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 !
It's an anonymous letter from 'Matsam' but boy oh boy, one of the best written by anyone since this blog started. Just read on... But thanks Matsam for the vibrant words and phrases. You made my day.
"I was 9 years old and saw the report in the Straits Times Singapore, the next day. It was full of screaming crowds, hysterical girls fainting and carried away to ambulances and the cops joining the free fray.
My parents went ballistic, said this wretched pop music and evil personified Rolling Stones who could send people mad was a sign of the end times. I was told not to listen to corrupting pop music ever!
Well that sent me listening to all the pop I could clandestinely listen on the radio when my folks weren’t around. Nothing tastes better than stolen fruit.
Cut to the present, I’m 67, and my wife literally dances with rage, when I turn on the music loud in the house everyday. And I saw the Stones on YouTube last week when they released their new album!"
Andrew Watt – production, backing vocals, percussion.
Disclaimer:
The new Rolling Stones video on this post is a reply to Matsam's letter when he personally mentioned the new song 'Angry' in his message. The YouTube video posted, which belongs to the Rolling Stones [Polydor], will be deleted immediately if it contravenes Copyright Laws. Thank you.
UP TO 3,100 VIEWS. 24 COMMENTS A Chap Goh Meh Posting 2018 A Chap Goh Meh Treat 16 February 1965
This story has been told many times but not from the man himself because he was there on stage with his own group and facing a crowd that was so huge you think it was a free show. Big money to pay for a performance which cost as much as $8 per head. It was the 60's. I must thank Audie Ng, leader and bass guitarist of the Silver Strings for penning his experience when he appeared with one of the most exciting bands in the world.
An illustration of The Rolling Stones on stage which mostly result in healthy chaos and noise. In 1965, The Silver Strings was invited to be the introductory band for the hugely successful and well-publicised Rolling Stones performance at the Singapore Badminton Hall on February 16. It was Chap Goh Meh and you can imagine the crowd, noise and fanfare the whole show created. It was chaos night with fire-crackers on the streets outside at Guillemard Road and twanging guitars with screaming Mick Jagger at the microphone and his troupe on stage.
The Badminton Hall during its hey-day when it was used daily for a different purpose.
The Straits Times headlines the next day read, Stones Lose To Firecrackers. Pandemonium At Badminton Hall As British Pop Group Clashes With Chap Goh Meh.
The show was held sometime after Veronica Young won the Millie Small Competition at the Sky Theatre at the Great World Amusement Park, Kim Seng Road. Accompanied by The Strings, she achieved instant stardom and all were invited to play with the Stones after that.
The second line up of the Silver Strings during the Stones concert at the Stadium.
Kingsley Morando was the show manager and assisted by Wilson David (Singapore's Elvis Presley impersonator in the 1960's) the Rolling Stones were contracted to perform in Singapore by Singstar's Freddy Eu (Eu Tong Sen Street was named after this family.) The Silver Strings line-up included Audie Ng (bass), David Chan (lead), Merlin Lim (rhythm), Danny Boy (drums) and Veronica (vocals). Apparently, the instruments used that evening were supplied by the event company and amplifiers belonged to The Dukes but this information was unconfirmed.
A Rolling Stones $2.00 ticket stub from the website The Lion Raw.
Audie remembers that the show opened with Veronica Young singing her signature hit, My Boy Lollipop followed by Stupid Cupid, These Boots Are Made For Walking, Where The Boys Are and See You Later Alligator. These songs were at the top of the 50's and 60's hit parade and brought the capacity crowd to pitch rock and roll fever. It was just the ignition key as to what was to follow.
The Rolling Stones rolled into the Stadium late because of the traffic jam and the tremendously energetic Chap Goh Meh (literal: 15th night) crowd on the streets. It was the last night of Chinese New Year and the community was celebrating it with vigour and the unbelievably loud explosions of firecrackers. The whole of Guillemard Road, from Geylang Road and the Kallang area, was overflowing with merry-makers. Since the Badminton Stadium was easy to access from most parts of Singapore - they converged there - you can imagine the pandemonium it caused. "I doubt this phenomenon can ever be repeated in Singapore!" remarked Audie when I interviewed him for this story.
For illustration only: The Rolling Stones - during their early days when young, raw and hot.
Well I told you once and I told you twice
But ya never listen to my advice
You don't try very hard to please me
With what you know it should be easy...
