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.

Andy 60's Music First Time Favourites Since The 50's

COWBOY SONGS

they were once called. Now it's

COUNTRY AND WESTERN

'San Antonio Rose' - Lou Baldino 

(Featuring House of Hamill and Ken Nelson) 

YouTube Video by: House of Hamill.

Here's a video on Lou Baldino's 'San Antonio Rose'. My kinda music I could listen to all day...

When I sent this song around among my WhatsApp connections, they replied with all the support and agreed with my selection of what music was like those years when we were younger. 

Here are some reactions and replies from viewers:

Eddy Eng:

This is music!

Richard Rajoo:

Yes, I really love San Antonio Rose too, because I started learning to play the guitar with an elderly neighbor of Bukit Merah. He plays with the Clan Association in Chinatown. So I sing at all their events, mainly Hank Williams and others at the music sessions. It was a real experience for me to sing to mostly vernacular speaking audiences.

Rickie Chng:

Simply nice and relaxing.

Tan Soo Khoon:

Very enjoyable. Thank you for sharing.

Vincent Tan:

Thanks for sharing.

👍👍👍👏👏👏

Merlin Lim:

Reminds me of the late, great Chet Atkins. Beautiful way of playing; all the fingers and thumb are alive. Played chords instead of single notes; makes the sound whole, complete and rich. Would have loved to learn that style of picking and playing. Had the intention to learn but lacked the motivation. Thanks Andy.

Johnny Yeo:

Nice! Nowadays I also like erhu since I have been attending weekly classes for the past two years. I love the old spaghetti Italian cowboy movies and their soundtracks.

Horace Wee:

Good to know your endorphins are working well.

Not dolphins 😅

Ronald Ho:

Thanks Andy. I listened with my bass headphones. They are excellent musicians. Yes, my kind of music too. I grew up on country music. Thanks.

Cedric Collars [Perth/Aust.]

I remember that song played by Chet Atkins and sung by Willie Nelson. Ah yes, we did enjoy them but nowadays they don’t play that style of music artistry. It has been put in the annals of music history. Sadly, it is we people who lament on their passing.

Richard Tham:

Andy, I love country music. It makes one wanna get up and dance! Thanks for sharing.

Chet Atkins, Willie Nelson.

When Music Hits You, You Feel No Pain.

Jimmy Chng:

Yup, it's all pleasure to our ears! Good morning, Andy.

Wilfred Lim:

Yes, music lingers on momentarily... then it's whisk off like a puff of smoke...  Such is our life span... we're here today... gone tomorrow! Unless our lifetime is recorded in stone or digitally... we sail into oblivion. Cheers.

Merlin Lim:

Music gives you the highs, lows and flats. Without the cravings and withdrawals...

Anonymous: 

I remember calling them cowboy songs, like Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, and China Doll. Later on, we know them as Country and Western songs. Again, lyrics today would be understood differently, "I'm tired of crying, and all your lying. That's why I'm buying a China doll. Her eyes are bluer; her faults are fewer..." Not today's China dolls! Ha! Ha!

More comments are welcome!

Slim Whitman: 'China Doll' [1952].

(Country Music Greats) HQ

YouTube: FromTheBasement.

Images: Google.

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

For illustration only: 

Singer Chen Mei Feng and 

Guitar group, The Travellers 

'New Year Greetings'

The latest New Year pop songs in Hokkien.

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龍 門 遭 遇  A Dragon Gate Encounter:

It was two days before the dragon year [8 Jan 2024] when I made an urgent SMS to Eddy Eng to write a piece for this blog. And he did, this good friend.  In all honesty he related his encounter with this fearsome beast at a garden gate; face to face. Eddy is a straight forward, no fuss gentleman and so are his stories.

Thank you Eddy, a different kind of story but a real one indeed...

The Chinese Dragon:

"Dear Andy,

The Chinese have been fascinated with the mythical dragon for more than 4,000 years. It is obviously the product of imagination of the ancient Chinese. It was imagined as a composite creature with the head of a camel, the eyes of a fiery demon, the horns of a deer, the claws of an eagle and the scales of a carp. Unlike the Caucasian dragon that spews fire and looks naughty and devilish, the Chinese dragon symbolises  divine power, strength, good fortune and benevolence. It can control the weather and the seas - a shaker and mover of heaven and earth. 

