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 !
Singapore Soccer Song Sings Sixties Song To Sylvia...
Jimmy Chng, 60s percussionist and blog contributor says:
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"Two true blue and well known Singaporean personalities and 60s pop music.
As an ardent fan of our national football team during the heydays of the MalaysiaCup tournament, I attended every match played at our National stadium. Our then Singapore national team comprising stalwarts like Dollah Kassim, Mohd Nor, S. Rajagopal and Samad Alapitchay to name a few, and Quah Kim Song's dribbling skills and speed on the pitch were a delight to watch. Song played from 1969 to 1979 for the team.
Quah Kim Song. Syed Mutalib. Samad Allapitchay. Mohd Noh.
Dollah Kassim. S Rajagopal. Eric Paine. Edmund Wee:
The Singapore Lions. [From FB: Jose Raymond - 2018 August 14]
The upcoming marriage between Quah Kim Song and Sylvia Lim made the news recently. It was reported that Kim Song caught the attention of Sylvia when he sang a 60s pop song during a fundraising event organized by the Workers Party some 12 years back. And as reported in an 2015 interview with The New Paper, Quah sang, Don't Play That Song [You Lied], that won Sylvia's attention and thereafter, her heart."
Written by Jimmy Chng,
a percussionist with, 'The Decibels'
Watch this video!!!
Bruce Springsteen Version: 'Don't Play That Song'.
A bygone golden age of music, stunning musicians, brilliant voices and perfect harmonies, dear Brother Andy! Only the tender mercy of God did I ever get to meet Keith Locke.
I was attending a concert to watch my childhood idol, Veronica Young at NLB Singapore. I was at this charity event and this dude was seated next to me. I recognised him.. and said ‘wow’ you’re Keith Locke? Blessings.
We stepped out to take a breather during interval, and I thank him for his contributions to our Singapore music scene with The Quests. I asked him for an autograph and he scribbled it out on a card that I carried around in my wallet until it disintegrated!
Concert tickets for Keith's show in 2012 Singapore that
Fred attended. Fred has watched 100s of international
pop music performances in Singapore alone...
We had supper together with Veronica and friends after the show. We walked Veronica back to her hotel and I took Keith for a car ride. I blasted some of the Quests songs and it brought tears to his eyes on hearing some of the songs that he wrote.
What a remarkable man who worked extremely hard for his days with The Quests, probably the biggest Singapore band of all time! Wherever Keith may be.. God bless him.
🙏❤️🙏..
By Fred Ching
Fred Ching has authored
a number of articles for this blog.
Check him out under LABELS below.
Keith Locke, 'Don't Play That Song'.
YouTube Video by: William Chan.
[With Ernesto Valerio, Veronica Young and
the amiable Jimmy Yap.]
With Henry Chua, Quests bassist,
who went solo with Keith.
Here's socialite Jolly Jimmy Yap [in white], singing
beside Keith Locke. Everyone calls him Mr. Everywhere.
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.
This posting has been rejuvenated. Merry Christmas 2023
to all friends, readers and contributing writers.
Christmas In Style with the Stylers
one of their best albums for the holidays.
Spend Christmas In Singapore By Listening To Christmas Songs, Singapore Style, 2021.
Christmas has always been an international holiday, with millions of people celebrating it. Songs about Christmas too can come by the hundreds of thousands and the vinyl records produced, since the time such companies were set up, could come into millions.
Singapore produced some of these records and the bands involved included, the Stylers, Quests, Naomi and the Boys, Thunderbirds, Travellers and, as the years marched on, many many more.
I am glad to note that friend Kevin Mathews has a song in a specially made album about nine years ago, for the Rare Disorder Society entitled, Christmas Dream... with other local artistes on the list too.
Two videos below with the popular group, Sam Willows singing, I'm Gonna Be Loved This Christmas and good friend Albert Louis with Merry Christmas Singapore, a cheerfully recorded one with his group, Culture Vulture.
