We Are The World [1985]: Sax and Violin: Daniele Vitale [Italy] & Karolina Protsenko [Ukraine].

We Are The World - Sax and Violin |

 Daniele Vitale & Karolina Protsenko

YouTube Video by: Daniele Vitale Sax

    

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[1] Karolina Protsenko, classically trained, is an 11 year old performing violinist, born in 2008 in Ukraine to musical parents who play the guitar and piano; they moved to the United States in 2015.

[2] Daniele Vitale Sax is an Italian saxophonist, musician, who is most popular for sharing his fabulous videos playing the saxophone on YouTube; sharing lifestyle photos and music videos on different social media platforms.

[3] "We Are the World" is a charity single recorded by the Supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for an album with a similar title.

 

Daniele and Karolina

Sensational Saxophone and Violin Buskers

Readers Comments:

[a] "Both Daniele and Karolina play their musical instruments beautifully. I follow Karolina on YouTube regularly. She's only 14 and plays the violin so skillfully. She'll have a great future. It's a pity her country, Ukraine is being attacked and destroyed by Russia." [Jerry Saram, high school teacher]

[b] "Lovely tune, nice combination and beautifully performed!" [Jimmy Chng, drummer]

[c] "Definitely a must listen for saxophone and violin enthusiasts. And the melody is familiar with most. Karolina is a truly beautiful and talented young lady." [Anonymous.]

[d] "Thank you for sharing Andy." [Steve Ho, busker, drummer, singer]

[e] "Beautiful and Happy!" [George Chew, lead guitarist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVTHijw_-EU

[f] "Awesome Saxophone is also one of my favourite musical instruments cheers." [Cedric Collars, pianist: Perth, Australia]

[g] "Sorry Andy, to me the tenor sax and the high pitch violin is ?????" [Ivor Lesslar, lead guitarist] 

[h] "I heard her solo violin rendition of Dancing Queen on another video and truly shed a tear. Lovely indeed; it was gentle and charming. The dancing queen has turned into a fairy queen. Thanks to all the above who wrote in." [Andy Young, author]. 

[i] "Hi ROSE, thanks for being the first to LIKE the post. Any comment? All comments will now be posted directly on the blog front." [Andy]

[j] "Beautiful song well played by both. In my opinion the violin has a more touching and soothing tone." [Michael Lee]

[k] "Yes, it does. I love the quiet sound of the violin, especially with this particular song. Thanks for visiting Mike." [Andy] 

https://www.youtube.com/c/KarolinaProtsenkoViolin?app=desktop

[l] "Nice renditions both musicians played with feelings." [Winston Koh].

[j] "Thanks my good friend. Glad you like them. Many thanks to all the above friends and readers who wrote in..." [Andy]

[k] "Really lovely, she's amazing and such gifted talented Karolina Protsenko , have seen countless people sharing her performances too, she's so ease and produce beautiful songs with her violin...lovely video of both of them Andy👍." [Freda Hanum]

[l] "Freda Hanum hi, coming from you, a musician too, the comment is a compliment! Appreciate that you agree because I have become very selective with the choices of videos put up, knowing that there are many music makers in our chat and FB group. Thanks again Freda." [Andy]

[j] "What a beautiful instrumental rendition of this charity single classic, Brother Andy. I was fortunate to have watched the co-writer of the song, and Five-time Grammy winner, Lionel Richie and he was in Singapore for an exclusive one-night only performance. He certainly set the bar high at this show and kept the audience enthralled with his energy and showmanship all night long and of course, the concert would not have been complete without this song. Cheers and blessings to all👍❤️🥰…" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I04FcfIVtcU [FredChing].

[k] "Fred Ching Yes, thanks again. He was one of the singers for this MJ classic. But considering... I enjoy this instrumental version. Keeps the nostalgia burning. And the violin stream flows with the beautiful violinist on hand." [Andy] 

Thanks to the following readers who like or love this posting:

Freda Hanum

Colin Colin

Stephen Han

Rose Khoo

Ann Rowena Lim

Somkid Lakhawat

Francis Anthony Rozells

Becky Hofmann

Xu Xiwen

Ser Kiong Tan.

[l] "Close your eyes and drift away. Yes music certainly sooths the savage beast. Together they blend in a piece of artwork so intense. Well done." [Cedric Collars].

Follow the comments as they increase by the day...

Someone Needs Help Badly, Will You Give Some? Covid Days

                                                                 

 Ralph McTell: Streets of London Video: wildfiremedia.   

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[This article has been updated from 29th December, 2012. Perhaps we could give away some, if we have a little to spare...]

