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 !
While chatting with James Kwok, an old friend, I asked him why he volunteered for the SPAN GH, Eldercare Program and other activities. Thank you, James.
"While I was undergoing physiotherapy rehabilitation at St. Luke's Eldercare, I was recruited as a volunteer to chat with new patients to help integrate them into the treatment program; I have been discharged, but I am still going back as and when needed.
The SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network [SPAN]
where James Kwok [3rd left] helps out.
I am also active as a member of our Wesley Methodist Church senior service, chatting especially with new members as an act of welcome: last year while in this role I met up with Mr. David Hwang, who was my physics teacher when I was in Victoria School Secondary 3, 1962 [image 1].
As a volunteer in SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN) I chat with dialect-speaking elderly male patients, to facilitate their communication with their health-care providers [image 2]; in that role, I also appear on stage as patients or as caregivers to illustrate the problems that miscommunication can create in hospital and clinic settings.
I am also acting as patients in the training of medical officers and residents, while they are being assessed: these are video recorded for training purposes. Having fun while actively aging: all part of my dementia-delaying efforts ."
Comments are welcome.
Do volunteer if you can. You're helping yourself too.
Author: James Kwok.
Images: Copyrighted.
These 3 images show videos recorded for the training of
medical officers and residents where James
and other volunteers act as patients.
Johnny Cash: Amazing Grace
YouTube: The Johnny Cash Channel.
Simon and Garfunkel: 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'
(Live at Carnegie Hall, NYC, NY - November 27, 1969 - Audio)
Here's a group that was pretty hot in Singapore 60s. Consisting of Caucasians who were with the British Services on our island, a group of five guys formed a band called The Dee Tee's, spotted by Philips Records and produced a vinyl under the label.
Consisting of Walter [Brad] Bradbury on vocals, Peter Crane on lead guitar, Texas [Tevan] Scott on rhythm, Peter Crowley on bass and Antony Greenwood on percussion. This band made it good at The Golden Venus, dishing out weekly Rhythm and Blues numbers.
Out of the usual four songs on the Extended Play [EP] vinyl, they had one original called, 'Just Because', [different from Elvis’] and sung by Brad. The one on YouTube, below, 'Got Love - If You Want It'; repeats the title and it sounds typical R&B with lead guitarist Peter Crane. Another hit, 'She Belongs To Me', a Bob Dylan original, with Side Two's, 'Big Boss Man', an Elvis hit.
The Dee Tee's, 'Got Love If You Want It'.
Garage from Singapore, original 45 EP: 1966
YouTube Video by: Rocking Soho
Their manager G.N. Anastasi penned a back-cover write-up. He said, "It was originally a quiet afternoon. Then the peace was irrevocably shattered. The Dee-Tee's had moved in the studio, and what turned out to be a memorable occasion was under way.
After many hours a great deal of sweating [for the benefit of the ladies, after copious perspiration] this masterpiece came to its fantastic conclusion.
It was sheer madness from the start, but if fellow souls exist in this world of ours, I vow that they will join us in raving about this group of joy bringers."
Below: The Golden Venus hotspot in the 1960's where folks explore the bottles galore and also listen to the pop groups playing there. [Pix from: coconuts.co]
I asked my unassuming and quiet friend Richard if he could write a story for this blog. His response was positive and immediate but said he'd rather draw than write. I asked if he could do both; so here he is, with his very unique story. Why is it unique? Figure it out dear reader and write to us.
Thank you, Richard. You're really special...
It's Not For Me To Say:
"During his Pre-U days, a teenager, walking down Shenton Way, saw an advertisement for a singing contest. His friends encouraged him to enter the competition.
The year was 1966. The most talked about music event, the Eurovision Song Contest 1966, originally known as the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson had ended in March in Luxemburg. It was believed that a local Sikh entrepreneur hit upon the idea to hold a singing contest in Singapore. He named it the Euro-Asian Singing Contest.
The teenager sailed through the preliminary rounds. He was very excited as he entered the Singapore Conference Hall to participate in the semi-final.
Singapore Conference Hall: 1960's
Backstage he met fellow contestants and they exchanged greetings. He started chatting with Mr. Lim, a schoolteacher. Mr. Lim said he would be singing 'On the Street where You live'. Looking at the young man, Mr. Lim said it would be more presentable to have a jacket on. However, Mr. Lim's jacket was far too large for the schoolboy. Mr. Lim managed to have a Malay contestant who is of similar build to the boy to lend his jacket. After his performance, the Malay man lent the boy his jacket.
