Singapore 60s Music Chats: 'Something Borrowed, Something Blue'. Of Drinks And Dance.

Something old, something new,

Something borrowed, something blue.

Nightclub Drinks and Dance in the 60s:

There's a well-known saying, "Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue..."

Following the trend, I am re-living comments from blog readers, friends and highlighting them. And we chat about nightclub drinks and lamsing, er dancing.

For action dancing we chose the cha-chas 'Rico Vacilon' and rock n roll hits. For the lamsing we chose slow number waltzes like Cliff Richard's, 'When the girl in your arms.'

 Check them out. 

Sometimes it's too close for comfort.

But it was the 60's and nobody bothered!

Patrick Chan says:

Hi Andy,

Good reminiscent. Actually, when we go to a night spot in the 60s, it's not such much for the drinks but to see the band n 'lamsing' [dancing closely] as you said. For some, they don't really know what bar drinks to order. So following others was a safe bet without looking 'sua ku' or a country boy. [2017].

Yes, I remembered Bacardi n rum coke were top of the list. But if you want to be a bit 'sekit atas' [a little bit classy] then you order Gin Tonic to impress the girls. lol. Surely you will get one or two asking 'what drink is that'. So this drink is an ice-breaker that gets you up close with the girls for the evening.

Now you know why Gin Tonic has been my favourite pouring ever since.

Andy, next time you try order gin tonic and see what happens. For the girls, if you want to be seen as a sophisticated you order Baby Cham.

The late Ms Chong YL says:

Andy, 

In those years, did many ladies take to liquor? I was no night bird - had a very strict father. It was only when I started working that I did go to West Point in Pasir Panjang a couple of times. Don't remember if I tried any hard drinks. Years later, some lady friends introduced me to Campari and Seven-Up. Even then I didn't take to that well-developed some kind of allergy.

So you can imagine a situation in New Zealand when I attended dinners with the Kiwis. When asked to drink, I declined - giving the reason that I would develop a rash. When offered coffee at the end of the meal, I said no - I won't be able to sleep. I asked for 'Adam's Ale' - warm. What a 'suaku' from Singapore.

Today I quite enjoy ice-cream with some liqueur such as Lychee Martini, Kahlua Krunch, Baileys Choc Chips from Daily Scoop. [2017]

Jane Dick [Manitoba, Canada] says:

Hi Andy,

Fun to read your memories of your youth and local nightclubs; brought back some of my own memories.

Rum and Coca Cola, is one of the favourite songs, so delightful to listen to it. Years ago, I was working for an organisation that had a booth at the annual Wedding Show in Winnipeg, and I did a shift during one weekend. 

During the fashion show, with lovely models showing off bridal gowns, one piece of music they played over and over was, 'Rum and Coca Cola ...' a song about streetwalkers ...! I thought that was pretty funny. [2017].

Daisy Koh says:

Oh Yes Ambassador n Airport Nightclub. Only $5 cover charge inclusive of the Rum n Coke. So packed those days, no place for fanciful dance steps. Just “Move the refrigerator,” as they say in Hokkien or 'lamsing'. I still have an old cutout or photo of the packed Airport dance floor somewhere.

We also grew up twisting away in the 60's. We girls spent afternoons practising with talcum powder on the floor to facilitate the moves. So much fun … Twist and then Ago-Go. The Twist music is still alive today… incorporated into Line-dancing and Zumba 🤣. [2024]. 

Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra: Rico Vacilon.

YouTube Video by: felixbautista

Stephen Han says:

I remembered dancing at the Ambassador Hotel and the Paya Lebar Airport. Rum Coke and Baby Champagne were the drinks of choice. I also recalled the sexy and lovely stripper, Eva Kim from South Korea shedding her clothes though not totally naked. I learned she bared all in private functions.

There was also a dance venue at West Point. Another one was at the Singapore Hotel where the City Plaza now stands... 2017].

*Singapore English or Singlish:

lamsing = dancing or literal meaning 'to hug' in Chinese: 'lam' with the English Continuous Tense 'sing'.

suaku = a Chinese Hokien dialect that means: 'mountain [sua] tortoise [ku]' or a country bumpkin; someone who isn't trendy or up to date.

sikit atas = a Malay phrase that means, 'a little bit classy' or literally: 'a little up there...'

BTW, 'Adam's ale' = water 😅.

