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 !
Zhu Houren 朱厚任, Richard Low 刘谦益, Chen Shucheng 陈澍城 with Singapore's music makers, Sammin, Esther, Jimmy. With Blogger Andy too.
‘AH GE’ LEGENDS:
While having a sumptuous meal with Sammin Ang, his wife Esther and Jimmy Yap, we met these 3 veteran Singapore Chinese actors, all MediaCorp "Ah Ge" legends from the 80s/90s. So, we got together and took a picture. In case you aren't sure who they are, here's some details:
Left: Zhu Houren 朱厚任
Known for roles in classic Channel 8 dramas like _The Awakening_, _The Last Appeal_. He’s famous for playing stern father/authority figures.
Middle: Richard Low 刘谦益
Veteran actor/director. You’d recognize him from _The Little Nyonya_, _C.L.I.F._, and _118_. Also a regular variety show host back in the day.
Right: Chen Shucheng 陈澍城
Comedian and actor. Famous for _Comedy Night_ and sitcoms like _Don’t Worry Be Happy_. He usually wears glasses and is known for his comedic timing.
The 3 of them were part of the same generation of Channel 8 actors and still hang out a lot. Fans call them the “3 uncles” of SG Chinese drama 😄.
Roland is behind the counter in red-T with spectacles. When he sings, he thrills.
As we were looking around the Berseh Food Court area for a drink, we found one but the shop owner told us he was closed for the day because business was so good! It was only 2.05pm [the time the above picture was taken.]
What attracted us to this shop was the owner's voice. He has an exceptionally powerful and clear vibrato when he sang that I asked him if he was a singer. He is. Trills indeed!
I don't usually advertise shops on my blog and I won't, but you have to listen to ROLAND sing and sip his drinks. It will definitely make your day. Roland sings in Chinese and does Western pops too.
Talented and versatile musician Sammin Ang, who plays many instruments, with wife Esther and Jimmy Yap. I was wandering around with them…
There are many amusing songs from the 50s and 60s, so here are four of them with lyrics that I enjoy. Only a part of the song has been displayed for each one. You need to check the full lyrics from the Internet and it's worth the time.
The first song is about the location of a baby's dimple; the second is about the clicking of high heel shoes affecting some teens? And the third explains how Tarzan has guitar lessons. The fourth song is a newer version of 'Goodness Gracious Me', by Rowan Atkinson and company. Originally it was sung by Peter Sellars and Sophia Loren. It's funny, truly.
Watch. Comments are welcome...
Here they are: [1] cute, [2] amusing, [3] silly and [4] funny...
There are many moments when I find a rush going to my head; that there are generous people out there who write positively about others but yet do not reveal who they are. Old Bloke is one. Thank you for writing this piece about Siva Choy. Singapore 60s Music fans will ever be grateful for this gem of a write-up about him.
"There'll never be another Siva Choy. And the world will be a poorer place for it.
The most apt description I've ever heard of Siva was while jovially chatting with a mutual good friend, now gone too - Zul Sultan of Tania. It was, "genius bordering on madman".
Our paths first crossed in 1982. Three years later, I returned to Singapore after being overseas and thus started an almost 40 year friendship, mentorship and the rare chance to be with an incredibly gifted intellectual. The year was 1986, he and I were in a bar, The Ancient Mariner off Adam Road, me with my orange juice (I'm a teetotaller) him with his beer. I'll never forget it.
MC Siva C ft. Kopi Kat Klan: Why U So Like Dat?
YouTube Video by: Famous or Forgotten Mu
I was 27 and he was about 38 going on 39 and gave me some sage advice; "Try to accomplish as much as you can by 40 because the years between now and then will disappear in the blink of an eye." It was one of the rare moments in my life I actually listened to someone and followed his advice relentlessly. I've always been grateful.
I'll never forget it, the rap song and comedy album "Why You So Like Dat," sold 50,000 copies. The newspapers and local music industry described it as "staggering". I witnessed him producing it.
