McCartney's "Yesterday" Was "Scrambled Eggs"

Cover Design: Christabella Designs

The song Yesterday came to Paul McCartney in a dream and when he woke up he recorded the melody on a tape recorder using his keyboard. The lyrics in response to the rhythm were, "Scrambled eggs, oh my baby how I love your legs."

The book Love Me Tender "tells the stories behind the world's favourite songs".  I am not sure how many of the songs listed are favourites of yours but I found that there are only a couple I am not familiar with. 

Written in simple language this 192 page *book reveals the origins of 40 popular songs, ranging from a song composed as early as 1584 to another as late as 1981. The list  on the Content page is impressive from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Memory  up to the last one which is It's A Long Way to Tipperary.

Some of the other songs include, Love Me Tender (book title), Edelweiss, Danny Boy, Blue Moon, Moon River, I Don't Know How to Love Him, Send in the Clowns, Ave Maria, Bali H'ai and Candle in the Wind.  There are 30 other entries. Even nursery rhymes and sing-a-longs have their history.

 

According to the blurb this easy reader is "full of surprises and curiosities" as the author describes each song's fascinating history from composer, lyricist and singer

up to the time it was recorded in the sound studio.

Here's a short paragraph-teaser from page 86 of the book as writer Max Cryer explains the origin of Begin the Beguine by composer Cole Porter who cruised in a ship with a piano in his cabin:

           During the trip he soaked in mineral pools in New Zealand,
           met feathered chieftains in Papua New Guinea, had a small
           pox scare in Singapore, was richkshawed by extravagantly
           dressed and painted African in Durban...

Need I reveal more?  The blurb doesn't lie and the book is a good excuse to stay home during this rainy season. You wouldn't want to get caught in our floods again would you?  So go get Love Me Tender.

*I believe that a good book SHOULD have an extensive Bibliography. This one does.

"Love Me Tender" by Max Cryer, Exisle Publishing Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand (2008). Available in our libraries: 782.42164 CRY (ART).

(This posting is a personal review and  is neither promoting the book nor the library).

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.
Images: Google.
For good friend Larry Lai.

Free Admission: Invitation From Melaka Friends

The Valiants from Melaka, Malaysia

Hey Mr Andy,

The Valiants will be organizing a music fest in Melaka, Malaysia on the 16th of Sept. My dad, G.S. Dionysius would love to have u with us, please keep in contact with me. If u need any assistance in getting u a place to stay here. Kindly let me know. Have a great day.

Best Regards,
Joel BLACK Dionysius
Training Manager
U2Kumar
August 26th, 2012.

Reply:

Thanks Joel for your kind invitation. I really cannot tell you now if I can manage to go but I have put up the poster and your record cover again today.  I must thank you very much for the friendship and care you have shown to make us feel so welcome to join your gig. I have always known Malaysians to be the nicest people in our region.

I will surely try my best to be at the performance.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Lim
(You can write to me on Comments for Joel Dionysius' telephone number.)

GIG: http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2012/06/big-gig-in-malaka-near-jonker-walk.html

Click Valiants below under Labels to read more.

Image: Andy Lim Collection.

Searching For My Favourite Chinese Oldies: Yao Li - 那個不多情 姚莉

UP TO 43,400 VIEWS, 

40 CHATS, COMMENTS

Yao Li has passed away on 19 July 2019 from The Malay Mail.

Chinese Mandarin oldies: 那個不多情 姚莉 (Yao Li). 

YouTube: by sydneylam19

Songs I Love

If it weren't for the magic of the computer, Google and YouTube I would never have been able to retrieve or even listened to the Chinese oldies by the great prewar songstress Yao Li.  In fact, I didn't even know the singer's name nor the song title.  There was an evening I googled, Chinese Mandarin Oldies found the above video and recognised the melody immediately. Memories of my childhood flooded my data bank.



PYE Radio 1950s in our living room shophouse.

These songs were my mother's favourites and I used to listen to them in the 50s when she tuned in to some Chinese programmes from the radio. I am not sure if they were from our own stations or from overseas but the family's PYE radio certainly took us to places unknown and songs so beautiful. 

Today I wish to share these songs especially with those who are not familiar with Mandarin songs from the 1940s. But first... the singer.

