Carrie Fisher: Star Wars, Debbie Reynolds: Tammy

28th December - Carrie Fisher RIP
29th December - Debbie Reynolds RIP

Movie actress Carrie Fisher, Star Wars Princess Leia Organa, has passed on. She died of a heart attack. She was the daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. Ms Reynolds also died the next day during Fisher's funeral preparation.

Since this blog is about 60's music, it is only fair that her parents are discussed.

Her father was a famous singer in the 50's and 60's and the song, Oh My Papa,made him a big hit in the U.S.  Debbie Reynolds was a movie star in her own rights, having acted in a movie called, Tammy and making the song with the same name internationally known.

As a lover of western music, which made such a great impact in former British Colony Singapore, Eddie Fisher was just as famous here for his crooning and easy style making hit after hit in the 50's. 

Wife Debbie Reynolds, too, like Doris Day was a hit with both the men and ladies. Little known then that their child Carrie Fisher would carry on from the 70's onward as a mega star herself.

Senior Singaporeans who are still around and remember Fisher and Reynolds have only this to say of them, "They were just as famous as their daughter. Listening to them during radio programmes after WW2 was total entertainment then."

                                  A Ned Nickerson Presentation

Her song hits and movies were so well regarded that many folks would turn up at the cinemas to watch shows. Now, just as youthful as ever Senior Singaporeans are searching the Net to watch Ms Reynolds' movies and listening to her songs again. 

The grandchildren will ask, "Who's she?" 
And grandma will reply, "I think she's the mother of Princess Leia."
"Oh we know Princess Leia. Hey grandma you're cool."

It is a sad occasion indeed for such a famous Hollywood family to have two deaths in a row. We send them condolences.

RIP Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher.

Star Wars Theme. Carrie Fisher Debbie Reynolds

We all know that no promotion is necessary for Star Wars, especially for Rogue One. This posting is definitely not one of them. Here's a short take about the theme song, so read on:

You Tube Video: Star Wars Theme from Coltsrock56.

The Influence:
The popularity of the Star Wars franchise is phenomenal. Gripping the world since the series appeared, the movies have made more money than many other epic space-theme blockbusters. Similarly in Singapore, that has a zillion film buffs, Star Wars is truly a force that may be with us for many years to come.

For me, I became aware of the movie when I caught the bug, possibly at the Odeon Cinema at North Bridge Road around the late 70's.  The fever caught on as the itch for this space opera with the world spread. 

But strangely, I didn't collect the plastic characters that came along, nor the colorful books that accompanied the movies at the cinema lobbies. The costumes on sale didn't attract me either. I just love the Star Wars theme song and the panorama of its music.

                                   

The Theme Music:
In many of the postings on this blog where I try to explain the influence of western music on our own Singapore music, Star Wars Theme has the same magic on its listeners. And like many young people who love music, my own grand children became familiar with John Williams' magnum opus and love it.

And when the SSO, in a 2013 Concert had on its list to feature it, my grandson and I rushed to Woodlands Polytechnic (that's far for us) to catch Jason Lai conducting the piece. 

Whether it's Wagner's operas, modernist orchestral writing or whatchamacallit that had influenced the music, many a child, adult or alien have been mesmerized by its spectacular introductory bars and beautiful scoring. No classical music knowledge needed here because we all know great melodies when we hear one. Telstar (The Ventures), E.T. and Stanley Kubrick's Space Odyssey 2001 (Presley Theme) are two.

                              The Series:
My two sons saw the whole series, talked about them, bought the collectibles, bought the light sabers and re-told the stories to their kids. Their children, heard the stories, collected the lot again and bought the improved version of the whew, whew. I guess this cycle is on repeat mode everywhere in the world.

Whatever, it's the theme music that will live on in everyone's mind and not the paraphernalia that comes with it. Remember the theme songs for Love Story, the James Bond series, Hawaii Five-0, Mission: Impossible?  Can you really remember the plot of each movie? Or are the tunes clearer in your mind?

What do you say?

A long time ago in a galaxy not too far away, there was a Small Red Dot..."

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Images: A Private Collection; Google.
You Tube Video: Star Wars Theme from Coltsrock56.
Click Josh n Grampa Label below to read Star Wars concert rush.

Disclaimer: 
This posting is a personal recollection and is not promoting the movie or franchise. Any copyrights infringement, please inform and post will be deleted.