Used as a teaching aid in a Singapore school textbook some years ago, this international pop anthem about the street poor was first recorded in 1969.  It is the third time I am posting *Streets of London on this blog. I would probably post it again in another year to remind us of the squalor, deprivation and loneliness of many homeless people in this world today. Some things never change.

When you are sipping that glass of champagne and slurping the caviar, tucking into succulent chicken rice and downing it with Tiger or just watching the ushering in of New Year 2021 on  TV please remember the very poor who need our help.

I am not being hypocritical but perhaps just two Singapore dollars placed in the hands of someone who needs the money is sufficient. Or more if you wish. Depends on how much your heart (not head)  is willing to give. Don't force yourself. If you can't, don't.

Watch the above video to the end because it's different from the others available on You Tube. wildfiremedia who produced the clip had an interview with Ralph McTell on the streets of  London. 

If you can spare something, check out the list below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_voluntary_welfare_organisations_in_Singapore

Video: from wildfiremedia on You Tube.

The streets of London today - 2020 and now. We have the poor in charity homes in Singapore. Do help them if you have some to spare. 

Streets of London is written by Ralph McTell, first recorded for his 1969 album Spiral Staircase but not released in the United Kingdom as a single until 1974. It was his greatest commercial success, reaching number two in the UK singles chart, at one point selling 90,000 copies a day.

As McTell explains on the video it could be any street in any big city in the world. He was inspired by an older song called, Poor People of Paris (1954) made good by Les Baxter and Orchestra. I remember this one, do you?

Over two hundred artists have made covers of this song including Cliff Richard, Blackmore's Night, Mary Hopkin, Raffi, Sam Hui, Sinéad O'Connor, Schooner Fare, Anti-Nowhere League, Roger Whittaker, Cleo Laine,  Cat Stevens Oskar Weise/Tom Brner, Tommy Korberg  and Liam Clancy. Its popularity was also the subject of a comedy sketch on BBC show Big Train.

McTell celebrated his 70th birthday with a concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, on 7 December 2014 (video clip below).

Read more from wikepedia.^.

Ralph McTell with John Williams 70th Streets Of London Live. On YouTube since 2016. Video from the man himself. Thank you sir.

1956 HITS ARCHIVE: The Poor People Of Paris - Russ Morgan. Video by the45prof.

Images: Google.

Steve Ho Singapore Chinatown Busker Boys Heartbreaker

Steve Ho

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Meeting Steve Ho:

I met Steve the first time at a hotel lounge where he was singing and playing the drums. Steve has those rugged features with the typical John Mellencamp boyish cut, looking tough like a rock star in his red jeans, bracelets and dangling neck ornament.

True to his band name, Steve will definitely break hearts. Like Elvis, he addresses me as 'Sir' and 'Yes ma'am' when he answers to the pretty ladies surrounding him. 

Steve's English diction and powerhouse vocals are distinctive and separate him from other local singers that I have heard. His versatility shows in his ability to sing in Cantonese too.

He is very different from many of the Singapore band boys I met. Besides, Steve writes very well and after some persuasion, he emailed me the article below.

He's just starting his musical journey and if you guys are reading this, give him that big break he needs. Check him out at the busking points specified below.

Thanks, Steve for the interview.

Singapore's New Pop Icon:

"I started very late in music and mostly jammed with friends in rented studios during my younger days. It happened in the 90s when the love for music within made me want to express myself.

It was only in mid-2013 when I joined a band called Still Alive as a vocalist.  We indulged in Classic Pop Rock and sang Bad Company (Rock Steady, Wishing Well); Deep Purple (Smoke On The Water, Sail Away); Bon Jovi (You Give Love A Bad Name, Bed  Of Roses). My other rock heroes are Firehouse, Skid Row, Pink Floyd and many more.

I am able to draw a Chinese crowd with rock numbers like; Beyond's (Hoi Foot Theen Hoong, Putt Zoi Yau); Sam Hui's (Tar Koong Zai, Kwai Ma Seon Seng); Alan Tam's (Pung Yau). My specialty I think. Besides singing, I play the drums. 

Steve Ho's crowd in Chinatown was vibrant as the locals and tourists danced to the rhythm of the group's hot music.

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Gigs All Over Singapore:

We performed at various locations in Singapore for about 3 years, namely at Clementi and West Coast CCs, Azucar at Beach Road, 1° 15 in Sentosa with this same band, before branching out and forming my own band in 2016.  We called ourselves, Steve and The Heartbreakers. We performed at a couple of clubs at Beach Road and Tanjong Pagar for about a year and a half. We then called it quits. 

"Why quit suddenly?"

Sadly, Andy, we did not get paid!

