Friday, September 07, 2012

A Happy Teachers Day With Lulu and Doris Day



I know Singapore teachers celebrate this special day that falls on the first of September every year but didn't realise that it has been changed to the first Friday in September from 2012.

The  Songs:

1. To Sir with Love a song by Don Black and Mark London was taken from a movie with the same title starring Sidney Poitier and a living legend, Scottish singer Lulu. It reached number one on the U.S. pop charts in 1967 but was never released in the UK as a single, although the film was a box-office hit.

Poignant with meaningful, expressive lyrics, the song tells of  British teenagers' anti-establishment attitude in the 60s and an African-American teacher's effort to help them understand the ways of the world.

Thanks and praise for his love and respect:

Those schoolgirl days of telling tales
And biting nails are gone,
How do you thank someone
Who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
If you wanted the sky
I would write across the sky in letters
That would soar a thousand feet high.
              
The farewell and the tears:

The time has come for closing books
And long last looks must end,
I am leaving my best friend.
A friend who taught me right from wrong
And weak from strong,
That's a lot to learn, what
What can I give you in return?

 Their appreciation:

If you wanted the moon
I would try to make a start
But I, would rather you let me give my heart
To Sir, with love...

(My opinion: Best pop song tribute ever to a teacher.)


Wow I'd like to be this teacher's pet!




2. Teacher's Pet:
Singer: Doris Day
Written by Joe Lubin.

It's also the title track from her 1958 film, co-starring Clark Gable and Gig Young.  Frivolous, tongue-in-cheek and full of mirth this is definitely someone who wants to be the apple of the teacher's eye. And different in mood and tempo from the Lulu song:

Flirting:

Teacher's pet,
I wanna be teacher's pet...
Mm, teacher's pride
I wanna be teacher's pride
I wanna be dated, paraded, the one most likely at your side



Obviously giving the come-hither signs:

I wanna learn all your lips can teach me
One kiss will do at the start
I'm sure with a little homework
I'll graduate to your heart


The conquest (or so she thinks):

Teacher's pet, I wanna be teacher's pet
I wanna take home a diploma and show Ma that you love me, too
So I can be teacher's pet long after school is through


(My own line: Teacher, teacher be careful!!!)

So a Happy Teachers Day to all educators out there in Singapore. I hope you like the two lovely songs on this posting.

Image: Google.
You Tube videos.

10 comments:

  1. Happy Teachers Day. The first Friday of Sept will be official TD from now onwards.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hullo my teacher friends,

    I forgot all about the day and having been a teacher myself that's a shame. Anyway, a belated Teachers' Day to all.

    My two favourite songs below, unless you have others.

    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey Andy,

    Thanks for the wishes and sharing of your favourites. Which date are you celebrating 1 or 7Sep? To me it will always be the former no matter what reason MOE gives for the change. Happy cher's day to you too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Andy Lim

    Thank you for bringing back memories. I watched 'To Sir with Love' more then two times those days.

    'Teachers Pet' I am still remember when I was at Telok Kurau Malay School. I asked my Malay students to sing this song, they do not know the melody nor the lyrics because they were all Malay Language students.

    Thank for the songs. Happy Teachers Day.


    Yusnor Ef

    ReplyDelete
  5. DICK YIP8.9.12

    Hi Andy,

    Thanks for the wishes but especially the 2 songs. They were and still are among my favourites. Of the 2..

    'Teacher's pet' somehow held more nostalgic memories for me when my mind wanders back to my primary
    schooldays.

    'To Sir with Love' - well that line was actually written by many of my former students on Thank You
    cards for Teachers' Day or at the end of a school year. Being a sentimentalist at heart, I've kept some as my links to the past.

    ReplyDelete
  6. DICK YIP N MINSTRELS8.9.12

    Btw, tomorrow 9 Sept ( Sunday ) I will be entertaining the expected 1500 visitors to the Nat Arts Council Festival of Arts for seniors. My 8 member group " Dick Yip & The Minstrels " will be giving 2 performances, min 30 mins each, at 2 pm and 5 pm.

    Venue: The Nat Library, North Bridge Rd

    Location: the Plaza

    Free and all are Welcome !

    Group specialises in songs of the yesteryears esp the 50's and 60's and songs of Asean, Asia. I have 3 ukes, 1 guitar, 1 bongo, 3 on percussion. Myself and guitarist...lead vocals, the rest back up vocals. All are seniors!

    If free, hope to see you...grandparents and kids, plenty to fill them up.



    ReplyDelete
  7. These are some of the letters I received. Thank you all for the response.

    Don't forget Dick Yip's performance at National Library tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  8. SPYeo9.9.12

    Hi, Chief !

    HAPPY TEACHER’S DAY to you too ! Sincere apologies for this belated greeting...

    Take care.



    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Andy,

    Happy Belated Teachers' Day to you.

    I went to North Korea during that period so I was ex-communicated. We were not allow mobile phones, GPS, or laptops in.

    So could not ready mails. Just came back. Have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for reply HE. Glad you came back in one piece.

    You must tell me about N. Korea one of these days.

    ReplyDelete