At this juncture and with Covid-19 still spreading, we need that Christmas dream - that the unpleasantries will end soonest.
Check the blog post using connection below each pix.
Comments are always part of these postings, if you can.
A Merry Christmas to all.
If you take information from this article for your own use,
at least credit me because copying is stealing. Andy.
J-Pop or Japanese popular music reminds me of two songs significantly Japanese, but neither is J-Pop. One of these songs became popular because of Marlon Brando's encounter with Miyoshi Umeki and Hollywood's exotica about everything eastern.
'Sayonara' the movie (1957), from the book by James Mitchener and 'Sayonara' the song by famous lyricist, Irving Berlin, encompassed everything that was stereo-typical about the Japanese in the eyes of the Americans.
"Sayonara, Japanese goodbye
Whisper sayonara, but you mustn't cry
No more we stop to see pretty cherry blossom
No more we 'neath the trees, looking at the sky..."
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But the public absorbed the song like tears to tissue paper and it became a hit in Singapore in the late 50s and lingering beyond the 60s. And Brando's line, "Well, that's the cutest thing I ever saw honey..."after listening to the song, confirmed America's ideas about Eastern people and culture. Definitely the mysterious East.
The original version by Miiko Ta'aka, is from the soundtrack of the film, while the one played on radio was by Miyoshi Umeki. Her 45 rpm vinyl, Sayonara - Japanese Farewell Song - has, Be Sweet Tonight on its flipside (Mercury 71216). Both versions are great to listen to.
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It is still a popular song and there were numerous covers done in Asia. Singapore pop band, The Quests, did an instrumental version in the 60s and in the 70s. Listen to the solo interlude by Jimmy Chan. He's playing from the heart.
Tracy Huang our beautiful, sophisticated recording artiste did a cover too. These two are the popular versions. The book by Mitchener? A good read indeed.
Sayonara 黃露儀 sung by: Tracy Huang.
YouTube Video by: wang0928051789
The book!
A stock phrase, "When
East meets West"
Miyoshi Umeki sings SAYONARA -
YouTube video by: dfactoryusa.
The English language performance of the Irving Berlin song, "Sayonara" was from the December 1957 movie of the same name, She performed a different version in the movie. Eddie Fisher released a version prior to the movie coming out which stole some of her thunder. She also performed a different song called Sayonara (The Japanese Farewell Song) in 1956.
Paul Anka with Diana Ayoub. He composed his big hit and writing the lyrics about her. UP TO 1,200 VIEWS
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Lyrics of bygone days are simple and easy to remember. Nearly every pop-song enthusiast can remember the innocence of Paul Anka's infatuation for 'Diana', his babysitter: I'm so young and you're so old
This my darling I've been told I don't care just what they say Cause forever I will stay... Oh please stay by me, Diana. It has an easy, upbeat calypso rhythm associated with the blossoming appeal for the newly loved to 'stay by me'. Such songs are common with first love themes and the joyful, innocent union. For Anka it is genuine.
Shirley Nair with her other hits on Philips .
Then there's the other extreme, as our local 60s boys and girls get into the song-writing act, so whether it's encountering first love or lamenting the loss of one, the same heart rendering devotion of innocence is projected. Shirley Nair's, 'Come Home To Me' reveals this phase as she pleads in all seriousness:
Oh my darling I miss you so Please please try to understand I never meant to hurt you So please come home Come home to me...
The rhythm is different with a pleasant rhumba beat and as the tears trickle the innocence of love prevails.
It was originally by Ben E. King, this classic became a big hit here in Singapore but covered by The Quests.
I can still remember The Quests who backed Keith Locke (image) with the song, "You Lied". The repetitive lyrics using these two words made the composition so simple to remember and enjoy. No angry tones, no messages and no unpleasant words.
