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She has one of the most powerhouse voices in local 60's pop music history. With her trademark Dutch, Indonesian electrifying 'r' consonant pronunciation and pretty sparkling eyes, you remember her as Anneke.
At 76 another pop singer from the 60's has passed away. Anneke Gronloh famous for her hit song, Boeroeng Kakak Tua, Nina Bobo, Asmara (Love) and a cover Mama He's Making Eyes At Me, died, according to news items, of a lung ailment. Altogether, especially in Europe and South East Asia, she was a huge success and sold millions of records.
I have always loved her singing on the first vinyl record I bought, the one that brought her accolades in our local pop 60's scene, with the four magical Indonesian folk songs: Boeroeng Kaka, Nina Bobo, Bengawan Solo and O, o, o, Papadja. This combination on one Extended Play vinyl was a commercial success, cleverly packaged to please both young and old.
Nearly every lady singer who appears in a 60's music show in Singapore would go on stage to perform Gronloh's Boeroeng Kakak Tua with the unending Lechrum, lechrum, letchrum, ooh, la, la. Even little children sing this refrain everywhere. She was loved by many of her fans, even today.
Ms Gronloh was hugely popular in Singapore and the East and had been a regular visitor on this island many times, with the late Blue Diamonds brothers, Ruud and Riem de Wolff, pop singers on their own merit and just as successful. And their favourite stay-place was the Goodwood Park Hotel. They formed a great team these three Indonesian/Dutch friends (an LP with the Hotel facade below).
Strange that two of my grandchildren and I were singing Burung Kakak only last week at home as we shouted in unison the famous refrain.
Rest in Peace, sweet Anneke. I have more than 20 of your English, Indonesian and Dutch Long Plays, Singles and EP's so it'll be Anneke Gronloh remembrance night for us at home.
Condolences to her family.
Check this one out:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2009/05/images-of-anneke-gronloh-and-blue.html
Images: Google and a Personal Collection.
Video: YouTube.
My own personal collection of Anneke EPs. Lovely to look at and mostly in mint condition.
She has one of the most powerhouse voices in local 60's pop music history. With her trademark Dutch, Indonesian electrifying 'r' consonant pronunciation and pretty sparkling eyes, you remember her as Anneke.
At 76 another pop singer from the 60's has passed away. Anneke Gronloh famous for her hit song, Boeroeng Kakak Tua, Nina Bobo, Asmara (Love) and a cover Mama He's Making Eyes At Me, died, according to news items, of a lung ailment. Altogether, especially in Europe and South East Asia, she was a huge success and sold millions of records.
I have always loved her singing on the first vinyl record I bought, the one that brought her accolades in our local pop 60's scene, with the four magical Indonesian folk songs: Boeroeng Kaka, Nina Bobo, Bengawan Solo and O, o, o, Papadja. This combination on one Extended Play vinyl was a commercial success, cleverly packaged to please both young and old.
Ms Gronloh was hugely popular in Singapore and the East and had been a regular visitor on this island many times, with the late Blue Diamonds brothers, Ruud and Riem de Wolff, pop singers on their own merit and just as successful. And their favourite stay-place was the Goodwood Park Hotel. They formed a great team these three Indonesian/Dutch friends (an LP with the Hotel facade below).
Rest in Peace, sweet Anneke. I have more than 20 of your English, Indonesian and Dutch Long Plays, Singles and EP's so it'll be Anneke Gronloh remembrance night for us at home.
Condolences to her family.
Check this one out:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2009/05/images-of-anneke-gronloh-and-blue.html
Video: YouTube.
One the greatest indonesian singers
ReplyDeleteOne of the greatest indonesian singers
ReplyDeleteOne of the greatest indonesian singers
ReplyDeleteI remember the song she made famous in Singapore BURONG KAKA TUA. Everybody seemed to be singing it or humming it.
ReplyDeleteRIP ANNEKE GRONLOH
When we talk about the BLUE DIAMONDS it's automatic we come to recall ANNEKE GRONLOH.
ReplyDeleteI mean, I do.
Anneke is my equivalent to HELEN SHAPIRO of the UK during our era.
She is dynamic, love her fast evergreens, HALO, HALO, OH PAPA DJA, and of course BURONG KAKA TUA not forgetting sentimental ones like NINA BOBO, ASMARA and OH MALAYSIA and many more that were top of the local charts.
A great singer.
ReplyDeleteI only remember her song ASMARA which was one of my favourite song of hers.
ReplyDeleteRIP. MEMORIES OF A GREAT SINGER.
ReplyDeleteRIP Anneke, most of us old farts grew up on your music.
ReplyDeleteOh so sad. I remember her. Used to sing her songs when I was a child.
