SINGAPORE 60's: ANDY's POP MUSIC INFLUENCE IS A PERSONAL MUSIC, MEMORY TRAIL. BLOGGER DOES NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO VIDEOS, AUDIO TRACKS AND IMAGES. THEY ARE UPLOADED FOR FUN, EDUCATIONAL, ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES AND HAVE BEEN CREDITED. BLOG IS NOT SPONSORED NOR ADVERTORIAL IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. INFORM BLOGGER OF COPYRIGHT ISSUES AND POST WILL BE DELETED IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT COPY THE POSTS; GET PERMISSION N CREDIT ME IF YOU DO. ANDY LIM LA (NOVEMBER, 2008) -
(新加坡六十年代安迪的流行音乐影响力), SUDI MAMPIR !
'Scarborough Fair' with Lyrics: YouTube Video by S.Vansay.
Here's a letter from a friend who lives in faraway Canada. She chats so cheerfully about her lovely garden and describes it 'live' here. Thanks so much JD.
💐🌹🥀🌺🌻🪻🌷💐💐🌹🥀🌺🌻🪻🌷💐💐🌹🥀🌺🌻🪻🌷💐💐🌹🥀🌺🌻
I must admit I chuckled when I read your suggestion below that I am "adept with nature". Oh my, no, though I wish I were. I do have a large garden, because it pleases me to have bright flowers and greenery in the yard and visible from my windows, but apart from planting, watering and weeding as needed, I am a very lazy gardener, and not particularly knowledgeable either. I like plants that mostly take care of themselves.
This is a photograph of the market gardener the writer was describing. It has been generated by AI and is not of any random picture from internet images.
My nephew is an avid gardener, and very knowledgeable; his mother was a market gardener and seems to know everything about plants. (Until she retired, she sold her vegetables & flowers at local seasonal markets.) I think that if she doesn't know something about a plant, then it must not be worth knowing. 😉 My nephew grows everything from seed, and this year is providing me with a number of herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.) and several geraniums, for which I am delighted.
The writer cleaning up her garden which usually takes some months.
Unfortunately, apart from a few deliciously warm days this spring, it has mostly been very chilly and windy here, so I have not yet done any work in the garden, nor have I purchased any flowers for the pots on the front porch and patio. There is a lot of clean-ups to do of winter-dead matter, as well as early weeds, and fallen branches. Once I get started, the garden will keep me busy until late autumn.
Rosemary and Thyme. These are herbs best grown where there's sunshine. They are drought tolerant and do not require much watering.
Geraniums below. Spectacularly bright red and attention seeking. The quieter greens are parsley.
Sage
Screenshot of 'Scarborough Fair' YouTube Video by S.Vansay.
As April leaves us and May approaches, we observe that June is waiting to mark the middle of twenty twenty-six. That's half-way through the year and 3 flowers are blooming...
The following comments are extracts taken from previous blog sites:
From the late Dave Loggins, composer: Uploaded on Jan 2, 2009.
"I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts on "Pieces." I wrote it at a very special time of my life. Special, because I met the "love of my life" and had recently lost her. By chance, we were together for three consecutive Aprils and then she left me for good. Today, I don't know where she is or how her life turned out.
May is symbolic of the present, April was and still remains a sweet yesterday. I have never really gotten over "April" and the "pieces" still remain. Those sweet Aprils... It's my favorite song, too."
Tomas Rodriguez, blog reader, says:
It is a really beautiful song, but it is very sad. I also think that the memory that he has of the woman is really an illusion. What he is really attached to is the feeling of sadness and longing that is evoked by his memory of the relationship. At the end of the day she did abandon him [and ladies he did abandon you] so why honor her/him for that? Love God, love life and love yourself first...
Suituapui, blogger was in Singapore, 1973, says:
Ooooo...one of my all-time favourite songs. 3 Dog Night's ‘Pieces of April’ - 1973. I was in Singapore that year, Stamford College, Waterloo Street. Those were the days. I saw Heather and the Thunderbirds - Lost Horizon, Shangri La...and also another place, Malaysia Hotel...can't remember the name now. I saw a very young Anita Sarawak too - Top of the Hilton. Oooo...what memories. [Suituapui means 'Beautiful Fat Guy'].
Maggie May: Rod Stewart. With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. YouTube Video by: Rod Stewart.
Poppa Madison, blog reader, says:
Pity so many young women of today don't merit this kind of romantic approach. I feel sorry for the young guys of recent generations who want to give their hearts to a lovely fair maiden, but more often than not come face to face with a gaggle of boozed up, foul mouthed, violent, out of their mind female juvenile delinquents when they go out try and find one they can give their all to.
