Singapore 60's Music Siva Choy: Incredibly Gifted Intellectual. 'Why You So Like That?' By Old Bloke.

Siva Choy: 'Why You So Like Dat?'

50,000 vinyl copies sold.

https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/artist-detail/music/11659-choy-siva

    UP TO 250 VIEWS   

34 CHATS, COMMENTS

There are many moments when I find a rush going to my head; that there are generous people out there who write positively about others but yet do not reveal who they are. Old Bloke is one. Thank you for writing this piece about Siva Choy. Singapore 60s Music fans will ever be grateful for this gem of a write-up about him. 

"There'll never be another Siva Choy. And the world will be a poorer place for it.

The most apt description I've ever heard of Siva was while jovially chatting with a mutual good friend, now gone too - Zul Sultan of Tania. It was, "genius bordering on madman".

Our paths first crossed in 1982. Three years later, I returned to Singapore after being overseas and thus started an almost 40 year friendship, mentorship and the rare chance to be with an incredibly gifted intellectual. The year was 1986, he and I were in a bar, The Ancient Mariner off Adam Road, me with my orange juice (I'm a teetotaller) him with his beer. I'll never forget it. 

MC Siva C ft. Kopi Kat Klan: Why U So Like Dat? 

YouTube Video by: Famous or Forgotten Mu

I was 27 and he was about 38 going on 39 and gave me some sage advice; "Try to accomplish as much as you can by 40 because the years between now and then will disappear in the blink of an eye." It was one of the rare moments in my life I actually listened to someone and followed his advice relentlessly. I've always been grateful.

I'll never forget it, the rap song and comedy album "Why You So Like Dat," sold 50,000 copies. The newspapers and local music industry described it as "staggering". I witnessed him producing it. 

"Siva Choy is brilliant but incredibly humble."

Do I miss the many late night discussions, the many tears (admittedly all mine), the jokes, the nights where he was always invited on stage to sing with Zul and Tania, when we feasted on my horrendous cooking, laughed and joked with each other? Yes and no. What I miss most is his intellect and the deep conversations we had about everything and anything. He was a well read scholar but he knew the life of academia wasn't for him.

The most amazing thing about Siva I found was that for all his talent, ingenuity, creativity, intellect and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say it - brilliance, he was incredibly humble; frustratingly so in fact. He did everything possible to avoid the limelight. I miss him.

There'll never be another Siva Choy. And the world will be a poorer place for it. I amongst many certainly feel his loss."

Author: Old Bloke. 

13th April, 2024.

Readers can connect to other posts about Siva Choy by clicking his name under Labels below.