010/05/gesang-mening...

Original article: Andy Lim.

Information: Internet.

Marie Tang Talks About Talentime, Larry Lai, Stylers, Charlie Lazaroo, The Man From UNCLE

Before the Final 1 from Media Corp in Singapore 2013 there was Marie Tang, talentime participant who talks about Uncle Larry, Uncle Charlie and 'The Man from Uncle'. She is the daughter of the late Wilma Tang, who used to sing at the Ocean Park Hotel open-air nightclub near St Patrick's School at the East Coast.

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Hi Andy,

Wow! This is really a surprise! The one and only EP I cut was with The Stylers [actually Commancheros], and I have some very fond memories of the many practice sessions we had during those days for my record, which also contains the song from The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Uncle Solo! Oh my goodness! I was only 15 years old then...

You have a very interesting blog and it will surely bring back many wonderful memories and smiles for many of us who contributed to the music scene during the 60s. Your **posting of my mum... I've just sent it to her through MSN and she too was mesmerised and surprised.

1969 Talentime... Host, Larry Lai - addressed him as Uncle Larry then - best host in Singapore, compared to some of the existing ones. Uncle Charlie (Charles Lazaroo) was such a wonderful and helpful musician.

During those days they had prizes for the top 8 contestants. I was 7th and I think I won myself a watch with changeable straps... ha, ha, ha... the simple life. I also competed in a few more talentime contests organised by Cathay Cinema in conjunction with the movie The Oscar and took first prize with my song, Fireball XL5.

Hey, I got myself an Oscar trophy, which is still in my home. And in the same year I took another first prize for a talentime organised by Boys Town but can't remember the song I sang. My singing talent was definitely my mum's genes but there were other priorities for me and I did not pursue a singing career.

Thank you once again Andy, for bringing back such good old memories.

Cheers,
Marie Tang.

21st May, 2010.

Thank you so much Marie for sharing. Really appreciate!

Marie Tang sings UNCLE SOLO and 

FIREBALL XL5 and BURONG KAKAK TUA

**Saturday, December 27, 2008:

Ocean Park Hotel Singapore With Wilma Tang

Image:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2543814906_17ac440dc9.jpg

Images and Video from GOOGLE and YOUTUBE. Thank you 'Blast From The Past'.

Media Corp Final 1, Singapore Idol Or Talentime

Eunice Sim: Singapore Idol 1969.

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Singapore had its share of talent competitions in the 1960s way before  American Idol, Media Corp's Final 1 and its local version Singapore Idol were launched in the 2000s. 1969 would be a perfect example where 10 contestants, each with either a song to sing or play, participated in the finals of Radio Television Singapore (RTS) contest.

Those days it was called, 'Talentime' (term was later inspired by the quick-witted with, "I got talent but no time...") and with the versatility of Singapore's top professional musicians like Ahmad Jaafar and Charlie Lazaroo leading the RTS Orchestra and backing the contestants, the eager beavers were in safe hands within the confines of the air-conditioned media building at Caldecott Hill.

The list of the evening's line-up from the CD list shows, M. Almen: Fly Me To The Moon, M. Ismail: One Day Soon, Marie Tang: When China Boy Meets China Girl. Patrick Rudge: On The Beach. Eunice Sim: Cry Me A River.

Vinyl Record Cover for 1969 Talentime

Dusky La Gooma sang: Getting To Know You, Ainah Ahmad: The Look Of Love, Aziz Talib: The Way It Used To Be, Loretta Mendoza: I Wish You Love, E.C. Tan: Night And Day. Christina Tan was the only finalist playing classical piano with: lst Movement Sonata in D. Wonder why?

Marie Tang later recorded Fireball XL5, Dusky La Gooma appeared with a face painted black and E.C. Tan, an old pal, is also called Easy Tan because of his relaxed and lazy singing style.

**One RTS talentime winner who made the grade was Eunice Sim (image) and like other winners, received a recording contract with RTS Enterprise Private Production Singapore. The above image shows her EP vinyl with covers, Alfie, Hello Dolly, Windows Of The World and Something On My Mind. On the Talentime CD recording of Julie London's, Cry Me A River she sounds as heart rendering as the original.

Lena Lim, a Chinese Talentime winner from RTS.

**A Note from Marie Tang:

Hi Andy,
1969 Talentime winner, Eunice Sim and 1968 winner, The TidBits. Many mistook me for one of the TidBits, but I'm not. I sang solo in 1968 To Sir With Love and 1969, When China Boy Meets China Girl. The recording contract went to The TidBits.
Thanks for bringing back the good old memories !
Regards
Marie.

20th May, 2010; Updated: April, 2013; Original article: Andy Lim.

Kartina Dahari: Mellifluous, Lyrical, Magical...

(1) A name that many 60s music followers still remember is Kartina Dahari. One such follower of this Malay artiste is Roem Ahmad who is a known blogger calling himself 'aermataemas' (golden teardrops).

Roem explains that his love for kroncong music developed when he grew up in Johore Bahru, Malaysia, in the 60s and early 70s. He was listening to music and watching musicals on Radio And TV Singapore where he appreciated the great singers in that era like Kartina Dahari, Ismail Haron, Ahmad Jais and other well-known ones.

Because of his love for Dahari's songs there are several YouTube videos on the 'lukisanperasaan' channel where enthusiasts will find uploaded kroncongs of Dahari. Roem does it as a hobby and finds it a pleasant occupation during his long winter nights while he was living in Switzerland.

He feels he needs to keep alive the great artistry of Kartina Dahari. Another video outlet is 'miocanzoni' where there are some other interesting music and songs including a few asli ones. (Comment from this blog: October 17, 2009 2:49 PM).

According to Roem Ahmad, Kartina Dahari is "a singer of the highest calibre" but her recording career was rather short-lived. Under the shortened name TINA she recorded songs from 1966 to 1976, among them 4 EPs, 2 LPs in English and 3 LPs in Malay of mostly kroncong songs.

The songs featured on Roem's You Tube videos are between 35 to 40 years old as they were recorded between 1968 to 1976 but, according to him they are still fresh and contemporary. Musical arrangements for these vinyls are by Ahmad Wan Yet, Kassim Masdor, Ahmad Jaafar, S. Atan and Reggie Verghese. Sound quality is excellent.

Kartina Dahari's mellifluous voice and superb vocal delivery is second to none. Young singers today can learn from the way she delivers her carefully selected songs and her wonderful crystal clear phrasing that has the right emotion for each song.

(2) Another enthusiast who calls himself 'Salvatore Dali' finds that Kartina Dahari's rendition of Sayang di Sayang is his favourite. Although P. Ramlee's Bunga Melor has been covered by many artistes, he knows of no better version than the one by Dahari which is effortless, restrained and lyrical.

The highly popular and now traditional Di Tanjong Katong (about this island's famous beach) loved by both young and old is also sung by Ms Dahari. Followers do not know the singer although they know the song that is emblematic of Singapore.

Well, all of Tina's friends and fans out there. Still remember her? What about her English songs? Doesn't she still capture your heart with her beauty and voice? Tell us.

Image: Roem Ahmad's blog.

Blog 1: http://lacrimadoro-airmataemas.blogspot.com/

Blog 2: http://malaysiafinance.blogspot.com/ 

Latest News:
Kartina Dahari passed away on 30th April, 2014.  The concert at the Esplanade in August, 2013 was her last stage appearance.  Condolence to the family and may she rest in peace.