Back To Basics:

I returned to driving a taxi for a living but soon realized that my true calling was (and still is) to sing and perform to a live audience.

After driving for some years and suffering ill from the livelihood (being a taxi driver is tough), I gave it up. It was then that I decided to try out busking in public for a means of living. I got myself a license in mid-2018 and have started the practice ever since. 

I intend to sing and drum and share my music (as long as I possibly can), with anyone and everyone who loves music. When people ask me about "wearing a uniform" rule, I tell them I am a true blue Rocker and do not conform to such rules. We stick to simple Ts and jeans.

I sincerely believe that music transcends all boundaries. Music brings perfect strangers together with music as the common language, and it does not need to be understood! We just flow with it!" 

video.

Busking Today:

In Chinatown, the crowd went where Steve went with his boys. The locals and the tourists enjoyed his music as the pretty young Caucasian girls from Australia, the US, the UK, and other European countries rocked to his music. The local Chinese loved his Cantonese melodies with a huge following from HongKong and mainland China.

With his musician friends, Robert Koh (image above: on guitar with Steve), the current lead guitarist with the band Blues Express, Patrick 'Tiger Baits' Koh and Peter Han (seen seated with bongo drums in the video), famed co-founder and ex-lead guitarist of the 80s superband, Tokyo Square, they have found a niche for themselves again. 

No advertising stunt; the crowd at Steve Ho's road concerts are huge. Go see him and his band.

Steve and Peter Han (from Tokyo Square) below are now playing inside the air-conditioned Thrift Shop at the Salvation Army Building across from Hillview MRT @ Upper Bukit Road from 2.30 to 6/7pm on Saturdays.

Catch them live guys and give all the cash you've got.

Articles and Images are the properties of Steve Ho. 

YouTube Videos from William Tan.

Copyrights Reserved.

The Late Hamdi Sinwan: By Michael Bangar

The Late Mr Hamdi Bin Sinwan is in the centre with writer Michael Bangar on the left.

A Tribute:

A tribute here for our dearly departed brother in music - the late strolling vocalist and guitarist Mr Hamdi Bin Sinwan who left us on 23 April 2018. He had been unwell and out of action these past few years. 

For those of you who don't know him, Mr Hamdi has been a Strolling Musician almost all of his many many years in the Singapore music scene. Based on information he shared with us strolling trios, he was a member of strolling trios like Los Amigos, Los Santos, Los Pintos, Los Chicos and others. 

He shared the stage with almost all of the well known strolling musicians here. He performed with them in some of the major hotels and restaurants from Orchard Road to the Marina Square area and neighbouring countries.

A very gifted musical talent, brother Hamdi sang and played excellent lead and rhythm on his acoustic nylon-stringed guitar. His range covered many musical genres and his repertoire stretched through many decades. 

Besides English and Spanish, he also sang in many languages like Italian, German, Korean, Hindi, and our 3 local languages and dialects. He had been involved in some daytime busking at Wheelock Place, Orchard Road. Some of you might have seen him perform solo there. He stopped when his illness made him lose his voice.

A true musical talent that is going to be sadly missed by all who knew and played with him.  Salutĕ!

CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.

R.I.P. Hamdi.

Written by Michael Bangar.

The image and article have been copyrighted.

Disclaimer: 

This tribute is published because Michael Bangar personally knows the deceased and because we care. If for any reason there are objections to this posting, please write on the Comment page, and this message will be deleted.

Wild Attractiveness: Taiwan Lady Drummer A Hit

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Seen this video nearly a year ago but if you missed it, turn the speakers out loud.  This percussionist's stories are all over the internet.  She has more than *three million views and about 200,000 likes on her Facebook.  So Danny Boy, John Cher, Oliver Bala and the other Silver Strings drummers who helped us during our gigs, can you beat this one? 

She has confidence and plenty of class! From the You Tube recording this young and pretty lady does an eyeful and entertaining street performance with the drums before her. 

Yes, she is a busker on the streets of Taiwan.  But what a busker!  According to a comment on this posting, her name is Luo Xiao Bai (羅小白) but calls herself S. White (Small White = Xiao Bai?).

She is not giving a drum display but is accompanying a song she is listening to from her ear-piece.  Watch her right hand and drumstick twirls. She's at one with the percussion, an artistic blend. Enjoy!

DkS398 says:

I'm a young drummer myself (17) and I wasn't really that impressed with her skills, like everyone else saying she's a amazing and stuff.

The title 'amazing' goes to guys like Marco Minnemann, Buddy Rich, Louie B., Chris Coleman, Royster Jr, Steve Gadd, Gene Hoglan, Mike Mangini, Mike Portnoy, Steve Adler, Bernard Purdie, John Bonham, Keith Moon and list continues. 