I was once asked by a local Chinese businessman to install a pair of dragons vying for a pearl on top of the wrought-iron gate that I supplied. As someone who would go out of the way to please a customer, I thought long and hard. How would I design the intricate dragons with a pearl shrouded with fire using wrought-iron. Would my guys be able to cut and  weld all the tiny pieces together. Would they think  it was another crazy idea from me. In the end, logic triumphed over passion. 

For illustration only: 

A garden gate with a pair of dragons.

https://twitter.com/GoblinWriter/status/1741192813696672254

I went back, told the customer that to do the pair of  dragons with the precious pearl would be like a Caucasian dressed in Chinese robes. From an aesthetic  perspective, they would look incongruous. It was a clash of cultures. He gave a hearty laugh. 

On another occasion, I offered a  wall-mounted decorative wrought-iron dragon to a customer as a gift after having completed my work  to his massive house. The dragon was made with the finest German craftsmanship that came with a hefty price tag from my  German supplier. 

He said, "Eee! I don't want it! Your Caucasian dragon looks like a four legged snake. He had a point. 

To my friends who were born in the year of the  long nien [dragon year],  may I wish you good luck, good health and good fortune."

Written by: Eddy Eng.

Eddy Eng.

CNY 2012 Dragon Year 恭喜恭喜 鄧麗君 邓丽君 

テレサ・テン Teresa Teng.

This video is the only one found. 

YouTube video from: archchula.

2023 New Year’s Concert of 

the China Philharmonic Orchestra 

中国爱乐之声 

YouTube Video: China Philharmonic Orchestra

Images: from Google.

Poster is a gift and created

by Freda Hanum [Teepees]

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Travelling & Singing Ambassador: Jimmy Yap. Around The World In 8,000 Days

Highlight: Jimmy's first professional appearance with Eliza Goh

Video below.

Jimmy says he's travelled 10 years; 

he wishes to jet for another 10. 

Now that's about 8,000 days.

Think about it. He can do it.👍

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Latest News: November, 2021

Since Jimmy Yap (left) met Ghib Ojisan (Japanese travel YouTuber based in Singapore), he has made a name for himself as a tourist guide, taking Ojisan along with him with their exploits of the tourist places on the island. Cheers.

February, 2020

Walk into any Bistro, Karaoke Club or an Open Mic Session and you will find this gentleman singing in his own special way.  Well-known for his ability to go on stage and perform at these places all over Singapore, he is also a travelling man and has visited many countries, similarly lending his voice wherever he goes.  So whether it's Singapore, Spain, Sicily or Scandinavia, Jimmy will sing. But he is also generous with the people around him and they love him for it.

Here's good friend Eddy Eng to introduce him:

"Jimmy Yap was a corporate chief hemming MNCs from Germany, Holland and Sweden, all giants and major players in the global chemical industry. Touted the most hands-on and hardworking chief by his European bosses, he finally retired in 2009.

A very affable person with easy manners, he has the aura of someone who still matters. He spends his well deserved retirement singing and travelling around the world, a gilded life many can aspire but few can achieve."

Petra in Jordan - one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

Jimmy Yap

"On my singing. It started with Karaokes 15 years ago. Never took a single singing lesson. As a close friends to some musicians, they gave me tips to sing and not shout!   

Around 10 years ago, I was fortunate to be invited by Tony Kwek leader of The Mysterians to sing one or two songs, on the last of three sets, each Friday night with his four piece band at Little Harry's Pub. They were the resident band every Friday night.

Years later I was invited by a Keppel Club golf member to join his small group of his friends at his lovely home. He engaged a very good band called The Blackhawks every Wednesday night to accompany around ten singers. Here we could sing with confidence as it was not open to the public and a good place for the band leader to tell you the key for any new song.

