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 !
Concetta Rosa Maria was in the top 30 list of most popular singers in the 50s. Her songs are too many to mention so check her out. She became the first woman to top the Billboard Hot 100.
My favourites include, 'Who's Sorry Now', 'Stupid Cupid', 'My Happiness', 'Mama', 'Frankie', 'My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own,' and 'Everybody's Somebody's Fool'.
Connie Francis' influenced much in Singapore's pop music scene with many of her millions of hit singles.
In fact she was so popular in the 50s and 60s that the title of Singapore's Connie Francis belongs to two ladies. Patricia Pestanais the official title holder and Veronica Young could be the other one. And they do sing like Connie Francis.
The Crescendos 'Mr Twister' [sung by Susan Lim] sold more copies than Connie Francis' original and was number 10 in Philips International Top Ten. 'Stupid Cupid' has been made into a guitar instrumental by a pop guitar group called, The Stylers. Elvis recorded 'My Happiness' a long time ago.
Other songs?
This post was originally from:
Tuesday, 10th February, 2009.
Goodbye Ms Francis. We love you...
Connie Francis: Where The Boys Are.
YouTube Video by: Crinale819.
Connie Francis: Stupid Cupid.
YouTube Video By:
Smurfstools Music Time Machine.
Images: Google.
One special lady singer whose songs, as many as she recorded,
became hits. Ah! That's something to remember her by.
**Crescendos n Susan Lim singsMr Twister & Frankie Video: eosyeo
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This previous post [2012] has been updated for content:
Hey, you may not know this. Not only were songs banned in Singapore in 1959 but a dance too. In the early years of Independence, saw the banning of The Twist, a dance fad from Western pop culture. As explained in an another *posting the Helen Shapiro/Billy Fury movie Play It Cool was banned because of its 'undesirable song and dance sequences'.
According to Wiki, The Twist's original inspiration came from the African American plantation dance called 'wringin' and twistin,' tracing back to the 1890s. However, its original aesthetic origins, using pelvic movement and the shuffling foot movement, could be traced to West Africa. Throughout the 20th Century, the dance evolved until it emerged to a mass audience in the 1960s.
So in Singapore, three other films which featured the dance were not allowed screenings. These movies were, Hey, Let's Twist, Twist Around The Clock and The Teenage Millionaire (images 1,2). This was a cinema clean-up because there was a policy that where books or films were detrimental to morals, they would be banned. Even juke boxes and pin-ball machines (image 3) were not allowed in Singapore. So what songs did we miss from all these movies?
As an example, the first movie Hey Let's Twist had a group called Joey Dee and The Starliters perform, Shake Me Baby, Hey Let's Twist, Peppermint Twist, Round and Round, Roly Poly, Let Me Teach You How to Twist, Shout. Also another two songs: Let's Twist by Mama and Shake Me Baby by Jo Ann Campbell were on the sound track. Just wondering if any of them reached our hit parade charts?
Apparently not only were Western movies banned, even Mandarin and Japanese movies were taken off the list as part of the authorities' campaign against yellow culture which had caused the 'moral degeneration of our young'. Censorship by the Culture Ministry was significant between June 1959 and June 1960.
But don't forget dear readers, that this was a season when The Shadows/Ventures were just around the corner and the saxaphone, double-bass, piano and f-hole guitars were still in vogue. It was a season of change. And change we did, when common sense prevailed.
The ban did not last long as Chubby Checker's famous stance and dance movie posters (image 1) crowded the scene afterwards. Tables turned in February 1963 as Singapore's first recording stars **The Crescendos released Mr. Twister fronted by power voice Susan Lim. The group was such a hit that even Singapore's Minister for Culture, Mr. S. Rajaratnam accompanied them on their Malaysian tour a few months later. All's well that ends well.
Do you have similar stories to tell about Singapore's sixties music scene? Write in.
Julie London had a quiet song called, 'November Twilight'.
She's known for her, 'Cry Me A River' big hit.
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Gone Till November,
November Has Come,
November,
November Boogie,
8th Of November
and
November Twilight
are pop songs about this month. It's November, my month because it's this time of the year when I was born but a long time ago. So it's my favourite season. There are some sweet songs about this cool, autumnal spell, definitely more than two dozens, but my post is about every named month on the calendar; so let's find out how many melodies there are.