Those guys are amazing and great drummers. I'm not trying to be rude but from an honest, experienced drummer's point of view, she's not bad. Really she's not, but she is definitely not amazing.

min suga says:

Damn, this girl so unbelievably amazing and the thing I really, really love other than the awesome drumming, is the way she looks. I don't know if anyone else noticed but she looks so, so, so happy and is enjoying her time. I love it !

At her level, she is pretty amazing. You can't compare her to Gene Krupa can you?

anonymous says:

I tell you, she is the best female street drummer I've ever seen. Showmanship is of utmost importance for street drummers. The ability to twirl the sticks in a number of ways and to throw and catch the stick as it comes down, while in play is awesome. 

It is a veritable skill what every drummer would naturally wish to have. It is an amazing talent that won the admiration so many spectators as many other drummers could not do. Showing skin and even resorting to tricks like burning of the drum sticks that 

I saw in one vid are cheap attempts to charm spectators. But they simply are not what you would consider as talent and not worthy of praise.

Comment anyone?

Statistics:

Name: Luo Shiro (羅仕茹) 
Stage Name: Luo Xiao Bai (羅小白), S. White 
Date of Birth: 23 May 
Place of Birth: Taipei, Taiwan 
Zodiac Sign: Gemini 
Religion: Christian 
Height: 161 cm 
Favourite Food: Marshmallow 
Favourite Colour: Blue, White, Black 
Singer: Hebe (田馥甄).

Images: Google.
*6 million plus viewers on 2nd November, 2015 and rising.
  23,822,184 views on 29th April, 2017.

China Girls n Boys: Hunan Folk Music Journey Pt II

 Picture Postings of Music Makers from Middle Kingdom:

There was music wherever we went in Hunan Province, China.  As explained in the last posting the streets were filled with buskers who played both Chinese and Western melodies. Many of these minstrels were armed with guitars, flutes and even bongo drums to provide music for the passing crowd.  Even in an ancient city called Phoenix, we heard modern music.

During one of our trips we had to run up a hill because of the early morning rain.  We were about to visit the Chiang Kai Shek Museum in Chongqing but took shelter on the way when we chanced upon an outhouse. The large gazebo-like structure was a scene of gaiety and grace.  A  lady was playing on an electronic organ and accompanying another who was singing a Chinese classical song.

There were dancing couples and an audience around them who clapped in tune. We stood in awe as we watched while the rain poured incessantly outside. The Museum which was two minutes away housing many cultural and ancient artifacts had to wait as we were emersed in an unrehearsed cultural show. Although it was cold without, the atmosphere was warm within .

During the Phoenix Ancient City tour, we passed by tourist shops where keepers were selling food, tidbits, curios, clothes and souvenirs.  While the younger ones were selling their wares the elders played on their flutes to entertain the crowd. The odd-shaped flutes emitted the same trill as the Indonesian suling bamboo.

                                         *When China boy meets China girl
                                           In **Chinatown tonight
                                           There'll be such fun
                                           When day is done
                                           In Chinatown tonight.

On the Yangtze cruise itself there was a performance nearly every night on the boat. We didn't realise that our group of glamorous dancers, singers and entertainers who had so much enthusiasm and talent on stage were the same youngsters who looked after our cabins, waited on us at dinner tables, cooked our delicious buffet meals and served us at the counters.  Talk about multi-tasking! 

We were all so grateful that many of us left handsome tips when we disembarked. Thanks to handsome Andy Li (no not Andy Lim) and his crew!  He is multi-lingual and switched from English to Mandarin with ease when he provided live commentaries as we sailed through the river.

We also had a special performance by a group from Australia led by Barry Hunter (he's Brit). They were on the boat with us. You can check them on the RIGHT bar of this blog.

The long six-hour bus trips from one town to another could have taken a toll on us if it weren't for our China tour guide. Born and raised in the same province - she said she lived at one of the foothills of the mountain region - petite Wendy sang Hunan folk songs on the way but because of my poor handling of personal videos I was not able to down-load some of her performances on You Tube.

During the Three Gorges Dam tour we were off-loaded into smaller boats and sampled the sights of the Yangtze tributaries and mini-gorges. The sturdy, serious-looking boatman who looked after us gave a surprise performance when he sang a folk number (gruff but in tune) without accompaniment or music except to the lap, lap, lapping of the river and the soft chug-chug-chugging of the watercraft.

Like I explained, there was music everywhere during our boat excursions and land drives, music that might be alien to some but a joy to others. I wonder why the Chinese need an iPod?

