Hungry Ghosts Festival: Singapore's Halloween, Devil Woman

    BE WARNED.  GRAPHIC PICTURES    

MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN.

Cliff Richard's Version: Devil Woman. 

Beware, the devil woman... evil eyes. 

Official version.

 UP TO 3,500 VIEWS

20 PLUS COMMENTS

My memory of the 60's does not bring back the frightening fun of Halloween because not many locals knew about it like they do today. It was confined amongst the Caucasian households while many Chinese homes followed the religious 7th Moon or Hungry Ghosts Festival where spooks and demons were the order of the season. And this year it's this month of August from the 3rd...

Again, my tale is not of haunted hospitals at Changi, the lady ghost at Bishan's MRT nor the kampong spirit at Bidadari that we read about in the newspapers but a psychological trauma I experienced as a child that even troubles me to this day (or night).

As a young boy, I had always been petrified and disturbed by an old folktale about skin coloured bats hanging upside-down from tree branches.

The Kalong Wheh-Wheh (above) is supposed to be a giant bat with a horrendous female face and large breasts.  Don't think of glamorous superhero Bat Girl here. Think more bat-like Pontianaks!

Devil woman you're evil like the dark coral reef

Like the winds that bring high tides, you bring sorrow and grief. (1)

These creatures hook themselves on wayside tree branches that grow along Singapore's old roads and dusty lorongs (lanes) in the 60s.  But here's something else. They only appear at twilight, symbolically a time and condition of decline.

So as darkness falls in Singapore these giant bats fill the evening sky and swarm onto large trees. Loud cries of "Wheh! Wheh! Wheh!" fill the air as they seek the comfort of the high shady greens.

"Be careful," my mother used to warn me, "the creatures spy on young children who are still not home for dinner when the clock strikes six. Be out there and you're in trouble!"

How they victimize their human prey is still a mystery to me. Mum never went beyond her horror story and left the rest to my imagination.

She did, however, explain that these giant human-like bats originated from Indonesia. Bat is kalong in the Indonesian language.

Apparently, they are also known as *Hantu Tetek (ghosts with breasts: image 2) in local Malay slang.  She uses them to suffocate her victims while others claim they are behind her. Others insist she is a Balinese witch.

"She doesn't suck your blood," mum emphasised, "but wrap you up close to her soft body and fly you away..."  By this time my whole being slumped in fear and my heart thumped with cemetery-like precision.

"OK mum, I won't be late for dinner."

She smiled.

Wonder if these creatures are still around today in our modern metropolis. The strange repeated occurrence of trees that fall during rainstorms in the evenings... Hmm!

It doesn't matter whether it's a Chinese ghost, English ghost or Malay ghost. They are ghosts! So be careful.

If you have Hantu Halloween Horrors, Hantu or Hungry Ghosts stories to contribute, please do.

She's just a devil woman
With evil on her mind
Beware the devil woman
She's gonna get you from behind. (2)

Careful of Hungry Ghosts everywhere. 
Don't play, play! Better pray, pray!

In South East Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia, the 7th Month Festival is when the Hungry Ghosts wander the streets.

Lyrics

1. Devil Woman: by Johnny Lion.
2. Devil Woman: by Cliff  Richard.

Images: Google.
http://draculavanhelsing.blogspot.sg
An original article.

Johnny Lion and The Jumping Jewels with Devil Woman. video by Donald Duck.

Images: Google
You Tube Videos: by Donald Duck and Peter Tan.

               Getai Show @ Bukit Batok Getai Seven Month Hungry Ghost Prayer

Pop Stars Could Not Perform In Singapore In 1970s

Can you guess who the pop stars on the left are before you read this article?

When eight international pop stars agreed to perform here in the late 1970s nobody wanted to sponsor them. According to a newspaper report these event companies in Singapore were not familiar with the western pop music world  and refused to bring them in.

Apparently none of the show promoters knew who these stars were when the list was provided as a reference. It is surprising because the singers and groups were the biggest names in show-biz and included: Elvis Costello, Linda Rondstadt, Manhatten Transfer, David Gates, Bread and imagine, even Eagles and Rod Stewart. Still don't know who's who, or do you?

