Singapore Haze: Amazed! Dazed Neighbours Still Fazed About Haze

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The big haze:

It all started in 2015 when this post was written 

and reposted in 2016 and 2019. 

We thought it would trouble us no more.

But it did come again in 2023.

Now it's here once more, in 2026

11 years on!!!

From 2015, 2016 and 12 September 2019 [above image] 

the haze came Home. 

Hazardous and horrible!

Will it ever end?

Then when

it was 2023 August, we thought

that was the end.

As usual the young school-going children were also 

badly affected... 

when it came back one more time... in 2026.

THE HAZE IN SINGAPORE: CAUSE AND GLOBAL CONSEQUENCE

Is It Clear?

Fourteen million plus hits on Google when you type, "Haze in Singapore." 

Call it what you may, haze or smoke which has been polluting this region for weeks now is not created by Mother Nature but by Man himself.  One thing is clear; our air is so foul and "poisonin' my oxygen" that it is frustrating everyone in the area.  Worse, it is making every creature, great and small, sick.

Every day fires are destroying the beautiful forests of Indonesia's South Sumatra, Riau and Kalimantan and simultaneously endangering the health of its own people and surrounding neighbours and little red dot, Singapore [written in 2015].

I'm a hungry planet

I had the bluest seas

Oh the people kept 
Choppin' down

All my finest trees (1).

The lyrics above were written by The Byrds way back in 1970 and described a situation that is still persisting today. Hungry Planet is one of many songs that deals with an on-going ecological disaster and the problem will never be resolved unless a certain country follows its own laws which forbid the use of fire to clear land.

Or Still Unclear?

Another thing is clear; we can't do anything because Singapore is like a David standing in front of a cigarette smoking Goliath. We have to inhale what Goliath exhales, and the *problem has persisted from as far back as 1972, more than 40 years since. 

The country in question has promised it will enforce its laws but nothing's been done so far [written in 2015]. A pop group from 1970, The Moody Blues, reminds us of the foulness in the air in a composition called, How Is It:

How is it we are here on this path we walk
In this world of pointless fear filled with empty talk
Descend from the ape as scientist-priest all think
Will they save us in the end, we're trembling on the brink (2).

Responsible Lyricists:

Like The Byrds and The Moody Blues, many famous pop composers and lyricists get serious and write about how Man has savaged and ravaged Mother Earth. So while some readers  think that the West are only writing frivolous rock and roll music these same pop stars are doing the world a favour by warning how our selfish attitude towards the environment is destroying and killing it:

Now the sun has come to earth
Shrouded in a mushroom cloud of death
Death comes in a blinding flash
Of hellish heat and leaves a smear of ash
And the sun has come to earth (3).

Only last night (5th October 2015), I saw our local news headlines on television feature young children in hospitals with asthma and with some seniors suffering from a skin ailment agitated by the haze. The Byrds lamented in the same song that this condition is:

Diggin' into my skin

Taking more out of my good earth

Than they'll ever put back in

I"m a hungry planet... (4)

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, the established folk rock super group from the 70's stated that Clear Blue Skies were not much to ask for. They were here before creatures roamed the earth. Question is, "Will they be here when we're gone?" (5)

Optimism:

According to an **article, two-thirds of the fires in Indonesia occur on peat wetlands. It is not widely known that Indonesia has the largest tropical peat wetlands in the world but these places are definitely rich in biological diversity. Imagine the devastation going on at the moment with the fires in full force and its outcome afterwards.

Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas
Fish full of mercury
Ah oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Oh mercy, mercy me. (6)

How long more do we have to take the haze and the continuing saga of earth's destruction? I remain optimistic so let's leave the last words to Tommy James and the Shondells:

Maybe tomorrow

When he looks down

On every green field, ooh ooh

And every town

All of his children

And every nation

They'll be peace and good brotherhood (7).

