Showing posts with label Father's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father's Day. Show all posts

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Happy Father's Day: My Quiet n Wonderful Dad

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I remember my father, a quiet gentleman who seldom reprimanded me. But I had always respected him, listened to him and loved him in my own way. Strange, he had never laid hands on me even when I was at my naughtiest. I wish I had been just as nice with my own children and to this day regretted that I had been so fierce with them.

I called him, Pa, and he used to read his newspaper every afternoon sitting on a wooden chair beside the shophouse pillar outside our home. It was either the Keng Po or Sin Po an Indonesian and Dutch daily (image/magazine version) that he had subscribed to. Even today the image of him sitting by the pillar is still in my mind's eye.
Indonesian Newspaper:
http://djimat.com/historia/2017/02/sejarah-surat-kabar-indonesia/

Gambang Semarang - Tuti Trisedya.
YouTube Video from: jesiccameijer2
Thank You.

A lover of Dutch and Indonesian melodies, I remember his favourite songs from old Dutch artistes in the 40s, 50s hits, and 60s diva, Anneke Gronloh. He loved the keroncong likeSapu Tangan, Keroncong Mourisko and Jembatan Merah. And a one all favourite, Gambang Semarang

He would listen to them from the valve PYE radio we had at home. He loved Chinese instrumentals too and appreciated music coming from the Chinese flute, zither, harp, etc. And listening to mother's favourite Shanghai songstress Zhou Xian was soothing to his ears. 

Watching boxing and wrestling matches at the Happy World Stadium was his favourite past time. I would always accompany him, just as excited and awed as he was when we watched King Kong (image: below right) thumped and pinned Dara Singh to the ring floor. But when Dara Singh won the match father went to the moon. He was elated and to see the joy on his face made me just as happy.
The Capitol Cinema was his favourite haunt when, with my mother, we would watch The Tales Of Hoffman, Great Caruso and Eddie Duchin Story. Once a magician called the Great Sorcar performed at the same venue but father was unimpressed.

Every evening he would play Chinese Checkers with mother and I would just be around learning how to type asdf;lkj and trying to master the home keys on the noisy Remington. 

I've kept this last. What made him happiest was his camera which he kept preciously. It was an Ensign, Ful-Vue and made in England. He was happiest taking pictures of everyone, everywhere, and many of the b/w photographs are still in my pssession.
Those years, the late 40s and 50s, were quiet ones and one song usually comes to mind when I think of my father. It was popular then and an evergreen today.  Oh, My Papa was sung by the late Eddie Fisher.

I hope you will be cheerful and keep happy even if your children don't celebrate it with you as they may be away or even busy with their work and family.  Do you remember your dad and a song that you associate him with?

A Happy Father's Day to all dads.

[Because of a radio interview there has been a misconception that I was born in Indonesia. I was born in Singapore.]
My dad loved both classical music and pops. The magician Sorcar didn't impress him.
Oh My Papa - Eddie Fisher

Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so wonderful
Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so good
No one could be, so gentle and so lovable
Oh, my papa, he always understood.

Gone are the days when he could take me on his knee
And with a smile, he'd change my tears to laughter

Oh, my papa, so funny, so adorable
Always the clown so funny in his way
Oh, my pa-pa, to me he was so wonderful
Deep in my heart, I miss him so today.
                                  Video by: Scrambled Eggs 1969

O mein Papa is a German song, as related by a young woman remembering her beloved, once-famous clown father. It was written by Swiss composer Paul Burkhard in 1939 for the musical Der Schwarze Hecht (The Black Pike), reproduced in 1950 as Feuerwerk (Fireworks). Under the original German title, an instrumental version by trumpeter Eddie Calvert topped the UK Singles Chart in 1954 and also a top hit in the US charts.

The song has been performed and recorded by numerous artists since its debut, including Alan Breeze, Billy Cotton, Billy Vaughn, The Everly Brothers, Harry James, Guy Mitchell, Ray Anthony & his Orchestra, Russ Morgan & his Orchestra, The Beverley Sisters, Björk and many others." 

But below is a bigger deal:



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This article is a repeat but it's an improved posting from 06.06.2019.
An Original Article.

Image: Google
Video of Eddie Fisher singing Oh My Papa.

Saturday, June 20, 2020

A Happy Father’s Day 2020 Because You Loved Me

To All Blog Readers: 

Diane Warren wrote this song for a 1996 movie called, Up Close and Personal. It was also to her father as a tribute for his encouragement and became another hit on the pop parade. 

‘Because You Loved Me' is sung by Las Vegas diva Celine Dione and recorded in the same year, 1996. It was huge then. But more than 20 years passed and this song is still being played.

So to all dads, grand dads, whether you have sons or daughters or grand kids, this song is a beauty to remember. And it's for you!

'You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me...'


'Because You Loved Me' Celine Dion: YouTube.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

A Happy Father's Day If You Still Remember

CAT STEVENS - FATHER AND SON

It is true and most people agree that Father's Day is not as celebrated as Mother's Day because children forget their dads in later years more often than they do their mums.

Happy Father's Day to all dads in the world.

Father
It's not time to make a change,
Just relax, take it easy.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to know.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy,
To be calm when you've found something going on.
But take your time, think a lot,
Why think of everything you've got.
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.

Son
How can I try to explain, cause when I do it turns away again.
It's always been the same, same old story.
From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.

Father
It's not time to make a change,
Just sit down, take it slowly.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to go through.
Find a girl, settle down,
if you want, you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

Son
All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside,
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it.
If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them they know not me.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.

Composer and Singer: Cat Stevens.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management US, LLC