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 !
Enjoy this original song as we learn how to call our relatives the proper Baba Malay way! 'Sedara Baba Nyonya' is written, composed and arranged by Alvin Oon.
Lead vocalist - Tony Quek; Children vocalists - Denzil Kwah, Darius Oon, Doran Oon; Additional vocals - Alvin Oon.
THE ARTICLE BELOW IS WRITTEN TONGUE IN CHEEK:
Wow! Here is ALVIN OON again with another creative, informative but humorous song to help you remember how to call members of your family, with courtesy and respect, using PERANAKAN or BABA language. Not easy to remember them though! No kidding!
😄 Good Luck!!!
Below and detailed, my own creation and explanation:
In Peranakan or Baba Language, if she's your Elder Sister, call her TACHI.
If she’s your Brother's Wife, call her ENSO.
If she’s your Father's Elder Sister, call her MAK KO.
If she’s your Mother's Elder Sister, call her TUA EE.
If she’s not married and she's free, what do you call her? WOW WEE!
😍
Maybe it's best that you listen many, many times how the video explains the name change.
After listening to the video, are you able to name your relatives in Baba Language, depending on your own status in the family? If you manage, that's truly wonderful because it's important to do so, otherwise, you may have a problem relating to them.
Nah! Just kidding. But then, some of your relatives may be KAY-POH, which means BUSY BODY? Oh!
😎 Hmm!
Thanks, ALVIN OON and his singing group for the YouTube Video, without which this blog post could never have been produced.
They were characterized by a call-and-response format, and usually with a humorous storytelling twist. Furthermore, they were interactive and catchy usually featuring a dialogue or one-liners reflecting the 60's lightheartedness. Social change and upheaval, these pops provided a fun and carefree world for listeners.
Beats Juliet screaming quietly: "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou."
And she's on the balcony. Was Romeo at the door downstairs knocking?
By the way, the two Chinese ladies knocking on the door are Juliet Lim and Juliet Tan. They both come from 1A Meta Road, Singapore.
😄
'I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door' [1959]
Also by Eddie Hodges, the last lines of the lyrics are sung
so quickly they need good timing and fluency of the language
to vocalize them. Just listen to Little Pattie go...
“I’m gonna knock and ring and tap and knock and ring and tap
and knock and ring and tap until you do!”
Little Pattie: 'I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door'
YouTube Video by: VintageVideoClips.
'Knock Three Times' [1970]
There was no 'Dawn' when the song was recorded, so
Orlando asked Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson,
whom he had hired to work as background vocalists or,
in music jargon, backup singers. They became
'Dawn' and K3T became a big hit.
“Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me,
Twice on the pipe if the answer is no.”
Tony Orlando & Dawn - 'Knock Three Times' (1970 HD 720p)
YouTube Video by: NVNCBL @VINCENTDICRESCE.
Knock, knock!
Who's there?
Why?
Why who?
Y.M.C.A.
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Rain!
Rain who?
You rain nothing but a hound dog!
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Everybody!
Everybody who?
Everybody was Kung Fu fighting!
'Knock On Wood' [1966]
Insulting indeed, when the teacher tells the child to
knock his own head in front of the class and says it's wood.
The term is also supposed to ward off bad luck.
But then the song itself, composed/sung by Eddie Floyd,
has a different theme. Amii Stewart sings it in style...
“Babe, you better knock, knock, knock on wood,
Babe, you better knock, knock, knock on wood.”
Amii Stewart - 'Knock On Wood' (Official HD Video)
There are many amusing songs from the 50s and 60s, so here are four of them with lyrics that I enjoy. Only a part of the song has been displayed for each one. You need to check the full lyrics from the Internet and it's worth the time.
The first song is about the location of a baby's dimple; the second is about the clicking of high heel shoes affecting some teens? And the third explains how Tarzan has guitar lessons. The fourth song is a newer version of 'Goodness Gracious Me', by Rowan Atkinson and company. Originally it was sung by Peter Sellars and Sophia Loren. It's funny, truly.
Watch. Comments are welcome...
Here they are: [1] cute, [2] amusing, [3] silly and [4] funny...
There is never any intention to show-off or blow Eddie Calvert's trumpet here. Just an honest opinion and some fun and games when the world is in such a huge mess. If only more people would listen to their music and dance to the tunes; this world would truly be a better place to live in.
Blowing my trumpet: Eddie Calvert.
Andy,
Your blog will be considered a very important account on music of the 60's, especially in Singapore. Its history, the musicians and the bands, the songs they sang, it's all on your blog. Very nostalgic for those who lived through their heydays ad reference material for those after.
It is a reminder to the young that their ye-ye, gong-gong, ah-ma and por-por (grandparents) were young once and lived the the era of rock ad roll, jazz, rhythm ad blues and danced to The Twist and sang to The Young Ones. Indeed, those were the days, my friend.
Today, we often get news of a passing of a local music luminary.
Who carries the torch?
So please live live a long and healthy life, Andy! I wish you umor panjang, sehat dan kuat (long life, healthy and strong).
Merely speaking the truth. Your blog is an important document and I believe it is acknowledged as such.
Who carries the torch for Singapore music? The greats are taking their last bows. Who continues the legacy? Because I don't frequent the clubs, so I don't know the musicians or the bands. English radio stations hardly give the local bands any air-time.
Questions from an ignoramus.
[This short article is written by SL, a former NIE colleague, who is not a musician but has been observing the pop scene for some years. She has also contributed some articles. Thank you SL.]
Comments are welcome.
Name the song titles on some posters. Fun!
From left: Musicians Walter and his group
with Andy n Wen Hing [blog contributor]
at Table For 7 Restaurant, Bukit Timah Road.
Cotributed by Wen Hing.
Sung by Louis Armstrong and many others.
Yeah, not only is the cotton high...
Sung and Composed by Christopher Cross
Sung by Barbra Striesand.
Sung by Elvis and many others.
Sung by Earl Grant.
The Silver Strings with Andy
appearing beside Rick Astley, Dick Lee.
[Song sung by many including Marilyn Monroe]
[contributed by Wen Hing]
I was shocked when this coffee shop assistant
told me to. I thought it was his duty.
A very healthy liquid gold breakfast.
Don't gamble with Covid. It's still lingering around.