"Siva Choy is brilliant but incredibly humble."
Do I miss the many late night discussions, the many tears (admittedly all mine), the jokes, the nights where he was always invited on stage to sing with Zul and Tania, when we feasted on my horrendous cooking, laughed and joked with each other? Yes and no. What I miss most is his intellect and the deep conversations we had about everything and anything. He was a well read scholar but he knew the life of academia wasn't for him.
The most amazing thing about Siva I found was that for all his talent, ingenuity, creativity, intellect and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say it - brilliance, he was incredibly humble; frustratingly so in fact. He did everything possible to avoid the limelight. I miss him.
There'll never be another Siva Choy. And the world will be a poorer place for it. I amongst many certainly feel his loss."
Author: Old Bloke.
13th April, 2024.
Readers can connect to other posts about Siva Choy by clicking his name under Labels below.
Paul Ibrahm (Tania) is a good friend, having known him since we were in a band called The Velvetones. This period was the early 1960's when every pop guitar group in Singapore was in its infancy. The kampong bands (Malay = village) started in the living rooms or compounds of houses. Such similar styled bands in the West would be called, garage bands.
The Velvetones used to practise in a huge bungalow diagonally across from the former Chief Minister of Singapore's corner home at the T-junction of Sims Avenue and Lorong 39 (Malay = Lane).
It was there that I met Paul, young and handsome, fashioned with an Elvis Presley haircut with some sideburns showing. Usually with a short-sleeved shirt and drain-pipe trousers, he would come over in his usual casual and easy manner to belt out songs with the Velvetones. He's good.
We kept in touch for a few years now and during our chats he told me about his home at Lorong 40 which was just across Geylang Road from Lorong 39.
So it is here that I take my leave and allow him to relate his story. Thanks Paul.
Chand-ni Raat, Siang Lim Park, Lorong 40.
Johari Salleh went on to become
RTM Orchestra Conductor,
Aziz Jaffar, actor for Malay Film Productions.
"Yusof B (composer of Nona Nona) is my uncle, my late mother's elder brother. B stands for Bluguk. Wak Rahman, father to well-known singer Alina Rahman was Yusof B's younger brother. There were four siblings and my mother was Fatimah, Yusof B's sister. I have lost touch with Kak (Sis) Alina, I wish somebody could provide me with her phone number.
So much of Malay music originated from Lorong 40. Osman Ahmad lived there; Johari Salleh joined Radio Talivishen Malaya (RTM) and became their conductor.
The famous Indian band, Chand-ni Raat was near my home in Siang Lim Park. It was probably the first rock and roll local band in Singapore. It won so many awards during band competitions.
Yusoff B
Wandly Yazid
Some residents who lived at Lorong 40 went to become well-known actors when they joined the Cathay KerisStudio at Jalan Ampas. These Malay gentlemen were Aziz Jaafar, comedian Wahid Satay and Ahmad C, to name just a few.
Then there was composer Wandly Yazid, singers Jasni and Julie Sudiro. Julie used to hang out at our house almost every other day as she and Alina Rahman would come for lunch time and again to their aunt's and uncle's home.''
Paul, with his talent and versatility went into the limelight during the 60s and beyond and joined one of the best rock bands in this region, TANIA. He was with a few other bands before joining this forceful group but that's another story.
Diddly Aiden Daidin Daidin Dai. Video by totahdudi. Thank you. Also, thanks to Fernanda Gonzalez without which this conversation couldn't have been. UP TO 5,000 VIEWS,15 CHATS, COMMENTS
Here's a remarkable trio I would like my readers to meet. Jimmy Chng from The Decibels introduced me to this vocal group. They call themselves Fascinating Aida. The three ladies joined forces in March 1983 after the years of disco lights and John Travolta. Always around and to my delight, British comedy - stand-ups, groups or otherwise - have always tickled my funny bones. They come by the dozens, especially in the 60's and I find them as hilarious as the time when Harry Secombe, Peter Sellars, Stephen Fry and Rowan Atkinson were still around. The last two are still dishing it out, I think.