Sung originally by Ben E. King, this classic became a big hit here in Singapore, even today and still carried by many local artistes. I remember it is the favourite of Patrick Chan (image above) who sang it during our gig at Boys' Town and Orchard Road in 2015.
Like life, lyrics written in the 60s were like stars in the sky, exposed. Are present lyrics just as straight-forward? Is life just as simple too?
Patrick Chan sings 'Don't Play That Song For Me'. Video by Fabian Foo. Thanks Fabian.
Image: Quests Collection YouTube Video by Fabian Foo Jong Fook.
[The chat below appeared under Comments 13 years ago. Up till today, I still don't know who JOY is. Perhaps she could reveal herself soon...]
Why did the 60s music scene suddenly disappear, asked Joy.
Joy Gives Her Views
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Anonymous said...
There's no doubt in my mind that this blog is making tremendous progress. Andy is showing admirable perseverance so I hope others will show their support. Though I was not part of the musical scene in the 60s, I find this blog interesting as it helps to fill up many gaps in my knowledge of this aspect of my teenage days.
Roger
24.12.08
Anonymous said...
I wasn't part of the scene but what I'd like to know is... why did it suddenly disappear?
Joy.
25.12.08
Anonymous said...
Good question. I've also wondered why. It was a golden age of local musical talent never to be repeated. Perhaps, the pull of economic opportunities in the 70s led to the decline?
Roger
25.12.08
Roger
Anonymous said...
Hey Roger!
Thanks for the reply. It was definitely a vibrant scene during the 60's. Talentime aplenty and bands sprouting out from all corners of this little island. Nope, I wasn't born during that period, but I was lucky enough to be educated about the scene by Dad, albeit his disapproval but till this day I don't know why.
My first taste of The Silver Strings came in the form of a video titled Those Were The Days playingApache to perfection. From then on, I've developed and affinity for local bands. The list could go on and on. From The Stray Dogs, Siglap 5 to Naomi and The Boys and who could forget Thunderbird's, 'My Lonely Heart' and the success of The Quests?
To say that it was a Golden Age of local musical talent never to be repeated? Well perhaps you're right. The only gripe I had about the bands in the 60s was their need to sound like someone else (foreign?). Maybe I'm wrong but perhaps this was their decline? Or could one of 'the member's statement' [1] thatThe Quests had become so big that other bands had to improve their game be true?
By the mid 70's, the world embraced the arrival of Abba and Bee Gees. In a way, music was revolutionized. Disco's were the placed to be and it was the period of technology, the beginning of the space age some called it. By this time, the local scene was already in its dwindling state. Only a handful of local bands survived. Black Dog Bone? Matthew and the Mandarins?
By the 80's, the only thing i remembered was Max Surin's Tokyo Square alongside Linda Elizabeth and of course Dick Lee. It wasn't up until the 90's when there was a so called emergence of the local era, with some bands even citing influence from the 60's local era. They're a different breed of course but no short of talent.
Sadly though, the nation wasn't interested. Perhaps the influence of local radio stations playing songs from foreign artistes led to this demise. One could never fault them though. After all, radio stations are financial institutions.
Late 90's and early 2000, the scene finally gains momentum, that of course, after the government announced that it was going all out to support local arts. Venues and platforms were in placed to showcase their talents. Bands were starting to get recognition and quite a few have gone on to play in other countries and won MTV awards. Are we finally seeing the rebirth of the local scene?
One question remains though, will we ever recapture the spirit of the 60's, where everybody wanted to be part of a band and when practically everyone was looking forward to parties and dancing to a band? Like I said, I wasn't around during that golden era, but my guess is as good as yours :)
Joy
26.12.08
Andy said...
Hi Joy,
Thank you so much for the feedback. Your comment, I hope will encourage others to write to this blog. I have learnt much from you.
Cheers.
Anonymous said...
Like everyone else the musicians of the 60s had to face the stark reality of making a living for themselves and their families. Perhaps this was one of the principal reasons for its decline.
