Andy’s 60s Music Reviews Author Eddy Eng’s New Book, ‘An Enchanting Potpourri’

The book cover, with illustrations by KM Encila.

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Enchanting it is! Here's Eddy Eng, with a potpourri of tales ranging from ghost stories, [and these are real ones, experienced by the writer himself, in his home at Emerald Hill], to stories from Singapore's corporate world with pages of his own "divergent views", and as he puts it, "musings". And surprise, surprise, he is also an artist besides being an author. He does oil paintings with framed interpretations of Venice in Italy, Zhangjiajie in China and other scenic adventures he went through during his years as a family man and as a business executive. He dedicates his book specially to his children and brother and lovingly acknowledges his wife Farrah, helping him with countless revisions.

Breezy at one end of the book; seriously different at the other, this author is like a chameleon, changing his writing style from an easy breather to that of a serious corporate lawyer facing the trial judge.

Our author is a ‘south paw’ or left~handed guitarist.

He designs all his chapters with lines from the great ones! Introducing his book, he quotes Janvier Chouteu-Chando, "The vicissitude of life teaches us about our limitations in a world with no guarantees and permanence." He says he's a die-hard believer that form and substance are both equally important and compares a good book to good food, so he fills the pages with colourful illustrations by designer Krystle Mae Encila. And they make up a great menu. The cover illustration [above] is one.

Eddy sings Elvis on board a cruise liner and wows the crowd with his performance.

Now, the reason why he's on this blog. He does not only have a flair for writing and art; Eddy is also a bass guitarist using left-handed guitars. He says that his "passion for music went back to his childhood days" and if it wasn't for his mother, "he would have been a musician or artist". He even went to music school to hone his skill. 

And to top it all, Eddy is also a pop singer. The image shows him rendering an Elvis hit  with, ‘Crying In The Chapel.’ Wow Eddy! What can’t you do?

Eddy has the last words. "This book," he spouts, " is meant to entertain, inform and provoke." So, guys, here's a book that's enchanting and absorbing, written in cheek! Delicious indeed.

Check out Eddy’s book. Read it and make your comments! 

Andy.

EDDYWRITES: 

Where words come alive.

email: EddyWrites 

Mobile:  +65 9117 5551

Sonny & Cher - 'Sing C'est La Vie' (Stereo Remix) YouTube Video by: jacob 6657

According to the author, this oldie has served a purpose in later life when things did not turn out as expected.

Eddy's left-handed guitars, one of which is a bass. He should be on stage soon with such talent and artistry.

He had to serve his army days in Singapore like other citizens do. Eddy [left] puts it, "With the boss inspecting unit parade."

Author, artist, musician, soldier and a corporate executive; Eddy Eng. Thanks, Eddy, for the chat and book. It's really been great meeting you after all these years.

[Eddy has included in the book two of his own two articles from this blog. Do you know which ones?]

Click below to read:

.: A Happy Lunar New 2024: Facing Dragons @ The Gates: 龍門遭遇 By Eddy Eng

.: Beatlemania Becomes Beat Le Mania: By Eddie Eng

Shopping for a ukulele for Farrah. Chosen one with a solid mahagony sound board. Tonal quality is better than my acoustic guitar.

Copyrights Reserved: Most illustrations are from the book.

Quiz: Pop Singers 60s Caricatures: Who Are They?

Can you name these singers? 

Some were top stars from the 50s and 60s onwards.

It's easy to cheat, please don't. 

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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/825566175463652599/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/65794844527770943/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/592716000934172971/

https://www.irancartoon.com/site/daily/caricature/elton-john-daniel-jardim

https://www.pinterest.de/pin/534169205799234990/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/528117493810671257/

https://emfrippemporium.com/artwork/3949207-Little%20Richard%20caricature.html

https://id.pinterest.com/pin/42573158961618229/

https://id.pinterest.com/budihartot/mick-jager/

Images: Google.

Caricatures have connecting sources.