FOOTNOTES

Other Earth Songs:

Mother Nature's Son - The Beatles

After The Gold Rush - Neil Young 
Where Do The Children Play - Cat Stevens 

Big  Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell 
Don't Go Near the Water - The Beach Boys
Hole In The Sky - Black Sabbath

The Trees - Rush 

Calypso John Denver
Nobody's Fault - Aerosmith

Earth Anthem - The Turtles
Every Day Every Day Celebrate - John Denver
Sweet Baby James -James Taylor

Traffic Jam - James Taylor

Goodbye To A River - Don Henley

The Eagle and The Hawk - John Denver
Down By The River - Albert Hammond

Quoted Songs Are:

(1) Hungry Planet - The Byrds 

(2) How Is It? - Moody Blues

(3) The Sun Is Burning - Simon and Garfunkel

(4) Hungry Planet - The Byrds 

(5) Clear Blue Skies - Crosby Stills Nash and Young

(6) Oh Mercy, Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye

(7) Crystal Blue Persuasion- Tommy James and The Shondells

*Straits Times Press report and image: 13/10/1972.

**Straits Times Press: S. Jayakumar and Tommy Koh; The haze, international law and global cooperation - 6/10/2015 - Pg A20 Opinion.

**Straits Times Press: Bustar Maitar; Instead of pointing fingers, start restoring peatlands - 7/10/2015 - PgA21 Opinion.

You Tube Video: Crystal Blue Persuasion- Tommy James and The Shondells

Images, Chart and gif: Google.
http://weather.asiaone.com.sg/weather-airdetails.php?d=&m=pre&area=

SAVE THE EARTH CAMPAIGN

SLIP NOTE: 11th October, 2015.

Exhilarating news piece that Indonesia is finally getting help from some countries to help douse out the fire and according to The President Mr Jokowi, it must be effective two weeks from today.  Hopefully, we get fresh air again and also save "all creatures great and small", which include the orang utans too. 

TODAY 26TH AUGUST, 2016. HAZE STILL HERE.

Disclaimer: 

There is absolutely no intention to criticise or point a finger at any country regarding the haze situation. This article has been written in 2015 and in the daily newspapers these days, reports of another haze occurrence is possible [3.6.2023].

Back again Mr. Haze in September, 2026.

Mask Up Everyone !

It is debilitating. 

Hope she wins...

Andy 60s Music Blog Reaches 5.5 Million+ Views On 5th June 2026

Dear Readers,

You've all done it again. Thanks for the new statistics to an 18-year-old music blog from Singapore. It's 5 point 5 million views now and still growing. 

I owe it all to the authors too who helped compose the articles and the friends who helped to circulate the postings I sent them. 

Without all your help this little music drone wouldn't have gotten off the ground so easily. Now it's flying all over the world.

Taken on 5th June 2026 @ 8.59 pm Singapore Time, from LIVE Statistics Counter on the right-hand column of the blog page.

Are you sure the music's on buddy?

Our Local Musicians:

'Besame Mucho': Danny Koh 

with The Blue Notes

YouTube Video by: Danny Koh.

'New York, New York': Patrick n Perry Koh 

@ The Esplanade Singapore.

YouTube Video by: Perry Brady.

'Nyanyikan Haleluya Untuk Tuhan' 

[Singing Halleluya for the Lord.]

Performed on YouTube Video by Patrick Teng.

🎜🎝🎶🎜🎝🎶🎜🎝🎶🎜🎝🎶🎜🎝🎶🎜🎝🎶🎜🎝🎶

Singapore's music influence comes from all over

and appreciated everywhere.

Singapore 60s

U.S.A. 60s 

Singapore 60s

USA 60s 

Malaysia 60s

United Kingdom 60s

Singapore 60s

Holland & Indonesia 60s

Images: Meta AI, Google.

CLICK COMMENTS BELOW TO READ:

(3) Beautiful Sunday, Blue Monday, Ruby Tuesday, Wednesday Evening Blues, Thursday, Black Friday, Another Saturday Night.

Soon it will be Blue Monday...