Fascinating Aida Musical Group (from left) Adele Anderson, Issy van Randwyck and Dillie Keane. But this group is slightly different. They belong to a genre called Satirical Cabaret and consists of only ladies. The original group included Dillie Keane, Adele Anderson and Liza Pulman with changes here and there. You don't need the lyrics because their articulation is perfect, the best English teachers. Enjoy. 😁 In case you do need the lyrics just key in the title song and you'll get a million sites to choose from. Fascinating Aida should apply to teach the English Language in Singapore and put more fun into the local syllabus. They would make fascinating tutors. (Unless one is able to switch, speaking Singlish doesn't really help, especially when you need to speak publicly in the media or abroad.) Click comment below. Lots of flavours recommended.
Founded in March 1983 Dillie Keane, along with Marilyn Cutts and Lizzie Richardson.
NB:
A Twitter reply from the Group on 30 January 2018.
Ken Lee audition! Probably the funniest audition ever on Idols misheard and misunderstood lyrics of Mariah Carey's Without You leaves this contestant on Bulgarian Idol singing a completely different song! From youtube video: Idols Global. Nearly 5 million views. Thank you. Don't laugh because it's been happening here in Singapore too during Karaoke sessions and at our own Talentime in the 1960's. Here are the stories:
Singing in Singlish in Singapore Karaoke 2017: A friend explained what happened when she attended a karaoke session at a private club one evening. So hilarious. Some years back we were at a country club in the East at a Karaoke lounge after dinner. My cousin and I had just finished a duet where we sang, 'The Moon Represents My Heart' in Chinese. A towkay (rich businessman) took the microphone and wanted to sing but didn't know how to work the amplifier system to select the song. So he asked me, "You find song?" in his best English. "What's the name?" I asked. "Ah Chen My Loti," he replied confidently. Literally, it means, 'Ah Chen Buys Bread'. So I asked him, "What language?" "English," he answered, getting impatient. I told him I have never heard the song, so I signalled the captain for help. They seemed to understand each other perfectly because the song was played and Mr Rich Businessman was belting out, 'Unchained Melody.' It was his horrific adulteration of the lyrics. For crying out loud, he didn't stop. His announced his next number proudly, "Now I singing, 'Four Line'. It turned out to be Bobby Helms, 'Fraulein.'
Before American Idol There Was Talentime 1960's: In the 60's Singapore had its share of singing competitionsknown as Talentime. During auditions, participants had to go up to the pianist and give the song title and sometimes the original singer's name, before facing the microphone. This Chinese guy came on stage and wanted to sing, 'Boh Sway Chew' (literally means No Wash Hands). The pianist was flabbergasted and held his laughter. "Never heard of this song. Who's the singer?" the pianist asked. "Hay bee!" replied the singer. Hay bee (literal: pounded dry shelled-shrimp). The pianist stood his ground, "HAY BEE? Who's Hay Bee?" The pianist couldn't contain himself when someone shouted, "ELVIS! 'BLUE SUEDE SHOES'!"
We Will Rock You: This Indian lady's version of Queens' big hit. Cute! From Razzump Video.
Steven Lee used to host The Gong Show on the radio where those taking part in the Talentime would be eliminated by him depending.
The Gong Show (Written by Horace Wee): The precursor to the Talentime show was the Gong Show produced for radio by Steven Lee. Held at Victoria Theatre, participants would be knocked out by the gong depending on how good they were.
Some hardcore ones who had entered many times would get knocked out after they uttered their first note. You should see the incredulous looks and the protests. Sometimes the audience participated as well.
Gif: Google. Read on Talentime Comments below.
Wing sings "Beat It" on NZ TV! Video by Martin Lee.
Natalie Cole - Almost Like Being In Love - Video: Vadim Shinnick.
