Singapore 60s Music Blog Reaches 4 Million Views On 1st May 2025.

4M+ VIEWS ON 1st MAY 2025.

AND SINCE 1st SEPTEMBER 2025

IT HAS 4.3 MILLION VIEWS.

Thanks To Folks Who Responded. 

Comments Are Listed According To Time And Dates Received:

Danny Koh:

Congratulations Andy on a very interesting and informative blog.

👏👏👏👏👏👍

Jimmy Chng:

Hooray! Congratulations on reaching this milestone,cheeres!

Vernon Cornelius:

Congratulations!

Patrick Teng:

Congratulations Andy, you are a local bred true son and hero of Singapore 👍

I am so proud of you.

Michael Lee:

BLOG VIEWS WILL REACH 4 MILLION WITHIN THE HOUR OR TWO!!????

Yip Dick:

You are a definite Millionaire Andy !!😍💜❤️💯

YOU SUPER.

Terence Lee:

AWESOME JOB!

Winston Koh

Wonderful well done Bro. Andy & Congratulations!! 👍👍🇸🇬🎊

Koh Daisy:

Congratulations keep going Andy 👏👏👏

AWESOME JOB!

Dr. Phil Chan:

Congratulations, Andrew!

Rumini:

👌

John Lim:

👍

Jimmy Yap:

Andy, heartiest congratulations! I am so proud you have me featured in a few articles on your blog.

Eddie Eng:

Congratulations!

Lim Kuan Min:

👏👏👏👍

Richard Rajoo:

Good! Yes! Great!

Ivor Lesslar:

Congratulations!

Irene Yap:

Congratulations Andy! Awesome!!

And thanks to the same good folks and others below:

John Klass

Somkid Lakhawat

Patrick Teng

Juliana Lim

Freda Hanum

John Cher

Yip Dick

Angela Leow

Hiroshi Deguchi

Rose Khoo

Ann Rowena Lim

Andy Young

Jennie Law

Roop Singh

Alphonso Soosay

Winston Koh

Stephen Han

Peter Cheong

Ser Kiong Tan

Alphonso Soosay:

Congratulations Andy Young. You Did It Your Way With Your Ideas. Singaporean’s Should Be Proud Of Your Achievements. 👏👏👏.

SL Tan:

Congratulations, Andy! Your labour of love is paying off. Looking forward to see it hit the 5 millionth view mark.

Hiroshi Deguchi:

Congratulations, for your accomplishment.

Zane:

Congratulations!

Freda Hanum:

Wow congrats Andy. 👍

John Cher:

Thank you Andy. You re too kind. I am no where near you in terms of readership. You're the man my friend. I have much to learn from you... cheers!!

Angela Leow:

Congrats!

Many thanks to all the above friends, readers and contributing writers who sent in their comments and well-wishing. It's tiring sometimes but fun.

Comments are welcome!

And more are coming in!

The First of May: Sarah Brightman.

YouTube Video by: Tim Lim.

Singapore has its Parliamentary Elections too on 3rd May, 2025.

Auspicious times and occasions indeed!

Check the earlier site below to find out this music blog's status on the World Wide Web [www]:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2022/06/andy-60s-music-blog-recognised.html

Summertime Blues, A Hard Day's Night In Hiroshima Japan With Freda Hanum On Labour Day

A 2018 blog post about Labour Day/May Day led to a comment by Freda Hanum on 2.5.2019, as she reminisces about her time in Japan playing and singing with her band.

Thanks Freda. Your stories are definitely entertaining! Do read on... 

One of the songs played by Freda Hanum 

when she was based in Hiroshima.

Wow, Andy,

I cannot believe my ears hearing that song 'Summertime Blues' (Eddie Cochran), I thought nobody even notices that song. My band had been playing and I sang that song almost every other night when we were in Hiroshima for the 6 months contract in Japan.

