Russia Ukraine War Today: Pop Song Memories Yesterday: Wind Of Change?

From Russia With Love [1963]

Matt Monro

''From Russia with love, I fly to you

Much wiser since my goodbye to you

I've travelled the world to learn

I must return, from Russia with love...''

Back In The USSR [1968]

The Beatles

''The Ukraine girls can really knock me out

They leave the west behind

And Moscow girls make me sing and shout

That Georgia's always on,,,

My my my my my my my my my mind...''

Sympathy For The Devil [1968]

The Rolling Stones

''I watched with glee 

While your king and queens

Fought for ten decades

For the gods they made...''

Rasputin [1978]

Boney M

A Germany based song

''There lived a certain man in Russia long ago

He was strong and big and his eyes a flaming glow

Most people look at him with terror and fear

But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear...''

Wind of Change [1990]

Scorpions

West German Rock Band

''Listening to the wind of change

The world is closing in

Do you think that we could be so close, like brothers...

The future's in the air

Can feel it everywhere

Blowing with the wind of change...''

LET'S HOPE FOR PEACE SOON!

It's such an irony when we listen to the lyrics of these songs that I still remember. It wasn't too many years ago that we sang them and in one full circle the war is back but I am no war-monger nor an armchair politician. 

Just love these songs and some of their meaningful lyrics. 

Let's hope for peace again, soonest!

IT'S MARCH, 4TH TODAY. MARCH FORTH TO PEACE!

Images/Videos: Google and YouTube.

Scorpions: Winds of Change: 

Scorpions: [Official Music Video]

A Scottish Pop Star Sang At The National Theatre

For Your Eyes Only: Sheena Easton: James Bond Opening Scene.      

                                                       

*W. K. Yang, the chairperson of one of the largest and most established eye-wear businesses in Singapore, sponsored a show featuring a female pop star from Scotland to sing at the National Theatre at Tank Road.  It was an ideal situation since she was one of the biggest names then and the theme of the show was appropriate to the product being sold by the company.

One of the James Bond biggies when Roger Moore was 007.

The singer in question had made a success with two songs she recorded since she started out in 1980. Her first song Modern Girl only became a hit after the second, Morning Train nearly topped the charts. 

Singing the title song for the latest James Bond flick established her as a star since it became a worldwide hit.  She also remained the only artiste to be seen singing a theme song to a James Bond movie during its opening credits.

For Your Eyes Only, an 007 original nominated for an Academy Award in 1981 in the category Best Music (Original Song), not only advertised Nanyang Optical as an already established spectacles retailer but brought Sheena Easton to our shore.



The advertisement from Straits Times Press.

The Grammy award winner and the singing sensation was voted Best Female Singer of the Year and Best Female Personality of the Year. Pat D'Rose in a local newspaper article called her a veritable chilli padi, small and dynamic in more ways than one.

Another Singapore journalist, Kannan Chandran, described her as "distant and clinically competent"  but a majority of the audience who attended the concert and expected a good time were not disappointed. The gig was promoted by Johnny Young Productions. His was a familiar name and sponsored many local 60s pop music gigs. Ticket prices were inexpensive since patrons paid only $20 to see an international star. 

There is still an unanswered question. Did I witness this extravaganza at the National Theatre? Ah... More importantly, did you attend the show? Tell us.

*Yang Wah Kiang- From Geylang To Orchard.

He is a friend since I started wearing glasses at a very young age and visited his father's shop at Geylang Road which opened in the 50s. When Yang Junior took over after his father passed on I was already a regular so it was no coincidence that I saw the Sheena Easton poster outside his shop one afternoon while browsing for a new pair of glasses.

Mr. Yang Wah Kiang Chairman Nanyang Optical

He made the company what it is today, expanding it many-fold and which now stands as an enterprise that also produces uniquely designed spectacle frames.  His shop has expanded and he owns a sister company with a now prestigious brand called Alexis Eyewear Boutique that has outlets at Orchard Road, the most up-market environment in Singapore. Fifty years on and still going strong. Like Sheena Easton who holds fort even today, Yang is just as popular with his frames and lenses as Easton is with her singing appearances.