Connie Francis sings: 'Around The World' (1961) from the movie, 'Around The World In 80 Days' with David Niven. YouTube video by SVansay. Thank you.

Gradually I was daring enough to venture out to public pubs  with live bands and especially to those with Open Mic sessions held once a week. Here's a list of some of the places in Singapore that I hang out at: Witbier@Kandahar, Hoo Ha, Mr Punch Public House, Grassroots, Summerhill, Tavern@ Seletar Country Club, and most of the private Singapore clubs like the SCC, SRC and the Ceylon Sports Club.

Other venues include the South Bridge Hotel, Basil and Thyme, Lounge 7 @Dempsey, ExciseMan Whiskey Bar, Pura Brasa Spanish Restaurant, Ubin 1st Stop Seafood, Red Noddle Cafe and the Chill Lab at National University of Singapore.

I have also sung around Singapore with Buskers in Orchard Road, Bridge at Clark Quay, Boon Keng Market to East Coast Lagoon.

My favourite singers include: Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Louis Armstrong,  Trini Lopez, Andy Williams, Matt Monroe, Pat Boone, Freddy Fenders, John Denver, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Connie Francis, Ella Fitzgerald, Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Boccelli and Willie Nelson.

Groups from the 60's include The Platters, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs, Santana, The Animals, Simon and Garfunkel.

Beside singing, I have travelled the world and my main aim now is to visit 30 more countries in the next 10 years after having visited 100 countries out of 195, worldwide.  

Exotic places or countries that I have visited include: Antarctica, North Pole, Alaska, Falkland Islands, Iceland, Canada, USA, South America, Caribbean Islands like Cuba,  Mexico, Jordan, Israel, Jordan, Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavian Countries and African Countries. The Asia Pacific countries are: China, Japan, Korea, Bhutan, Kashmir, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and all the ASEAN countries."

I enjoy singing when I travel to these places, especially at exotic places like the Temple of Kukulcan in Mexico and Madrid, Spain with its bullrings and unique sites.

Jimmy Yap in Ulan Bator, Capital of Mongolia - Vulture 17 kg - Wing Span over 2 meters. Mongolia was a stopover point for the Journey of a lifetime 8000 Kilometers trip on The Grand Trans Siberian Train from Beijing to Moscow via Mongolia.

I was greatly inspired to travel by Patricia Schultz ,  Author of, '1OOO
Places To See Before You Die' with Patricia Schultz in Dublin Ireland, July 2017.

Jimmy Yap - Besame Mucho @ Madrid Spain December 2018. YouTube.

Performing with Eliza Goh at the RELC International Hotel in Singapore during the Silver Strings 55th Anniversary Concert in November 2019. Video from Fabian Foo. Thanks Fabian.

My happiest moments in 2019  was to have been invited by Vernon Cornelius to sing with his band in February at Tanglin Halt, Queenstown and Audie, to perform with Eliza Goh at the Auditorium of RELC International Hotel Singapore for their Anniversary celebration. It is not often that one gets the opportunity of being backed by Singapore's most iconic maestro, pianist Mr Jimmy Chan."

El Condor Pasa - Jimmy with Singaporean friends in market at Oaxaca City, Mexico, 2013.

The Teepees: Rumini, Freda, (Eliza: not Teepees) and Anna with Jimmy Yap during the huge lunch meet at a Tanjong Katong hotel, not far from the sea. 

Ivana Hustic - tour leader to Jimmy Yap during one of his trips around the world.  The picture shows Lake Bled and Castle Bled in Slovenia [hometown of MELANIA TRUMP].

Jimmy Yap singing at SHERLOCK PUB in Houston/ Texas backed by two young ladies who were so excited accompanying him.

Article and Images from Jimmy Yap.

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.

Beatles Magic Shared With A Gentle Soul: Eddie Eng

Good friend Eddie Eng reminds me of what Margaret Laurence says in her book, 'The Diviners' about memories and snapshots.

'I keep the snapshots not for what they show but for what is hidden in them... (Ch 1, Pg 14: McClelland & Stewart Inc; Pub.).' 