These stars had concerts around the region in 1978 and were scheduled to appear in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan but some nightclubs and local promoters remarked that they had never heard of these most sought-after artistes. Others on the list were Shaun Cassidy, Bette Midler, country and western singers England Dan and John Fort Coley.

But some event companies denied the allegation explaining that they would not engage these stars because of problems with the local authorities.

According to them some of these artistes would be denied entry because of their hair length, considering past instances when top-notch super groups like the Bee Gees, Middle of the Road and Led Zeppelin were asked to leave immediately unless they had their manes cropped at Paya Lebar Airport itself.

Countering this argument a spokesman from a record company mentioned that groups like Manhatten Transfer were clean-cut, neat and wore the best suits in town.

Furthermore most of the artistes mentioned had record releases in Singapore and would charge less than S$20,000 for a show that included back-up singers, a full band and sound-system.  It was business sense to engage them. (Today it would probably cost half a million Sing dollars!)



Whatever the reason we will never know.  Perhaps these show promoters were familiar only with our local stars and those from Malaysia and Hong Kong?  Anyone with an answer?

Images: providec by Google except  the picture on the right which is from a private collection.

Information: from The Straits Times, Singapore.

If you still don't know, here are the answers: Manhatten Transfer (Pic 1), David Gates, Bread (Pic 2), Rod Stewart (Pic 3), Eagles (Pic 4) Linda Rondstadt (Pic 5), Heather and Thunderbirds (Pic 6).

If you enjoyed reading this article click to this one: http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2009/03/blog-post_24.html

In Singapore: Clapton, Santana, Eagles, McLean, Pointer Sisters, Buble, Jackson And Counting...

It's a bumper harvest in February and March 2011. There will be eight, yes eight, live performances by 60s and 70s music top guns in Singapore. Eric Clapton, The Eagles, Santana and Don McLean will appear these few months to take audiences back with music of yesteryears. Some of them will also be playing their new releases.
Eric Clapton:

Fans can scream his hits, Layla, I Shot The Sheriff, Wonderful Tonight, Tears In Heaven with ease. Basically a blues guitarist, he ranks 4th in the Gibsons' Top 50s Guitarist Of All Times. At 65, he's still king of the pack and started off with The Yardbirds and Cream in 1965. Grief stricken, he recorded Tears In Heaven around 1991 when his son passed away in an accident.

The Eagles:

This group's all time hit, Hotel California is so popular that the introductory guitar riffs are immediately recognisable by Eagles fans. From Desperado, Tequila Sunrise, Easy Feeling, Witchy Woman, Lyin' Eyes to Life In The Fast Lane, this group is one of the most successful in the 70s. Forty years on, they are still touring the world with a brand new song book.

Santana:

Carlos Santana and his namesake band made themselves so pop that they won 13 Grammys to date. From salsa, jazz fusion and latin rock, this man mesmerised the world with his finger-boggling guitar skill when they witness him on stage. Abraxas, Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Evil Ways, Soul Sacrifice, You Just Don't Care are just some of the songs in their albums.

Don McLean, Michael Buble, Janet Jackson...
There's a write-up of McLean, the American Pie and Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) man, in an earlier posting. Click Don McLean under 'Labels' below. Michael Buble (90s man but sings pop evergreens), Janet Jackson, Elvis Costello, Iron Maiden and a host of other 60s and 70s pop stars will be coming to Singapore too. While some will be appearing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, others will perform at the Esplanade Concert Hall or at the new Marina Bay Sands Ballroom.

Comment:

The seat prices are mighty high. Imagine paying about $400 a ticket to watch from the best seat. Even the $100 ones are too much for the general public, especially for some Seniors. When I attended the Engelbert Humperdinck show, there were vacant seats all around.

Follow London:

Perhaps, for those who just cannot manage a hundred dollars for the inexpensive seats, the organisers could follow the guidelines used by London (England) theatres for many years - half price for all unsold tickets a few hours before the show. Worth the long queue?

'Rich' Singapore:

If Singapore is to be South East Asia's entertainment hub then ticket prices should be more reasonable. Perhaps the ticket tax is too high? Seeing that Singapore is displaying its wealth in the newspapers, are the artistes themselves charging high prices? Meanwhile organisers will not bring in shows that will not make a profit. What do you all think?

Images: from Google.

Article: Information from Wikipedia and local newspaper advertisements.