Yao Li or Yáo Xiùyún (姚秀雲) was raised in Shanghai and rose to popularity singing in one of the city's dance halls.  She had her songs broadcasted over the radio in 1935 at aged 13 and recorded her first single with Pathe Records at 14 with Yan Hua (嚴華) called Xin xiao fang niu (新小放牛) or the new cowherd. 

She also often recorded as a duo with her pop singer brother. At that time she became a rival of Zhou Xuan, and was called Silver Voice as opposed to Zhou Xuan's Golden Voice (check Labels below).  Yao Li's success in Shanghai was partially due to the vocal training of the Russian diaspora court musicians. 

Yao Li

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/arts/music/yao-li-dead.html

In the 1940s,  she was encouraged to imitate Afro-American singers seen in Hollywood movies.  These movies were available in Shanghai. Her voice improved tremendously and in the 50s she developed a singing style like her idol Patti Page.

Because she got married and had family Yao Li halted her career in 1947. Following the Communist power seizure in China in 1949, popular music was banned and Yao fled to Hong Kong in 1950. She continued singing and recording as these became hits.   Within five years she made the popular 桃花江 (Peach Blossom River) as her singing voice was used in films to dub those of famous Chinese actresses.  Soon the featured songs became hits for Yao Li too. 

In 1967  she halted her singing career and within two years acquired a position as an executive with EMI Music Hong Kong.  She returned to performing in Taiwan from 1970 and retired in 1975.

The above song on YouTube is one that I listen to very often and the melody never strays from my mind.  Roughly translated this song, (姚莉 -那個不多情 姚莉) means, That's Not Sentimental.  Ironical. Another favourite of mine is  The Spring Breeze Kisses My Face (姚莉 - 春風吻上我的臉) recorded in 1956.

There are still many other Chinese melodies swimming in my mind and if I find them I shall share them on this blog. 

Check Richard Rajoo and Yao Li. Connect below:

.: Richard Rajoo Recalls Famous Yao Li [姚莉] Songs His Mother Loved...

Edited information from Wikipedia and whatsinmyipodblogspot. 

Certain information about Yao Li may not be accurate and I stand corrected.

19 July 2019

She passed away in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and has given a performance in 2012. May she Rest In Peace.

Images: Google.

Phyllis Diller And Her One-Liner Killer: Gone At 95

Phyllis Diller

Unless you are in your 50s or older you won't know who Phyllis Diller was because this stand-up comedienne and a favourite of mine had passed on. With *Bob Hope , *Jack Benny they'll make a terrible threesome in heaven now.  When these famous comics were on earth they rocked the living rooms of the world with their jokes, mimicry and one-liners.

I have included the above video of Diller with glitterati Liberace because this blog is a music one.  In case you don't know who Liberace was, well, watch out for future postings about this talented and flamboyant pianist as he was also another all time favourite of mine. Meanwhile just listen to him  hitting the keyboard together with Diller on her piano that was washed so clean the black keys disappeared altogether.


Bob Hope

A Phyllis Diller one-liner about old age:  "Don't let the word Madonna bother you. The day I grab my crotch, it'll mean it's falling off."

Comment:

I have been reminded that I am a bearer of sad news. Not true. I am but a bearer of people who made an impact in this world and who have passed on. I don't think we should feel sad when these people die. We celebrate their  achievements by honoring them and announcing their deaths. But we can still appreciate them on CDs, DVDs and video clips.



Jack Benny

These were the radio, TV and movie personalities who entertained me as a youngster and who are still entertaining me on You Tube. I grew up with their jokes and songs. If  I were asked to switch to watch local English TV then the quality of entertainment must be better than what it is now.

*Comedians

Original article.
You Tube Video by: showmanlee.
There are many websites in honour of Phyllis Diller.

Latest News:

Actor-comedian Jonathan Winters died of natural causes on April 11, 2013 in Montecito, California, US.

I would wait for programmes that featured him as a guest artiste on the Dean Martin Show and Johnny Carson Late Night either in Singapore or Canada and viewed his movies whenever he appeared as a co-star like in It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.  Mork and Mindy (knowing that he was Robin William's guru) was another favourite, anticipating his appearance on the small screen at home.

(Check out Larry Lai's comment below about Winters).

The Silent Guitars: RAF Changi Connection Part IX

Allan Thompson's Pingat Jasa Malaysia

UP TO 800 VIEWS

The guitars were silent during armed security patrols. Allan Thompson who served at RAF Changi in the 60s and played bass guitar with a pop group during his free time explained how he could have "contributed to the peace and prosperity of the region" while on official duty.