When his turn came, the boy walked confidently on stage. He scanned the packed hall. His gaze drifted to a group of four men in the front row. They were pointing at him and laughing away. The boy froze!
Literature taken from Archives of
The National Library Board Singapore.
The Master of Ceremony (MC) introduced the teenager to the audience. He then asked him for the title of his song.
There was a long silence. Still dazed, the boy was unable to reply. The seasoned MC took a quick look at his queue card and joked.
"That's a good one! Ladies and gentlemen, our contestant here is bringing you one of Johnny Mathis great hit! The title of the song? 'It's Not For Me To Say!' Take it away, young man!"
The teenager courageously delivered his song. After the applause died, the young man left the stage, returned the jacket to his fellow contestant and headed straight home..."
Did you participate in one?
All comments welcome...
Author: Richard Tham [Copyrights Reserved]
Huge and colorful posters were not common in the 60's.
In today's Singapore this poster could've been out on
"Didn’t we all break out and join in the final giggles and laughs with the singer? I’m chuckling to myself already!" says reader Sonny from Canada.
7 Letters From UK, Canada, India, Malaysia, Singapore:
1. Hi Andy and everyone,
I was looking for this song and decided to Google. Listened to it as a child and stayed in my memory till now. Since dad gave away all his records and record player, never heard it again.
Thanks, Andy, for posting. Rekindled memories. No one knew how much I had missed listening to this song.
Fauziah
2. Dear Andy,
I make innumerable attempts - all in vain - to desist from getting tender-hearted and teary-eyed, whenever I play this glorious song. I end up listening to it on a loop and brimming with climaxing emotions. Thank you very much, Andy, this time it's you who've rekindled my feelings!
Muradi.
3. Hello Andy,
Wow. I just happened to look for this song when reminiscing of my childhood years spent in Singapore. What a coincidence to find this uploaded by a sixties kid from right there!! Thank you very much Andy for the shared memories.
As a toddler, this song would play on a continuous loop and was the sweetest memory that I cherish to this day. Didn't we all break out and join in the final giggles and laugh with the singer!! I'm chuckling to myself already!!
Sonny (Canada)
Papa and mama dance the Cha Cha .
4. Rohit D'Almeida says:
When I was like 4 years old, I heard this song for the first time. (I'm 35 now). Coming from a family of singers, at that time, I thought this was sung by my uncle, Uncle James, and my cousin Lara.
We live in the suburbs of Mumbai, India. The audio cassette was brought by my uncle from the gulf. And so was the audio cassette recorder/player. We sang and recorded several songs back then.
It brings back such good memories. The lyrics are so beautiful. I'd love to go back in time and just dwell in that time in a loop forever. I guess heaven must be like that and much more!
Thanks Andy.
5. Fiona says:
I was brought up in Singapore, and this song was the first I remember my parents playing - there was a 'B' side, but I am not sure what it was. We moved back to UK in the early Sixties, and I have never found anyone else who remembers it. The fact you have placed it as Singapore 60's make sense to me - I have now downloaded it and it brings back happy memories of childhood. Thank you <3
6. Vineet Gupta says:
Thank you for posting this song. I've grown up on this, and God knows since when i was looking for it. It is a wonderful song to be played to kids. I play it for my son now. Thank you once again.
7. M.B. Salke says:
I live in Pune, Maharashtra, India. I grew up with this song. It is a very beautiful song which I always remembered. I was very happy to find it and hear it after so many years, nearly 40 years. This song brings fond memories of my childhood. Thank you so much.
And the song?
'Papa He Loves Mama':
Donald Peers and Janet Osborne.
YouTube Video by:
The little boy and girl who love to see their grand papa and mama! Singapore 60s teenagers used to cha, cha, cha to this song when it was played during T-Dances.
Th3ee songs by a guy called, Guy Mitchell, that combine to create a neat love theme.
In 1950's Singapore, when there were well-known drink shops selling cold, sweet, fizzy beverage and coffee, tea and ice-cream like A&W, Magnolia Snack Bars and Ice Cream Parlours, the U.S. had what they called, soda shops selling the same.
A song, weaving around these items, became an instant hit when teens those years heard it. Sippin' Soda, simple and sophisticated topped the charts with Guy Mitchell describing his instance with:
The prettiest girl I ever saw
Was sippin' soda through a straw
I asked her what she sat there for
Just sippin' soda through a straw
So they became friends and he described the happy ending with the young lady:
I held her hand and she held mine
We sipped and sipped and sipped some more
This is the end, there is no more
Of sippin' soda through a straw.
We knew the chorus well.
Sippin' Soda by Guy Mitchell.
