Malaysian General Election 2018 . Advice Dari 1955

 SONGS I LOVE:

Disclaimer:

This posting is not a propaganda to vote for any party in Malaysia. I have no interest in politics but love this song as it was played daily on the radio during election time in 1955. I was only 15 but remember it well.

Malayan Broadcast:

Before Singapore gained its independence in 1965, radio broadcast coming from Malaya was nothing special and many Singaporeans listened to the news and entertainment provided. So when the Malayan elections were about to be held on July 27th in 1955, announcements on the radio were common. It wasn't the election that attracted me but the song, composed by a humorous, radio personality called Zainal Alam.

Zainal Alam:

He had a successful career in broadcasting in Malaya and to improve himself took up a Government Management Program in the USA. According to a website, "his course-mate friend was John F. Kennedy" who later became the President.  Besides Malay, Zainal speaks the local languages and dialects. In fact, his version of Rose, Rose I Love You has verses in Malay, Chinese and Tamil.

*Pak Lam as they called him was talented and versatile. Before singer and wife of P. Ramlee became famous as Saloma she was a.k.a. Salmah Ahmad and was Zainal's backup singer. It finally led up to him composing a song about her.  Even P. Ramlee was unable to name any of his songs after Saloma.  Ramlee composed Azizah, Hamidah, Zubaidah but no Saloma. That was Zainal Alam's influence and popularity those years.

'The Voting Song' In English with part of the lyrics below. Video from: PakLongKlasik. Thank you.

The Message:

He wrote humorous songs and peppered them using colloquial catchphrases that everybody understood. One of his songs I love was Vote, Vote, Vote. I searched in vain but could not find the English version. It was an attractive jingle and played like a commercial day and night before election time, encouraging the populace to vote wisely. Psychologically as most commercials do, these tunes stick in the head. Plain brainwashing... But it was good advice, and still is.

The Voting Song

Vote vote vote

Everybody vote

Remember 27th is the day

(change to the 5th of May)

Don't forget

That you must not delay

Vote wisely vote with care

Everybody vote

When you vote

You must vote wisely

What people say

You 'jangan peduli' (don't bother)

Use your head

Think very carefully

Remember once you vote

There is no 'lagi sa-kali' (one more time)

In Malay: Mari Mengundi Pilihanraya Pertama Tanah Melayu 1955 Video NIEI TV

Image: Google.

YouTube Video by wgc26.
*This edited piece of information is from YouTube contributor zainulazizan.