(This posting is not an advertisement.)

Songs With Halloween Themes? Hungry Ghosts

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL! PONTIANAK MUSIC IS COMING TOO!

UP TO 1,900 VIEWS

Since Halloween is the theme tonight, songs from the fearful 50s, the scary 60s and screaming 70s are listed below. The words in the titles matter, so here they are, taken from the dusty, underground vaults of yore. They all spell blood, gore and grime. They may not be traditional, scary songs, but they can loosely fit into the Halloween theme by title, by music or by lyrics. So if you're lookin' for trouble, you came to the right place.

"I see the bad moon risin'/I see trouble on the way/I see earthquakes and lightnin'/I see bad times today/I hear the hurricanes ablowin'/I know the end is comin' soon/I hear the rivers overflowin'/I hear the voice of rage and ruin... (Bad Moon Risin' by: John Fogerty.)"

Bad Blood - 1975 - Neil Sedaka.
Bad Moon Rising - 1969 - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Black Magic Woman - 1968 - Fleetwood Mac/ Santana
Dark Lady - 1974 - Cher
Daughter Of Darkness - 1970 - Tom Jones

Devil Gate Drive - 1974 - Suzi Quatro
Devil In Disguise - 1963 - Elvis Presley
Devil Or Angel - 1960 - Bobby Vee
Devil With A Blue Dress On - 1966 - Mitch Ryder/Detroit Wheels
Devil Woman - 1962 - Marty Robbins

Devil Woman - 1976 - Cliff Richard
Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead - 1967 - Fifth Estate
Evil Hearted You - 1965 – The Yardbirds
Evil Ways - 1970 - Santana
Evil Woman - 1976 - Electric Light Orchestra

Frightened City - 1961 - Shadows
Little Devil - 1961 - Neil Sedaka
Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - 1973 - Elton John
Ghost Riders In The Sky – 1979 - Johnny Cash
Love Potion Number Nine - 1965 - The Searchers

Poison Ivy - 1959 - The Coasters
Spooky -1968 - Classic Four
Superstition - 1973 - Stevie Wonder
That Old Black Magic - 1958 - Louis Prima and Keely Smith
Voodoo Chile - 1970 - Jimi Hendrix Experience

Witch Doctor - 1958 - David Seville
Witchcraft - 1963 - Elvis Presley/Frank Sinatra
Witchy Woman - 1972 - Eagles
Sympathy For The Devil - 1968 - Rolling Stones
Halloween Theme - 1978 - John Carpenter

Season Of The Witch - 1966 - Donovan
Evil On Your Mind - 1966 - Jan Howard
Race With The Devil - 1968 - Gene Vincent
Devil In A Sleeping Bag - 1973 - Willie Nelson

'Frightened City' by The Shadows.

YouTube video from: ingoleg oleg

Please add to the list and contribute.

It's only fun and games but if you find this posting too stressful, just listen to Beautiful Girl below in the next post.

Song title info: http://www.who-sang-that-song.com/

Image borrowed from: www.wonderclipart.com/

Gif image: Copyright imHALLOWEEN.com 

Original article: Andy Lim.
Video: Cliff Richard's Devil Woman by fecskefi

Grammy Award Record Of The Year 1970 - 1079

GRAMMY FEVER NOW. RECORD OF THE YEAR 70s LIST:

1979: Just the Way You Are performed by Billy Joel, produced by Phil Ramone

1978: Hotel California (image) performed by The Eagles, produced by Bill Szymczyk.

1977: This Masquerade performed by George Benson, produced by Tommy LiPuma.

1976: Love Will Keep Us Together performed by Captain & Tennille, produced by Daryl Dragon.

1975: I Honestly Love You performed by Olivia Newton-John, produced by John Farrar.

1974: Killing Me Softly with His Song performed by Roberta Flack, produced by Joel Dorn.

1973: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face performed by Roberta Flack, produced by Joel Dorn.

1972: It's Too Late performed by Carole King, produced by Lou Adler.

1971: Bridge over Troubled Water performed by Simon & Garfunkel; produced by Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon & Roy Halee.

1970: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In performed by The 5th Dimension, produced by Bones Howe.

Song I love? Only one: Hotel California. Watch the YouTube Video!

Information: Wikipedia.
Image: e-bay.