Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Channel News Asia: 50 Years of Singapore Music

On Screen

MORE THAN 2,300 VIEWS, 15 COMMENTS

In February 2015, John Leong (below), anchor for Singapore Tonight, introduced a special news piece on Channel News Asia where Dick Lee, Yiren Cai, Audie Ng and I were interviewed regarding 50 years of Singapore Music.  The programme was in conjunction with this year's SG50 celebration. 

What has been music to Singaporeans' ears? The show takes us down memory lane to see how the music has evolved through the years and where bands like Silver Strings, Black Dog Bone, Sweet Charity, Siglap Five and singers Anita Sarawak, Stefanie Sun, A-Do, JJ Lin, Mavis Hee and Shirley Nair were discussed.  The song You're The Boy remains steadfast as a background anthem during our interview.



Behind The Scene 

We had pretty and sophisticated CNA producer Syahidah Othman (below) to conduct the whole affair with much calm and decorum.  The camera was positioned for appropriate angle shots; the white guitar was placed in a strategic position behind the interviewees (image above) and photographs were selected for the news documentary. Ms Syahidah was also the narrator on screen.





As it was usual, although the chat lasted for a few minutes on TV, shooting took some time. The interview was held on a lovely afternoon and we enjoyed ourselves throughout in the large, airy and air-conditioned hall.


Many thanks to Mr Malvin Chua (image below) who coordinated the afternoon's project with a quiet but experienced eye.  Some snaps on my iPhone were taken by Malvin.
Video footage on right side-bar from Channel News Asia:

Excerpt below from:


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/swinging-to-50-years-of/1669930.html

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/video/50-years-of-singapore/1632746.html


“Even though some songs were so-called ‘imports’, the local bands still made it their own."
In fact, a home-grown 1960's pop band did just that. The Silver Strings stood out with their stylish silver suits and blue guitars. But it was not just their image that made headlines. The band also started the trend of playing alongside female singers like Shirley Nair and Anita Sarawak.
Their biggest influence however, was a performance in 1961. "When Cliff and the Shadows came we saw them on stage, with three flashing red guitars,” said Andy Young of The Silver Strings. “And I said to myself that I want to be like Cliff Richard; I want to sing like him."

The Silver Strings played their biggest shows when they opened for the Rolling Stones at the Singapore Badminton Hall and in front of 20,000 spectators in a Malaysian stadium for the Miss Universe pageant.
But as the heady days of the 1960's came to an end, so did The Silver Strings. In recent years, Young, who was one of the band's pioneer members has begun keeping a blog about those memories. "It's so important that we all get together, gel and become one nation,” said Andy.

His fellow band member from The Silver Strings is fully supportive of the blog. “It will be good for the younger generation,” said Audie Ng. “At least they can go through his blog and learn about sixties music. And at the same time, they will get to know us; otherwise we will just fade away."
Images from Marcus Loh Collection and A Private Collection.

15 comments:

www.channelnewsasia.com said...

FROM THE TV NEWS PIECE:

“Even though some songs were so-called ‘imports’, the local bands still made it their own."

In fact, a home-grown 1960's pop band did just that. The Silver Strings stood out with their stylish silver suits and blue guitars. But it was not just their image that made headlines. The band also started the trend of playing alongside female singers like Shirley Nair and Anita Sarawak.

Their biggest influence however, was a performance in 1961.

"When Cliff and the Shadows came we saw them on stage, with three flashing red guitars,” said Andy Young of The Silver Strings. “And I said to myself that I want to be like Cliff Richard; I want to sing like them."

The Silver Strings played their biggest shows when they opened for the Rolling Stones at the Singapore Badminton Hall and in front of 20,000 spectators in a Malaysian stadium for the Miss Universe pageant.

But as the heady days of the 1960's came to an end, so did The Silver Strings. In recent years, Andy, who was one of the band's pioneer members has begun keeping a blog about those memories. "It's so important that we all get together, gel and become one nation,” said Andy.

His fellow band member from The Silver Strings is fully supportive of the blog. “It will be good for the younger generation,” said Audie Ng. “At least they can go through his blogs and learn about sixties music. And at the same time, they will get to know us; otherwise we will just fade away."

(Edited)

LIM KUAN MIN said...

Keep the blog going Andy.

CINDY PAU said...

So proud of you, Sir!

FACEBOOK ACCOUNT said...

Thanks to AARON CHOO, CINDY PAU, MARCUS LOH, TIN LEONG LIM for FB support.

JOEY KOH said...

Wow! Bravo! Andy,

You are the man!
Forever young!
You're also my inspiration!

IVAN CHEW THE RAMBLING LIBRARIAN said...

Keep blogging!

(To read Ivan's blog, click his connection above).

PETER CHAN said...

Producer chantek

RICKIE CHNG (LEAD GUITARIST: THE ESQUIRES) said...

Hi Andy

This follow up with information regarding your interview was good as it gives us a proper account of what was actually going on otherwise nobody will know because the TV only shows a little part of it.

Yes it is good for the younger generation to get the feel of what is happening in the heydays.

Cheers

A.P. said...

Hi Andy,

Just gotten this link from J..., whom I got to reconnect after some years.

He knew I liked music and thought he introduced your blog to me, not knowing that in fact I have been following your blog for quite sometimes already.

Have been exposed to those 45s at a very young age even though we stayed in ..... then.

Pleasantly surprised to learn that you are a member of The Silver Strings!

Thought I forwarded 2 of your songs to J... for his listening pleasure.

I loved the songs of the 60s, 70s and 80s (the collection of more than 3000 songs in my iphone can attest to that!)

I am glad to learn that your work and contribution is being recognised and appreciated during this special year of our nation.

So please keep writing!

Warmest regards

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you each and everyone for the warm response to this posting and the encouragement to carry on.

I am glad I have some regular readers like A.P. who has been reading the blog for some time. Glad you like 45s and surprised about the 3000 songs on your iPhone. Man, that's a lot of songs.

FREDDIE SIOW said...

Andy if you recall... I said from the start such a blog will in time grow in awareness. Congrats.

DR. T.S.who writes from Australia said...

We had quite a musical community in Tiong Bahru with the likes of my old buddy Billy Martinez, Sonny Bala, and Edwin Dragon.

J.K. said...

Wow! My school classmates are impressed by your blog!

You are also The Silver String member!

He likes the 2 hit songs by The Silver Strings:

1. Come Home to Me.
2. I'll Remember Today.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Again thanks to FB supporters who loved the new profile pic and posting; PHILIP CHEW, HERRY JUSUF, BELINDA POH, RANDY LEE, FREDDIE SIOW, ALBERT LOUIS, DICK YIP, ROY CHEW, ROBERT SURIYA, NINA CHEWY IRENE YAP, JIMMY PRESLEE, ADELINE PANG, TRACY TAY, RICHARD TOH, LAM CHUN SEE, PRISCILLA GEORGE.

Hope I haven't left out anyone...

JD said...

Hello Andy,

Thank you for sending me all the links to your blog. It's quite the treat to get to know you in this way. :-) I had no idea.
I did have a good laugh over your reference to, "I'm so young and you're so old... " Have been singing Anka's "Diana" to myself ever since...