ReplyDeleteIndustri Muzik Melayu kehilangan sebutir mutiara dalam dunia seni Muzik Melayu.
ReplyDeleteTakziah dari saya dan PERKAMUS.
Anneke Groloh: we have never heard these two names together or separately before or since. Except on her.
ReplyDeleteVery unique names.
Hi Andy,
ReplyDeleteSo sad of her passing, I'll remember her best for her song, ASMARA.
Anneke Gronloh was one of the first European to popularize Indonesian songs in South East Asia with her string of hits.
ReplyDeleteHer rendition of songs like ASMARA was just mesmerizing and enjoyed by a generation of baby boomers.
So sad, end of an era.
Thank you all for the comments. People are asking me why I waste so much time doing this blog. I told them personally. If I hadn't I would probably be suffering from dementia by now and 6 feet underground earlier than any of the singers I have written about.
ReplyDeleteSo keep those comments coming guys. Don't do stuff just for money. Do it for fun and frolic, especially at my age. Can you bring all that wealth you have when you are gone?
Very sad to hear.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite singers in my youth days. Well, that's a life cycle: start point, journey and end point.
RIP... Did she return to Holland?
Sad to be informed by my friend, Andy Young that Anneke Gronloh passed away. I can still recall her first concert at the Singapore Badminton Hall with The Blue Diamonds in the early 60's. I also remember vividly her solo performance with the Dutch Swing College Band.
ReplyDeleteShe was a pretty woman and she looked so beautiful in sarong and kebaya. RIP Anneke Gronloh.Your legacy of Boeroeng Kaka will be in your fans’ heart and mind.
Google search. She died on 14th Sept. & will be buried in France. Tribute to AG she was a Dutch singer. RIP
ReplyDeleteRIP to a legendary singer.
ReplyDeleteRIP Anneke
ReplyDeleteSteve
Anneke is not only popular for her songs. She sparked a fashion trend then with her sarong kebaya outfit. Almost every fashionable female would have the outfit sewn in Indonesian batik - just like the way she wore it. I had a couple made too.
ReplyDeleteToday we still refer to it as the sarong kebaya Anneke Gronloh style.
RIP Anneke!
Singer Anneke Gronloh has died:
ReplyDeleteThe Dutch singer Anneke Gronloh passed away on the 14th September at the age of 76.. One of her famous songs was OH MALAYSIA.
In 2000, Gronloh was named SINGER OF THE CENTURY because of the record-breaking sales of BRANDEND ZAND (which is the Dutch version of OH MALAYSIA.)
Another thank you to friends and readers of this blog for the comments above. There was a deluge of mail about her passing within the last 12 hours or so.
ReplyDeleteThe ones especially interesting are about a person's life cycle, her year 2000 title, her appearance at the Badminton Hall and famous sarong kebaya outfit which flamed a fashion trend in the 60's.
Many more Anneke fans out there, especially the ladies. Come on.
Met her when we did Rolling Times. She looked stunning in her sarong kebaya.
ReplyDeleteGrew up with her songs. She also had a wonderful personality..Her songs will live on. Rest in peace Aneka.
Met her when we did Rolling Times. She looked stunning in her sarong kebaya.
ReplyDeleteGrew up with her songs. She also had a wonderful personality..Her songs will live on. Rest in peace Aneka.
Interesting to note the number of comments about the late ANNEKE GRONLOH on the blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for posting, especially friends from other media sources. I didn't get one from FB. This posting could have been overshadowed by other ones and the reports from newspapers in Europe, etc.
Thank you, Francis. An honour indeed to have you on the blog. Do write when you're free.
Until today my band THE DUKES still plays NINA BOBO (instrumental) and sing ASMARA in cha-cha tempo.
ReplyDeleteWe will miss her voice and her charm.
May she rest in peace.
WITHIN JUST A DAY, THIS POSTING HAS BEEN READ BY MORE THAN 2,400 PEOPLE.
ReplyDeleteIT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW POPULAR MS GRONLOH IS, EVEN IN DEATH.
RIP DEAR ANNEKE.
We grew up on her music as our parents were big fans, back in the day. My dad had her music on tape, if I recall. The passing of an era. RIP.
ReplyDeleteWe know so little of her life since the heady 60s.
Thank you AREND for writing in.
ReplyDeleteYour comment just cements the very essence of the pop era during the "heady 60's" and the recordings of "music on tape".
Wishing you and your dad many more years of pops from our Golden Age.
To Zainal, terima kaseh. I can imagine ASMARA in cha-cha tempo. Hot!
She had her signature bee hive hair style in the 60s...would remember her vividly for Burung Kakak Tua, Bengawan solo...RIP
ReplyDeleteRIP SALUTE!