'By the Light of the Silvery Moon': Doris Day, To my honey, I'll croon love's tune, Honey moon, keeps a-shinin' in June...

Now it's Beautiful Sunday with October Cherries. 

Beautiful Sunday: October Cherries. YouTube Video by: kt jong

Well, just playing with days, weeks, months and years! Remember them so you won't get dementia...

The days of the weeks feature in many song titles too. Limiting them from the 50s to 70s compositions, there are already a few hundred songs.

Beginning from *The World Hits 'Beautiful Sunday' Album (1972 - image) by the October Cherries, a Singapore group, there are titles like, Blue Monday by Bob Seger, Sunday, Monday Or Always by Frank Sinatra.

Ruby Tuesday is by The Rolling Stones, Melanie, Twiggy, Bobby Goldsboro. Wednesday Evening Blues by John Lee Hooker, Thursday by Jim Croce, Black Friday by Steely Dan, Another Saturday Night by Cat Stevens, Sam Cooke, The Bay City Rollers, The Eagles and Earth Wind and Fire.

Sunday Best is by Bobbie Gentry, Sunday Morning Coming Down by Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, That Sunday, That Summer by Nat King Cole, A Monday Date by Louis Armstrong, Rainy Days and Mondays by The Carpenters. The list goes on...

*Beautiful Sunday, available by October Cherries on World Hits 1973 Single ES6-A, A Baal Production on Elastic Record. Composer/original recording is by Daniel Boone.

Here comes Ruby Tuesday...

"Ruby Tuesday": Melanie; YouTube Video by: Melanie Safka [official page]

Any other song you know that relates to calendar connections? 

Just keep on commenting...

'Wednesday Evening Blues': John Lee Hooker. The guitar man on a lonely evening.

'Thursday' by Jim Croce: 'Cause I was looking for a lifetime lover, And you were looking for a friend. [reversed?]

'Black Friday': Steely Dan: When Black Friday comes, I'll collect everything I'm owed, And before my friends find out, I'll be on the road...

'Another Saturday Night,' Cat Stevens: I got in town a month ago, I seen a lot of girls since then, If I could meet 'em I could get 'em...

Created by Andy Lim.

Be your own artist - don't copy!

Images: Google and Meta AI.

[This posting has been updated.]

(2) Elvis: 'Rock n Roll No: 2' A Collectible

Andy 60s Music Blog

I have the above Long Play [LP] 1957 recording and was surprised that when I presented a song from the selection to friends, not many were aware or even knew the song. 

My accompanying comment was, "One of my fave songs was when Elvis did his 50s song, Any Place Is Paradise; still one of his most memorable hits, personally. Not many folks know this one. With the guitar solo in between and that 'cling, cling cling jazz.' "

Quite a number were nice and honest enough to mention, "You're right, I'm one of those who don't know [haven't heard] this song. Now I know. thanks!" Another commented that he was in the group as he had just heard it because I mentioned it. It was a typical Elvis, R&B blues song. A third friend loved the solo in between. And a fourth good friend said, "Andy, I was still a baby!" 

Thanks to all my friends above. Yes, I am old.

The image shows the back cover of the Elvis Presley No. 2 record in the last posting. Elvis the Pelvis, as he is usually known, gyrates and hip-swivels his way through this LP with: Rip It Up, When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again, **Long Tall Sally, Paralysed, Ready Teddy and How Do You Think I Feel.

'Any Place Is Paradise', Elvis Presley. YouTube Video by: Rychie Tube.

His other songs though, reveal his more subdued and pensive mood when he delivers, Love Me, First In Line, So Glad You're Mine, Any Place Is Paradise, How's The World Treating You and Old Shep.

Another favourite of mine is the hot, sweaty, Paralyzed. Check it out below.

While checking this first impression record, *HMV/CLP 1105 which is made in Great Britain, I find that it is a collector's item. The price will not be mentioned. Produced in 1957 it is in mint condition. Because Presley pressings run into millions, only certain records are collectibles.

