Majorie Chiew STAR News Writes From Malaysia

Majorie Chiew (below right) from Star Newspaper in Malaysia contacted me for an email interview regarding this blog. She's in charge of the column on seniors. I agreed since good friend Roger, who recommended me, had an article written for this newspaper.

Here is the partial write-up. To read the full interview please click the connection at the end of this posting. It was published on the 21st of August, 2013. Thank you Majorie and Star News for helping to spread my stories:

A fresh take on golden oldies

One need not take an energy drink to gyrate one's hips like Elvis Presley. The mind is an incredible playground. Take it from John Lennon: Imagine!  In jest, Andy Lim, an Elvis fan, gave Elvis’ song, All Shook Up, recorded in 1957, a new interpretation.

As a youth, he would have interpreted the lyrics differently. Now, as a senior, he thought it would be fun to give the lyrics new meaning. For him, watching “the King” on YouTube these days can elicit “a different feel to the lyrics!”

“We love the way he (Elvis) interprets his rock ’n’ roll songs. His natural rhythm and the way he bounces them make us eager beavers to listen to him repeatedly.” writes Lim, a Singaporean, in his blog.

Article Page from STAR newspapers.

Fun-filled years
Lim grew up in an environment rich with music. His music preference was influenced by various sources.  “They came from the radio at home and the vinyl records I bought. There were also home sing-a-longs with my neighbours,” says Lim in an e-mail interview.

Well, he could hum, sing and store songs in his head, so to speak. He took delight in songs heard at Chinese wayang, Malay bangsawan or those frequently played by the British military bands. “I guess the melodies, rhythms and lyrics were simple and related to that era,” he says.

Lim’s blog is so engaging and interesting, even for someone (like yours truly) who is not into music. These days, Lim “jams and goes for rehearsals before a performance”. Karaoke is not for him – “it’s too stiff and controlled for my liking”.

Music connection
“Blogging is a way to keep my motor running. It also allows me to read and write about the local music scene of yesteryear,” he says. He used to post short items a few times a week but nowadays, he blogs weekly but writes longer pieces. Other than the music scene, he also recaptures the night-clubbing and food scene of those days. Whatever Lim blogs about has, “a music connection”. 

He says, "I have guest bloggers from Britain and Australia (surfers I met on my blog) who write about their past experiences in Singapore, for example, the Royal Air Force (RAF).  I also have readers who contribute concert programmes from 60s Singapore and many, many personal photographs. They are very kind and generous people..." Blogging has enabled him to meet old and new friends who are pop music lovers.

“I also help youths who are interested in local music from the past,” says Lim, who deems that “writing about our own heritage (pop music scene) is important for our future generation. Without the past, there is no present.”

The full interview:


http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Features/2013/08/21/Fresh-take-on-golden-oldies.aspx

Images from STAR Newspaper, Malaysia.