Dancing = lamsing = move the refrigerator. And 'chiau sng tu' is Hokien dialect for 'move the refrigerator'. 'Move the refrigerator' was coined to describe the awkward way in which couples without basic dancing skills moved around the dance floor.

Comments are welcome.

Cliff Richard: 'When the girl in your arms...' 

YouTube Video by: VanAllesWat33

Are News Books Still Popular? Yes: 'Daily Mail' 5 Vols. Of Pops n Pix

    UP TO 500 VIEWS

30 CHATS, COMMENTS

Are book shops closing down because less and less people are reading text on paper as more and more are mousing or tapping the Internet to read from Kindle,  e-reader, iPad, Tablet or smart-phone, since they find it convenient and sometimes free to read off these technological miracles? Now is this statement true? I'm not sure.

It took me a while to collect this set of five volumes.

But I'm still lurking in book shops and book sales and some two years ago managed to get a set of coffee-table ones that I found so useful. They went for a dream price of ten dollars each.  In a nutshell, I paid about sixty dollars for what I thought was a bargain. And it was.

From the news and picture archives of the Daily Mail this fabulous British newspaper charted people, places and events that made up five memorable decades (from 1960 to 2000) into readable volumes. And the contents, according to the blurb, were photographs from the momentous and the apocalyptic to the offbeat and the trivial. And it's true.

Cover of the first book in the series.

At a cute 17 cm. square per book, I couldn't buy them all at one time, having to hunt for three of the five volumes after getting the first (1960's) and the third (1980's).  I remember paying a little more for two of them. 

But it was fifteen pounds (S$30/00) each when it first came out in 2010.  Using quality paper and beautiful photographs in black and white each book by Trans Atlantic Press from Hertfordshire, England is nearly 400 pages thick. Nobody would pay for five books now since portable hard disks are a bargain?

The Beatles and Folk Group Peter, Paul n Mary.

I don't think I have the stamina to write a review on each of the five books and even if I had I'd probably be sued by the publishers for exposing their hard work so I am highlighting Decade of Our Lives 60s (above) and had it narrowed down to only pop music and relevant news and pictures. With a picture on every page it's quite a task.  But let's take a peek inside.

For the liberated woman: Plastic Dresses and The Pill.

The series is an exciting picture journey all the way with a clear description for each and every image taken. According to the introduction, the 1960s was a swinging decade when postwar baby boomers came of age and found themselves in a new permissive era as the Pill launched a sexual revolution. 

As hemlines rose all you needed was love; flower power challenged old orthodoxies and Kennedy carried the hopes of a generation when he became US President.  Like Martin Luther King after him, John F. fell to an assassin's bullet.

Youthful Cliff 's 'Summer Holiday'

In the movies there was John Wayne, Anthony Perkins, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and the Magnificent Seven gang of Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen and friends. On stage were Adam Faith and Cliff Richard, clean living members of society...

I'd better not carry on. The volumes are still with me on my library shelf. Love reading directly from solid, hard copies, especially in bed. No blue light giddiness nor sleeplessness afterwards... 

But never stop reading, hard copies or from tablets.

Comments are welcome...

The Beatles: 'Paperback Writer' 

YouTube Video from The Beatles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYvkICbTZIQ

Paperback Writer

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?

It took me years to write, will you take a look?

It's based on a novel by a man named Lear

And I need a job

So I wanna be a paperback writer

Paperback writer...

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney

Paperback Writer lyrics © Iricom US Ltd, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group

Disclaimer:

There is no intention to promote any publication nor make financial gains. Any copyrights misdemeanours and this posting will be deleted. Do let me know.

Angeline Wong: 黄晓凤 : Si Jantung Hati: My Sweet Heart: 印尼歌曲, Nyonya n Jasmine Flower

(黄晓凤)  ANGELINE WONG 

SI JANTUNG HATI（印尼歌曲）

 OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: NSR Chinese

New Southern Records Malaysia

@nsrnanfang

The above video generated 10 million+ views.

This posting is specially for international readers who may wish to understand the language and culture of S.E. Asian pop music.

[Thanking the above person and company for compiling the video. 

There is no financial gain to this post. It is done to promote 

the song, language, culture and the Malaysian people.]

UP TO 3,400 VIEWS 

   20+ COMMENTS    

Like I have always mentioned, "Ten million viewers cannot be wrong!" Pretty Malaysian *nyonya Ms Angeline Wong sings it well and her expressions denote the very animated and cute lyrics that go with the song. Simple as the song is, unless you understand the Malay language, you might still be wondering why it established so many views.