This list is but a fraction:
June In January - Bing Crosby February Brings The Rain - Julie London Melancholy March - Julie London April Love - Pat Boone April In Portugal - Les Baxter
Pieces of April -
First Of May - Bee Gees
June Is Busting Out All Over - Rodgers/Hammerstein July Morning - Uriah Heep August, October - Robin Gibb September In The Rain - Frank Sinatra, Carole King September Morn - Neil Diamond
When October Goes - Barry Manilow
This October - Julie London November Twilight - Julie London November Rain - Guns n Roses I Can See The Sun In Late December - Stevie Wonder December Song - George Michael.
The cover of London's famous Long Play she recorded depicting months. Julie London woos Calendar months? On the same subject, Ms London had specially recorded a Long Play record in 1956 using all the names of the months for the titles of her songs. Unique indeed. Here they are: June in January February Brings The Rain Melancholy March
I'll Remember April
People Who Are Born In May Memphis In June
Sleigh Ride In July Time For August
September In The Rain
This October November Twilight Warm In December Thirteenth Month.
All calendar months were featured in many pop songs of the past. Most of them are still playing over the radio today. April Love, April In Portugal, First Of May, an instrumental Come September, were some of the top hits in Singapore. These particular songs were heard on radio, Rediffusion, in cabarets and hotel nightspots during the 60s and available on vinyl too. At that time most music was copied from the west and resurrected on vinyl with local artistes and bands singing and playing them. Then Neil Sedaka came, with one of his biggest hits and highlighted the calendar girl. The world and Singapore went wild. A nostalgic November to all.
CALENDAR GIRL (N.Sedaka/H.Greenfield).
Video by historycomestolife. Thank you.
I love, I love, I love my calendar girl
Yeah, sweet calendar girl
I love, I love, I love my calendar girl
Each and every day of the year
(January) You start the year off fine
(February) You're my little valentine
(March) I'm gonna march you down the aisle
(April) You're the Easter Bunny when you smile
Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl
I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl
Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year
(Every day of the year)
Cover of Julie London's record done in 1956, special indeed those years.
(May) Maybe if I ask your dad and mom
(June) They'll let me take you to the Junior Prom
(July) Like a firecracker all aglow
(August) When you're on the beach you steal the show
Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl
I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl
Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year
(Every day of the year) Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl
I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl
Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year.
November Twilight. Julie London.
YouTube, Thank you.
When Sagittarius appears and shoots his heart out,
He was such an icon amongst jazz percussionists that Singapore music enthusiasts and music-makers accepted him as their idol way back in the 50's. He would be 115 years young if he were alive today. Even as a school-boy in secondary school, I listened to Gene Krupa in the late 50's when he was with Benny Goodman and their recording of the hit, Sing, Sing, Sing (1937)*. It is the legend that this piece gave birth to swing and it remains my favourite to this day. He also appeared himself in a movie, 'The Glen Miller Story' (1954), played beside Louis Armstrong and 'Basin Street Blues' became cult classic. Krupa was the man behind the drum kit set up as it became standard equipment for most drummers after him. Zildjian, the drum company, learnt a lot from Krupa. His compositions include, 'Some Like It Hot', 'Drummin' Man' and 'Drum Boogie' the enthusiast's ultimate drum dream.
Gene Krupa: 'Sing Sing Sing'
YouTube Video from: Brian Saunders.
He has a movie to his name, 'The Gene Krupa Story' starring Sal Mineo (who recorded, 'Mack The Knife'); a street after his name in New York [image] and was the first drummer to be in the corridors of the Modern Drummer Hall Of Fame.
In 1959 when this movie was shown in Singapore, a drumming competition was held to promote it. Louis Soliano who was one of the contestants won the trophy and dubbed The Gene Krupa of Singapore. Until today Louis is still among the top drummers in Singapore.
Mr Krupa recorded with his own orchestra, the famous song, On A Little Street In Singapore and was featured during the period called, The Radio Years [1940's].
Krupa shaped my love for drums. Danny Boy (The Silver Strings drummer) reveres Krupa too. Was Krupa better than Brian Bennett, Tony Meehan, Howie Johnson and Mel Taylor of guitar groups fame? It's a personal taste.
He was their biggest influence. Oh yes, and Buddy Rich...
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..."
.
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.
.
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.
