Shangri-La Island Ballroom Singapore - The Sandpipers Live 1973 - Fred Ching Remembers

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It was 47 years ago, 24 Dec 1973, that The Sandpipers, an American folk group, performed in Singapore Shangri-La Island Ballroom for a Gala Dinner cum Christmas Special Show. Time flies and this post is just a short comment on the concert. Just something for me to remember this event.

I attended this first concert with my neighbour, Richard, and we’re just months away from being drafted into the army. We both arrived on time and were blown away by the Christmas decorations at the ballroom. Being a VIP ticket holder gave us the opportunity to scout out the place. I was happy to discover that we were a mere 10m from the stage.

The show began not long after and looking around, I noticed that most attendees were either my age group or older and indeed it was an honor to be present at this show with several VIPs. The Sandpipers were fabulous. They have such great harmony and every songs Jim Brady, Mike Piano and Richard Shoff sang, brings back fond memories of my growing up years.

The Sandpipers - 'Come Saturday Morning' - Video from YouTube by ultra taro. Thank you.

Absolutely loved this show and these guys sang flawlessly in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Tagalog. Those who didn’t attend, sure missed out. All we can say is GREAT GREAT GREAT!!

Two years ago, I shared this little post on my favourite trio, who made an indelible mark on the music industry that even rock & roll combined with time cannot erase. A good friend then commented that after the concert ended, the Sandpipers proceeded to a midnight mass @The Novena Church, Thomson Road, and sang part of the Mass Order in Latin and the event was unannounced. It was a surprise wonderful Christmas present for the attendees. Till today, the Sandpipers performance still hold a special place in my heart.

I was lucky enough to be in the front row of the rear orchestra section and the trio walked by me, about one foot away, and went down the center aisle to the stage. Gosh, how I was blown away...   

The Sandpipers with 'Today' - YouTube Video by 65Seasons. Thank You.

By Fred Ching.

Thank you Fred so much for allowing your article to be posted on this blog. You can read another article about the Celine Dion concert Fred attended by clicking the connection below.

NB

Original members The Sandpipers.

Michael Piano died on December 29, 2014 in Kauai, Hawaii.

Jim Brady died on May 5, 2019 in Durango, Colorado.

Fire destroyed Sandpipers music materials at Universal Studios in 2008.

Images from Fred Ching - copyrights reserved.

Fred Ching has written many articles about his attendance of pop concerts in Singapore and in other countries. You can find him on Facebook. Just click his name...

Thanks so much Fred for being so obliging and sharing your concert stories on this blog.

Celine Dione Marina Bay Sands SG: Fred Ching

[Spend some time in prayers for Celine Dion because we understand she isn't well. - March 2023.]

It was catching world-renowned singer Celine Dion when she performed in Singapore for the first time ever at Marina Bay Sands® as part of the Sands Live concert series. 

Her tour started on 26 June in Tokyo and saw her return to cities she hasn’t performed in over 10 years, including Tokyo and Macao, and cities she will perform in for the first time ever, including Singapore, Jakarta, Taipei, Manila and Bangkok. 

Celine Dion In Concert Singapore July 2018:

Some of you may have missed seeing her in Singapore last week, and according to many who have seen her show, she was stupendous.  

Fred Ching (image above) is a Facebook friend and I've yet to meet him, but when I asked if he could allow me to reproduce his Celine Dion Concert experience for this blog, together with the exquisite photos of the lady, he immediately obliged. 

So here's a write-up by Fred himself, published in the same order as it was written, with the excitement that only a loving fan could describe. He is a veteran musician and one who has seen so many 'live' shows of international stars. Celine Dion is only one of them.

Thank you very much Fred.

"Watching Celine Dion’s new music video today, just 4 days after seeing her 'live'. I can’t believe how blessed I am. To be able to see my favourite singer with her awesome band in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and to watch her live on stage is better than striking the lottery and means so so much. 

One of the most recognised and iconic singers in pop music history, Dion has sold almost 250 million albums during her career spanning over 30 years and earned five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards and seven American Music Awards. 

I think my buddy booking experience went considerably smooth as both dates sold out in like an hour I was told. 

The 49-year-old Canadian, known for her powerhouse vocals, rocked the house on her debut in the Lion City and Dion sounded super awesome. I miss them already. Come back soon, please.

I can’t describe how lucky I feel because I have had the opportunity of a lifetime: Seeing and hearing pop diva Celine Dion made her debut in the Lion City on July 3. 

Dion was amazing. She sang so many of her hits and nailed every note, spot on. The opening act was The Power of Love and That's the Way it is.  The other songs performed included crowd-pleasing classics, during her ballad queen era during the nineties, like, To Love You More and It's All Coming Back To Me Now. Fans were cheering and singing along the entire time.  Her band was made up of very talented musicians. 

She teased the crowd and made us laugh; love her sense of humour.  She told the audience not to ask why it took her so long to come to Singapore and jokingly said that now she wanted to move to our sunny shores as she realised it was so beautiful.

She also showed her vulnerable side as her husband Rene Angelil and her brother Daniel both died within days of each other in 2016 of cancer with a heartfelt song, Recovering, written by pop star Pink.

The concert ended with River Deep, Mountain High and she returned to the stage with, My Heart Will Go On...