From the opening lines of The Last Time, the show erupted like dynamite, this time from the top English band of the century. 19th Nervous Breakdown, Honky Tonk Women, followed andthe crowd went wild. Even the ballad, As Tears Go By had no had no calming effect on the crowd. They were swooning and singing every line as if they were the composers of the songs.
Nobody really sat on the wooden chairs that night. From the jumping and screaming British servicemen and their families to the sensible Singaporean fan, there was no time to relax. Some of the younger Caucasian girls sobbed on bended knees and broke down hysterically. Even our local teenagers were screaming throughout the concert, enjoying live rock music that was a rarity those years.
Rolling Stones Singapore Concert 1965 promo acetate. Video from Parlogram YouTube.
When Satisfaction came on the sound system to announce it was the grand finale; the crowd wanted more. The packed stadium was like a burning furnace in Singapore's weather. The only factor that saved the evening was the breeze that came in through the huge window-like openings above the hall; natural ventilators they were since the twirling fans bedecking the high ceiling didn't help much.
The Straits Times report about the show that evening attracted many newspaper readers. An incident mentioned was the gatecrashers who tried to come in and a gate collapsed as the police (or mata-mata) were called in to help with the milieu that resulted. I understand the Black Marias and Ang Chia (Red Vehicles)were outside the stadium too. These were huge vans that would transport rioters and put them in lock-ups. Now those were the days of rock and roll in Singapore in 1965 when our tiny island left Malaya to become an independent city-state and boys were still roaming the streets with long hair. What a way to go.
The more expensive $8.00 ticket with row and seat number. It was a lot of money those years. The performance described was only part of the whole story. Many people saw this show and it was an unforgettable double happiness, Chap Goh Meh evening and the Stones presence. Did you attend this particular concert and do you have something to say? We need some more information. Do write on the comment page. This concert was also the first time the Stones performed in Singapore. They came a few more times afterwards. Any comment? Thanks to Dr Steve Farram (Darwin U.) for the inspiration, after enticing me with the video and ticket as bait, to write this article.😉 Article: All Rights Reserved. Images: The Straits Times and Google.
Charlie Robert Watts, famed 'Rolling Stones' drummer had passed away aged 80. He had been with the group since its inception. According to the media he was a private person and usually very quiet, avoided the limelight before and after performances.
''The classic Stones sound is built primarily on Keith Richard's endless variations of the three chord trick... occasionally shaded by country stylings... from vocalist Mick Jagger's construct functional melodies, to carry lyrics often infused with primitive sexuality, driven on a metronomic dance beat by drummer Charlie Watts. [Paul Du Noyer - The Story of Rock n Roll]''
RIP Charlie. Singapore sends condolences to the family.
Let the drums roll on, up there with Don Everly who had just left the music world.
The Stones were in Singapore in 1965 playing to a full Badminton Stadium during Chap Go May. Check out the story below.
Rolling Stones: Lady Jane You Tube Video by String Bean.
SONGS I LOVE:
This particular one by The Stones is not listed in the book, 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die byRobert Dimery and Tony Visconti although As Tears Go By is. But it's supposed to be one of the biggest songs on the Rolling Stones' achievement plaque (i). And I love its subtlety.
Remembering the lyrics with its soft, sweet balladry I was surprised the lyrics were compared to Geoffrey Chaucer's English becausewhen asked to comment on the song, Mick Jagger remarked that the names were historical, fitting together from the same period.
Jane Seymour (1508-1537)
He added, "Lady Jane is very Elizabethan. There are a few places in England where people still speak that way, Chaucer English (ii)." True, it was around the period he mentioned but Queen Elizabeth the First was born more than 200 years after Chaucer.
If I remember correctly, one of Chaucer's theme was of courtly love and his most famous, The Canterbury Tales were pretty much bawdy in nature. But this song was loosely based on Jane Seymour (not the actress la), King Henry the VIII's third wife. Unlike other wives she was spared execution but finally died from childbirth complication. And the lyrics' no Chaucer English. No matter what comments Lady Jane is a beautiful song.
Musically for accompaniment and to provide that Elizabethan feel, The Stones used an acoustic guitar, a harpsichord and a dulcimer, the last instrument was played by the late Brian Jones. And the lyrics, missive-styled and pledging his troth since "wedlock is nigh", was written by humble servant Jagger with Keith Richards composing the music.
Light pop balladry or roaring gut-bucket rock i.e. shifting gears from one music extreme to another, that's what the Stones are able to do. And that's why they're still around.