With the Singapore 2022 Formula 1 Night Race and expensive COEs in the headlines recently, cars were the subject on everyone's lips. Apparently second-hand vehicles were selling better and it didn't stop the richer ones from buying new.
Although a hot topic in Singapore, cars have never been celebrated in song here as in the US. In fact certain models have been immortalised by American artistes in love with these machines. So how many of the following songs are you familiar with?
Both music and car aficionados are familiar with Mustang Sally as the Mustang has been a symbol of speed among American motorists for many years, helped along by Steve McQueen’s car chase through the streets of San Francisco in a GT 390 Fastback in Bullitt (1968).
In 1966, Wilson Pickett scored a hit with this R&B rocker about a lady who was advised to slow down, because she was moving too fast. Written by Bonny Rice, it has since become known as a Pickett anthem. You’ve been riding all over town, ooh, guess you gotta put your flat feet on the ground. Ride, Sally, ride.
'Mustang Sally' by Wilson Pickett
YouTube video from: glazer1134
"Mustang Sally" [Mack Rice - 1966]
"Look it here.
I bought you a brand new mustang nineteen sixty five. Huh
Now you come around signifying a woman, you don't wanna let me ride
Mustang Sally, now baby, oh Lord, guess you better slow that mustang down
Huh, oh Lord. Look here
You been running all over the town
Oh! I got to put your flat feet on the ground. Huh, What I said now?"
Little Deuce Coupe:
Drag racing, while illegal, is nonetheless an American tradition. The Beach Boys (image) paid tribute to it in this ode to a ’32 Ford with a big V8. Brian Wilson co-wrote this with a disc jockey named Roger Christian, who was heavily into cars. Also, there’s the suggestion the little deuce coupe can do 140 mph, an exaggeration really. The song reached No. 15 on the U.S. pop charts in 1963.
Hot Rod Lincoln:
Most people know the version by the country and rockabilly band Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, which was released early in 1972 and rose to No. 9 on the pop charts. One of the more famous lines goes like this: My pappy said, ‘Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’, if you don’t stop driving that Hot Rod Lincoln. There was an earlier version, written in 1955.
409:
The Beach Boys recorded 409 (a Chevrolet) in 1962, and more than a dozen other songs about cars. 409 was released as the B-side of Surfin’ Safari. Most of the lyrics are fairly simple and repetitive, such as Giddy up 409 and She’s real fine my 409. The Beach Boys were infatuated with girls, cars and the beach, often in the same song.
G.T.O:
Ronny and the Daytonas (image) came out of Nashville with dreams of mimicking the Beach Boys’ sound but had mixed success. G.T.O., penned by John Wilkin, was released shortly after the car itself and reached No. 4 on the charts in 1964.
Although they did not have staying power, they did hammer at the car theme and sold more than a million singles of this song as well as a half-million albums.
Naik Kereta Ku: the late Rudyn.
YouTube Video from: nostalgia hassny.
Naik Kereta-ku: [Ride In My Car]
Did Singapore 60s music have songs for cars too? Yes, it's a Malay song, called Naik Kereta Ku by the late Rudyn, who happened to be an old friend. His group was known as the Impian Bateks. The song was a hit in Singapore and Malaysia. Now who says we're not interested in cars?
Comments please?
This post has been revitalised from September, 2010.
[Information, by Michael Ventre (19.3.2007), has been edited for brevity. Website is unavailable now.]
Many Singaporeans in the 60s grew up with Seeger's music and just as many can sing his songs, myself included. These songs are classic pops now. Although many knew his songs not many folks, especially in Singapore, knew who the composer was.
Peter "Pete" Seeger, born in 1919 in Manhattan, New York was an American folk singer, and a key figure in the mid-20th century American Folk Singing Music Revival. He also had a string of hit records during the early 50s as a member of The Weavers, most notably the 1950 recording of "Goodnight Irene", a song I had always sung as a boy.
In the 60s, he returned to the public scene as a pioneer of protest music supporting international disarmament and civil rights. He also became known as an activist for environmental causes, i.e., with the song, "Turn Turn Turn".
As a song writer, he was best known as the author or co-author of "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?", "If I Had A Hammer," and also "Turn, Turn, Turn," which had been recorded by many artists both in and outside the folk revival movement and are still sung throughout the world.
"Flowers" was a hit recording for The Kingston Trio (1962, check posting on Kingston Trio), Marlene Dietrich (sexy French actress and singer who recorded it in English, German and French (1962), and Johnny Rivers (1965).
