July And Jesamine: "A Butterfly Child, So Free And So Wild..." [Remember Jap Chong?] JJJ.

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It's July

My oh my!

I shall try,

To get by

For a while!

With...

Originally recorded by 

this group in 1968.

'Jesamine' by The Casuals

YouTube Video from: NothingButOldies

Songwriters: Manston Geller.

Half of 2024 has gone.

July starts the second half...

The Singapore Side of 'Jesamine'.

The late Jap Chong recorded

'Jesamine' with The Quests.

And made it a hit in Singapore 

with his version.

Jesamine: The Quests: 

Singapore's Own Pop Group

YouTube Video from: 

Famous or Forgotten Music

What Others Say:

Horace Wee [Guitar Legend]:

This song always reminds me of the late Jap Chong [Quests]during his late years with his group Penny Lane. He sang this very well. Jap worked with me producing jingles and audio projects when he returned from the US in the 80s. He was a true friend and stuck by me when we got into some difficult business dealings. Gone too soon. RIP dear buddy.

Christopher Toh [Journalist/Author]:

I remember bringing a young friend to see Jap when he was playing at Emerald Hill. I told her to request Jap to play 'Jesamine'. He seemed very chuffed that someone so young would know that song. This was after I met the Quests for their 1994 album.

Andy:

A very pleasant and polite gentleman, Jap had always be unassuming in his ways.

He was a good listener too. I think this particular recording was one of his best.

RIP Jap. We shall always remember you... He passed away on March 2nd, 2014.

Terence Lee:

Remembering my old friend Jap. May his soul rest in peace.

Jimmy Chng [Drummer/The Decibels]:

Nice rendition of 'Jesamine' by Jap Chong. This is yet another song recorded by our local artistes that I enjoy listening to, more than the originals. Susan Lim's recording of 'Frankie' and WUB's: 'Sausalito' are two others that come to mind.

Henry Chua [Quests/Bassist]:

We re-recorded Jesamine in 1994 with the Polydor label.

Freda Hanum Malaysia:

Love this song 'Jesamine' by Casuals and also by the unforgettable fabulous Quests ..thanks for bringing back the song Andy.

Winston Koh [Trailers Singer]:

Jesamine was very well sung by Jap Chong of The Quests, a good friend of mine. Thank you Andy. Good memories. Cheers!

Oliver Balasingham [Drummer/Former School Principal:

One of my favourite songs and was pleasantly surprised to see the super cover of this song done by Singapore's pride, the supremely talented The Quests.

Andy:

"And JOHN KLASS too. Thanks for sparing your busy schedule to LOVE💓 the 'Jesamine' song by the late Jap Chong [Quests]. It's on the blog post too.

John Klass:

Yes I sure will Andy Young! Keep up the great work 😊🥂

Mister X [William Xavier] :

GOLD90.5 where I also work... I'll tell John you said so.

Cheers Andy.

Andy:

Thank you very much Will. 

Hiroshi Deguchi [Japan]:

It was not until I got The Quests CD in 2000s that I heard the song "Jesamine". The song was not released in my country. It all depended on record companies. This often happens.

Andy Young

Hiroshi Deguchi yes, it's true. 

Selectively done to suit [to them] that particular country.

Thanks to the following folks

below who 'like' and 'love this post:

Freda Hanum

Stephen Han

Patrick Teng

John Klass💓

Hiroshi Deguchi

Ann Rowena Lim

Colin Colin

Terence Lee

Rose Khoo

Raymond Cho

Moody Cash

Tin Leong Lim

Jennie Law

Ambrose David

Somkid Lakhawat

Ben van der Laan-Hatikustia💓

Tom Tan

Chen Hui Si

Rachel Sng

And welcome to new readers, 

RACHEL SNG and AMBROSE DAVID.

Comments are encouraged from readers.

Images: Google.

Jap Chong From The Quests Passes On

 LATEST NEWS!
Jap Chong, the Quests rhythm guitarist, has passed away today 2nd of March, 2014. Condolences to his family.

The last time he wrote to me was during the Chinese New Year season last month when he thanked me on SMS for the short write-up on Quests' song, Gallopin' and wished me season's greetings. 

It was in January 2011 when Jap and I had lunch with Riem Diamond (Blue Diamonds), Larry Lai (former Rediffusion DJ) and Vernon Cornelius (Quests vocalist). That was the last time I saw him well and healthy.

Way back when in the mid-sixties, I used to meet Jap behind the scene at the National Theatre, the St. John's Ambulance Brigade HQ at Beach Road and a couple of other venues like the Badminton Hall and night spots around Singapore. 

Jap had always been an amicable and pleasant gentleman, usually soft spoken and discussed his band with quiet dignity. Most of his music friends respect Jap for his guitar capabilities and his seriousness with his work as a group member and in leading the band time and again.

We love you Jap.
May you rest in peace.  

From left: Andy Young (blogger), the late Jap Chong, the late Riem de Wolffe, Vernon Cornelius and Larry Lai.

*One of the best songs Jap Chong recorded:

Jesamine 

 "What am I supposed to do with a girl like Jesamine,
Though my eyes are open wide,
She's made my life a dream

When Jesamine goes a part of me knows,
I'm not really living,
A butterfly child, so free and so wild
And so full of living.

When Jesamine stays, though time goes fast,
This is my world at last,
Beautiful days lost in her eyes,
But then the whole world dies..."

Jap's solo piece with Quests.
Song: 1968, co-written by Marty Wilde/Ronnie Scott, under the pseudonym Frere Manston and Jack Gellar.

                                                You Tube Video by Ritasheba.

 Image: Google.