My sweet Lady Jane/When I see you again/Your servant am I/And will humbly remain.../Your time has come my love/I've pledged my troth to Lady Jane/The sands have run out/For your lady and me/Wedlock is nigh my love.
To be honest, the song reminds me more of D.H. Lawrence's, Lady Chatterley's Lover rather than Mr Chaucer's Tales, especially when the name Lady Jane is used because readers can surely remember thrusty John Thomas. Humble servant indeed.
Was this song ever banned anywhere? Unlikely. What's your opinion?
(I and ii) The Rolling Stones: Stories Behind The Biggest Songs by Steve Appleford.
Images: Google.
ROLLING STONES LIVE TELECAST AT MARINA BAY SANDS SINGAPORE IN MARCH 2014.
*****************************
Photo from: The New York Times.
LATEST NEWS!!!
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman the Oscar-winning star, 46, was found dead at his Greenwich Village home on Sunday (2nd February, 2014).
Achievements:1 best actor Oscar for Capote, 2005 3 supporting actor Oscar nominations 51 feature *film releases, 1991-2014 29 dramas, 21 comedies, 1 animation
3 real life characters he played
Source: IMDB, The Numbers.
*Some of the movies that he appeared in include: Twister,Boogie Nights, The Talented Mr Ripley, Almost Famous, Capote, Mission Impossible III and The Hunger Games (series).
According to newspaper reports the lights along theatre marquees on New York's Broadway were to be dimmed on Wednesday in his honor.
Here's an autographed photograph of The Rolling Stones when they were very young. I must thank Jimmy Appudurai-Chua for this blog gift. He explained:
"I met them at the Hotel Singapura in the 60s in Singapore. It was Bill Wyman who brought me in to meet all of them, as I befriended him, while he was posting some mail to his family...
The autographs included Brian Jones and Andrew Oldham. Brian and Bill were the most friendly of the lot, although the whole band was very nice to everyone... I will never forget the day."
A Rolling Stones legend he died in July, 1969. Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones (back/centre), born in 1942 was English and one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones. Jones was known for his talent in using different musical instruments and for his flamboyant attire.
As a guitarist, Jones had used a Harmony Stratotone, a Gretsch Double Anniversary in two-tone green, a teardrop-shaped prototype Vox Mark III, Gibson (various Firebirds, ES-330), a Les Paul, as well as two Rickenbacker 12-String models.
Keith Richards maintains that what he and Jones called "guitar weaving", emerged from this period. "We listened to the teamwork, trying to work out... how you could play together with two guitars and make it sound like four or five". Their guitars became a signature sound for the Rolling Stones, both playing rhythm and lead without clear boundaries, known as the Chicago style.
How is the 1942 hit movie Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart, connected to rock group, The Rolling Stones? What's more popular than this rock group? And how does Marianne Faithfull fit into the picture?
The link that binds is the hit song, As Tears Go By. According to Wikipedia, the myth surrounding the song's genesis has it that Rolling Stones manager Andrew Oldham requested Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to get together and write a song, even suggesting what type of song he wanted.
The result was initially named As Time Goes By, the title of the song Dooley Wilson sings in the film Casablanca. But strangely, it wasn't popularised by the Stones but by Marianne Faithfull and the song reached number 9 in the British charts in 1964 and launched her career as a pop star at 17 years young (watch introduction by Paul Anka and interview with Brian Epstein, YouTube sidebar). The Stones recorded their version in 1965, the most subdued Stones blogger has seen in his life (YouTube sidebar).
Blogger loves the song. Marianne Faithfull's version is pleasant to the ears and as our local singers say, delivery on stage is not demanding. This song has been covered by others including Singapore's Naomi And The Boys.
Pop Songs With the Word Dog: 流行歌曲与词狗 My elder grandson was born in 2006 and will be twelve years young this year of the dog. Like him, most of us love dogs and appreciate this year's Chinese Almanac bow-wow and woof-woof zodiacsign. The Rooster has already left us after saying goodbye to the dog; so here's a tribute to man's best friend with a list below of songs about dogs and canine-related themes. There are hundreds of these songs but here's a short list of 33 which are from the 60's to the 80's. The exceptions include a tune from a classic Walt Disney cartoon called Lady and The Tramp (1955) and the other from a movie called, Rugrats in Paris (2000) with a song by Baha Men. Both are hilarious. I just could not leave these two songs out from our Doggie List.