YouTube Video by Gray Eyes123
So you win some or lose some. After a few dates you say your goodbyes and stay...
Guy Mitchell
...at home listening to the radio.
Remembering those years in the mid-fifties, when I was only a teen and listening on my dad's radio, a song kept me glued to the loudspeaker. What else was there to do? 😆
Fascinated, I faintly heard the title, but it was one of the first few songs that I loved and kept singing it all these years. Yes, a swinging song but it did keep my blues away...
Guy Mitchell: "Singing The Blues"
on The Ed Sullivan Show.
YouTube from: The Ed Sullivan Show.
So, if you had a girlfriend then and she left you later, there is also a song to get you by:
Guy Mitchell: Heartaches By The Number.
YouTube Video By: John1948FiveE
That's how teens and those in their 20s, 30s and 40s pass some of their free time in the 1950's and beyond folks. No mobile phones though.
This building had a Milk Bar called, Wonderland and was situated next to the now non-existent Roxy Cinema at East Coast Road. On the ground floor was the DBS Bank. Many young ones spent their day having meals and drinks at the Wonderland.
Ms Natasha Low [30] was first featured on this blog in 2013 when she was a K-Pop singer with the group called, SKarf. Now she's a pop TV actress on our Singapore screen acting as a boisterous, fierce but kind-hearted young nyonya. What a change in roles but definitely for the better!
Congratulations Tasha. You've come a long way. Your family must really be proud of you.
Best to read the previous article below to learn more about Natasha and her famous family...
The hard copy newspapers that we read used to be slotted under solid main doors at our shophouse, so being the first to wake up while waiting for the school bus at twilight morn, I would be the first to receive it and flip through the pages. Literally, "first-hand news".
Sometimes if I opened the door and waited for the copy to arrive I would meet the polite Indian gentleman handing me one.
"Hello! Good morning!" he would usually announce himself in his usual polite and gentle tone. "You going to school huh? Must study hard!" in impeccable English. Checking his load on the two wheeler, he had newspapers in English, Chinese and possibly in Malay and Tamil too.
Some people, especially seniors, still read their
news from the papers; delivered to their homes:
landed-property or apartments.
"Thank you sir!" I would answer, "You have a great morning too!"
That's how we got our news delivered then.
Now for the surprise.
You think it's not happening today? Yes it is! We still get our newspapers delivered by the vendor, direct to our home. But I hardly meet him because he delivers his papers at about five or six in the morning and I was told that most of his clientele are seniors.
Then again we are living in a brave new 2024 world and many people are reading their news from media outlets on the Internet and like the term hard-copy news is being read on-line. With a touch of the fingers, news pieces appear on the smart phones that we carry.
So I have been told I am backward and out of touch. Hmm! 😊
How do you read your news? Do tell and why?
A newspaper vendor delivering a copy
The Rolling Stones with their composition, 'Yesterday's Papers', sang:"Living a life of constant change, Every day means the turn of a page, Yesterday's papers are such bad news, Same thing applies to me and you..."
How the news is read today.
Rolling Stones: 'Yesterday's Papers'
YouTube video from: Wolfierouz
'Get Your Paper' [The Newspaper Song]
By Eddie Fisher.
YouTube Video from: Eddie Fisher - Topic
Hiroshi Deguchi Shares His Papers with Sakura.
Hiroshi Deguchi and the late Sakura
who passed away not too long ago.
Lying down on my side on the floor, I open the newspaper with my head on my arm. This is the way I read the newspaper delivered to home every morning. But before that, I had to fight over reading the paper first with my dog Sakura and won.
Andy Young
Hiroshi Deguchi, Thanks Hiroshi for your very humorous and cute experience. Apparently Sakura is still in your thoughts... and the connection is still strong. Appreciate your photograph too. Just shows how close you and family are with Sakura. You bring life to the blog too with your stories. ARIGATO GOZAIMAZU.
Robert Gay writes with soul when he uses 50s songs and movies as milestones for his teenage journey. Detailed and heartfelt... Thanks Robert for taking time off to pen this very touching story of yours.
Becoming a Teenager:
It was no coincidence that the music of the fifties and sixties targeted the teenage market! This was the period when the post war babies became teenagers! The social culture was teenage based and created a huge unprecedented market! There were dozens of songs centered on age sixteen!
Sixteen Candles, the Platters and the Crests,
Only Sixteen, Craig Douglas,
Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Neil Sedaka,
You’re Sixteen, Johnny Burnette,
Sweet Little Sixteen, Chuck Berry etc.