Disclaimer:
This post is a personal one and does not promote any artiste, product nor person.

Images: from Google and Straits Times Press.

(1) James Bond - Edward Kennedy, John F. Kennedy

It is strange to connect the name Kennedy (death of Edward Kennedy, 26.08.2009) with that of Bond but blogger vaguely remembers that John F. Kennedy loved to read the James Bond series by Ian Fleming, because the former mentioned it at a press conference when a reporter asked him what type of books he liked to read... The 60's is incomplete without Kennedy and Bond.

Similarly, Singapore 60's music is incomplete without its James Bond theme songs. Limiting the list up to the 70's, the first Bond movie made was Dr. No (1962) and the last 70's movie was, Moonraker (1979). Most of the melodies are hits and many of the signature tunes are now classics. They are all covered by different pop artistes.The best known of the melodies are The James Bond Theme (1962) and On Her Majesty' Secret Service (1969).

The songs are: 

From Russia With Love (1963 - Matt Monro), 
Goldfinger (1964 - Shirley Bassey), 
Thunderball (1965 - Tom Jones), 

You Only Live Twice (1967 - Nancy Sinatra), 
Diamonds Are Forever (1971 - Shirley Bassey), 
Live And Let Die, (1973 - Paul McCartney & Wings), 

The Man With The Golden Gun (1974 - Lulu), 
Nobody Does It Better from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977 - Carly Simon), Moonraker (1979 - Shirley Bassey) and 
For Your Eyes Only - (1981) Sheena Easton.

All the songs went down well with Singapore listeners as most of them were in the local Pop Charts. A few songs have also been covered by our own musicians.

Images: Google.

(3) James Bond You Only Live Twice - Lara Tan

At the end of 1967, The Trailers released another EP with a second James Bond number. It was also on Cosdel (CEP 3008). You Only Live Twice, was released with, Please Don't Talk To The Life Guard, Single Girl and Dream Girl. They are all sung in Chinese by Ling Ling or Lara Tan (image), who had cut a few other titles with The Trailers

In the Bond number, You Only Live Twice, lead guitarist Victor Woo and pianist/organist Jimmy Chan showed their prowess by giving the song its local flavour and depth. You Only Live Twice and Dream Girl were released in Australia by Festival Records with copyright from Cosdel.

In the original recording, You Only Live Twice, was sung by Nancy Sinatra, with music by John Barry and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Little Anthony & The Imperials recorded a powerful rendition of the song for United Artists Records as well. It appeared on their 1967 album. Shirley Bassey had also performed it in an album of her own.

Reference: Wikipedia.

Image/original article: Andy Lim Collection.

(2) James Bond - Thunderball - The Trailers

Thunderball*, a James Bond song, originally by Tom Jones, was recorded by a well-known Singapore band, The Trailers. It was the B-side to their hot-seller, Do It Right by Benny Koh (image

The group's manager Tommy Low secured a contract with Cosdel Records and released this, their first single in May, 1966 (CSP 1007). Thunderball was arranged by pianist Jimmy Chan who was with the Flamingos Combo - see posting on James Choa. The single did very well and it was a great start for The Trailers Enterprise which began in September, 1965.

For first-timers in the local 60s recording industry, Thunderball, an instrumental, is commendable, especially with Tony Zee's (percussion) booming introduction and drum-roll end. Although the rhythm, bass and keyboard accompaniment is louder than the lead guitar, it is on the whole an acceptable piece.

According to Wikipedia, the version recorded by Shirley Bassey and re-recorded by Dionne Warwick was not released until the 90's. John Barry composed it with lyricist Don Black. Tom Jones, who sang Thunderball, fainted during recording when singing the final, high note, "I closed my eyes and held the note for so long that when I opened my eyes the room was spinning."

*Thunderball was at 1st place on Singapore's Top Tunes on February 14, 1966.

Image/original article: Andy Lim Collection.

James Bond, not 007 but 087 today:

Sean Connery today as he is seen here from a Daily Mirror newspaper photo on 5th September 2017. He is with a walking stick and walks slow. James Bond 087 as he is known now.