UP T0 800 VIEWS - 13 COMMENTS
Songs I Love Before Cliff Richard: This article came about when I was searching for Natalie Cole's songs on You Tube. She had passed away on the last day of 2015 and I chanced upon her singing, Almost Like Being In Love, a personal favourite. It is a 1947 song and a lovely one at that. What with Tan Swee Leong's [a famous Singapore DJ] death on the 18th December, just days before hers, I thought of our vulnerability and how fragile we mortals are. These professionals reminded me too of the unique heritage they have left behind as entertainers.
Almost Like Being In Love is not well-known to many young people here (pardon if I'm wrong) and even to some 60's music enthusiasts. So if you're keen to know what some of us listened to a long time ago before Cliff Richard and The Shadows came to Singapore's Badminton Hall, read on. Not the usual Top Hit List, as many of the titles are unheard of these days and the songs are presented as they come to my head. But some are not that obsolete since they were popular during the 1950's but came a little before TheYoung Ones. A couple of singers are still around. Twenty songs should be sufficient but it is my own compilation and personal favourites.
Bobby Darin: Baby Face: YouTube
Video from Bobby Darin - Topic
Pop Songs Unfamiliar Today: Sung by 50's Legends Almost Like Being In Love - Frank Sinatra - 1947 Chee Chee Ooh Chee - Dean Martin - 1955 Money Burns A Hole In My Pocket - Dean Martin - 1954 Lay Down Your Arms - Anne Shelton - 1956 Where Will The Dimple Be? - Rosemary Clooney - 1955 Green Door - Jim Lowe - 1956 Hana Ko San - Miyoshi Umeki - 1940's to 1950's I'm Hans Christian Andersen - Danny Kaye - 1952 Thumbelina - Danny Kaye or Dean Martin - 1952* Around The Corner - Jo Stafford - 1952
Baby Let's House - Elvis Presley - Video: Adem Presley
Baby Face - Bobby Darin - 1926 'A' You're Adorable - Perry Como - 1948** Ivory Tower - Gale Storm - 1956 Dark Moon - Gale Storm - 1957 Fire Down Below - Jeri Southern - 1957 Baby Let's House - Elvis Presley - 1955*** Any Place Is Paradise - Elvis Presley - 1956 Majorca Isle of Love - Petula Clark - 1955 Imitation of Life - Earl Grant - 1959 The Girl Can't Help It - Little Richard - 1956 None of these songs have been covered and recorded by our local vocal or band groups. Are they still being played on Singapore's English radio today? Do you have some songs to add to the list? *A song I teach my grandchildren. **Tan Swee Leong usually sings this song to entertain. It was one I heard from him when we were gathered at house parties.
*Lost the precious 78rpm piece which would cost some today. The mumbling Elvis and echo plays are killers! Part 2 will come on soon. That's when I document songs recorded by our own local bands but unheard of today.
Images: Anne Shelton, Bobby Darin, Little Richard (horizontal); Petula Clark, Miyoshi Umeki, Perry Como (vertical). You Tube Videos. This article is copyrighted.
I asked Singaporeans around. If you remember Halloween do you remember the Singapore and Malaysian Pontianak? We even have a pop song about this Hantu-ween creature sung by well-known singer Ahmad Daud from the 60's. Read on. The spirit:
It is with some trepidation that I write this post. Halloween is around the corner and I wonder if it is wise to write about spiritual beings that could be hovering around us soon since the big day is on October 31st.
'Pontianak' Legend
Most followers who read literature on ghosts and spirits are well aware what Halloween is about and those who live in the Asian region would probably be familiar with a similar theme, the Chinese with their Ghost Month or Seventh Moon Festival and the Malays and Indonesians with the Pontianak legend (from 'bunting-anak'spirits of females who die in pregnancy) and Hantu Jerangkong stories (tall and gangling ghosts). The pontianak [boen-ting-anak (literal) give birth to child], is a female vampire ghost in Malaysian and Indonesian myth. Also called Churel among Asian Indians.
