Yusnor Ef Lyricist: 50th Wedding Anniversary

My Hari Raya Puasa Posting

Hullo,

This posting is for all but especially for my Muslim friends. Here is a love story that happened right here on our little island.

Hari baik, bulan baik.  Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

Sincerely,
Andy.

Love is not finding someone to live with;
It is finding someone you can't live without*

An invitation to a wedding anniversary dinner took me and my wife to the Sheraton Hotel at Scotts Road for a night of feasting and music.  Cultural Medallion 2011 winner for excellence in an artistic field, Yusnor Ef and his lovely wife Jamila Jan were celebrating their 50th Golden Wedding with more than 200 invited guests that included a Singapore cabinet member Assoc. Prof. Faishal Ibrahim.  And the TV cams were there to record the occasion.

A band was in attendance on the high stage to accompany the various Malay artistes who were present that night. The evening's entertainers provided songs composed by Yusnor himself. 

There were at least a dozen and more songs performed, out of the 250 that he composed these past 50 years. Many personal tributes by family, friends and colleagues of the couple were given.

Even after many years of marriage,
I still bring home fresh-cut flowers,
It's the little things that keep love alive...*

What was just as important were the table gifts that Yusnor and Jamila provided for guests that evening, the usual traditional red boiled egg in a glass container and, a totally unexpected present of three box-files (Musim 1, 2, 3) that included 9 DVD's coprising 108 of his compositions, encased and presented in a black and gold folio. There were gasps around the wedding hall as guests received them. 

These discs are music videos and some of the songs included in the DVD's are: Gelisah, Normilah, Kaseh Sayang Suami Isteri, Aku, Dia Dan Lagu, Bimbang, Pepatah Pujangga, Anak Zaman Ini, Kawan Ku Bintang Capricon, Joget Idilfitri, Bersabarlah Sayang.

Musim 2 highlights: Gadis dan Feshen, Di Mana Persandingan, Cahaya Bulan Di Ayer Tenang, Joget Malam Berinai, Lanang Tunang Tah Jadi, Penyamun Tarbus, Si-Bujang Tua,Warna Gambaran Hati.

The silver discs are like personal You Tube videos, encased only in this special box collection of his.  Unique indeed.

This occasion wasn't the first time Yusnor had invited me. The other events included the launching of his book, Muzik Melayu Sejak 1940 An. The second was a concert in his honour, where artistes performed his songs at the Esplanade Concert Hall.  The third was an audience with him when his own composition and The Silver Strings', You're The Boy were played by the Wind Symphony conducted by Adrian Tan. (You can read them on the blog.)

An old teacher friend, we used to serve time at primary schools in Pulau Tekong Besar. Meeting at Changi Jetty late morning, we took the same little boat to the island daily. 

It was a 40 minute ride as we became friends on the high seas, with Singapore music as a mutual link that bonded our relationship since 1963. During stormy weather, balancing in the small sea-craft could be challenging. I remember as we neared Tekong jetty, others in the boat would shout with relief, "Land ahoy!" 

When I left for overseas studies, Yusnor was transferred to the Curriculum Development Institute Singapore (CDIS), Ministry of Education and mastered the techniques of film making, became a Mass Media consultant and later a producer and director of many Malay TV documentaries. But we kept in touch.

We have been contacting each other ever since.

Age does not protect you from love,
But love, to some extent, protects you from age*

I'm sure you are a family member, friend or colleague of Yusnor. Do write in to pen your thoughts about him.

*Personal quotes from Yusnor Ef.
Images: Google: A Personal Collection (Copyrights Reserved).

TRAGEDY: Two 70s Stars Gone Within A Week

This portal features many great singers and musicians who had passed on. But to have two music greats leaving the pop world within a week is something of a tragedy. I featured both at the side-bar during the week they passed away but someone wrote in to comment that they deserve a posting on this blog. So here they are again. Don't forget, they would've been featured in thousands of other websites and personal blogs.  But here goes. Tribute to two great 70s music people.

LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012), known by the stage name Donna Summer, American singer and songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the late 1970s.

Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE (22 December 1949 – 20 May 2012) singer and songwriter, best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his fraternal twin brother Maurice and older brother Barry. Their late younger brother Andy was also a singer. For Robin it wasn't the First of May but the 20th.

They both had one factor in common. Promoted disco music!

Tragedy
When the feeling's gone and you can't go on

It's tragedy
When the morning cries and you don't know why
It's hard to bear
With no one to love you, you're going nowhere

Tragedy
When you lose control and you got no soul
It's tragedy
When the morning cries and your heart goes by
It's hard to bear
With no one beside you, you're going nowhere

(© GIBB BROTHERS MUSIC; CROMPTON SONGS LLC)

Images/Information: Google/Wikipedia.

When Cigarettes Sponsored A Festive Ball Of Pops

Event companies in the 60s took advantage of festive occasions and organised socials to attract the merry-makers. These dance parties would usually be held at prominent hotels like the Adelphi or Ambassador and at popular venues like the Victoria Memorial Hall which had a fairly large floor for dancing.

Go-getters attended these functions to sweat the night to the beat of the top bands in town.  During a 65 weekend there was always a party going on somewhere on the island.  Singers, bands and dancers were glad to perform at such venues for publicity and sometimes for the generous renumeration.

Organisers would only approach prominent companies that were able to sponsor them because the overheads could be high. In 60s Singapore when smokers had more freedom to puff their stuff cigarette distributors were ever so willing to pay big money to advertise their product at such functions.

The particular event above (image) was one such example and mainly sponsored by a cigarette company. Besides the promotion in the newspapers, long and huge banners would be hanging in the dance hall.  Possibly free cigarettes would be distributed throughout the evening and cartons given out as floor  prizes. In the Easter Ball discussed, Edinburgh Cigarette Company was the main sponsor.  I searched the web but could not find the group's website although I found the advertisement (image left) in the Straits Times newspaper. I am wondering if the company is still in existence. Anyone?

Those years there were many brands on sale in the Singapore market. I remember Matterhorn, Lucky Strike, Consulate, Capstan and Players cigarettes very well. These companies did everything they could in the media to promote their product. One such company, famous Camels, raised eyebrows and sent smoke signals.

In the 50s  and possibly the early 60s, one of the most infamous cigarette advertising slogans was associated with this brand of cigarette: “More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette.” Apparently the advertisement began in 1946 and ran for some years in magazines and on the radio (image right).

And the pitch they used?  “Family physicians, surgeons, diagnosticians, nose and throat specialists, doctors in every branch of medicine… a total of 113,597 doctors… were asked the question: ‘What cigarette do you smoke?’ And more of them named Camel as their smoke than any other cigarette!"

Cigarettes or otherwise the Grand Easter Ball featured a number of guest stars who were popular in the 60s.  The advertisement is revealing since it also published the places one could buy the evening's tickets from.

Singapore had no SISTIC outlet then but equivalents like Winston's Arcade, Robinson's, etc. were around Collyer Quay in the business district while Katong Flower Shop was in the East Coast near the old Tay Buan Guan and Roxy Cinema. But most enthusiasts bought their last minute tickets at the door. Three bucks for a show and dance. Now it's $300/00.

The two bands, Les Kafilas and Bateks (image above left) were there to relieve The Silver Strings and were known as guest bands. Siva and James Choy or Cyclones (image right) had a large following and these supporters would have been there that evening. 

If I am not mistaken Veronica Young (image left) had just joined the Strings. She is also known as Singapore's Millie Small, having won the competition held at the Great World Sky Cinema accompanied by the group. I was actively fronting the Strings during this season.

Images: from The Straits Times newspapers, websites on cigarettes and private collection.

Original Article based on lst image: by Andy Lim.