Dear Andy,
I like the Lee Kuan Yew article. He certainly works hard and did so much to make Singapore an independent and highly efficient nation. Thanks again.

I realise that the military service and medals have no place on your blog, but I only mentioned them as an indication of the enduring love and respect I have for Singapore and Malaysia.

I fell in love with the people, the food, the climate (after acclimatization), the history, the young ladies whose company and families made me feel so much at home. I certainly wasn't a war hero, although several others were, especially the young Gurkha who won the Victoria Cross.

I arrived in Singapore in late July, 1963, just before the creation of the Federation of Malaysia and I remember all the excitement of those times, and the opposition from Indonesia. My only practical contribution to the new nation's defence was doing occasional armed security patrols on Changi Airfield, a two-week detachment to RAF Kuching in Sarawak, and two weeks of coast-watching duties at Pulau Pisang lighthouse in November 1964 after the Indonesians had carried out landings along the coast of Malaysia.

Changi Airfield, Singapore 60s.

At the time we were just doing our duty because it was what we were paid to do, but in 2007 the Malaysian government did us all the great honour of awarding us the Pingat Jasa Malaysia for supporting them at a vital stage in their history. I think that meant more to us veterans than the General Service Medal which we received from our own government for serving in that campaign.

I think it brought home to us the fact that we had actually been involved in something worthwhile which contributed to the peace and prosperity of the region.


Pulau Pisang Lighthouse, Melaka Straits

That was the view of the Malaysian government in the citation which accompanied the award and I feel honoured to have received it.


Best wishes,
Allan.

(Comment anyone? Were you involved? Tell us)

For more of Allan's experience in Singapore 60s click 'Allan Thompson RAF' under Labels below.

RAF Tengah, Singapore. 1964. On the dispersal areas are naval Sea Vixens, 20 Squadron Hunters and a Wessex helicopter during Indonesia-Malaya Confrontation  - Yue Sern Mok 4.7.2021.

Image 1 and article: 

Allan Thompson Collection (All Rights Reserved).
Image 2: Andy Lim Collection.  

Image 3: dewssTv  

Image 4: Google.

Image 5

Olympic British Pop Ends With A Blast: Part IV

Children's Choir Singing, 'Imagine' (own screen grab)

Sixties music stars and today's pop wonders performed on decorated lorry tops to celebrate the end of the Olympic Games 2012.  It included songs from 30 British hit singles in the past five decades. 



Annie Lennox who came in what looked like a slave ship was among the singing celebrities that gathered at the Wembly, the largest of the six Olympic stadiums, for the closing ceremony.  Ray Davies of The Kinks provided his pop majestic solo appearance with the London ballad Waterloo Sunset.

Ray Davies performed 'Waterloo Sunset'

One of the highlights was the video appearance of the late Freddie Mercury that lit up the crowd with guitarist Brian May on stage and provided the Queen classic We Will Rock You.  The Pet Shop Boys were there too. They were all the cream, dream team.


Brian May:  'We Will Rock You' (own screen grab)

What kept me awake for a while was the image of the late John Lennon singing Imagine accompanied by a children's choir appropriately dressed with the single-word title splashed across their white gowns. 

I guess the lyrics are appropriate enough, "Imagine there's no heaven, No hell below us, Above us only sky, Imagine there's no countries, Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too, all the people living life in peace..."  More Olympic meets should do it. I guess I'm a dreamer too.


John Lennon Video (own screen grab)

George Michael sang his popular song Freedom to the roaring crowd of athletes and spectators. Dressed in a tight black outfit complete with moon-glasses he screamed, "Remember, right now, you are at the center of the universe." Liam Gallagher of Oasis, Spice Girls who yelled Wannabe and Spice Up Your Life from taxi tops and Muse all performed to the delight of 90s pop fans.


George Michael Singing 'Freedom' (own screen grab)

I dozed off.  I prefer the 60s chappies.

Information: Relevant Websites.
Images: Home Screen Grabs and Google.

From Allan Thompson: On London Olympics Part 3

Allan Thompson has been contributing many articles about Singapore 60s music on this blog because he was at RAF Changi in the 1960s.  I asked his opinion about the current Games. Here's his letter:

Mike Oldfield

Dear Andy,

Like many people over here, I was sceptical about the Olympic opening ceremony.  But as it progressed, I was amazed at the wonderful, well planned, well executed history of Britain which unfolded. All the amateur performers and participants were excellent and the way each episode slid effortlessly into the next was fantastic. 

