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 !
Showing posts with label Media Corp Shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Media Corp Shows. Show all posts
Zhu Houren 朱厚任, Richard Low 刘谦益, Chen Shucheng 陈澍城 with Singapore's music makers, Sammin, Esther, Jimmy. With Blogger Andy too.
‘AH GE’ LEGENDS:
While having a sumptuous meal with Sammin Ang, his wife Esther and Jimmy Yap, we met these 3 veteran Singapore Chinese actors, all MediaCorp "Ah Ge" legends from the 80s/90s. So, we got together and took a picture. In case you aren't sure who they are, here's some details:
Left: Zhu Houren 朱厚任
Known for roles in classic Channel 8 dramas like _The Awakening_, _The Last Appeal_. He’s famous for playing stern father/authority figures.
Middle: Richard Low 刘谦益
Veteran actor/director. You’d recognize him from _The Little Nyonya_, _C.L.I.F._, and _118_. Also a regular variety show host back in the day.
Right: Chen Shucheng 陈澍城
Comedian and actor. Famous for _Comedy Night_ and sitcoms like _Don’t Worry Be Happy_. He usually wears glasses and is known for his comedic timing.
The 3 of them were part of the same generation of Channel 8 actors and still hang out a lot. Fans call them the “3 uncles” of SG Chinese drama 😄.
Roland is behind the counter in red-T with spectacles. When he sings, he thrills.
As we were looking around the Berseh Food Court area for a drink, we found one but the shop owner told us he was closed for the day because business was so good! It was only 2.05pm [the time the above picture was taken.]
What attracted us to this shop was the owner's voice. He has an exceptionally powerful and clear vibrato when he sang that I asked him if he was a singer. He is. Trills indeed!
I don't usually advertise shops on my blog and I won't, but you have to listen to ROLAND sing and sip his drinks. It will definitely make your day. Roland sings in Chinese and does Western pops too.
Talented and versatile musician Sammin Ang, who plays many instruments, with wife Esther and Jimmy Yap. I was wandering around with them…
Condolences to Mr Moses Lim's family. According to local news he passed away on Tuesday 11th February at 75 years. He was more famously known as 'Tan Ah Teck' in his comedic role on Singapore television called, 'Under One Roof' where he, with his screen family, made home viewers hilarious. The actors included: Koh Cheng Mun, Andrew Lim, Vernetta Lopez and others.
Mr. Lim, besides being an actor, was also a television host and food critic. He studied at Maris Stella High School, Anglican High School and at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He had a comedy partner, the famous film producer and actor Jack Neo. A talented man indeed, Moses Lim had worked with other well-known Singapore celebrities like Marcus Chin and Najib Ali. He was also invited by famed Hong Kong producer, Robert Chua to work there.
RIP Moses! We love you and will miss you...
Mr Lim, in yellow shirt, was with Andy Young and the Silver Strings in a Channel 5 Media Corp series in 2016 called 'Not The 5 Show' here:
at the 90.5 fm station @ Mediacorp studio in Singapore.
UP TO 4,500 VIEWS
You can keep the good times rolling and 60s music spinning by listening in to The Vintage Showcase on Gold 90.5FM, aired every Sunday from 8 in the morning to 12 noon where experienced, versatile and popular disc jockey Brian Richmond holds the reins.
Brian hosts
Some of the features incorporated in the programme will include Brian's Top 20 and Singapore Trivia where listeners interact with the host. There is also a special request segment where a listener will share his memories which go with a special song.
Other music capsules will include, Singapore Snapshots, Moments In Singapore History and Reminiscing With. The last one has special guests each week to share a specific memory of their past. Brian had telephoned me two weeks ago inviting me to participate in this segment of his pop radio broadcast.
Sound Engineer Wayne
He was a gentleman all the way, waiting for me at the reception desk at Caldecott Hill where a hundred and one busy celebrity folks go about their business. His was the usual, casual hello with a firm handshake. Then, "You still remind me of Goh Chok Tong." Ayoh!
Before we started the recording he introduced me to Wayne, the sound engineer, who dabbles with the technicalities of the programme.
The actual session didn't last too long so afterwards it was a short tour of Media Corp @ Caldecott Hill and meeting well-known DJs Vanetta Lopez (Gold Breakfast Show) and Denise Tan (Lunchtime Jukebox), both hosts on the same station. Great folks they are and these two ladies are as pretty in person as their voices are on air.
I won't explain what the segment on his showcase is all about but if you
have been a regular listener you are probably familiar with it. If you aren't, then all the more why you should wake up a bit early on Sunday and listen in.
With DJ Denise Tan.
Thank you Brian for holding the microphone, Wayne for making my recorded voicesound better, Vernetta for taking the pics and Denise for the picture pose.
