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With the Kopi Kat Klan, Siva Choy (one half of 60's pop music duo The Cyclones ) wrote, directed and performed Why U So Like Dat? a popular comedy album comprising Singlish songs and kopi tiam skits.
It was Singapore's first English-language comedy album and was so popular that it had sold more than 50,000 copies to date. The October Cherries' percussionist Richard Khan was playing the drums and one of the musicians helping out with the recording.
By Siva Choy
Written by: Farid Long
Chorus:
Oui, why u so like dat ah?
Hey why u so like dat?
Why u so like dat ah?
Hey why u so like dat?
1) I let you kopi all my sum,
Because you always blur,
But when I try to kopi back,
You always call the Sir!
2) I always give you chocolate,
I give you my Tic Tac,
But now you got a Kit Kat,
You never gimme back!
3) You tell me dat you don't like girl,
I also donno why,
But when you see a pretty girl,
Your voice go up damn high!
(4th verse very cheem; better listen carefully).
*Singlish Lesson for off-shore Ang-Mohs (Caucasians):
Why you so like that = Why're you behaving in this way?
kopi = copy (coffee in Malay)
sum = as in Mathematics.
blur = unaware of what's going on around you.
I also donno why = I don't understand.
cheem = too difficult to understand.
It's all tongue in cheek dear. Don't take it too seriously.
Connect to Siva's previous post:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2012/07/why-you-so-like-that-uh.html
Tribute from Jerry Fernandez:
You Tube video: by bengyap.
Image: From Siva Choy Facebook.
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2012/07/why-you-so-like-that-uh.html
Tribute from Jerry Fernandez:
You Tube video: by bengyap.
Image: From Siva Choy Facebook.
For overseas readers:
ReplyDeleteWell, just in case you come down to festival city Singapore learn a little Singlish.
The above connection may help. But don't take it all too seriously. We do speak Standard English and some of us Queen's English but then who bothers. Even the British hardly do.
There are so many articles about Siva Choy. Best is to get connected above.
ReplyDeleteHope the above connections about Siva Choy help.
ReplyDeleteOne of my best friend ever. We both roamed the wonderful streets of London
ReplyDeleteI bought the cassette back in those days and learnt to rap
ReplyDeleteEckkheng Goh
ReplyDeleteSylvia Toh Paik Choo, Kitchie Boy’s classic!
Wan Wardah M W
I still have this cd!
Donald Abraham Pereira
Wan Wardah M W why u so like dat....keep so long one! 😂😂😂
Wan Wardah M W
Donald Abraham Pereira belongs to my elder brother, i borrowed since '97 hehehe
Donald Abraham Pereira
Wan Wardah M W wow, it's museum piece. Gave mine to a friend as a birthday gift. Siva has since passed away....rip.
John Kevin Soo
I bought the cassette back in those days and learnt to rap
Nama Saya Ben Ahmad
I bought the cassette back in 1991...
Steven Kee
Ivan Tan
The Kopi Kat Klan .
The 4D song and the barber song
Jayadas Kandiah
I dedicate the song to all cyclists on the expressway...
Andy Young
Author
Hi guys, thanks for the response. Cheers.
Jayadas Kandiah
ReplyDeleteI dedicate the song to all cyclists on the expressway...
Andy Young
Author
Hi guys, thanks for the response. Cheers.
Donald Abraham Pereira
Andy Young thank you😁❤️
Prem Kallat
I've sent Siva's wife, ilsa sharp an invite to join this group.
Andy Young
Author
That's nice Mr Prem Kallat, thanks.
Prem Kallat
Andy Young He'd have been 74 today.
Angela Leow
I still have the CD! 😀 😀
Shumit Gupta
Siva Choy was so so talented, a real icon sadly never got the recognition due. His 2 Kitchi Boy books were staples of my sec school days and I used to read them over and over again and literally ROFL before ROFL was invented. And the stuff he put out in the 60s with his brother and their band The Cyclones - top shelf stuff
Sandra Jayandran
Shumit Gupta sadly i only have the 2nd book and they are out of print. How i wish they would reprint them.
Shumit Gupta
Nic Tan
Still have the cassette.
Freda Hanum
Really enjoyed listening to this song, so cute haha😄
why you so like dat Andy!
Merly Citaro Faizal
I remember this song 😂 very catchy lyrics
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Happy birthday dear siva xx
Alan Oliveiro
I have both his books
Alan Oliveiro
He also signed one of them
Ong Hock Peng
...fortunate to watch him at his show at Victoria Memorial Theatre quite some years back...simply the best!
Donald Abraham Pereira
Ong Hock Peng absolutely. Multi talented, perfect score in each segment of his gifts. Sheer delight to hear him speak to. Wonder if anyone has a copy of his hit "Fanfare" weekly entertainment and gossip newspaper?
Hammond Wong
Siva Choy was 2 years (Pre-U) ahead of me when I was in Sec 4 in Bartley Secondary School.
Alan Watkins-Groves
The only lines I can remember now ...
You always copy my homework because you are so blur
But when I try to copy back you always tell the Sir
Why you so like dat?
Wilson Lim
My favourite skit: The Tunnel
Ah Foo
Pity... If I recall correctly...
He RIP in Australia some years back..
Some of my friends happened to Be his relatives in Sgp...
Ah Foo
Ah Foo
Veteran blues musician Siva Choy, who penned Singlish rap classic Why U So Like Dat?, dies aged 70
STRAITSTIMES.COM
Brian Vittachi
Whether writing or singing the blues he did both very well.