A *nyonya is a Straits-born Chinese lady.

She is in sarong kebaya.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/792915078158724170/

Below is the literal translation; 

nuances in the language can differ:

My figure is slim not because I have insufficient food

My eyes are red not because I have insufficient sleep

Sad is my heart because... of my **sweetheart [twice].

A week ago he came home, 

My yearning for him left me half-dead [mentally exhausted?],

My affair with him, oh oh, my sweetie pie, oh [twice].

'You promised that I'm the only one you'll wait for

When I left, you injected the #Melati flower

But now I realise it was all a dream'.

I sing alone to amuse myself

I don't want to be hurt a second time...

My experience with him, my sweetie pie, oh [thrice].

[the whole song is repeated]

# Bunga Melati = A Jasmine Flower

Symbol of purity and devotion.

steemit.com/photography

*nyonya = Straits-born lady who speaks a mix of Hokien/Malay. 

She would usually be dressed in a sarong kebaya. 

**'sweetheart', 'sweetie pie' or 'lover' 

#Bunga Melati = the Jasmine flower

'kau sunting-kan' = literal = ' you injected'

Singer Angeline Wong

The chorus girls dressed in typical 

Malay gold sarong kebaya.

Images: Google and YouTube Video.

Thanks to Mr. Alfred Wong who

recommended the above song.

Please read the comments below.

Click below for another nyonya song n dance:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2024/01/blog-post.html

Singapore's Illustrious Solidarity: Soiree & De Rigueur: A Letter From Jean

UP TO 2,000 VIEWS

   15+ COMMENTS   

Actress, Singer: Jane Birkin 

Famous for her song: 'Je T'aime'.

and the Hermes Birkin bag, which is named after her.

https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20170529_02902097

Jean Writes From The Past:

*Hello Andy, 

I know I'm a bit late with this post as I came across your blog while looking up Amber Mansion's Celestial Room. My late mother (who was a Eurasian from Katong in Singapore) often talked about the tea dances there and how jovial & classy they were. Everyone made an effort to dress smartly for a soirée back then. Elnett sprays for girls and Brylcreem or Tancho for the boys were de rigueur.

Thanks for the picture. It gave my search an added identity to my Mum's anecdotes about her teen years in her beloved Singapore in the 50/60s. She was so proud to have come from a rich multiracial society that was/is Singapore. Such solidarity is illustrious and unseen elsewhere in the world.

Cheers Andy!

Yesterday Yes A Day - Jane Birkin. 

YouTube Video by: Nikita Chen.

This song is for Jean, one of her favourites.

Hi Jean,

Thanks for the beautiful tale about your late mother. She must have been quite a 'cool cat' those years.

Glad to hear about Elnett, Brylcreem and Singapore's multi-racial face. You are right about solidarity being "unseen elsewhere in the world."

Appreciate your visit. I went to your profile but could not link to your blog...

Writer *Jeanne

*Hi Andy,

Excuse me for the late reply due to heavy workload.
I have no blog yet. I meant to seriously open one about my passion for Egyptian and Greek archeology but just never got round to it yet LOL. No time lah. One day soon I hope.

I go through your fabulous blog whenever I get the chance. Its a comfort zone for nostalgia buffs like me. Thank goodness for the Internet that's changed almost everyone's lives in creating a global village with communication at the touch of our fingers.

Cheers Andy!

Jean,

Thanks so much for your huge support. It's letters like yours that keep me going. If you're still reading this blog, please reply. Thirteen years is a long time.

[This note from Jean, written in May 2009, is a re-post.]

*Jean or Jeanne to the Francophiles. I'm trilingual and love my dog and cat, animals and their welfare, music, The Golden Girls, jogging, the ocean, Spain, weekends, sleeping, sweet desserts. I grew up in Asia and London before moving back home. Schooling was unconventional to say the least but I always got good grades anyway. My heroes are my parents, Mother Theresa of Calcutta and Aung San Suu Kyi.

Amber Mansion in the 60s. 

And where Dhoby Ghaut MRT is located today.

Elvis Presley Fashioned 60s Jumpsuits From Jimmy Lee: Elvis Tribute Artiste Singapore

UP TO 1,600 VIEWS - 16 COMMENTS

I have never seen anyone in Singapore wearing an Elvis Presley performance costume with such revealing splendour, no, none, not one! So when Singapore's current Elvis Tribute Artiste, Jimmy Lee sent these photographs I thought they were the most beautiful jumpsuits ever made. Whether it's in red, white or blue, just check them out. Yes, black too..

