Channel News Asia: 50 Years of Singapore Music

On Screen

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In February 2015, John Leong (below), anchor for Singapore Tonight, introduced a special news piece on Channel News Asia where Dick Lee, Yiren Cai, Audie Ng and I were interviewed regarding 50 years of Singapore Music.  The programme was in conjunction with this year's SG50 celebration. 

What has been music to Singaporeans' ears? The show takes us down memory lane to see how the music has evolved through the years and where bands like Silver Strings, Black Dog Bone, Sweet Charity, Siglap Five and singers Anita Sarawak, Stefanie Sun, A-Do, JJ Lin, Mavis Hee and Shirley Nair were discussed.  The song You're The Boy remains steadfast as a background anthem during our interview.

Behind The Scene 

We had pretty and sophisticated CNA producer Syahidah Othman (below) to conduct the whole affair with much calm and decorum.  The camera was positioned for appropriate angle shots; the white guitar was placed in a strategic position behind the interviewees (image above) and photographs were selected for the news documentary. Ms Syahidah was also the narrator on screen.

As it was usual, although the chat lasted for a few minutes on TV, shooting took some time. The interview was held on a lovely afternoon and we enjoyed ourselves throughout in the large, airy and air-conditioned hall.

Many thanks to Mr Malvin Chua (image below) who coordinated the afternoon's project with a quiet but experienced eye.  Some snaps on my iPhone were taken by Malvin.

Video footage on right side-bar from Channel News Asia:

Excerpt below from:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/swinging-to-50-years-of/1669930.html

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/video/50-years-of-singapore/1632746.html

“Even though some songs were so-called ‘imports’, the local bands still made it their own."

In fact, a home-grown 1960's pop band did just that. The Silver Strings stood out with their stylish silver suits and blue guitars. But it was not just their image that made headlines. The band also started the trend of playing alongside female singers like Shirley Nair and Anita Sarawak.

Their biggest influence however, was a performance in 1961. "When Cliff and the Shadows came we saw them on stage, with three flashing red guitars,” said Andy Young of The Silver Strings. “And I said to myself that I want to be like Cliff Richard; I want to sing like him."

The Silver Strings played their biggest shows when they opened for the Rolling Stones at the Singapore Badminton Hall and in front of 20,000 spectators in a Malaysian stadium for the Miss Universe pageant.

But as the heady days of the 1960's came to an end, so did The Silver Strings. In recent years, Young, who was one of the band's pioneer members has begun keeping a blog about those memories. "It's so important that we all get together, gel and become one nation,” said Andy.

His fellow band member from The Silver Strings is fully supportive of the blog. “It will be good for the younger generation,” said Audie Ng. “At least they can go through his blog and learn about sixties music. And at the same time, they will get to know us; otherwise we will just fade away."

Images from Marcus Loh Collection and A Private Collection.

Sweet Charity - Ramli Sarip - Esplanade Concert

According to information provided, the Esplanade Concert Hall was full with 1,600 people, so there was a packed house when Sweet Charity performed on Sunday (31.05.09).

Lead by Papa Rock vocalist Ramli Sarip, the band, in all its glory met again for its 40th anniversary concert to thrill the audience with Sarip's powerful vocals, SC's slick guitar runs, classic rock songs and stage presence.

Although most of the band boys are in their 50s and Sarip and drummer Rahman Sarbani the only original members left, they were as spritely on stage. For many fans in the audience, it was a night of nostalgia and definitely a meeting for music lovers, rock or otherwise. Thumbs up for Sweet Charity.

Another one next year?

Added in May 2012:

Ramli Sarip or PapaRock is an iconic figure in the Nusantara music scene. Ramli shot to fame with his pioneering rock group Sweet Charity that was set up in 1967. His last concert with his band, Sweet Charity in 2009 at the Esplanade was a sold out.

Generally accepted as the ‘father-figure’ by the artistes community on both sides of the causeway, this recipient of 1998 COMPASS Artistic Excellence Award is an all-rounder singer, musician, producer, composer and mentor. His last solo concert titled ‘Perjalanan Hidup’ was staged 27 years ago at the then World Trade Centre. SADAQA is therefore his first solo concert in almost 3 decades and the only concert for the year that is charity-based.

With special guest artiste, Raihan, Ramli will perform songs from his latest album – SADAQA. SADAQA features a compilation of 14 selected hits throughout Ramli’s solo career. SADAQA is in aid of Hasanah Mosque.       

Article: by Andy Lim

Image from: The Star Online/star-ecentral.com /Azhariah Kamin 12/05/2008.

Sweet Charity Rock 40th Anniversary Esplanade

Sweet Charity, veteran rockers extraodinaire, has a gig this Sunday, 31 May 2009 at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Dubbed the Deep Purple of Singapore's rock connection that started in the late 60s, the band had, within 10 years, fan idolatry all over Singapore and Malaysia. And they are still rocking today, influenced also by Santana, Led Zeppelin and other rock musicians.

Ramli Sarip, well known to local Mat Rockers and most Singaporeans, led this group since 1969. And their success story is a rendition of fusion music , combining melodies from the west and ones from their own Malay and Indonesian heritage. And they are hot because tickets are sold out for the concert.

Ramli Sarip - Living Legend Of SE Asian Rock

His is a household name, not only amongst the Malay community but throughout Singapore and most of Malaysia, having established himself both as a guitarist, singer and the power behind the rock group Sweet Charity. In short, Ramli Sarip is a living legend.

Original albums called, Kamelia, Musibah, Zakiah and Pelarian became instant hits and today, they have become classics, "so much so that fans have forgotten that some of the numbers were cover versions. Altogether they had 7 albums and when Ramli Sarip went solo, he produced 8 more albums alone, selling 100,000 per album. From: (Amrantx3's Site)."

Ramli Sarip is as active as ever today. Unless you bought the tickets, you'd be missing a rocking good night at the Esplanade on Sunday.

Kugiran Sweet Charity - Mr Masrom A. Hamid

Our condolence to the family of Mr Masrom Abdul Hamid, 59, a.k.a. YONG, the keyboardist who passed away (image: from Straits Times.) Masrom played with The Silver Strings to back Veronica, Mike & Herb and me.

I met him for studio practices in early Nov 2008. Together with the other members of the band, he assisted me during our practices. Masrom was a quiet person but he was a superb keyboardist.

Well-known with Sweet Charity, Masrom and other members like Ramli Sarip, were dubbed the Magnificent Seven of Malay rock in the 70s. Yong, God bless you and may you rest in peace.

Image From: StraitsTimesPress.