Thanks to Horace Wee with his eidetic memory, and a heart to share his stories with me. It's one of 7 to 8 parts in a series. So, sit tight...
A child born in the turbulence of a World War and the Japanese invasion of South- East Asia, time may have dimmed many memories. Yet I still recall short vivid flashes of vision and sound from those early years. Rose syrup sunsets at Port Dickson when my father perched me on the veranda railings and my aunt rattling a bamboo pole to chase away a “musang” (wild cat). The rumbling sounds of British military vehicles on a road in Kuala Lumpur/Malaya after the Japanese surrender and the long hot trip by rail to Singapore.
Returning to the British Colonial administration of Singapore, streets were rather chaotic. Vendors with push carts, makeshift stalls or just baskets were everywhere. The music trends were still reminiscent of the pre-war era. Crooners such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Eddie Fisher, cowboy singers Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Rosemary Clooney, Patti Page, Doris Day, Patsy Kline, Loretta Lynn, the Andrew Sisters and many others were popular with songs like Cruising Down The River, Truly Truly Fair, Doggie in the Window.
The professional musicians who had joined the Japanese Syonan orchestra returned to playing at live entertainment venues. For cheap entertainment, the public flocked to amusement parks like The Great, Happy World and New World where one would find stalls selling everything from household goods, snacks, and simple games such as an air rifle shooting gallery. Occasional trade fairs offered more choices. At times, a female vocalist singing in Mandarin would permeate through the crowd noise.
On warm evenings, with the scent of the sea along the East Coast Road, many would head for the seaside at the end of Bedok. Rows of carts lit by hurricane and carbide lamps [image] would be serving local delicacies like “rojak” [image: local shrimp paste tossed salad] and toasted cuttlefish served with spicy sauces.
11 comments:
It's great Horace to have such wonderful memories. Please feel free to share them with us especially when some of us shared similar experiences but have forgotten them to the annals of time. Well done mate
Wah! Long time never read that word “eidetic”. I used to have a fairly eidetic memory. Now it’s just elderly.
Musicians tend to be more eidetic because they memorise stuff all the time.
Thanks CEDRIC and IRENE; one a full flight musician; the other a full flight journalist. Appreciate your comments. We're listening. 👍😊
Brilliant Journalism, as always from Mr Horace Wee, our Little Nation Island State's well known Multi-instrumentalist, Vocalist & All Round Nice Guy of the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond.👍🏼🙏🏼🫡
He’ll love you for life and seek you out to buy you many lunches and dinners 😂
Andy, Our Dear Friend ! Just to add a little more to my Horace Wee quote :- according to stories told to us by my late dad Fancis Joseph Bangar (he who was responsible for putting 'Music' into me & my siblings) who passed on at the age of 46 in the wee hours of 09/08/1970 (our National Day) due to heart failure : while in captivity by the Japanese Soldiers in the early 1940s and just to survive, he learnt a few Japanese tunes and serenaded them with his guitar. They nicked-named him 'Bando' - would You believe it !😃
Thanks so much Michael for sharing this very touching story about your dad. A good and brave man indeed, to be able to face danger and sing. God Bless His Soul.
[Michael has many stories to tell as a musician and they are on this blog. Do check him out under MICHAEL BANGAR on the CONTENT LIST]
A nice nostalgic piece by Horace. Although I was born post-war (baby boomer), I grew up listening to the very music and songs mentioned in his article. Looking forward to reading more contributions from Horace.
JIMMY, a percussionist yourself, you are familiar with Singapore’s music scene. Thanks for supporting this blog all these years. JIMMY CHNG has many music tales to tell also and his name is under the CONTENT LIST. Please check him out
Those were the days when a Malay Ronggeng area existed and shops were scattered within the compounds of Happy World; restaurants and a cinema (Sky) could be found at the Great World, and as Mr. Wee mentioned, many singers were entertaining at the New World. The 50s were better than the 60s before the great British Invasion and Elvis was still a young man.
Up to 500 views for this post by Horace Wee, in less than a day, is a record indeed! As good as Shanti Pereira's Gold at the recent Asian Games 2026 in Japan?😊👍🎶💗
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