"If I Had a Hammer" was a hit for Peter, Paul n Mary (1962) and Trini Lopez (1963), while The Byrds and Judy Collins popularized "Turn, Turn, Turn!" in the mid-1960s and 1964 respectively. Seeger was one of the folksingers most responsible for popularizing the spiritual "We Shall Overcome" (Joan Baez).
Pete Seeger co-authored,
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine
You Tube Video by Vintageart 1994.
The Weavers
The Weavers' string of major hits began with "On Top Of Old Smokey" and an arrangement of the waltz, "Goodnight, Irene", which topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950 and was covered by many other pop singers. Other Weaver hits included, "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine", the South African Zulu song, "Wimoweth" (featured in "The Lion King") to name a few. Some of the other songs that he wrote and was famous for, included, "Guantanamera" (English lyrics), "Last Train To Nuremberg".
Recognition and His Passing
On May 3, 2009, dozens of musicians gathered in New York at Madison Square Garden to celebrate Seeger's 90th birthday. The proceeds benefited a charity to his advocacy for environmental concerns. Another celebration continued at The College of Staten Island on May 4th.
Sadly, on 27th January 2014, Pete Seeger died in Manhattan. He was 94, became a legend in his own time and was known as the father of American folk music.
Trini Lopez: If I Had A Hammer
YouTube Video from: the rockabillie.
Strange, that I can remember nearly all of his songs. Seeger truly came during my growing up years.
Before rock and roll there was John Alvin Ray (1927-1990) American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Popular for most of the 50s and 60s, he was one of the major predecessors of the rockabilly craze, in fact, paving the way for Elvis' hyperactive movements on stage.
Just as popular in Singapore, Johnnie Ray's records, some in the 78rpm format, sold very well on the island. Many local singers in the early 60s imitated Ray and Robert Song was one of them. It was well-known that Johnnie Ray was deaf because of an accident and had affected him emotionally but he was an attraction on stage and sang his songs with much fervor and feel. He had a movie role with Marilyn Monroe too [image below]. He died of liver failure in 1990.
Ray's song, Cry, with The Four Lads, (1951) made him famous as radios became a common household item in Singapore. Then came, All of Me (1952), Hernando's Hideaway,Alexander's Ragtime Band, As Time Goes By, (1954), JustWalkin' in the Rain (1956) - with a whistling introduction and accompaniment, Who's Sorry Now (1956) - more poignant than the Connie Francis version and Yes, Tonight Josephine (1957) - for me, his swan song.
Johnnie Ray in Concert.
YouTube Video by: John1948SevenC
These songs were hits in Singapore and Ray was just as famous in the UK and Australia. Such ANight, recorded in 1954, was also covered by Elvis Presley on his 1960 album, Elvis Is Back. Johnnie Ray was a singing idol in his days and, on a personal list, is placed above Frank Sinatra.
On May 15th, 16th, 17th, 1967 when he was 38 years old, he was in Singapore for a two night concert. He also visited the Singapore Association for the Deaf at Mountbatten Road. He was also interviewed by the press at Hotel Singapura.
Pix from Randy Lee [Stylers rhythmist: 4th left]
copyrights reserved.
There was even a Johnnie Ray of Singapore. Robert Song [image 3rd left], who used to work in one of the more prominent movie businesses here, sang like Ray, performing the popular evergreens on stage. He was accompanied by the famous Stylers and Checkmates during his later years, a unique combination indeed, considering that these bands were guitar groups. But like Song, the Stylers and Checkmates were versatile teams indeed.
Song also played well on percussion instruments like the conga, bongos and maracas, showing off his impeccable style that was the attraction those years, donned immaculately in bow tie and a dark suit. I guess they were tailored to fit, the band and Singapore's Johnnie Ray.
Before Elvis there was Johnnie Ray
Influence/Influencers:
Now, hopefully, some readers can understand why the word Influence is used in the title to this blog. We had so many influences before even today's influencers came on the scene.
Johnnie Ray acted in this movie
with Marilyn Monroe. The other
stars were top guns those years.
Original article: by Andy Lim.
Google Images.
Johnny Ray In Concert.
YouTube video: from Johnny Ray.
Best 40 minutes ever to know Johnnie
and his unique antics on stage as he sleeps on the piano
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