Answers below but published only sometime later:

Little Richard

Mick Jagger 

Cher

Elton John

Paul McCartney

Tina Turner

Carlos Santana

Tom Jones

Celine Dion

Beatlemania Becomes Beat Le Mania: By Eddie Eng

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The Beatles not only brought with them their brand of music but their style of fashion too. From their mop heads to their collarless suits, drainpipe trousers, and unique boots, they were an enigma.  

Eddie Eng tells of his lovely Beatle boots and thick black hair (image below) which he could never style into a mop like the Fab Four, for fear of the school head with the long cane.

Thanks, Eddie. You enjoyed your youth I think.

Beatlemania:

"The Fab Four had tremendous influence in the life of teenage boys in the 60s era. From the accompanying photo, you would notice the ubiquitous boots on my feet. 

Eddie Eng enjoying his youth with Beatle boots but a Tony Curtis hair bob, or near enough 'kiss curl' thrown by Bill Haley. Compared to the mop, these were old hairstyles.

I would have sported their mob hairdo if not for a very strict principal whose purpose-made can once land on my buttocks for a minor transgression. Always immaculately dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt and with a tie, he administered the whizzy stroke with a detached air of professionalism, much like a doctor administering a painful treatment to his young patient. 

It was over in a second and the effect was immediate: humbled and subdued. In self-consolation, I quietly sang to myself on the way back to class  "When things  go wrong, just sing a song..." This oldie "Sing C'est La Vie."  by Sonny and Cher had served a great purpose in later life when things did not turn out my way.  

Music certainly has a therapeutic effect on an afflicted soul."

Article by Eddie Eng.

 

Sonny and Cher with C'est La Vie (1965), 

a song with a Merry Go Round melody. 

Hear it turning round and round. 

"When things go wrong just sing this song
The birds in the trees will sing harmony
Sing C'est La Vie and soon you will see
Your cares will be free just sing, C'est La Vie"
Sonny and Cher.

The BEATLES

Images: A Personal Collection.

Al Hirschfeld Caricatures Pop Singers

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Pop singers, like many celebrities, need to be immortalized. One way is to use caricatures. Al Hirschfeld, to me, is one of the greatest artist of his kind. Below are only a few of his work. He was a Hollywood great.  He must have been a happy and healthy caricaturist; he died at 99.

I used to check out his drawings from US entertainment magazines that I bought in the 50's and 60's and had fun trying to guess who the characters were.  Hirschfeld has become the only artist to have a Broadway theatre named after him.

 Selected at random from Google Images, do you know who these singers are? Most have gone away but some are still around.

What a Wonderful World from Louis Armstrong - 

An Official VIDEO from YouTube.

Hirschfeld’s 1999 picture of Liza Minnelli is his work in color. It is an achievement he often sought i.e. to capture a perfect likeness using minimum lines. He achieved Minnelli’s stance with only a line; his pen never left the page. Similarly with Sammy Davis Jr. above.

Fool On A Hill - Paul McCartney.

YouTube Video 3m014D

                        And the man himself, caricaturist Al Hirschfeld.

If you scored 12 out of 12, that's VERY GOOD but if you got less, you should read my blog more often.😄

Write out the answers on Comment page.

Disclaimer:
There is no intention to profit monetarily from these caricatures by Al Hirschfeld but only to show how he had influenced and entertained many senior Singaporeans who enjoyed his artistic talent. If, for any reason, these pictures are not for publication, please inform blogger by writing on the Comment page.

Images: Al Hirschfeld, Google.

Hillary Clinton's Pop Music Selection

Mrs Clinton's Favourite Songs:

Born in 1947 and graduating from college in 1969 and Yale Law School in 1973,

Hillary Clinton would have gone through the same kind of music and possibly appreciated similar pop stars in the three decades that this blog is familiar with i.e. the 50's, 60's and 70's.  

"I'm a child of the sixties," she told a Philipino audience once. According to Rolling Stone magazine, she grew up with The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who and The Doors. Except for the last group, more of a British influence? 