Our Japanese friends like it. I did not hear of it again any more or anywhere or of any band playing the song in Singapore or Malaysia since 1985 when I came back (cannot remember exactly which year). It had been totally out of my mind since then until I heard it from your blog today. All songs bring a specific memory of when, where and the happenings surrounding it, who you were with, or a special occasion. 

A song memory for Ms Hanum who 

writes the lyrics in her special book.

'A Hard Day's Night' obviously an international Beatles hit, was so very popular among all age group, and that brought my memories back to my secondary school days at Katong; I used to write down all their songs lyrics in my songbook.

The song 'Car Wash' (Rose Royce) brings back my memories with the Falcons years back in the 80s I think, a very popular Malaysian band. I was supposed to replace their singer who had to go back to the States, me practising the 'Car Wash' refrain almost every day just to get that essence; it was not easy but their vocalist sang that number superbly. As I am more of a lounge singer I did not join the band.

What memories you brought back...

'Car Wash': Rose Royce

YouTube Video from: bartsch90

Thanks for the oldies and they do click with me. I want to thank you, Andy, for bringing back the good old times in your blog. Cheers to you.

Wouldn't know much about songs to protest about, as long as they're good to hear or sing... just go along happily.

Author: Ms. Freda Hanum, who contributed many articles for this blog.

Freda at work at nightspots and venues during the 70s 

and beyond. An accomplished pianist, she spends her

time today making beautiful, creative posters for her friends.

Read the original post that resulted in this memory:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2018/05/may-day-or-labour-day-pop-song-lyrics.html

A nightclub in Hiroshima, Japan with a guitar group.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298561-Activities-c20-Hiroshima_Hiroshima_Prefecture_Chugoku.html

Images from Google.

First Of May - A Day of Reprieve for Labour - by Wen Hing

UP TO 1,300 VIEWS - 40 plus COMMMENTS14 COMMENTS     

''Bringing back bitter sweet memories'', says Wen Hing; this handsome gentleman writes so well and so quickly, I had to put up his comment about a previous posting [connection below] for everyone to read. And he wrote it only this morning. I know now your memories are so much sweeter. Many thanks Wen Hing...

''This is the album which helped me survive my adolescence... when Melody Fair painted a romantic and innocence in love, and how my life was really taking place In The Morning, and of course; how First Of May helped me to realise I’ve grown, lamenting about the time “when I was small, and Christmas trees were small..”, although I’d never really seen a Christmas tree before. 

That made the whole idea so magical, and and in my youthful hunger for acceptance and understanding I also wrote a song entitled “First of May”, for a misplaced relationship. So this album and in particular this song brings back real bittersweet memories. 

These days I rather think of this day as the 1st Day of May.... if that can somehow dull the senses somewhat. But it is what it is, and this is a day of reprieve for labor, both menial and emotional. Happy Labor Day!''

Wen Hing - Song Composer/Writer

SONGS - 

1] THE LUSTY MONTH OF MAY [2] MAYTIME 

[3] ONE MORNING IN MAY [4] IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY 

[5] APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS [6] FIRST OF MAY.

Sarah Brightman - First of May

YouTube Video from Paul Brightman

More articles n songs about 1st May:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2018/05/may-day-or-labour-day-pop-song-lyrics.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-of-may-puppy-inspired-song-not.html

Images by Sweetify and Chow Wen Hing.

Singapore Pop Girl Group Musician Freda Hanum: May Day Songs I Remember

UP TO 1,000 VIEWS

She heard the hits again and her natural outflow describing songs she loves resulted in a free-spirited writing style that can only come from a talented and gifted pop music artiste like Freda Hanum.

She is from the very popular girl group The Teepees.

Thank you, Freda, for your contribution. Soon the Teepees will appear on these pages, but that might take a while. Meantime, here's Freda with her comments about the nostalgia she experienced when she listened to the songs once more after so many years. It's inspirational.

The song below has been replaced because another posting of the same nature with the song, Summertime Blues has already been featured. This is another May song by Julie Andrews. Enjoy.