Known for her powerhouse vocals and the voice behind smash hits like, My Heart... and Because You Loved Me, she wowed a full-house crowd at MBS Grand Ballroom. 

This morning as I hold the album, Celine Dion and listen to it again with my car stereo, and when Oscar Winning Song, Beauty And The Beast came on... Oh, my gosh... It was a hair-raising and pop phenomenon; Celine Dion left me gasping for breath once again. 

Truly mindblowing and awesome. Always a pleasure to hear her bring back such good memories of a time gone by."

Sandpipers: Chotto Matte, SIA A Great Way To Fly

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THE SANDPIPERS:

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, when writing about The Sandpipers, wrote that they were a male vocal trio that recorded easy listening pop hits in the mid 60s and was "distinguished by its light, breezy harmonies, which floated over delicate, breezy string arrangements, as well as the occasional appearance of a wordless female backing vocalist who drifted in and out of the music."

Sandpipers did not manage to have a long, sustained career but had one Top Ten hit with Guantanamera in 1966 (numerous Asian versions: check 'Guantanamera' under Labels below). 

There were other songs like Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls, Misty Roses, Today, Chotto Matte Kudasai and covers. The group was originally known as the Four Seasons and the trio was part of the Californian Mitchell Boys Choir before they formed their own group. 

Famous trumpeter Herb Alpert (remember him with his Tijuana Brass), who ran his own AnM record label was impressed when he heard them and signed them to a record contract.

An added female vocalist, Pamela Ramcier, was one of the most distinctive elements of the group's music and with her mod outfit of mini-skirts and a-go-go boots, made her more noticeable than the actual Sandpipers.

In 1970, Come Saturday Morning became a hit when it was part of the soundtrack for the movie, The Sterile Cuckoo. The Sandpipers continued to record into the '70s but after five years without any chart success, they disbanded in the mid-'70s. (Please read the next posting below.)

THE SIA CONNECTION:

In 1979, The Sandpipers had also recorded the Singapore Airlines song, You're A Great Way To Fly on PYE Records orchestrated by Jose Mascolo Lyrics was written by New Monkees Bobby Hart and music from Fred Bongusto (image above).

The melody and lyrics were befitting of the SIA concept: classy, soft and alluring as the gentle giant whispers across land, sea and cloud. The song lures passengers into a smooth and dreamy flight.

Not many people knew about the project, but when the theme song was played on air and the advertisement appeared on TV, everyone cheered and loved the song with its exquisite taste of Pierre Balmain chic and Sandpipers dream voices. And the Singapore Girls? Chantek (beautiful).

One of many SIA advertisements found on YouTube. An early 70's ad.

Image: The Sandpipers - Jim Brady, Mike Piano, Richard Shoff.

Chotto Matte Kudasai, Excuse Me While I Cry...

UP TO 8,200 VIEWS, 18 COMMENTS.

SONGS I LOVE:

An English song, written and composed by Loyal E Garner with Jeanne Nakashima and sung by The Sandpipers (1971) but with a Japanese title is Chotto Matte Kudasai. In Japanese (ちょっと待ってください) it means, 'please wait for a second' or 'please wait a moment.' although 'Shosho omachi kudasai' is more polite.

The simplicity and sentiment of the lyrics, possibly conjuring an image of a beautiful girl or young man (depending on the singer), make it so popular that it has been recorded in other languages. Singapore, Malaya, other Asian music artistes like Frankie Cheah and Frances Yip have recorded it.

Frances Yip: Chotto Matte Kudasai (Never Say Goodbye) Video: Patrick O.

Martin Denny has quite a sugary version vocalised by an Asian lady. In the new century, a Filipino group called Joey de Leon and The Sex Bombs has another. It is a lounge favourite with both pianists and nightclubbers, a karaoke 'must sing' and can be heard in any building that plays elevator music.

It is also on the list of many electronic organ song sheets as school children learn this melody for a Grade 3 or 4 keyboard practice. Very popular in music schools and music teachers.

Chotto Matte is a hit with elementary keyboard enthusiasts and the music notes are commonly found with Que Sera Sera and Annie Laurie; the melody is loved by many young 'uns. Tree cheers for evergreens.

Then in 2012, this title surfaced again, sung by a group who call themselves Anger Me, former S/Mileage, a Japanese idol girl group. But it's not the same song; only the title is.

Chott Matte Kudasai by The Sandpipers. Video by Braz DSZ. Thank you.

Lyrics to the original song:

Chotto matte kudasai

Please excuse me while I cry
Seems sayonara means goodbye
But no one ever told me why

Sakura was in the spring
When our hearts found songs to sing
But Sakura has gone away
And so has our love, so they say

Chotto matte kudasai
Please excuse me while I cry
Without your love, I would die
Please don’t leave me kudasai...

UMG (on behalf of A&M); SOLAR Music Rights Management, Sony Music Publishing, BMI - Broadcast Music Inc., and 5 Music Rights Societies

鍾珍妮‧鍾安妮: 

Composer：

Loyal E. Garner/Jeanne Nakashima

YouTube Videos from Patrick O and Braz DSZ. Thank you.

The Japanese version

ちょっと待って下さい　ジェミネス

YouTube video by: TheDarimin

From Marc Wong [Nostalgic SG]