The tailor and fashion designer made them so well. Some jumpsuits that I have seen did not seem suitable for the Elvis Tribute Artistes who wore them. But most of Jimmy's costumes look fabulous and gives him that authentic Elvis look.

When I asked for details, he mentioned that the suits cost from S$1,500 to S$2,500 and would take about three months to tailor and be mailed to Singapore, since they came only from the Philippines, Thailand or the U.S. 

Now that's a lot of money for a suit but not by today's standards since the prices have increased much. Jimmy said the jumpsuits were made around 2013. That's nearly 10 years ago. 

It will cost a fortune to make one today. He mentioned that the tailors may not be able to make them because the studs and stones for decoration come from North America. The reaction to its pricing could probably be, "My hands are shaky and my knees are weak; I can't seem to stand on my own two feet."

I told Jimmy during the chat that his love for Elvis is mind blowing. 

Jimmy explained that Elvis has a name for each attire. These names would include: Phoenix, American Eagle, Conquistador, Aloha, Blue Swirl, Burning Love, Fireworks, Blue Rainbow and Concho. Very imaginative sounding names that seem to reverberate with Nature. 

There are more jumpsuits in Jimmy's wardrobe. These are only a few.

Watch out for Parts 2 and 3.

Jimmy PresLee sings with Doug Church:

The Wonder of You.

YouTube Video from: Hanche Presley.

Thanks so much Jimmy for the information you provided. 

We invite comments from readers, please.

Connect below for full interview with Jimmy PresLee:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2014/11/jimmy-preslee-singapores-elvis-tribute.html

Images: Jimmy Lee [Copyrights Reserved].

Article: Chat box with Andy.

Meet Jimmy's wife Judy: Mother, Poet, MC

and a supporter of Women's Liberation.

Check Judy's poem here:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2021/11/getting-old-poem-by-judy-chong-lee.html

***************************************

If you are keen to know how a Singapore girl had her jumpsuit

exhibited at a New York Fashion Art Exhibition,

Check this one below:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-singapore-maximalism-creation-sent-to.html

Worshipping Butt Royalty: Singapore Weather Forecast: 2022: Hot, Hot With Royal Teens

https://www.zastavki.com/eng/Girls/Beautyful_Girls/wallpaper-143543-31.htm

SONGS I LOVE: 

This post has been revived from 18th July, 2010.

In 12 years, the shorts are shorter still and the climate definitely hotter.

So hotter shorts or hotter climate?

Read the Comments to understand why this post has been revived. My theory about 'the other side of midnight' always works.

It's the song not the picture above that I am trying to project but, as the mind works, the focus is on the image. 😃 So don't blame me!

The Royal Teens: Short Shorts (HD Quality) 

YouTube Video by: Ben Bop 1965

UP TO 12,000 VIEWS

Weather forecast in the 60's. Hot, hot, hot! Who would have thought that The Royal Teens' song from 1957/8 would be taken so seriously today? Walk the streets in Singapore and we see our ladies in exquisite sensuality with their shortest of shorts. 

And in today's world nobody would stop them from slipping into something so much shorter, sexier and naughtier! Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the mini-shorts (image 1).

Pop Short Shorts:

The New Jersey rock and roll group, comprising 8 band members and 3 vocalists, made headlines with their ditty about the controversial and sexy shorts way back in 1957 after they had recorded the song, Short Shorts. It went to number 3 in the US and was a big hit in Singapore too. And the lyrics, in case you are not familiar, go like this: (Wolf whistle followed by: "Man, dig that crazy chick...")

Who wears short shorts/We wear short shorts/They're such short shorts/We like short shorts. And it goes on and on and on.

About Video:

Carmine D'Amico (guitar), age 12-13 playing with the Royal Teens on American Bandstand. Bob Gaudio (piano), Tommy Austin (drums). No bass. Joey Francovilla later became vocalist,with Frank Coppola (tenor sax) .Leo Rogers (manager). The rest don't seem to be around?

Hot Pants in the 1970's

On Japanese TV:

According to Wikipedia, it's still being played in Japan for the opening tune of the Tamori Club on TV Asahi Corporation. The song has also been mentioned many times on The Simpsons and Homer the Heretic.