The Lusty Month of May: Julie Andrews 

from the musical: Camelot. 

YouTube Video: Julie Andrews - Topic

Wow, Andy,

I cannot believe my ears hearing that song Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran), I thought nobody even notices that song. My band had been playing and I sang that song almost every other night when we were in Hiroshima for the 6 months contract in Japan. 

Our Japanese friends like it. I did not hear of it again any more or anywhere or of any band playing the song in Singapore or Malaysia since 1985 when I came back (cannot remember exactly which year). It had been totally out of my mind since then until I heard it from your blog today. All songs bring a specific memory of when, where and the happenings surrounding it, who you were with, or a special occasion. 

A Hard Day's Night obviously an international Beatles hit, was so very popular among all age group, and that brought my memories back to my secondary school days at Katong; I used to write down all their songs lyrics in my songbook. 

The song Car Wash (Rose Royce) brings back my memories with the Falcons years back in the 80s I think, a very popular Malaysian band. I was supposed to replace their singer who had to go back to the States, me practising the Car Wash refrains almost every day just to get that essence; it was not easy but their vocalist sang that number superbly. As I am more of a lounge singer I did not join the band. 

What memories you brought back...

Oh my, this song is still an all-time favorite. I never forgot that movie Melody Fair. S.W.A.L.K.(seal with a loving kiss) with Mark Lester, Jack Wild, and Tracy Hyde.  So cute were these kids; I fell in love with the movie. 

Lately just a few months ago - I upload movies but only good old classic ones and with a really good storyline - I managed to find the movie, which I had been searching for quite some time. I was so happy when I finally got it. The songs In The Morning and 1st of May really blended with the movie so well... beautiful songs. The BeeGees have definitive songs that I never tire listening to. 

Thanks for the oldies and they do click with me. I want to thank you, Andy, for bringing back the good old times in your blog. Cheers to you. 

Wouldn't know much about songs to protest about, as long as they're good to hear or sing... just go along happily.

Written by Freda Hanum. Copyrights Reserved. Keyboardist for 'Teepees' Pop Girl Group 1970s.  

Above Teepees in the Seventies. Below with Andy Young and Teepees (Rose, Freda, Anna, Rumini) @ Oleh Oleh Teahouse - 2019.

Connect to read:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2019/06/selamat-hari-raya-2019-kampong.html

May Day Or Labour Day Pop Song Lyrics

May Day 

UP TO 1,200 VIEWS - 20 COMMENTS

1st of May celebrates May Day. It's also called Labour Day in other countries and a holiday in Singapore.  So to cut the chase, here's a list of songs that we all used to sing and play but mostly not knowing that they were songs that had lyrics discussing the working class individual.

1) 
One of the most popular songs from the 60's was A Hard Day's Night, a Beatles hit that's forever and made into a movie. We were all frantically crazy, loved the song but how was the movie?

It's been a hard day's night
And I've been working like a dog
It's been a hard day's night
I should be sleepin' like a log

Video from Michael Clough: A Hard Day's Night by The Beatles. Thank you.

2) 
Another song we could tag as a May Day number was 9 To 5, the Dolly Parton protest classic that was also made into a movie.  The liberated women wanted to be recognised for their contribution. And they were. Hooray:

Working nine to five
What a way to make a living
Working nine to five
It's all taking and no giving

3) 
Then Sam Cooke came next with his sad refrain about the Chain Gang. Big boss Richard Branson used this song as an example when he spoke about teamwork, co-operation and customer service. My my:

That's the sound of the men 
Working on the chain gang
All day long they work so hard
Till the sun is going down...

Video from The Rockabillie: Summertime Blues 

by Eddie Cochran. Thank you.