*Elvis Presley No 2 Also known as Rock n Roll No 2 HMV CLP 1105 1957. Matrix G2 WP 7207 2N/7208 1N, Label Side 1.

**Long Tally Sally, Recorded by Crescendos/Philips/Universal Music, Singapore.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

This posting is an extension from one dated: 8.9.2009.

'Paralysed' Elvis Presley. YouTube Video by: Simone Presley Brasil.

Disclaimer:

This blog does not advertise nor try to sell vinyl records.

Andy's 60s Music: Singapore British Band: The Dee-Tee's: Vinyl Records.

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]

Click below to check Horace Wee's story:

.: Golden Venus True Story A Parallel Universe Horace Wee

If there's anyone out there who's familiar with this group, please write in. All comments are welcome.

The Dee-Tee's - 'Just Because'.

YouTube Video by: David Oldman.

Latest News!

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FROM 15 NOVEMBER 2025.

60s Music Vinyl Records For Sale At Night Markets [Pasar Malam]: By Foo Jong Fook.

The writer himself, or a friend, at Albert Street Night Market 

during the 60's in Singapore, checking out vinyl records to buy.

UP TO 700 VIEWS

Fabian Foo Jong Fook reminisces:

When The Record Shop Comes To You:

I was born in Albert Street, currently the Albert Food and Hawker Centre. During the day Albert Street was just an ordinary road but in the evening from 6pm to 10pm, it became a very busy Pasar Malam or Night Market.

There were many makeshift stalls selling everything we needed [last image below]. What was more an attraction to me were the record stalls, blasting music from the vinyl of our many Singapore bands like The Stylers, Travellers, Melodians and Chinese singers who sang in Mandarin, like Rita Chao or Sakura Teng. 

Vendors would come early to set up their stalls [last image below] and as the sun set, people who live around the area would come by after their dinner for their evening stroll and check out the shopping mall that visits the residents. 😄

The songs the vendors played were mostly Chinese pops. We kept hearing the same songs every night when those LPs [Long Play Records] and EPs [Extended Plays] were hot on the market.

Chinese records like these sold well among Singaporeans in the 60s who find them entertaining and the record covers were attractively designed to show off the musicians and singers.

Hawkers' food [image below] was at every corner, but I was too poor to eat night snacks. Only on special occasions were we able to buy these titbits with some extra pocket money that we had. The extra funds that I used to save were spent, not on food, but to buy records at Kwang Sia Records at North Bridge Road. But that's another story.

"Those were the days my friend; I thought it'll never end..."

Any experience on night markets in your own country? 

Comments are welcome.

16.11.19.

Food stalls @ Albert Street Night Market in 1966. 

Photo from 'flickr' by David Ayres.

Vendors come early to set up their record stalls; the 

early bird too gets his share of vinyl selection in broad daylight.

One could buy almost anything at a night market.

Do we still have them around in Singapore today?

Author and good friend:

Fabian Foo Jong Fook.

Read another 60's music story about vinyl records:

Click below:
.: Singapore 60s Chinese Records Are Disappearing

Elvis Presley Is 90 Years Young: 8th January 2025. Happy Birthday!

 UP TO 500 VIEWS

Baby What You Want Me To Do? 

Alternate Cut 68 

Comeback Special 

YouTube Video: Elvis Presley.

Below are a few of Elvis Presley postings found on this blog. Check them out:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2016/07/elvis-presley-eps-italiana-1958-how-rare.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2011/02/joseph-adair-writes-with-precision-and.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/08/elvis-presley-16th-august-1977.html

There are about 105 postings altogether on this blog related to The King. 

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/search/label/Elvis%20Presley

Happy 90th Birthday Elvis.

I Got A Woman: Elvis. [Las Vegas 1970] 4K

YouTube Video by: Fabrica Elvis XXI

Danny Mirror aka Eddy Ouwens

'I Remember Elvis Presley'

YouTube Video by: minipanda9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYPVX7MpLdQ

Images: from Google.