Communists In Singapore: Western Pop Regressive! Rediffusion Yellow Culture

Good friend Mr James Kwok wrote to me about his experiences as a young boy in Singapore when communist cadres were present in his own family. I thought his tale intriguing. Here it is in full bloom. 

Thanks, James for the contribution. Below is his article:

"Back in the 1950's (and into the 60's) the adults in my family regarded China as their homeland: to them, the greatest thoughts in the world were those of chairman Mao. 

They participated wholeheartedly in the anti-yellow culture campaign to remove decadent western influences (such as jukeboxes, striptease shows and the yellow press) in early self-governing Singapore. 

Those communists cadres in my family considered western pop music as regressive and mentally-retarding - because they had promiscuity-promoting words like love, kiss and darling.

So, to catch the forbidden music I had to sneak to an Indian neighbour's house to listen to Rediffusion Silver Network's request programmes and scribble down the words of the latest English pop songs. 

Back in my house, right in the face of the communist cadres, I would sing the memorised songs silently to protest victoriously against the oppression. And back in school, coming up first with the complete words of the latest pop song (for the others to copy) did give me bragging rights. 

There's also a side benefit - my doing well in English spelling and dictation. All those British and American pop singers were my heroes, and their songs were my motivational anthems, in my personal civil rights movement."

By James Kwok (image above) who has written a few articles for this blog.

Songs that have the words 'love', 'kiss', 'darling.' and music (such as rock'n'roll) that promotes "decadent western yellow culture" was banned by the PRC-loving communist cadres I had to live with.

So the prohibited list included such popular songs as Paul Anka's I Love You, Baby, and Diana; Petula Clark's I Love You With All My Heart; Elvis Presley's Jailhouse Rock and Kiss Me Quick; Neil Sedaka's Oh Carol; Bill Haley & His Comets' Rock Around The Clock and Shirley Bassey's Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me.

Even a slow number like Russ Hamilton's We Will Make Love wasn't spared, because of that offensive last word in the title.

NB:

James Kwok Facebook site:
https://www.facebook.com/james.kwok.391?fref=nf

Read about:
China's National Anthem by Edwin Goh (Former Director of RELC in Singapore.)
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2017/10/chinas-national-anthem.html

Rock n Roll 50's Mix: Video from djdirtybeat: 51 million viewers of Yellow Culture. 😊

(The photographs are for illustrative purpose only. There is no intention to promote nor degrade any ideology.)