50 years ago, I can vouch that we actually had real ladies and gentlemen with good manners and a sense of socially interactive behaviour that many of today's young lot could not even begin to be able to get close to understanding let alone emulate.
Wot a shame! 😱
[But don't forget guys, if April has left you, there's always May and June waiting...]
Rainy Day In June: Kinks. YouTube Video by: 1966 Stereo In.
HAVE A HORSPICIOUS, HEALTHY, SAFE & ENJOYABLE TIME
An AI view of MERLION meeting HORSE as 2026 suggests, with a group of musicians ushering in the year.
Scroll to the end to see what's in the CNY store for you.
Chinese New Medley by Angela July.
YouTube Video by Angela July.
The Chinese character HORSE 馬 [ma] looks like a horse head with a galloping body and tail. Most times, especially during CNY, red signifies good luck. The horse ranks 7th among the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac Cycle.
HERE ARE SOME HORSE TAILS, ER, TALES…
From creator FREDA HANUM, Malaysia, accomplished pianist and former girl group member/recording artistes, The TEEPEES. A beautiful GIF of galloping horses marching into Lunar New Year 2026. Thanks Freda.
In 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse will bring a year filled with energy, vitality and independence. It will begin on 17th February 2026 and will end on 3rd March 2026. Apparently, there will be intense energy, emotional surges, and rapid shifts, encouraging individuals to take bold actions and embrace personal freedom.
The Fire element amplifies the Horse's energetic traits, making it a time for leadership, risk-taking, and following one's instincts. But it may also lead to excessive and emotional overwhelms if not balanced with rest and patience.
It would be a year of liberation, passion, and personal transformation, urging individuals to act with intention and trust their inner fire. [As depicted by AI.]
Roy Rogers with 'A Four-Legged Friend', Trigger from movie: 'Son of Paleface'. A YouTube Video by Cowboyandthesenorita.
Cowboy Roy Rogers sings, ‘A FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND’ with his horse prancing amidst the crowd. As a child reading my favourite comic book hero, he has this wonder horse called, Trigger. The lyrics of the song appear below.
They are literally 'Horse Shoes'.
This video above was a Good Morning gift from JIMMY PRESLEE, Singapore's answer to the late King Elvis. Thanks Jimmy.
QUICK DRAW MCGRAW
The latest CNY 2026 card from MICHAEL BANGAR and FAMILY. His own creation of a hand-made card that he sends every year. The miniature guitar is from LAWRENCE LIM and the fluffy doll-head from ALFRED NG. Thanks guys!
A Four-Legged Friend
Composed by Jack Brooks
Sung by Roy Rogers [1952]
Chorus:
A four-legged friend, a four-legged friend
He'll never let you down
He's honest and faithful right up to the end
That wonderful one-two-three-four-legged friend
[1] A woman is like cactus and cactus can hurt
'Cause she's just a tight-waisted winky-eyed flirt
She'll soon have your land and your pride and your gold
And bury you deep long before you grow old
[2] A two-legged hombre is worthless as sand
He'll smile like a saint with a gun in his hand
He'll promise to stick by your side like a pal
But he'll also promise the same to your gal
[3] Who carries your burden, who carries your load
On tumbleweed land or a long dusty road
Who asks you no questions, who tells you no lies
That four-legged friend with the two honest eyes
That wonderful one-two-three-four-legged friend.
CNY IS FAMILY ORIENTED
From TIKTOK VIDEO.
The above video was contributed by Singaporean WINSTON KOH. But there is no indication as to the originator of this video. Please write in to blogger so that the person can be identified and the name published. Thanks.
And the last words come from this very famous TALKING HORSE, who advised all blog readers with sound wisdom. MR ED, who came from the TV 60’s sitcom, had since left us. Actor ALAN YOUNG portrayed his owner.
Thanks to CHEW HEE HONG for letting us have a glimpse on video the uniquely new style of fireworks display from CHINA.
THANKING FOLKS BELOW FOR SENDING CHINESE NEW YEAR GREETINGS AND FOR KEEPING IN TOUCH THROUGH THE YEARS:
People. We meet them along the way as we go through life. Some of them become our pang yau or friends while others just pass us by. Here are some old and new friends I met when I retired totally from singing after Covid in 2019. These pictures are not in any order. Check us out...
Lyrics of a pop song you all know. What I do when free. Wandering around to check out friends and strangers. Know the song title? And singer?
Meeting a bespectacled Chinese Santa in front of a well-known Chinese painting. Do you know this place? It's not too cold actually but for me it was.
The late Mustafa Al-Johari, a respected singer musician I met at a concert. He became a friend but lived in New Zealand. Mustafa passed away not too long ago. Goodbye my friend. May you Rest In Peace. Condolences to his Family.
