Without The Gift of Song In Aberdeen, Scotland.

Serene, University of Aberdeen

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A Story About Heritage

I will never forget the lesson I learnt in the early 1980's when I attended a British Council course at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. There were four representatives from Singapore, myself and three ladies.  We had been selected to attend an English Language, English Literature and Linguistics programme.

Since a good number applied at the Singapore office, candidates had to go through an interview but we had been lucky and managed to get a place.  For the attractive summer holiday, post-graduate course we were provided text books, meals, lodging and visits around Aberdeen's neighbourhood. Daily lectures and workshops by **distinguished professors were usually held up to lunch time. There were none during the weekends.

Singapore representatives. Thistle among the flowers?

After our arrival and having settled in at the university we were ushered into a large room the second evening, where our course students met for a cultural get-together.  Most of us were quietly ready for a night of food and fun but surprised by what happened next because as Singaporeans we had not been prepared for the 'task' at hand.

Cultural Night at Aberdeen University

After a full and fancy meal, Scottish style but without *haggis, we found ourselves shaking hands with the young and old from many places around the world.  They had come from Asia, Europe and Commonwealth countries. That night, each country representative was supposed to entertain the gathering with either a song, a dance, a reading or a sketch.

Yes, my dear readers. Everyone was prepared. But Singapore? No, because we had no song to sing. Don't forget it was the beginning of the 1980's and the national songs that had been composed were only available from 1984. We had come a little early. If only we had arrived in Aberdeen two years later, then we could be so proud singing, Stand Up For Singapore. Or if we had come in 1986, Count On Me Singapore would have been available.

Panic. The four of us huddled together trying to think of one we could sing as a foursome. I told them there was one. It was called, Singapura, a pop song. But it wasn't a patriotic song.  And I remember it was by Sandra Reemer an Indonesian/Dutch singer. How could we be singing a song that wasn't composed by our countryman?  Although we knew the melody, we didn't know the lyrics. Then there was our National Anthem.  But we couldn't be singing the anthem for amusement.

What about Sing Your Way Home? Was that a Singapore song?  I knew that one. As we racked our heads, I remember songs we taught our children back home. These were, Chan Mali Chan and Di-Tanjong Katong and Rasa Sayang.  I knew them in Malay but they weren't really our songs.  We shared them with our neighbours when we were part of Malaya.

A Dance from Greece

Meanwhile, during the show, some of the students danced so well as they demonstrated their intricate steps and swayed to the rhythm of their own hand clapping.  I remember a rather stout gentleman who was so lithe and vibrant when he did a Greek dance and pranced the floor with his arms outstretched for a good ten minutes.

Others sang their national songs as duets and trios, some with guitars while a few brought their own musical instruments to accompany their singing. The people there were such a talented lot! Poetry recitals in European and Asian languages, short skits that threw us into laughter and even a parade of Shakespearean soliloquies.

Sketch or recital? 

We applauded, looked at each other and gave the three titles to the lady in charge and made preparations to sing it. But here's the strangest part. Up till today, I cannot remember if we ever went up on stage.  I searched for the photographs of this performance but now I am not sure if we sang that evening.  

I found one picture though (image above) and this photo jolted my memory because I realised I did a sketch with this bearded gentleman from an Arab country. He was friendly, quick witted, full of humour and I will never forget what he told me,  "Take pictures, Lim. Immortalise yourself so when you look at them 50 years later you will realise how young you were when you came to Aberdeen." 

In newspaper wrapping

It was such a relief when the night was over. We enjoyed the performances by other nationals, the food and camaraderie.  We became friends and the ice was broken. Ice? We realised, as we left the room, how cold it was as the doors opened.  But the beautiful Scottish air refreshed us. A little foggy perhaps. "Hark when the night is falling, / Hear, hear the pipes are calling..."

With University mates @ Aberdeen University. 

I am with dark glasses. 

On my right and left are students from Hong Kong. 

The two on my far right are from Singapore.

After a good night's rest, we ended up the next morning bright and early outside the university grounds, grouped together and heading for famous Bennachie Hill.  It was the weekend and I had my first genuine fish and chips wrapped up in a newspaper (no not in a five-pound note) at the Fish Market.

On the way to town, I saw this lone figure in front of a castle.  He was the finest bagpiper I've seen, dressed up in the most elaborate Scottish costume and blowing his pipes in the gusty wind.  It was a beautiful sight. "Wild is the wind to meet you, Staunch are the friends that greet you... "

The Lone Bagpiper. Unimaginable.

So you see folks, if you have been complaining about our patriotic songs being played day in, day out and night in, night out on TV, radio and everywhere else before National Day, remember out plight that evening when we had none to sing.  We need these songs as they are representative of Singapore to remind us of our own sunny isle and national heritage.

Of course, we were too proud to tell our Scottish hosts and the other delegates from the other countries that we didn't have folk songs. Singapore was only about seventeen years old then. But today?  Today, we've got plenty and you can "count on me to give my best and more..."  Today we've got the gift of song.

So sing your National Songs this 2017 and belt them out.

Cowdray Hall, Girdle Ness Lighthouse, Bridge of Don, Fish Market.
A 1980's Postcard.

*Haggis is a savoury pudding containing sheep's pluck (heart, liver and lungs); minced with onions, oats, meat, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, traditionally encased in the animal's stomach.

**It has been some time since I left Aberdeen but I still remember the music, moments, places and people, especially lecturer Ms Avis who drove me to London from the university in 12 hours flat when she offered me a ride back in her tiny Ford Fiesta. We only stopped for lunch at noon and had tea in the car. She was about 60 years young when I met her in the early 80's. It's hard to forget a kind lady like Ms Avis. God Bless Her Soul.

1980's Hit Songs in the UK

1    Dexys Midnight Runners: Come On Eileen
2.   Survivor: Eye Of The Tiger
3    Irene Cara: Fame
4    Tight Fit: The Lion Sleeps Tonight
5    Culture Club: Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
10  Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder: Ebony And Ivory

http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1982.shtml

University of Aberdeen, Scotland; British Council Summer Course; U.K., British Council Scholarships; Cultural Night, Scotland; Fish and Chips in Newspapers; Haggis from Scotland, U.K.; Bridge of Don, Scotland; Fish Market, Aberdeen, Scotland; Girdle Ness Lighthouse; Singapore Patriotic Songs; Singapore Heritage, Sung50

Peter Shaffer:

I learnt too, which was actually one of the objectives of going to Aberdeen, about another great playwright. Peter Shaffer was at his peak in the 1980's and reading a play like Equus was certainly an eye-opener for me. 

Teaching Literature at school had been tough and a challenge, so I came with an open mind and learnt the ways of this university professor who tried to put across this piece of art (it wasn't an easy one) to his students in the simplest way possible.

Images: A Personal Collection and Google.