On the way out, I couldn't find my car in the designated maze and got the help of a Media Corp security guard. Lucky. All these people, really well-tuned...
"Gold ninety point five fm. Classic hits all day." Don't forget. Sunday mornings!
This blog article is a repost from 2014, just 8 years ago😉.
Dawn Karen Tan Senior Producer/Presenter @ Mediacorp.
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40 CHATS, COMMENTS
"The best news anchor I've watched and listened to all these 50 years since Tan See Lai - Andy Young."
It was a chance meeting today encountering the sweetest lady from Singapore's top news channel. So it was a Hullo and, 'My wife and I watch you nightly on Channel 106 CNA's 10 pm news.' Statuesque, Ms. Tan was in a resplendent red dress, one that suited her pleasant, strong but modest personality. She was looking lost and using her mobile phone but I couldn't help her to find her way since I was not familiar with StarVista because the last time I visited the place it was to watch *Tony Bennett in 2013, about four years ago. I met her outside the food court and we managed a Selfie together which she so willingly obliged. Yes, I was focusing at the control button of the iPhone rather than at the camera lens [image -right]. But she looks great don't you think? Thank you, Ms. Tan.
The comment I made above on her Facebook on 2nd March 2017. This image is beautiful. The first thought that comes to mind, "Finally, the long-awaited side view of the Mona Lisa." And that's the truth.
'Mona Lisa' by Nat Cole. YouTube Video
by The Unforgettables Tv.
Latest news from Dawn Tan: "The main character of the documentary showed great courage agreeing to go on this journey to search for the truth with me about the collection of Chinese bronzes his father left to him. It remains my hope that in agreeing to tell the world, it has lightened his burden a little. I think we can all identify, even in a small way, with having a dream come true." Bronze - A Forgotten Treasure. According to Dawn, it's her first documentary as host, etc. Congratulations.
From her Facebook post during her trip to the US covering the Trump/Biden Election 2020 November. Thanks Dawn.
Dawn Karen Tan CNA on duty in the US in November 2020 after the Trump/Biden Election.
Images from Dawn Tan Facebook and GOOGLE.
"Barringtonia asiatica, also known as fish poison tree, putat or sea poison tree, is a species of Barringtonia native to mangrove habitats from islands of the Indian Ocean in the west to tropical Asia and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Beautiful but deadly. The whole tree - flowers, leaves, bark - are poisonous."
April 2025
From Dawn Tan's FB page:
Andy Young
Hello Dawn! That's a distance! Wow! BTW when are you ever going on air again? I mean, on CNA?
Author
Dawn Karen Tan
Andy Young Hello! You may see or hear me now and again on CNA but I do more work behind the scenes now! 😁
Andy Young
Dawn Karen Tan yes, that's the way it goes. When you're in charge, they put you behind the scene. Hope to see you on screen again soon. Stay safe.
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 whowere 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 involvedin 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).
Frances Yip: "Shanghai Bund" on Rolling Good Times - Media Corp.
Watch the interview with Dick Lee tonight on ROLLING GOOD TIMES (Media Corp: Channel 5 @ 9.45 pm) and let her explain how, as a police inspector from Hong Kong, she came to Singapore to sing.
According to the interview, Ms Yip has recovered well from an illness. She is in her 60's but looks 35. Just as pretty and slim as she was many years ago, Ms Yip sings gospels too besides the usual pops. Her biggest hit ever, *"Shanghai Bund", was so successful it rocketed her to fame. With some of her funds she put a deposit to buy an apartment in Singapore. Smart lady.
When Lee mentioned that she looked petite and young in her tiny dress, she replied that her retro dress was 30 years old. Listen for the applause afterwards.
*The song which is in Cantonese, was not performed on local television. For those who are not familiar with the dialect, a translation:
Seung Hoi Tan (上海灘)
" Rushing waves, ever flowing waves
Thousand miles of torrential river flowing ceaselessly
Washing away all worldly affairs
Bringing in a new world for you and me
Is it happiness or sorrow
In the rushing waves struggling
Unable to differentiate the two
Success or failure
In the rushing waves unable to for see our future
Loving you despising you
Don't you realize that
My love is like an endless flowing river
Once it flows, will not retreat
Flowing through the many bays
And still struggling...
My feelings I'm unable to suppress them
In happiness and in sorrow
Unable to differentiate them...
Though wishing still to overcome those waves
My heart has endured enough
Of the rising and falling of love and of life..."
Translation by White Libra Texas.
Images: Richard Toh's Facebook and Media Corp Channel 5 screen grab.
You Tube Video not from "Rolling Good Times".