ReplyDeleteGood comments on your blog.
ReplyDeleteI know the song Burong for sure but didn't know who sang it. I was a kid I guess.
Now I know. Good to do a bossa nova rendition, happy and modern touch.
Just thought a good song can always be revived in different ways. Once music is recorded, it's forever there.
It will always be discovered by people along the way at different times and occasions. The wonderful part of music.
I remember n still sing her song Asmara
ReplyDelete"Burung Kakak Tuah" fame. RIP
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I hear Anneke's singing, Andy (though it's too late now).
ReplyDeletePowerful vocals n great showmanship; spritely n engaging... no wonder she's an international star with a well-known label.
May she RIP.
In early 1972, she was here with Fab Blue Diamonds.I had their autographs. I ve to search for it now.RIP Anneke & The Blue Diamonds.
ReplyDeleteI love your songs. RIP.
ReplyDeleteAnneke Gronloh had won the hearts of music lovers in the region. Her beautiful renditions of favourite folk songs and evergreens made her popular amongst her fans.
ReplyDeleteI had the opportunity to meet her in 1994 when we performed in the TVproduction of ROLLIN GOOD TIMES at the Indoor Stadium. She was a very friendly lady and we chatted like we knew each other for decades.
Incidentally, the BLUE DIAMONDS, SAKURA TENG and ANITA SARAWAK were in the same show which was an evening to remember.
Hi Andy,
ReplyDeleteDoes your Anneke Gronloh collection include her version of the Crystals song Da Doo Ron Ron'? Anneke sings it in Malay, which is pretty special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrNx6GxSSwI
There is a Dutch version as well.
Regards
Steve
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteHow are you?
No, I don't own a copy.
Do you have two copies then, to exchange?
To others who commented:
That's a beautiful tribute, Henry. Thanks, mate.
And thank you to all the other readers who paid tribute to our lady Anneke.
Her fans are fantastic. After only two days of posting, her viewers have amounted to nearly 4,000, another record-breaking post.
And many comments too in 2 days plus.
I think many of our Pioneer and Merdeka Generations here are familiar with Anneke and her songs. In my kampong days in the early sixties, my cousin had a few Anneke's vinyl records and he would play them on his portable radiogram. Oh, it's sad to hear that she has left us all of a sudden ! We will always remember her through her works.
ReplyDeleteHi FL,
ReplyDeleteI heaved a sigh of relief when I saw your mail just now.
So this is an immediate reply.
I don't know you but only by the initials FL and it became a bit worrying when you didn't write in about Anneke Gronloh, not that I think you must, but because you are one of my earliest readers who is exemplary and provide accurate information about our local music from the 60's. I even searched on SPAM to find your name yesterday, just in case.
Honest truth. No BS. That's how much I respect my wonderful, regular readers.
Thanks again, FL. As usual, always appreciate your views and sincere comments.
Until you write again.
Hi, Andy, many thanks indeed for your nice comments about me. Much appreciated, Sir. I am a PG citizen. I started listening to popular music and songs as early as around 10 years old ! Through your blog, I also learn a lot from other experienced contributors to your blog. Cheers !
ReplyDeleteOh My Goodness,
ReplyDeleteYou are from PG, that's Penang?
I was there with the family about 3 years ago.
Lovely place your island. Been there a few times.
And Georgetown with it Heritage Place is fantastic,
the train, etc.
Again, terima kaseh banyak2 FL for your kind support.
Thanks to your acknowledgement.
ReplyDeleteIt's been doing the rounds again, so I thought some may not have seen this clip!!
Have a great week Andy!!
Thanks to all QUESTS FACEBOOK readers for supporting this ANNEKE GRONLOH post.
ReplyDeleteSTEPHEN HAN
JIMMY APPUDURAI-CHUA
HO VICTOR
HIROSHI DEGUCHI
ALPHONSO SOOSAY
ROSE KHOO
FRANK TAN
HERMAN LEE
PETER LIM
CHARLIE YAP LOCOMOTION
ANUAR ABUZAR
ARSHAD KADER
TONY WONG
PATRICK TENG
HUANG POH LO
TAN SOO KHOON
HAJI ZAINAL ABIDIN
ZEN TAKAHAMA
Oops! Sorry Andy, I mean I am from the Pioneer Generation (PG) born in SGP, la ! Hahaha ! This is the term given by our Govt for citizens born before 1950.
ReplyDeleteMy fault FL for not realising. Yes, I am too, PG from SG. Same category.
ReplyDeleteApologies.
Honestly, thank you for your support.
PG of a feather, flock together.
And ZEN TAKAHAMA with Japanese blood roots.
Thanks too for reading my blog.