Please make our children aware:
Grandparents, mum and dad take your children to view the stampede at Orchard Road, not of the shopping crowds but of the elephants that are everywhere in Singapore. I did the safari with my grandson J. and we enjoyed every moment.The cutest one is the durian elephant at Orchard Road (image 1). These elephants remind me of a popular 1962 instrumental hit from the film Hatari called, Baby Elephant Walk by Henry Mancini and his Orchestra (song is on right bar).
It is a piece of music written in 1961 for the 1962 release of the movie. "The composer combines brass instruments with repeated blasts from the tuba and woodwind elements to convey the sense of a toddler that is large and plodding, but filled with the exuberance of youth. The catchy, jazzy simplicity of the tune has made it one of Mancini's most popular works (Wiki)."The Elephant Parade statues exude similar feelings with colourful, huge babies but created to raise awareness and money to save the Asian elephant from definite extinction. Each statue of the jumbo is decorated by a different artist, then displayed in public places across Singapore for view. The first Parade took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and the event has spread across Europe, from London to Copenhagen to Milan.
At the end of the exhibition, these artistic statues are auctioned with profits going to the Asian Elephant Foundation. The charity is for an Asian animal and Singapore is the first Asian city to hold this Parade. More than 160 elephants are currently on display across the island.
They are displayed along Orchard Road, in other shopping malls, at the Botanic Gardens and the Esplanade Waterfront up to January 31, 2012. Better pursue them before they're hunted down by poachers!Do you know of other songs from yesteryear with the elephant theme?
(This posting is not an advertisement to promote Singapore tourism but one to SAVE our elephants!)
Images: Andy Lim Collection.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Elephants/58282388160
6 comments:
From email James Kwok:
Hi Andy,
With the kindergarten and school vacations just starting, I've been
watching (and re-watching) cartoons on DVDs with my pre-school grandchildren.
Two of their favourites are 'Dumbo' and 'Jungle Book'; there are elephant songs in both, e.g. 'Pink Elephants on Parade' (Dumbo) and 'Colonel
Hathi' (Jungle Book).
But my first encounter with 'elephant' in a song was back in 1955, when for a few weeks (maybe months) the most requested song on Rediffusion seemed to be 'Sailor Boys Have Talk to Me in English' sung by Rosemary
Clooney (George Clooney's aunt).
See if you can catch the elephant in the song, and judge the quality ofthe geography lessons that the sailor boys had (purportedly) been
teaching the singer. (James included two You Tube songs).
Really cute. Thanks n will pass it on.
Best - Juliana.
Thank you James. I always appreciate the very interesting information you provide, especially the personal touch that comes with it.
I shall listen to these songs and try to watch the DVD with the little folks at home.
I also love your selected Rosemary Clooney's 'Where Will...' I remember listening to it day after day on the radio as it's also my favourite.
I am glad to share this blog with a reader like you who's so familiar with 50s top tunes.
Don't forget to visit the elephants and support the cause.
Thank you Juliana. And for spreading the news too. Honestly, even at my age I find the elephants uniquely attractive.
I think the funds will come pouring in.
Hi Andy..
Thanks for the message.
Thanks again Mary. You are always so supportive.
Post a Comment