Andy, surprisingly Rap music had been around for more than 50 years as evidenced by Sivas composition , but eventually It went into oblivion , until it was revived and popularised by some Black Americans about 20 years back . In my opinion,Rap music is the ‘in thing’ today , at least to the teenagers n young adults.
ReplyDeleteOur budding composers can take a cue from Siva Choy. Spore music lovers are more inclined to listen to songs with a’ catchy beat ‘ rather than a ‘draggy’ tempo like the fox trot or Waltz. In any case, as i have mentioned in my earlier post, for local composers work to be recoqnised, support from our Ministry for arts and culture, community participation n commercial sponsorship are paramount.
A special mention should be given to Waynes composition of ‘Cats like us ‘ I was not particularly trying to understand the lyrics but am very impressed by the music arrangement ,in particular the electrifying guitar solo.
Thanks Laurence,
ReplyDeleteI must agree with what you mentioned about Rap music. It’s back again. Siva had that special and natural comic-like nuances and humorous lyrics by his kawan Farid Long; it made the song a big hit. It’s an old 2012 blog posting but brought hundreds of Siva’s fans back to talk about him again.
About Wayne’s composition. Lots of potential with his song. When I heard it, I thought it could be a hit if properly promoted.
Kamsiah.
WA LAO !! SEE BAY HOR AH.
ReplyDeleteTALKING ABT KOPI ( COFFEE OR COPY ) HOW ABT MAKING YRSELF LOOKING LIKE A PRO WHEN ORDERING YR CUP OF COFFEE AT A HAWKER CENTRE IN THE HEARTLANDS OF SINGAPORE ?
Must thank everyone for this new outburst of enthusiasm for SIVA’s classic hit.
ReplyDeleteThis article was posted in 2012 and still drawing attention today.
I understand from a reader he’s 74 just.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIVA CHOY.
ReplyDeleteBELOW LIST OF READERS WHO LIKE SIVA'S POSTING
With appreciation
Prebah Covetz
Bob Thunderstriker
Darrin David Francis
Margaret Bul
Andru Ong
Susan Henkel Smith
Aidle Mohamed Ibrahim
Elizabeth Clare Surin
Teck Leng Choo
[With lots of LOVE]
Shahid Hj Yusoff
Wilson Lim
Gary Lim
Kenny Chan
Vincent Carthigasu
Lin Shumei
Tanbp Sam
Lucilla Teoh
Joseph Chan [surprised]
Jimalifnur Mohamed [with sadness]
THANK YOU ALL.
ReplyDeleteTrivia: "Oh Gemok Gemok" is modelled on the traditional Portuguese dance, "Ó Malhão, malhão", which is part of the traditional repertoire for Kristang communities here in Singapore, Malacca as well as our cousins in Macau.
Thank you Kevin. This piece of info. is indeed interesting and valuable. I am not aware.
ReplyDeleteTHIS GROUP LOVES THE POST.
ReplyDeleteMichael Fonseca
Victor De Silva
Shahid Hj Yusoff
Wilson Lim
Gary Lim
Kenny Chan
Vincent Carthigasu
Lin Shumei
Tanbp Sam
Lucilla Teoh
THIS GROUP FINDS SIVA CHOY HUMOROUS
Theodulus Chandra Raman
Prebah Covetz
Bob Thunderstriker
Darrin David Francis
Margaret Bul
Andru Ong
Susan Henkel Smith
Aidle Mohamed Ibrahim
Elizabeth Clare Surin
Teck Leng Choo
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING WHO LIKE THIS POST
ReplyDeleteGracie Teo
Tin Leong Lim
Davy Chan
Patrick Teng
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Freda Hanum
Juliana Lim
Angela Leow
James Kwok
Yip Dick
Matt Tan
Eddie Toh
Barry Mark
Angie Guna
Mohamad Imran A Rahman
Francis Lau
Rivali Dass
Gillian Pengelly Weston
Greg Pan
Casey Ko
Clifton Ang
Alexis Lilith Chan
Wesley Sim
Olga Polunin
Roger Prior
Belinda Yap
Chung Wai Yan
Anne Tan
Brian Vittachi
Simon Loy Chee Hur
Kin Kit
Naresh Mahtani
Lana GM
Ricky Chen
Vincent Rasa Benedict
Lee Yew Moon
Tang Chun Wai
Hans Lange
Chuck Ang
Davis K. K. Lee
Khalid Alwaleed
Sonia Ong
Roland Chua
Jaysree Gopalan
Lawerg Hsidnas
Merly Citaro Faizal
Pauline Tan Wyatt
Jane Tan
Sng Teck Guan
Dennis Cheong
Padhma Christine Doraisamy
Ken Chee Khoo
Louise Lomax-Kaller
Weng Chin
Sofya Milo Swang
Nic Tan
Alvin Lee
Rabi Doraisamy
Patrick S H Tan
Audrey Fegen
Sasi Nair
Yusoff Abdul Latiff
Derek Scully
Chen Mincong Lester
Ed Foo
Eddy Lee
Peter Cheong
Henry Chua
Paul Kaller
Lyndon Desker
Steven Kee
Tarabas Tan
Wan Wardah M W
Gregory Han
Johanes Lee
Francis Arios
Anthony Chew
Eckkheng Goh
Abdul Rahman Arsat
Eddie Teo
Terry Toye
Yup. Talented entertainer
ReplyDelete