Very true. What is hidden are the memories as the snapshots trigger them.

Thank you, Eddie, for this anecdote:

"Old memories are like old photographs. They turn hazy and fade with time. However, some images still endure with poignancy. One such enduring image is Said Ali.

Said Ali was a small scrawny boy with jet black hair and a perpetual wide grin. Hidden in his bag was his prized possession: a tiny transistor radio that he brought to school to share with me.  

A boy with a transistor radio, a prized possession those days, as Eddie Eng explains. The boy was a gentle soul who shared and listened to it with Eddie. The image is for illustration only.

While the teacher would drone on monotonously, our ears were pricked to the bell to announce recess time. Ali would hurriedly fish out his transistor hearing he bell. We would huddle at a secluded corner and with ears peered close to one another, listen to the sound of the Beatles. The lyrics were simple and at times repetitive. 

Even to a secondary one schoolboy, they did not seem to make much sense. But the sound was magic. We did not hear anything like it before. It stirred the young soul within us. The morning pledge of, "regardless of race, language or religion" seemed irrelevant and unnecessary. The music transcended all that. We did not for a moment feel that we were different in any way.

But the school thought so, we parted ways due to streaming and that set us irrevocably on a different path to our life journey. I hope life has been kind to him. A gentle soul who had shared precious moments with me through music."

Written by Eddie Eng.
With a profile so high
It's best he just smiles.
Thanks, Eddie.

The Beatles below with 'My Guitar Gently Weeps', a lovely piece written by George Harrison in 1968. Within us, life should be about harmony; not otherwise. I think Eddie's little story tells it all. 

"I look at the world and I notice its turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake, we must surely be learning
While my guitar gently weeps."

George Harrison.

Images: A Personal Collection and Google.

热烘烘的太阳 (林黛) (蔡幸娟) Lin Dai, Delphine Tsai: The Hot Hot Sun: A Lost Song, Found

UP TO 2,000 VIEWS

Lin Dai with The Hot Hot Sun 热烘烘的太阳 (林黛)

I have this Chinese melody stuck in my head for many years and I wanted to find it from YouTube but I didn't know its title. I asked friends and musicians but to no avail. I searched in vain on YouTube without knowing its Chinese title nor its singer.

Then, very recently and out of the blues, a good friend** asked me if I could find a song for him. He whistled it on WhatsApp and sent it to me. Now, that was a good move, whistling it for others to hear.

I was surprised because it was the same song that I was searching for and learned as a child. I circulated it on WhatsApp to about 10 friends, among them a student friend* of mine whose father was familiar with Chinese Mandarin songs. What a revelation. 

Delphine Tsai with The Hot Hot Sun 热烘烘的太阳 (蔡幸娟)

Sung by Lin Dai (林黛), it's a youthful and symbolic song about the sun. Such bliss to be able to listen again to a song I lost and found after 60 years. The title is 热烘烘的太阳 which actually means The Hot Hot Sun. 

Enjoy it, my dear readers and friends. I didn't, for so many years.

I have posted two versions where the second video is a new recording by Delphine Tsai. It is clear and clean, with high definition video and fantastic sound recording.

Beautiful Lin Dai (林黛), whose face appeared on huge posters outside the Capitol Cinema whenever she starred in a new movie for Shaw Brothers. She was the sweetheart of most Chinese fans in Singapore and had acted in more than two dozen Chinese films. 

Born in 1934, her shows like Love Without End and The Kingdom and the Beauty were box office hits. Successful on the screen, her own personal story was a tragedy and she took her own life in 1964.

Delphine Cai Yuxuan (蔡幸娟) was born in March 1966 in Taiwan, became a radio and TV pop star when she was only 14. She was a natural talent and was known to sing at Western restaurants during her younger days. 

She won contests various times with her inimitable singing voice, was recognized by Huang Jixiong, a famous musician who had her record many pop hits. Delphine had performed in Singapore a couple of times and is still popular today.

Please share your views with me.

This post is specially dedicated to 

Joycelyn, Yen and Eddy Eng.

Images: A Private Collection and YouTube.