One of my favourite songs by Lonnie Donegan starts, “Sweet sixteen goes to church just to see the boys... Putting on the Style!"Teenagers were falling in and out of love! Moodiness, loneliness, violence, recklessness were all part of the makeup of a teenager! The film Rebel Without a Cause said it all! James Dean became a superstar and, “Chicken“ became a dangerous game on the roads!
Cliff Richard, Pat Boon, Elvis, Ricky Nelson and many others were conferred the title! Several of the new Artistes were teenagers! Paul Anka sang Diana which was one of the biggest hits ever! Ricky Nelson sang, Poor Little Fool and My Rifle, Pony and Me with Dean Martin in, “Rio Bravo." We identified with them and learnt to sing these songs with guitar accompaniment!
I was thirteen in 1957!
Author, Traveller: Robert Gay in the Galapagos.
A Teenage Crush:
I was still catching spiders, fighting fish and flying kites and fishing! Girls never featured in my activities! I was mystified by a couple of our group who raved about this girl and that girl! Then one day the inevitable happened, I was returning from fishing in the sea off Siglap when a girl on a bicycle stopped by me, smiled at me and said “How many fish did you catch Robert?”. I was kind of speechless and just held up the string of fish that I was bringing home. She smiled again and said, “That’s a good catch “ and cycled off!
I stood there just stunned ! It didn’t help that she was just prettiest girl I had ever seen and I’d never seen her before! I thought she might have been one of my sisters’ friends! But they didn’t know her. However, a couple of the guys knew instantly who she was and even where she lived! Next day, I persuaded my new classmate Lesley from ACS to come with me to see where she lived. Somewhere in Dunbar walk!
What a Borgward 60s looks like. Usually chauffeur
driven and owned by the rich in Singapore 50s/60s.
We were just outside her house when a chauffeur driven Borgward stopped at her gate! And out she came. She saw us and came to us asking what we were doing! I had cunningly dropped a few coins on the grass verge and we were pretending to look for them. “Let me help you” she said and proceeded to look around with us! We collected my coins then she kindly invited us in for a drink (orange juice)! She got us our drinks and had one for herself.
We chatted for a while and then she said, “ Excuse me I have to do my homework, just wait for me.”
She got out her homework and we just sat and listened to Guy Mitchell, “Singing the Blues” on the LP she had put on for us!
I noticed after a while that she looked perturbed about her homework so I walked over to see what she was trying to do, She had CV Durell's, “General Mathematics Vol. 4” in front of her. I had only just finished Vol. 4 at Presbyterian Boys' School. However, I looked at the problem she was trying to solve and surprisingly saw how to do it immediately! So I showed her how it was done and I got another of those beautiful smiles. Homework was done in no time and we got to chat and got to know each other better.
Singapore students use this text book
for Mathematics practice in the 1950's.
Teenage Socials:
This became a kind of usual pattern and a few of us used to gather regularly at her place. We brought our guitars and sang the hits by Pat Boon, Elvis, Harry Belafonte, Ricky Nelson, Fats Domino and others.
She taught us how to dance; the cha cha, jive and the waltz! We also went out as a group to the places like the Botanical Gardens for a picnic where she packed a lunch. The highlight of our get-togethers was a trip to Johore Bahru one day where again she packed a lunch and drinks for us! Our main group consisted of Philip and Dennis (our Everly Brothers Champions), myself and Leslie. All this was good innocent fun and it was happy days for me.
Surprisingly she usually went to school by bus! She would walk all the way from Dunbar walk, through Frankel Avenue to the bus stop on Geylang Road where she took a bus to Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, passing my house on the way! I used to wait to wave to her and have a few words.
I remember those mornings where I would have a Billy Vaughan LP on while waiting. “A Summer Place” and “Sail along Silvery Moon” were my favourite songs on this LP. The twin saxophones blended so beautifully! However. As all good things this would not last forever.! We were always mindful that she was a little older than us. She was fifteen and we were about thirteen.
'Singing The Blues' Guy Mitchell.
YouTube Video from: The Ed Sullivan Show.
[Song is usually sung on stage by Blogger Andy.]
“I’m so young and your so old”, Paul Anka's, Diana was about two years older than Paul too. We had over a year of this wonderful companionship but we always new she had older male friends who had more serious intentions.
Teenage Blush:
One day we visited as usual but she had gone. We came again the next day and were met by her older cousin waving a large screwdriver.
“Don’t come here again!” he said, in a most unfriendly manner.
We left quite shocked and we never saw her again till many years later!
“One day she left without a word she took away the sun...” Lemon Tree, Peter Paul and Mary.
So this is how I got initiated into the teenage world! All the songs we sang were becoming true!
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