The pontianak is said to be the spirit of a woman who died during pregnancy. Some believe that pontianak in folklore could also describe the ghost as originating from a still-born child, arising from the grave. The city of Pontianak in Indonesia is named after this wicked creature. The ghost would haunt pregnant women, wicked husbands, children and was claimed to have haunted the first sultan who once settled there. The above picture shows one walking around lately in this city. The Music and Movie: Since this is a music blog I thought it would be appropriate if I discuss a popular Malay song from the mid 60s. This particular pop yeah yeah composition is relevant to the theme. It is sung by **Ahmad Daud and backed by The Swallows (yes, I sang with them before Ahmad Daud did).
Ahmad Daud with The Swallows
This song comes from the Malay movie, Pusaka Pontianak (1965) directed by Ramon A. Estella and starred Ahmad Mahmud, Saadiah, Aziz Sattar, Ibrahim Pendek, Ahmad Nesfu and Salleh Kamil. These actors and the series of Pontianak movies attracted crowds to the cinemas in the 60's.
Together with Ahmad Daud who sang the lyrics, Malay comedians Ibrahim Pendek (Shorty), Aziz Sattar and Ahmad Nesfu combined talent and lip-synced their way through Dendang Pontianak (Rhythm of the Pontianak) from the EP with similar title.
It has a twist and shake beat with do-wop backing composed by Singaporean
composer/musician Kassim Masdor. Apparently this particular Pontianak film did not do
well at the box office but I found the lyrics funny indeed. The song is a humorous dedication to the Pontianak and composed in its honour. So Horror + Humour = Halloween.
EP Sleeve Cover: Ahmad Daud with Malay comedians.
Silly and childish too but I love the 60's pop appeal of the melody especially when the three actors ham it up on screen with their solid guitars and Shadows-style antics. Ibrahim Pendek certainly looks lost surrounded by the drums that are larger than he is. And with Ahmad Daud doing the vocals it certainly makes the song livelier. This man can whip up any song with his rubber face, gestures and mimicry. By the way, the introductory bars are familiar (watch You Tube above).
Twist n Shake with Pontianak during Halloween.
The Critics: One reader Lysha Dato Haji Ali remarked on You Tube, 'To me it's a great song. Who says the Malay do not know how to have fun. In the 60's they did. These days, geez, everything is way too complicated.' Another viewer said, 'Ini rockability Melayu untuk Halloween,' while a third surfer yelled, 'Bloody brilliant, best rock and roll Malay song ever recorded. And I certainly agree. Happy Hantu Halloween everyone. Meanings of Words:
*Hantu: a Malay word that means Ghosts. **You can read about Ahmad Daud on the Comment page.
Credit: Image 1: Shaw Brothers Move Screen Grab. Images 2, 3: Courtesy of M. Erwin Collection. Image 4: Andy Lim Collection using GDC (Ghost Detection Camera).
IMAGE: DJ CARLITO WITH KASSIM SELAMAT (SWALLOWS VOCALIST) ON THE LEFT AND YUSNOR EF (AUTHOR OF P. RAMLEE BOOKS AND COMPOSER OF 60s POP YEH, YEH MUSIC).
(1) DJ Carlito wrote to me on Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 2:47pm:"Hello Andy, I hope you are doing well... You may recall I emailed you a while back regarding my search for licensing of old Malaysian Pop Yeh Yeh music for a small CD release here in the USA (1000 copies). Thanks to you, Mr Yusnor Ef replied to me once, but said he was busy on a TV show and never responded after that. I know he is a very busy, and well respected man, so I don't want to be a nuisance."
(2) Another note came from Carlito on Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 10:47am:"Hi Andy, Ive set the date for my trip to Singapore and KL... I'll be there hopefully in the second week of July, 2010... I hope to meet up with several people... Mr Yusnor Ef would be on the top of my list. I would also love to meet you and hear about your music research."
