Andy Sneak Peeks: Media Corp Toggle: 'Not The 5 Show' Episode 19.

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Andy Young with Silver Strings 

             Chua En Lai, Jack Neo, Ailen Tan

                   Suhaimi Yusof, Moses Lim, Simone Heng

Nick, John, Michael, Andy, En Lai (Show Host), Audie and Rickie.

BACKSTAGE @ MEDIA CORPS CHANNEL 5:

Behind the huge video cameras at Caldecott Hills last Wednesday, 13th April 2016, when the afternoon was at its hottest in Singapore at 36.7 degree C , a group of us were happily huddled in the cool comfort of one of Media Corp's colourful sound stages. 

It was a busy bee situation as the camera crew was preparing to shoot our performance on a slightly raised platform.  The floor manager was simultaneously taking and giving instructions to both the band and production crew. There was the usual sound check and dry run for a show The Silver Strings were invited to participate in.

Band members who were scattered on stage, were checking the amps and cables to make sure each piece of equipment was properly connected to their solid guitar. The sound check took some time and the rehearsals some effort.

There was keyboardist, Lobo Nick Stravens (far left) checking his electronic piano, towering dude rhythm guitarist Michael Bangar (with sun-glasses), leader and bassist Audie Ng (in checkered red) and the cool one, lead guitarist Ricky (far right), strumming to balance the volume. 

This blog's contributing writer, John Cher was lost earlier somewhere between the drums, looking for his giant chopsticks to  rock the joint but was sitting satisfied later waiting to roll. I was holding the heavy and powerful Media Corp Shure microphone and snapping some pictures. On stand-by near me was the little bottle of water. Throats parched easily under such a condition.

We're not supposed to reveal anything yet but if you had been following this blog in the last few days, you would have noticed that the Silver Strings were involved in another programme that had been recorded live for prime time on Channel Five. The last time the band was featured on TV was in Rolling Good Times with Dick Lee and Rick Astley in May, 2015.

Some of the popular stars on television and radio would be in this show which highlighted pop music from the 60's and 70's. The personalities included host Chua En Lai, actor and movie producer Jack Neo, TV host and Malay comedian Suhaimi Yusof. There were other stars.  

[17/1/2025 Fast Forward]: Wow! Now she's a celebrity author, Simone Heng was with us in the audience too in 2016, the red dress white collar lady.  She has a book called, 'Let's Talk About Loneliness'.]


The sound check I described lasted for a bit. When we had left, the stage crew welcomed the studio audience in. Performers were ushered backstage for a simple dinner and a rest before proceeding to the make-up room. 

We met more TV and movie personalities as we waited backstage. They were appearing with us on the show. There was also another pop guitar and vocal group. Hot, hot, hot. The band.

So as we leave John (left), his face heavily powdered by our pretty lady at Caldecott Hill, we say farewell until Wednesday evening 20th April, 2016, when the programme will be on air at 7.30 pm. 

Many media savvy Singaporeans know that the broadcasting studio at Caldecott Hill would move out of its present location soon. The Silver Strings and I are glad to have participated in two of the shows before its closure.

Following the teaser on Media Corp's Channel 5 Program for this week, Jack Neo, Mark Lee and the cast of the new movie Long Long Time Ago join us for a nostalgic look back at Singapore and their own lives in the 1960's and 70's. Other young celebrity guests experience the challenges of yesteryear in Singapore's last remaining kampong.

Don't miss it. Lots of surprises. And by the way, it is not The 5 Show. Don't let the logo fool you.

NB: Posted After Telecast on 20th April, 2016.

The two songs performed by SS that evening were: Walking My Baby Back Home (Dean Martin) and Mean Woman Blues (Elvis Presley). Each song lasted about two minutes as there were time constraints.


As it was the procedure we waited behind the soundstage where there was ample room for relaxation and a meeting up with the other participants Moses Lim, Jack Neo and Ailen Tan. They were friendly, warm. Picture taking, especially with Moses Lim, was done with ease and a natural calm. Mr Lim had no airs about him.

Chua En Lai (left) was just as polite backstage but kept a low profile because he was the host and had his hands full holding the show together, having had to open chat on camera with Simone Heng and Suhaimi Yusof who were co-hosting. Sweet and charming TV host Bharathi Rani, whom we met in the elevator, told the audience her kampong tales.

As with the Silver Strings camaraderie was strong with the Media Corp cast and crew. The video and sound recordings that evening ran without a hitch and the Floor Manager was a perfect gentleman, cuing us most times and helping us with stage positioning, sound check, the usual stand-by procedures in front of the floor cams.

        
Topics discussed during the actual shoot:
Kampong, Ponggol, Chua Chu Kang, Yeo Chu Kang, Tea Dances, Discos, Zoey Tay, attap houses, Long long ago

                           Toggle: Episode 19 with The Silver Strings

Disclaimer:

This article is a personal experience of my time in the studios and it has no intention of promoting any person, place or thing.

Images: A Personal Collection; Google; Media Corp.
An Original Article from Andy Lim (Young).

                                            Moses Lim with Silver Strings

Not The 5 Show with Suhaimi Yusof, 

Simone Heng [2025 celebrity author in red], 

Jack Neo, Bharathi Rani, Ailen Tan.