SLIP NOTE: LATEST NEWS FLASH
The tragedy of the Mount Kinabalu quake that killed young Singaporeans shocked many people. As a nation we send our condolences to the families and friends of these innocent victims. They were children, teachers and mentors who came from Tanjong Katong Primary School. May their souls rest in peace.
All flags fly at half mast with a minute's silence before each SEA Games Singapore 2015 competition.
The Silver Strings appeared on the premier episode of Rolling Good Times on 17th May, 2015 (Channel 5) but the actual live recording was done on the 4th of May, two weeks before the show. It is general knowledge that performers had to come in early for the shoot, hours before the audience arrived at 7.30 pm. We met at Reception at three in the afternoon . Security is always tight so if you're going for a show, don't forget to bring your identification card.
Ushered into the underground studio and beneath the cosy comfort of Caldecott Hill, we faced a large sound stage that had hosted many a variety show in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. It was cavernous enough to seat a few hundred people. We joined the performers scattered in the front rows waiting their turn to rehearse. (Image 1: Media Corp @ Caldecott.)
Dick Lee, Tabitha Nauser, Reuby, Mathilda D'Silva, Wendi Koh
We didn't wait long when Dick Lee came on stage with 19 year old Reuby, co-host Tabitha Nauser and Singapore's Tina Turner Mathilda D'Silva. They set the mood with Dick's and Tabitha's natural TV chatter as they introduced the show with a song. The resident band that accompanied them was incomparable.
When Wendi Koh performed she went into a spin and transformed the studio into a rock n roll, free for all, disco hall with her singing. We were wowed by all of them. Such talent and artistry. When Mathilda came on she looked extremely sexy with her outfit and special hairdo. You'd think Tina Turner was out there. Then Reuby performed as he eased our nerves with a ballad. (Images 2, 3, 4: Sound studio; Artistes; Resident Band with Silver Strings.)
We knew our turn came when we saw drummer John Cher's throne of kings rolling in. There were drums everywhere on the sound stage with the percussion instrument elevated on a large box.
"And you're going to sit up there?" I asked him laughing.
Then Fender amplifiers were placed, together with the toy Nick Stravens was supposed to tinker with on national television (image above).
The whole session lasted for some time as the camera crew, lighting specialists and sound men went into action testing their equipment. The Silver Strings managed the routine as Diana was introduced again and again during practice. Paul Anka's famous baby-sitter came alive once more. (Images 5,6: Silver Strings practice with Nick Stravens in the foreground; Audience.)
For the interview segment, we were seated with Dick Lee, and as places were established we thought it was going to be a long session practising but he managed the chat so professionally, we became engrossed in a conversation that went pretty well on screen. All in one take!
After the dry run we had our meals, heavy fried chicken with nasi-lemak, Chinese sweet and sour fish or a bee-hoon dinner, all served with vegetables. Then make-up time as we went into the tiny room filled with mirrors and facing professionals in black. I thought it was a Batman costume party. Honestly, this group was the quietest and nicest ever as they went about their duty struggling hard to make seniors look like juniors. They had succeeded with Audie, Rickie, John and Nick. (Images: 7, 8: Wendi Koh practice; Rick Astley.)
After the make-up and costumes it was waiting at the wings for our turn as we chatted and met the other participants of the show. By then it was about 7.30 pm and members of the public came streaming in as they filled up the seats in the sound studio. We watched between the curtains. The audience too had to go through certain routines with encores, sing-a-longs and music quizzes.
The live recording started on time and we did our segment around 8.30pm. At the end of the evening before our famous guest star came on he managed some photo shots with the Silver Strings Rick Astley was one of the most friendly and pleasant singing stars.
Andy Lim, Audie Ng, Rickie Chng, Nick Stravens, John Cher (Silver Strings 2015 line-up)
If you've seen last week's telecast, you should know what happened afterwards. I think this first Rolling Good Times was a successful one.
If you have a chance to see it live get a ticket because I understand Media Corp @ Caldecott Hill may close soon to relocate. Uncertain though.
Nice visit for an SG50 family getaway before another iconic building disappears. (Images 9, 10, 11, 12: Rickie Chng, Audie Ng; Make Up artistes; John Cher; Andy Lim.)
Sunday Night: 24th May, 2015: The Dukes, Julie Sudiro, Veronica Young. Also interviews with the Western Union Band, Chris Ho and Najib Ali and Rahimah Rahim.
And don't forget JOHNNY HATES JAZZ in the final show on this series.
SLIP NOTE: Other episodes on Rolling Good Times include 60s, 70s and 80s stars: Johnny Hates Jazz, Frances Yip, Rahimah Rahim, Ginger Bread, Maizurah, Ramli Sarip, Mel and Joe Ferdinands, Jacintha and today's stable of current Singapore popsters.
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