And by the way, any difference between short shorts and hot pants (image right)?

I have a suggestion. Wear them longer. More decent.

Image 1: microkitten.com

Image 2: http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu

www.microkitten.com/

Information: Wikipedia

You Tube from carminedamicoguitar.

Ladies Fashion In China 2022: Standing On The Corner Watching Uptown Girls...

【 Tik Tok China 】 #6 Douyin 

Chinese Girls Fashion Style on The Street!

YouTube Video by: Meditation Space. 

In trying to follow the times and not get held back in the 60s, I tried a few postings on fashion but have been told they are, "too much".  I wasn't sure so going through the video clips from YouTube, there are many pleasant pictures of ladies in their latest garb looking bright and cheerful, sexy yes but definitely dignified and attractive.

The majority of readers say, don't bother. Just post the clip. After all the topic is just watching our ladies go by. So here goes. 

And it ain't being sexist!

Image from Meditation Space.

When a friend sent me the above video my first thought was Dean Martin's  song, 'Standing On The Corner.'  But this scene isn't from the US. Apparently, and for many years now, Asia has its own version of The Decade's Daring Darlings and Dare-Devils. And they are up there, revealed.

Brother, you don't know a nicer occupation 

Matter of fact, neither do I.

Than standing on the corner

Watching all the girls (X3) go by...

(Dean Martin)

A long time ago if you appreciate and stare at a pretty lady walking by, she might just display an unappreciative smile but today it's the opposite reaction, as you can see on the video.

Police with 'Every Breath You Take': 

YouTube: Police Official Video Live.

The full video reminds me of other songs like:

Walk Right Back 

Walk All Over You

Walking My Baby Back Home 

I'm Walkin'

You'll Never Walk Alone

Walking On Sunshine

Walk On The Wild Side

Walk On Out Of My Mind.

When China Girl Meets China Boy

Brother you can't go to jail for what you're thinking

Or for that woo look in your eye.

Then there's one by Andy Williams: 'Music To Watch Girls By' and, The Police with 'Every Breath You Take'. Need I write more?

So whether it's Billy Joel or Westlife screaming their heads off with 'Uptown Girl,' it doesn't really matter because you can find them this side of the Pacific. 

Poor Donald.

[If you know of any popular Chinese 60s pop songs about ladies fashion and walking down the streets, please share. But then in the 60s, China was not what it is today...]

Westlife - Uptown Girl - Live from the O2. 

From YouTube Westlife Video. Thank you.

Images and videos from Google and YouTube.

Singapore Rare Vinyl Records Banned - Tight Pants n Hot Pants

  

[This article has been forwarded from 2018.]

Look around today. Most ladies, young, old, fat, thin, tall or short, pretty or otherwise, of any colour and creed, are wearing tight pants or shorts today, two of the most popular fashion highlights on the streets.

Similarly, in the 60's and 70's, ladies were wearing sexy shorts and tight pants too. Below are two vinyl records to prove. 

Rare Singapore Vinyl Records: True Or False?

Tight Pants:

This record is called Tight Pants, a vinyl produced by Johnson Seah with studio engineer Vincent Lim and arranged by our own Singapore band called, Family Robinson. The label is Libra Records.

Tight Pants was a restricted record by RTS (Radio Television Singapore) in the 1970's, which means it has never been played over the airwaves.

The flip number of this Singles record is Same Old Feeling. It's another 45 RPM and it looks like both songs are Singapore originals. 

Anyone can help me? Just with the band and song information?

HOT PANTS:

One of the most popular pop bands in Singapore 60's and 70's was The X'periment (spelt exactly: without the E, an apostrophe after the X and without the plural S). 

The group recorded an Extended Play with three songs: Time To Get It Together - S. Roberds, Hot Pants and Satisfaction Guaranteed. It's produced by Reggie Verghese and distributed by EMI Orange label.

I have never seen anything like this vinyl anywhere on the internet, let alone on eBay or Hardware Zone. What made me put this vinyl up is because it costs $90.00 and labelled: Promotional Sample: Not For Sale and being told by the salesperson that it's rare. 

Can anyone verify this vinyl? Thanks. 

Western pop regressive? 
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2018/08/mao-communists-rediffusion-yellow.html

Horseshoes: Freakish Fashion Footwear?
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/search?q=shadows+sonny+james

Images: Andy Young Collection.