(3) After much hard work and his research trip to Singapore and Malaysia DJ Carlito has this to say on his blog:
"Thanks again to Cikgu Yusnor Ef and Encik Zam Zam for helping arrange this meeting with the legendary Kassim Selamat. It was great to see Encik Yusnor Ef and Zam Zam again, and really inspiring to meet yet another one of my all time favorite Pop Yeh Yeh artists - Kassim Selamat.
Actually, my friend Yuana drove Encik Yusnor Ef and Encik Kassim Selamat back home that evening, and we listened to the Swallows greatest hits CD the whole way back. I sat in the back seat next to him and he sang every song; he even elbowed me a few times in the ribs during the freak out guitar solos. This is where I got a little teary eyed, a memory that I will never forget...
I hope to go back again to spend more time with Encik Kassim Selamat (Rahmat is his real last name - Selamat is his stage name - taken from a P Ramlee film character) and with Cikgu Yusnor Ef."
(4) Andy writes:
Well DJ, although we never met during your trip to Singapore, I am glad you contacted Kassim Selamat and Yusnor Ef. I didn't help much but managed to connect you to Yusnor via e-mail. Because of your passion and interest in the subject you have achieved your goal. Congratulations!
Exploitation:
As an aside, I hope these 60s pop artistes will not be exploited for their music. According to a friend, they are our national treasure! I am also wondering why some of our Singapore music research students have never thought of writing about them? Strange indeed. Perhaps some readers out there may have an answer.
The happiest memories in the life of a child of the 50s would have been the experience of going to a movie with his/her parents and enjoying the grandeur of the cinema, housed in a very large hall with long ceiling fans, hanging and twirling above, throughout the show.
Pulling mother's hand, the trip to the Capitol Cinema at North Bridge Road, was a thrill as the screen unfolded to reveal, Hans Christian Andersen, the movie. Then again, could the cinema be the Cathay? Today it's taken for granted, as children of all ages can just view movies at home from the TV, DVD, UTube or in the glamorous movie theatres in air-conditioned comfort.
Personally, one of the greatest movie stars in the 50s was a man who could do almost anything. He was a dancer, a singer, an actor, a great comedian but most of all he was loved by the younger audiences all over the world when they watched him in action on the 'silver screen'.
In this particular movie, Danny Kaye took on the role of Hans Christian Anderson (above), one of the greatest storytellers in the 19th Century. He wrote The Ugly Duckling, Emperor's New Clothes, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and Thumbelina and many others. These stories had been weaved and transformed into songs by Danny Kaye on screen and they are just as attractive as the stories.
Danny Kaye - "Thumbelina"
He starred in many movies but Hans Christian Andersen, released in 1952, was one of the best-loved. Ah yes, the early 50s, way, way back when movies were movies and songs were songs. Find out more if the reader wishes, from the websites about Hans Christian Andersen and the man who played this wonderful storyteller from Northern Europe. There are nearly one million hits on the net if the name DANNY KAYE is keyed in.
This particular movie was one of the earlier musicals to hit the cinemas in Singapore and like many of his movies, Danny Kaye displayed his numerous talents and skills as a showman. Some of the best children's songs come from this movie, Wonderful Copenhagen, Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling and I'm Hans Christian Andersen. So if you are a parent check Mr. Kaye on UTube.
This posting is dedicated to my grandson Joshie, who learned many songs as a 2-year-old. His first songs were Russ Hamilton's, Little One and of course, Kaye's Thumbelina and Frankie Laine's Mr. Froggie Went To Town.
Josh outside the National Museum at Stamford Road, Singapore. Much to see, much to learn.
Credit:
Image 1: Shaw Brothers Move Screen Grab.
Images 2, 3: Courtesy of M. Erwin Collection.
Image 4: Andy Lim Collection using GDC (Ghost Detection Camera).