Ahh! The wandering singing ambassador Jimmy Yap, with former 'Dukes' drummer Clarence Perera and his friend for a chat before Christmas 2025.
It was orchids galore with the expert himself, Mr. Johnny Yeo, at the Botanical Gardens. Johnny, good friend and a serious orchid enthusiast was on fun duty. Besides being an orchid lover, he also plays the Chinese erhu, the ukulele and is a cycling enthusiast.
While visiting the National Library lately, meeting four buskers who were off duty. They had a great time listening to the pianist. But no singing, says the security guard on duty. A visitor, took pictures.
On 15th May 2025 Amanda, guitarist, and Dorothy, leader of a group of young ladies from Yuying Secondary School Guitar Emsemble Alumni, staged a memorable performance at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital Atrium. A huge crowd awaited.
Mr Bob Salleh and Mr.Ali were in charge of the acoustics that day. And what a fine job they did. Not an easy task with the public, patients and a big audience milling around them to watch what they do. I became friends with them too. Thanks Bob and Ali.
And here's the Concordia Guitar Ensemble about to go into their guitar play and rendering songs for the Hospital crowd and passers-by. The group was founded in 2019. Thank you, ladies. You all made my day. These 3 pictures and other ones will be posted as a full article soon. So watch out for it.
朋友 (Pang Yau - Friend of Mine) - Alan Tam Wing Lun (譚詠麟) YouTube Video by: EmperorTam.
The Music Section at the main library, Middle Road. It's only one part of a huge collection of books about songs and their singers. There's Clapton, Parton and Springsteen. With Beatles book of their lyrics. Notice others? Books are my great friends too!
An interesting moment, meeting Mr. Chee Soon Juan at a Supermarket. He was rather busy as usual but this time shopping for groceries. No chat but he was kind enough to spare me time for the picture.
Pianist Sammin Ang is a good friend and a versatile musician; one who plays quite a number of instruments. His wife, Esther is a singer who can croon in English and Chinese. They appear at many concerts and entertainment venues.
This friend sends me coffee greetings each morning. A well-known Elvis Tribute Artiste, Jimmy PresLee owns many Elvis-oriented pantsuits when he appears on stage. Uh-huh-hah!
And the good friend Jimmy [top left] who's everywhere gave Rediffusion DJ Larry Lai [with cap] and me a big birthday treat on November 25th. Thank you so much, Jimmy. It was extremely delicious food of local delights, including Larry's kong bah pow. He swallowed three huge ones. We had two birthday cakes and as usual Larry got the bigger piece. 🤣 And here's where I met many new friends.
Mr. Christopher Nathan, that's the man! Check him out and help him out. He's always at the Toa Payoh Hub near the NTUC that is opposite the Value Dollar Store. He sings well and does songs by Freddy Mercury. Hope to meet you again my friend.
Lovely lines from a 60's hit. Do you know the title? It's there for you... This is one of my favourite numbers. Do you know the singer?
Here's a cutie pie you'd love to be with. Friendly and loving you can cuddle this giant for as long as you like. He won't object. You should see him tumble on the lawn he's actually admiring... and he sleeps in an air-conditioned room. As Ronald Ho says on the Comment Page below, this beautiful animal could be a Samoyed from Siberia.
In psychedelic colours, here's a Disc Jockey [DJ] at work. Psychedelic is one of the most popularly used words in the 1960's.
My favourite lines as a Senior. Not many years to go but you still get people you know trying to knock you off sometimes. Sad! Do you know the title and the group that sings it?
Can you name this song and singers?
Thank you for reading up to here. Last one, a beautiful decoration piece creatively done for a Christmas dinner table.
Have a great 2026 everyone. Hope to meet more friends along the way... It's only January.
Lines from Boz Scaggs composition: 'We're All Alone'.
Bob Scaggs: We're All Alone
YouTube video by: Bower Wilkins
Without positivity today, we'd be in a hotter pot of soup.
Have faith!
Patrick Teng [Musician]
'Hi Andy, I salute you for keeping the historic chronology of Singapore music events and activities alive. You have faithfully kept the archive for years, beginning in the 60s when it all began. Your work is very important because it holds the identity of a nation through its music. I wish you long life and continue to do the good work for later generations to appreciate the golden years and heritage of the previous generations.'
Images:
A Private Collection, Google and Patrick Teng.
Fabian Foo
Hi Andy, We are fortunate to have you so passionate to keep a blog for the music in our earlier years. Without it nothing is in record and our music heritage will be limited to those in our national archives. A salute to your enthusiasm in keeping us informed on the music scene in those days and to keep in contact with some of the local music makers in those years.