During her college days in the 1960's she was rockin' and rollin' to King Elvis and Motown's vocal favourites, The Supremes.  Currently, she's supported by top music makers Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Cher, Quincy Jones and screen money spinners like Steven Spielberg, Leonardo Dicaprio and George Clooney, all loved by the 60's and 70's generation of fans and adulators.

The impressive list continues with Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen de Generes, Jamie Lee Curtis (daugher of Tony Curtis), Will Ferrell and J.J. Abrams (Star Wars director).  These are only some of the famous names backing Hillary Clinton for the POTUS seat.

                       Joni Mitchell Chelsea Morning by cowdogmoof

Like the lady she is, Mrs Clinton would definitely love the song, I Am Woman (1971), by Helen Reddy, praising female acts like country and western star Loretta Lynn, today's singers Selena Gomez and Lady Gaga. Naturally, she is all for female empowerment.

She had these power ladies on stage to perform in Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention in July. Carole King, living legend, sang, You've Got A Friend followed by other current pop super stars Kate Perry and Jessica Sanchez.  The theme song for the evening was Stronger Together, written specially for the campaign and the convention. 

According to her, these women are the best at what they do; whether they were fronting soul bands, writing dance anthems and lyrics or crooning ballads about young love and heartbreak, she finds them very impressive and amazing.  She has thirteen special songs to follow her on the campaign trail and include pops by Jennifer Lopez, Marc Antony, Kelly Clarkson and others. 

Wiki biography wrote that the Clintons chose the name Chelsea for their daughter because they love the 1969 Judy Collins pop hit by Joni Mitchell, Chelsea Morning. The name was also inspired by their London visit when they popped into the Chelsea neighbourhood during Christmas in 1979.

Apparently Mrs Clinton has a music playlist on her iPod and they were Respect (1965), by Aretha Franklin, Beautiful Day (2000) by U2, Take It To The Limit (1975) by the Eagles and the Beatles worst number one hit. Could be, Hey Jude (1968). 

She loves Shania Twain's, Man I Feel Like A Woman (1995) and Fleetwood Mac's Landslide (1975). Mrs Clinton enjoys classical music too, depending on her mood.  Songs are effective communicators and below are some of these tongue-in-cheek quips (?) that Mrs Clinton might use:

Love Me Tender (by Elvis Presley): Definitely not to Donald Trump.
It's Now Or Never (by Elvis Presley): To her campaigners all the time.
Stand By Your Man (Tammy Wynette): She did, didn't she?
Promises, Promises (Dionne Warwick): Her supporters after the election.
It Doesn't Matter Any More (Buddy Holly): After 8th November, 2016.

The world will probably know whether she'll be on top of the hit parade come 8th November in 2016 or she will be out of the Hall Of Fame as 45th President of the United States. It's never easy to predict a hit parade chart.

Information from: 
Rolling Stone Magazine, Wikipedia, Websites about Hillary Clinton and her music preferences.

Images: Google. With Elton John, Paul McCartney, Cher and Bill Clinton with Stevie Wonder. Below with Donald and Melanie Trump.
You Tube Video: Joni Mitchell Chelsea Morning by cowdogmoof

NB:
It would be interesting to find out what 60's and 70's pop songs some of our Ministers in charge are listening to and compile individual lists. 

Come on guys, cut the stress and strain. Listen to music more often and tell me what you listen to. Write in soon. 

Latest: 6th November, 2016.

Clinton pop singers supporters use foul language in their lyrics during her campaign. 

Donald Trump was suddenly taken off the stage for security reasons. Secret Service agents took a suspect away from the floor.

Election Singapore and Pop Hits From 60s-70s (An Update: 2020)

Election Day 2020.

This post has been revived to keep up with the coming General Election on 10 July, 2020. This unique polling time will happen during the turbulence of a Corona Virus pandemic where more than 10 million people are suffering from it and about 500,000 have passed away so far.  

