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.

Labour Day: Work Hard For The Money Folks!

A few songs come to mind when Labour Day strikes. Here's a few personal selection for the many found on the internet:

Nine To Five (Dolly Parton)

Yes, it's a 1980 song but the song became something of an anthem for office workers in the U.S., and owe its title to an organization founded in 1973 with the aim of bringing about better treatment for women in the workplace:

Nine to five, what a way to make a living;
Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving.
They just use your mind, and they never give you credit.

Nine to five, for service and devotion;
you would think that I would deserve a fair promotion;
want to move ahead, but the boss won't seem to let me.

Chain Gang (Sam Cooke)

Inspired with an actual chain-gang of prisoners Sam Cooke saw on a highway while on tour. He felt sorry for the men and gave them cartons of cigarettes.

Well don't you know
That's the sound of the men                                                 
Workin' on the chain gangAll day long they work so hard
'Till the sun is going down, down
Workin' on the highways and byways and wearing
Wearing a frown
You hear them moaning

She Works Hard For The Money (Donna Summer)

It was based on an actual encounter that Donna Summer had with an exhausted bathroom attendant:

It's a sacrifice working day to day
For little money just tips for pay
But it's worth it all
Just to hear them say that they care

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money

Maggie's Farm:

This theme of capitalist exploitation came to be seen by some as the major theme of the song. Lots of interpretation this song has:

Well, he hands you a nickel
He hands you a dime
He asks you with a grin
If you're havin' a good time
Then he fines you every time you slam the door
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother more.

There are 22 more songs if you can be bothered. But here's the twist at the end. Written by: Rob O'Connor | List Of The Day – Thu, Aug 28, 2008 8:15 PM EDT titled, The 25 Best Work Songs For Labor Day, he said:

"But we here at List Of The Day never stop working. We're always thinking of new lists that need to be compiled. When we saw Labour Day coming up on the calendar, we knew it was time to wheel out the work songs. Not the old, smelly work songs that musicologists once discovered in the hands of the workingman, but the ones written and performed by rich rock stars who've never done any real work. Rich rock stars, you see, complain better than anyone. So who better to give voice to than the oppressed?"

Hey wait a minute, I thought pop singers work hard too?  Happy Labour Day holiday folks. I retired long ago...
Images: Google

Info: http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/list-of-the-day/the-25-best-work-songs-for-labor-day.html