Images: from my iPhone video screen grabs except #6 from You Tube by yangtzerivercruise.
Original article.

*In an RTS (Radio Television Singapore) Talentime 1969 Finalists recording little MARIE TANG sang: 'When China Boy Meets China Girl'. You Tube contribution by lvlalaysiaboleh.

Words and music by Billy Reid. Song originally sung by Dorothy Squires.

**Probably the Chinatowns in the US and Canadian cities like Frisco and Vancouver.

A Slow Boat To China: Yangtze River Avatar Part I

Dean Martin: On A Slow Boat To China. You Tube video from: dvvreeswijk.

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Just came home from an exciting 10 day sojourn  in China's Hunan Province and feel I must write about it.  During the short holiday I had a song spinning in my head. It was Dean Martin's: "I'd love to get you on a slow boat to China, All to myself alone."

5 days on board the Victoria Anna.

My family members and I were in a tour group that went on a slow boat up the Yangtze River to witness the natural and rugged grandeur of the Three Gorges Dam.  We watched from our cabin balcony on the Victoria Anna the wild and meandering flow of the river that had for decades devastated more than a quarter million Chinese.  This particular cruise, which took 5 days, started upstream from Yichang and ended at Chongqing (Map below).

With family on a slow boat up the Three Gorges Dam.

This ship ride reminded me of the late 40s Chinese hit movie I watched as a child called Tears of Yangtze (The Spring River Flows East) that drew large crowds for weeks at the Jubilee Cinema in North Bridge Road where it was shown.  Can't imagine that I would be cruising down the same famous river today. But it was a totally different experience.


Sketch map of Yangtze River and trip is from Yichang to Chongqing.

Because our trip coincided with the Chinese Mooncake Festival and China's National Day the whole country was celebrating the occasion during the exceptionally crowded break from lst to 7th October.  "Well, out on the briny with a moon big and shiny, Melting your heart of stone, Well, I'd love to get you on a slow boat to China, All to myself alone."

A Moonlit Night On Spring River.

The same holiday took us on a land tour where we were mesmerised by the Zhangjiajie mountain range where director James Cameron conjured his idea as to how Pandora’s floating islands should look in his multi-million dollar hit movie Avatar.

Professor Zhu Qixin in his book, The Sights of China, best describes the area when he wrote, "The steep mountains, the dangerous rugged shoals and the turbulent waters are characteristic of the gorges. The perpendicular cliff and grotesque peaks with clouds wrapping them in a blanket of mist create one of nature's most majestic sights (page 106)."


Zhangjiajie Mountain Range with 'Avatar' imaginings.

Lyrics from a hit musical, Flower Drum Song  surfaced as we drove past the perilous peaks: "My father says the sun, Will keep rising over, The eastern hill, Rivers keep flowing too, In ev'ry single minute, So much is going on, Along the Yangtze Kiang... A hundred million miracles."

Fancy, although we saw the moon on our short river experience we missed the sun during our land tours when we visited the cities because of the smog, smog, smog.

Chongqing City Centre National Day October 2012.

But what fascinated me were both Western and Chinese music provided by buskers who could play whatever song you ask them to.  The image below shows the long haired bongo drummer who kept to the rhythm of his guitar strumming and singing friend.  It was magical indeed.

As our river boat drifted into Chongqing, Middle Kingdom's largest and most populated city I guess, "Moon river, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style some day" would be appropriate.
Anyway, if you have the time take Dean Martin's advice. Or Andy Williams'?  There's such a lot of world to see..."

There is music everywhere as we meet buskers on our land tour.

Songs/Images/Book:
1. (I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China sung by Dean Martin. Frank Loesser (1947).
2. Extracts from: A Hundred Million Miracles sung by Miyoshi Umeki. Richard Rodgers n Oscar     Hammerstein II (1958).
3. Extracts from: Moon River sung by Andy Williams. Henry Mancini n Johnny Mercer (1961).
4. Images/Map: from Google Images, You Tube and ChinaSelect.com.
5. Chongqing City and buskers images by Andy Lim.
6. You Tube: song by Dean Martin contributed by dvvreeswijk.
7. Professor Zhu Qixin, The Sights of China, China Travel Tourism Press (2004).

"When a cross cultural love for songs and travel meet and mix." Andy Lim.

 SLIP NOTE

 2ND JUNE 2015

CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES IN THE YANG TZE RIVER CRUISE TRAGEDY. MORE THAN 400 PASSENGERS WERE STILL MISSING IN POSSIBLY CHINA'S WORST SHIPPING ACCIDENT IN 70 YEARS.