The image below shows Dawn Tan, CNA producer during nomination day on 1st July, 2020, anchoring the programme on TV.

This addition to an old post has been done on an iPhone so there is no typing and alignment accuracy.

An appropriate song surely for 2020 General Election: Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me by MAC Davis.

PAST YEARS’ ELECTIONS AND POP HITS CONNECTION

Election Day 2015

The Singapore Parliamentary General Election 2015 will be held on Friday, 11th September. Election fever is high as many people are gearing towards the big day to vote.  Green fields are packed nightly as the crowds throng to these open areas to listen to what candidates for this season are going to rant, chant, promise or present during these hustings.

I am not qualified to write about any election topic since I'm no poli-tikus (Malay: political rat or the coffee-shop humbug; an endearment actually). What I have done for this posting was to connect the Singapore General Election results between 1960's and 1970's with song hits in the same period using four simple tables taken from Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 Singles of 1965, 1968, 1972 and 1976.

1965
Singapore left the Federation of Malaya and became an independent and sovereign nation on 9th August 1965. The Barisan Sosialis boycotted the first session of parliament and on 8th October 1966 announced the resignation of all its nine members, leaving the People's Action Party (PAP) with a monopoly. 

(image from Mun Chor Seng above: monochrome TV showing Pasir Panjang Constituency where PAP candidate Othman Wok had highest votes).

August 7	"I'm Henry VIII, I Am"	Herman's Hermits
August 14	"I Got You Babe"	Sonny & Cher
August 21
August 28
September 4	"Help!"	The Beatles
September 11
September 18

Now let's look at the top tunes for 9th August. Herman (Peter Noone) was at the top of the hit parade, while Mr. LKY couldn't have been singing, "I'm Harry the First, I am," because he had a lot to do then.  Our new MPs in 1965 could have been echoing, "I Got you Babe," when they took over the whole of parliament that year. Jubilation! So were Sonny and Cher.

"Help!" was another top tune n 1965. Did The Beatles movie help in the song's success? Or did it help to sell marijuana?  "A hell of a lot of pot was being smoked while we were making the film. That helped make it a lot of fun," remarked Ringo Starr. 

In Singapore it was otherwise because a total ban and tough stand on marijuana (ganja) and drugs by the anti-narcotics bureau, under the direction of the government, kept the island clean. "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (1967) and "Yellow Submarine" (1966) were banned. Was "Help"?

April 13	"Honey"	Bobby Goldsboro
April 20
April 27
May 4
May 11
May 18	"Tighten Up"	Archie Bell & the Drells
May 25
June 1	"Mrs. Robinson"	Simon & Garfunkel
June 8
June 15

1968
Singapore held its first general election as an independent nation on 13th April 1968, with the PAP taking all parliamentary seats in 58 constituencies and garnering 84.4 percent of total votes cast. 

Garnering all the parliamentary seats was a winning gold for the People's Action Party with a pot of honey as the prize. By coincidence, on the hit parade, Goldsboro's "Honey" hit gold too, for five consecutive weeks.  This song is still a personal favourite. Some friends considered the song too boring. Like in parliament; who's going to debate with whom?

While sensuous Mrs Robinson became as popular on record with Simon n Garfunkel and won Grammy Awards, the movie, The Graduate won Academy Awards as well.  When the film was shown in Singapore, the hot topic was its "sexiness". Middle-aged Bancroft pulled up her skirt, revealed her legs and showed them to a young under-grad. And it was sexy? Well, it happened in the last century. Made Dustin Hoffman a super star.

Who's Archie Bell?

1972
Five opposition parties – the Barisan Sosialis, the Workers’ Party, the People’s Front, the United National Front and Pertubohan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura (PKMS) – contested the next general election held on 2nd September 1972.

The ruling PAP campaigned on its record of effective government and repeated its success by again taking all 65 parliamentary seats, representing 69.02 percent of total votes cast. Did Parliament House whisper, "Baby don't get hooked on me." Mac Davis did.