4) 
Eddie Cochran was another one complainin' because he's got Summertime Blues. He had to work late so he couldn't keep his date and the boss refused his leave. I love the beat, I love the lyrics because it's rock and roll. Keep on complainin' Eddie:

Well I'm gonna raise a fuss 
I'm gonna raise a holler
About working all summer
Just to try to earn a dollar

5) 
This classic by Johnny Cash was hot in the 60's but uncertain about its theme until I got older. 16 Tons focussed on coal mining activities and the suffering the workers had to endure:

I was born one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and walked to the mine
I loaded 16 tons of number 9 coal
And the straw boss said, 'Well a blessed my soul!'

Video from BakNDaDay: Car Wash by Rose Royce. Thank you.

6)
Here's one song I won't forget. Clean and shiny after a Car Wash by the Rose Royce, the workers suffered much when the day ended. Sorry guys, the disco music made me forget the splashes:

Well those cars never seem to stop coming
(Work and work)
Keep those rags and machines coming
(Work and work)
My fingers to the bone 

Notice that all the songs, except one, have the word, work in the lyrics. It all goes to prove the theme of each hit. There are many more of these songs about the working class. One way to make workers be heard? Play these songs. 

And by the way, First of May by the BeeGees is not a Labour Day song. It's about their puppy.

Check it out:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2010/05/first-of-may-puppy-inspired-song-not.html

Then there's the famous 'First of May' by the Bee Gees. 

I am showing off with my family trip to

Brisbane when we visited Bee Gees Way.

A Happy May Day Holiday To All.

Images: Google Vinyl Covers.

Composers: Lyrics/Music:
A Hard Day's Night: John Lennon/Paul McCartney.

9 To 5: Dolly Parton.
Chain Gang: Sam Cooke.
Summertime Blues: 
Eddie Cochran/Jerry Capehart.
16 Tons: Merle Travis.
Car Wash: Norman Whitfield.

(Got stories or songs to contribute?  Please write on the comment page.)

Labour Day: Work Hard For The Money Folks!

A few songs come to mind when Labour Day strikes. Here's a few personal selection for the many found on the internet:

Nine To Five (Dolly Parton)

Yes, it's a 1980 song but the song became something of an anthem for office workers in the U.S., and owe its title to an organization founded in 1973 with the aim of bringing about better treatment for women in the workplace:

Nine to five, what a way to make a living;
Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving.
They just use your mind, and they never give you credit.

Nine to five, for service and devotion;
you would think that I would deserve a fair promotion;
want to move ahead, but the boss won't seem to let me.

Chain Gang (Sam Cooke)

Inspired with an actual chain-gang of prisoners Sam Cooke saw on a highway while on tour. He felt sorry for the men and gave them cartons of cigarettes.

Well don't you know
That's the sound of the men                                                 
Workin' on the chain gangAll day long they work so hard
'Till the sun is going down, down
Workin' on the highways and byways and wearing
Wearing a frown
You hear them moaning

She Works Hard For The Money (Donna Summer)

It was based on an actual encounter that Donna Summer had with an exhausted bathroom attendant:

It's a sacrifice working day to day
For little money just tips for pay
But it's worth it all
Just to hear them say that they care

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money

Maggie's Farm:

This theme of capitalist exploitation came to be seen by some as the major theme of the song. Lots of interpretation this song has:

Well, he hands you a nickel
He hands you a dime
He asks you with a grin
If you're havin' a good time
Then he fines you every time you slam the door
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother more.

There are 22 more songs if you can be bothered. But here's the twist at the end. Written by: Rob O'Connor | List Of The Day – Thu, Aug 28, 2008 8:15 PM EDT titled, The 25 Best Work Songs For Labor Day, he said:

"But we here at List Of The Day never stop working. We're always thinking of new lists that need to be compiled. When we saw Labour Day coming up on the calendar, we knew it was time to wheel out the work songs. Not the old, smelly work songs that musicologists once discovered in the hands of the workingman, but the ones written and performed by rich rock stars who've never done any real work. Rich rock stars, you see, complain better than anyone. So who better to give voice to than the oppressed?"