However, some soldiered on and are making a scraping a living playing at night spots, clubs etc with some being forced to moonlight in a second job in the day.
26.12.08
Anonymous said...
No really Mr. Andy, please don't say that.
Its pioneers like you that I have a lot to thank for; and that too for many many reasons.
I've always been a firm believer that Singapore's education system should provide more information on our musical heritage. What's the point of just confining it to the museum?
Anyway, will definitely keep a lookout for your shows. Have a rocking great new year and stay *young always!
Thank you both again. I guess if it's a meeting of minds then I have to be the grateful Chair, nothing much to do except to allow this natural flow of information which our country needs so much. Please don't stop writing.
Cheers,
Andy
26.12.08
NB - [1] Name withheld.
Click 'comments' below to read the essay type replies. Cheers.
Robin Chng has kindly written this article to highlight a charity show staged at our famous theatre on 27 March 1965. He was the organising committee secretary. I am still wishing that more Singaporeans like him could donate music stories to this blog..Thank you so much, Robin, for your generosity and contribution.
"273 EXCLUSIVE CHARITY CONCERT 1965" at the National Theatre.
The Gan Eng Seng SchoolOld Students Association. More than half a century ago when tragedy befell a member of our group of bosom buddies (former classmates in secondary school), we got together and decided to help raise funds for our unfortunate buddy who became paralyzed as a result of a swimming mishap. A fellow paralytic Johnny Ang whom older readers would probably have heard of also chipped in (National Library archived articles from The Straits Times) after learning of our buddy's plight. As mentioned in the articles, we got together to help raise funds for paralytic Tham Kok Seng to enable him to purchase a possum machine. It would have been a cinch today with crowd funding but alas this was in the sixties.
As pop bands performances were a draw in those days, we decided to organize a variety concert featuring local pop bands, a magic act, dancers and even someone who could coax music from a saw with a violin bow. After forming a committee and assigning the various roles amongst ourselves, we went about seeking sponsors, artistes/performers, emcee, choosing a date for the concert and booking the venue. The date and venue for the concert - 27 March 65 and The National Theatre - were duly chosen. Quite aptly, we named the concert "273 Exclusive" as it was to be held on 27/3/1965.
As it turned out, the concert opened to a sellout crowd much to the delight of the organizers and all participants who made the event possible. I have kept the concert's programme booklet all these years - the accompanying photos capture the programme booklet in its entirety. All the participants who are still around today are probably grand-fathers/mothers. They would be proud to show this record to their families their sincere contribution to Singapore's cultural and LQ heritage. Seniors reading this article are likely able to remember the distinguished guests, radio personality, the then Minister of Health and all the artistes who performed there that night. Younger readers may have also heard of them, perhaps from their parents.
On a side note, many of us from the pioneer/Merdeka generation are deeply saddened that our National Heritage Board wasn't able to gazette the National Theatre for conservation. Singaporeans from all walks of life had generously and proudly contributed their hard earned money to the "a-dollar-a-brick" fundraising campaign. Most notably, even trishaw riders and coolies contributed too. This despite their meagre and irregular earnings. Together with funds jointly donated by the government, our National Theatre was officially opened on 8 Aug 1963.
Throughout its 23-yr span, many famous pop stars and bands performances were held there. Regrettably, this iconic building had to be demolished due to structural problems and was torn down in Aug 1986. A crying shame I might add. Structural problems could easily have been corrected with the building technology available then. Our country's finances were sound too. Conserving the theatre was thus clearly doable.
Everyone who had heeded the call to give generously towards the building fund were thus dismayed. It was truly a "peoples" National Theatre, built in no small part through the support of the citizens and yet didn't deserve to be conserved. Were you at this concert with a star-studded cast of Singapore artistes? Do write in to tell us.
This article has been written by Robin Chng.
Robin or 'Joe' had since passed away in June, 2022.
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