September 2	"Alone Again (Naturally)"	Gilbert O'Sullivan
September 9
September 16	"Black and White"	Three Dog Night
September 23	"Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me"	Mac Davis
September 30
October 7
October 14	"Ben"	Michael Jackson
October 21	"My Ding-a-Ling"	Chuck Berry
October 28

On the same September 2nd, O'Sullivan made his hit. I still prefer his other song, "Clair" but then "Alone Again, (Naturally)" was appropriate. Like the MPs in 1972 who were alone again, naturally, won all seats.  The hit songs those years seemed to have been mysteriously reflecting the MPs battle cries.

If you look at the chart above, Three Dog Night came afterwards with Black and White. I love it with its simple rhythmic and repetitive lyrics.  Like a lot of advertisement jingles the message delivers. But Berry's, *"My Ding-A-Ling" is extremely naughty. On the other hand MJ's "Ben" is a real tear-jerker. Even today, it hits the heart like a ton of cement.

I

These songs were my choices but by September 1972 and in my own personal interest I decided to get serious with my studies. With two other selected candidates I left for New Zealand in February 1973, under a Colombo Plan Scholarship. 

How appropriate the song because the course we attended had students from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Fiji and NZ:

The ink is black, the page is white 
Together we learn to read and write 
A child is black, a child is white 
The whole world looks upon the sight 
A beautiful sight.

In NZ three other hits from 1972 stayed glued in my mind, even up till today because these songs were played practically every day and every where in Wellington. Beautiful Sunday, Me and Mrs Jones, Killing Me Softly With His Song and Mother and Child Reunion. Only Roberta Flack's Killing Me is a '73 song.

1976
After I came home from Kiwiland it was election time again and another winning streak for the ruling folks. The PAP repeated its success in the 1976 general election held on 23rd December when it won all 53 seats uncontested, thus sweeping all 69 parliamentary seats. The party’s share of the popular vote increased to 72.4 percent.  By then I was involved in my work with young adults and hardly had time for political chats and popular songs.

November 13	"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"	Rod Stewart
November 20
November 27
December 4
December 11
December 18
December 25

Coming back to the number one song in December that year, Stewart's hit could have mimicked the joyous atmosphere during an evening's celebration by the ruling party (if they had one that evening) and, "Tonight's the night, gonna be alright!" Like the dominant Stewart with his only pop hit those seven weeks (see chart), the same political group held the fort for another four years.

The following general election after 1976 was on 23 December, 1980 and beyond the period of this blog and its pop song coverage.

So there you are dear readers. If you remember a song to connect with a particular election year and an incident you remember, do write in. Especially if it was between 1960 and 1980.

On the evening of 11th September 2015, you will sing with a special joy because, that night's "the night" when the results are out and everything's "gonna be alright" for the next five years. Hopefully!

So please vote wisely on 9/11. Remember once you vote there is no, "Lagi sekali (one more time)".


“This above all: to thine own self be true, 
And it must follow, as the night the day, 
Thou canst not then be false to any man.” 
- William Shakespeare, 'Hamlet'

Sources:

You Tube Video by: J.K.elley

Images: Google and Mun Chor Seng (copyrights).

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_549_2004-12-28.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_number-one_singles_of_1965

*NB: It is possible that some of the above songs were banned in Singapore those years and would not have been played on air. Let me know.

An original article.

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SLIP NOTE
NEWS FLASH
11th September, 2015.

Polling Day Today:

9/11 and those eligible are going to cast their votes today. Lines of people who wish to go early were ready with their identity cards or passports and polling slips this morning as the special stations all over the island were opened at 8.00 am to receive the more than 2.4 million Singaporeans.

Election Results:

The outcome of the GE2015 will be made known after 8.00 pm tonight on local TV and other media outlets.  Check it out.

Latest News:
12.09.2015.

The ruling pop group hits the right notes and won the Award again by winning most of the seats in the Singapore Parliamentary Elections 2015. Congratulations to the People's Action Party and PM Lee Hsien Loong.