The pop music sampling section wasn't bad, although they missed out the influential popular music of the 50s in their typical eagerness to get to the Beatles.  [Poor old Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde, Billy Fury (deceased), etc. always seem to suffer in this way]. 

I thought Mike Oldfield's music was just right for the section in which it was used, but I thought the other group (The Killers?) were a pointless inclusion, and Paul McCartney's ragged Hey Jude at the end was even more pointless.  What significance did that particular song have? 

The James Bond and The Queen piece could have been cringeworthy but because they used Her Majesty and not a lookalike, everyone was impressed by her decision to have some fun and take part.  It's a shame that so many of the team members during the parade were waving cameras about and some of them looked quite awkward.

Paul McCartney

Over here, the BBC coverage was pretty naff at times, almost as bad as it was for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, but we have come to expect that now - everything is being dumbed-down and trivialised.  (Not like in our day,  hmmmm??!!)

Hope this is of some help.

Best wishes,
Allan.
U.K.


Images: Google.

Shakespeare Musings Amidst Ol' London: Part II

I am no Shakespeare expert nor a music guru and whether the lines below are appropriate for the London Olympics 2012 Opening is debatable but Sir Kenneth Branagh's reading of it is enough to please any true Englishman. The lines, actually taken out of context, were probably describing how magical the British Isles are today:

Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again.

(The Tempest, 3.2.135-43)

Have the organisers selected the right lines for the international event?  Or is it inappropriate?

Here's another.

Mark how one string, sweet husband to another,
Strikes each in each by mutual ordering;
Resembling sire and child and happy mother,
Who, all in one, one pleasing note do sing.

(Sonnet 8 - For full version click comments below)

Would the above Sonnet be more suitable then? Give us your view.

Image: Google.

London Olympics 2012 Plays 60s+ UK Pops: Part I

The grand opening at the London Olympics 2012 was also a celebration of 60s  music and the selection featured songs from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, The Who, Queen, Eurythmics, and many more. From the folksy Danny Boy at the beginning to Paul McCartney singing, Hey Jude at The End, the stadium lit up to a 21st Century UK return of its own popular music in ol' London town.

Some of my favourite songs that could be heard that night were Vangelis: Chariots of Fire, Lionel Bart: Food Glorious Food, Eric Clapton: Wonderful Tonight, The Who: My Generation, The Rolling Stones: Satisfaction, Millie Small: My Boy Lollipop, Kinks: All Day and All Of the Night,  Led Zeppelin: Trampled Under Foot, David Bowie: Starman.

The list also included the Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams,  The Beatles: She Loves You, The End and Hey Jude, David Bowie: Heroes. 

If you had been watching the TV series in the 60s like Coronation Street, Doctor Who and Monty Python Theme/The Liberty Bell, the melodies were played that evening.

Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and Monty Norman's The James Bond Theme were performed too and if it wasn't for the site below I couldn't have known about the songs presented. I fell asheep after the sleep appeared, I mean, asleep after the sheep appeared, counting them as I dozed off.

What interested me and Singaporeans were some comments from oversea readers below and overleaf:

1) Victor from London, UK believed Cliff Richard had more UK No.1 song hits than The Beatles, perhaps second only to his former idol, Elvis Presley. It would have been great to see a film clip of the young Cliff singing Living Doll..

2) According to cardiffflo from Cardiff McCartney was dreadful and it was time someone told him that his voice had gone and isn't coming back. After a wonderful night of entertainment he was the only low point.

My comment:

We had the four knights of the sound table Elton John, Cliff  Richard, Tom Jones and McCartney performing at the Queen's Anniversary concert earlier this year. I guess McCartney could have been replaced by another pop star? But I need to watch the show again and listen to the melodies, especially the ones from the 60s and 70s. Have you seen the show? What do you think?

(Aside: For the record and heritage: Feng Tian Wei won the Bronze for Table Tennis in the London Olympics 2012, the second individual medal won since Tan Howe Liang won the first individual Silver Medal for weightlifting during the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Don't forget to read Part II above.)

Images: from Google.

Information and Comments from various websites about the Games have been edited.
For the full song list and comments check out: MailOnlineNews:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180131/Sir-Paul-McCartney-Songwriter-leads-Olympic-crowd-singing-The-Beatles-Hey-Jude-Opening-Ceremony.html