Hey wait a minute, I thought pop singers work hard too?  Happy Labour Day holiday folks. I retired long ago...
Images: Google

Info: http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/list-of-the-day/the-25-best-work-songs-for-labor-day.html

TRAGEDY: Two 70s Stars Gone Within A Week

This portal features many great singers and musicians who had passed on. But to have two music greats leaving the pop world within a week is something of a tragedy. I featured both at the side-bar during the week they passed away but someone wrote in to comment that they deserve a posting on this blog. So here they are again. Don't forget, they would've been featured in thousands of other websites and personal blogs.  But here goes. Tribute to two great 70s music people.

LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012), known by the stage name Donna Summer, American singer and songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the late 1970s.

Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE (22 December 1949 – 20 May 2012) singer and songwriter, best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his fraternal twin brother Maurice and older brother Barry. Their late younger brother Andy was also a singer. For Robin it wasn't the First of May but the 20th.

They both had one factor in common. Promoted disco music!

Tragedy
When the feeling's gone and you can't go on

It's tragedy
When the morning cries and you don't know why
It's hard to bear
With no one to love you, you're going nowhere

Tragedy
When you lose control and you got no soul
It's tragedy
When the morning cries and your heart goes by
It's hard to bear
With no one beside you, you're going nowhere

(© GIBB BROTHERS MUSIC; CROMPTON SONGS LLC)

Images/Information: Google/Wikipedia.

First Of May: Labour Day Singapore: Songs

Click each connection below for stories to read about May First:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-of-may-puppy-inspired-song-not.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2021/05/first-of-may-day-of-reprieve-for-labour.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2018/05/may-day-or-labour-day-pop-song-lyrics.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2013/05/labour-day-work-hard-for-money-folks.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-of-may-puppy-inspired-song-not.html

First Of May: Bee Gees: 

YouTube Video from: Christ Cruz

First 1st Of May - Puppy Inspired Song, Not Labour

  UP TO 2,700 VIEWS  

40 CHATS, COMMENTS

SONGS I LOVE:

The most appropriate song to feature today is one of Bee Gees' greatest hits, First of May, (lead vocals by Barry Gibb). No, it's not a protest song nor one about Labor Day but with its symbolic and poetry like lyrics, Barry Gibb wrote it for his dog's birthday.

This 1969 doggie inspired melody was a minor hit but was noticed after it featured in the soundtrack of a British film about puppy love called, Melody (1971). It was released in the Far East at the same time, and that included Singapore.

It has a place in the annals of American pop and been covered by Matt Monroe, Jose Feliciano and Sarah Brightman. Strange, I always thought the song was more about growing up: 

When I was small and Christmas trees were tall
Don't ask me why but time has passed us by
Now we are tall and Christmas trees are small
But you and I, our love will never die
The day I kissed your cheek and you were mine.

                First of May - Bee Gees You Tube Video by: Chris Cruz

Singer Lulu - To Sir With Love, Scottish pop singer - was married to Maurice Gibb from 1969 to 1973, his first wife. Maurice has since passed away in January, 2003.

For the younger readers, don't confuse the Bee Gees' version of First Of May with another that has the same title. It's by Jonathan Coulton. Personally, it could have been a nice song but being old school the F word has no place in any music piece, even if the word is relevant in its context. So excuse me.

When Christmas Trees were small; Gibb brothers with their F hole guitar and where it all started.

The Bee Gees: Barry, Robin, Maurice were supposed to perform at the National Theatre on 1st April 1972. They were staying at the Hyatt Hotel in Singapore. But a new ban on males with long hair, "the Bee Gees, Kitaro and Led Zeppelin were all forced to cancel their gigs in Singapore because they refused to accomodate the policy - Long Hair In Singapore: Wikipedia."

Now how far was this true with the Bee Gees? Did they perform or didn't?

Image: Google and other sources.

Original article: Andy Lim

Hahahahaha!!!

Poster is gift from Freda Hanum. 

Thanks so much Freda. 

May 1st, 2024.