Dog saying goodbye to Rooster during a solemn and respectful day at the farm. From Little Red Rooster which I used last year to Walking The Dog this time around, The Rolling Stones has never failed to please as both songs are sung by them. I could not leave out the latter. Here's the rest of my selection:
Dogs - Pink Floyd Hot Dog - Elvis Presley Hot Dog - Led Zeppelin Bird Dog - Everly Brothers Hound Dog - Elvis Presley Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog - Johnny Cash Diamond Dogs - David Bowie Walking The Dog - The Rolling Stones
Lady And The Tramp - Dog Pound Scene from Susie Harrison.
The Dog - Otis Redding Dog Eat Dog - The Toasters Dogs In The Mid Winter - Jethro Tull A Salty Dog - Procol Harum Dogs of War - Pink Floyd Payback Is A Dog - Stylistics Black Dog - Led Zeppelin I Wanna Be Your Dog - Stooges
Walking The Dog: The Rolling Stones: They covered Little Red Rooster too No Dogs Allowed - Jose Feliciano I Love My Dog - Cat Stevens Me And You And A Dog Name Boo - Lobo Gonna Buy Me A Dog - Monkees
Dogs On The Run - 1985 - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Poor Dog Who Can't Wag His Tail - Little Richard Dog Eat Dog -AC/DC Sick As A Dog - Aerosmith
Hot Dog - Elvis Presley from movie Loving You. Video by The Dog Pound Song - Lady and The Tramp. Hey Bulldog - The Beatles Dogs On The Run - Tom Petty Eat Your Dog - Bad Religion Atomic Dog - George Clinton Rain Dogs - To Waits Mad Dog - Deep Purple The Dog Breathes Variations - Frank Zappa
Who Let The Dog Out: Baha Men Video from Any comment guys?
Images from Google and A Personal Collection.
2018 Chinese New Year of The Dog Get-Together @ Tan Soo Khoon's Mansion: (Standing L-R): Dominic, Larry, JT, Soo Khoon, Andy, Henry, John. (Sitting): Eddie, Mrs JT, Mrs Lai, Mrs Lim.
****************************************In April 1966 while Singapore was busy with its first ever Grand Prix at Thomson Road, Keith Locke and the Quests (Columbia/EMI) reached the 5th spot on Singapore's Top Tunes with Push, Push, one above My Love by Petula Clark on Pye Records, 19th Nervous Breakdown by The Rolling Stones on Decca and Svensk-A-Flicka by Johnny Lion on Philips.
But on Malaya's Top Pops Locke & Quests were at number 2 and the number 1 spot in Malaya was Naomi singing I Know with her Boys on Philips. At number 3 was As Tears Go By by the Rolling Stones. Apparently I Know had sold copies far beyond the dreams of 60s music record producers.
First Singapore Grand Prix and first at the top of Asia's hit parade. Happening in 1966! And it had been happening all the time. Comment anyone?
The hard copy newspapers that we read used to be slotted under solid main doors at our shophouse, so being the first to wake up while waiting for the school bus at twilight morn, I would be the first to receive it and flip through the pages. Literally, "first-hand news".
Sometimes if I opened the door and waited for the copy to arrive I would meet the polite Indian gentleman handing me one.
"Hello! Good morning!" he would usually announce himself in his usual polite and gentle tone. "You going to school huh? Must study hard!" in impeccable English. Checking his load on the two wheeler, he had newspapers in English, Chinese and possibly in Malay and Tamil too.
Some people, especially seniors, still read their
news from the papers; delivered to their homes:
landed-property or apartments.
"Thank you sir!" I would answer, "You have a great morning too!"
That's how we got our news delivered then.
Now for the surprise.
You think it's not happening today? Yes it is! We still get our newspapers delivered by the vendor, direct to our home. But I hardly meet him because he delivers his papers at about five or six in the morning and I was told that most of his clientele are seniors.
Then again we are living in a brave new 2024 world and many people are reading their news from media outlets on the Internet and like the term hard-copy news is being read on-line. With a touch of the fingers, news pieces appear on the smart phones that we carry.
So I have been told I am backward and out of touch. Hmm! 😊
How do you read your news? Do tell and why?
A newspaper vendor delivering a copy
The Rolling Stones with their composition, 'Yesterday's Papers', sang:"Living a life of constant change, Every day means the turn of a page, Yesterday's papers are such bad news, Same thing applies to me and you..."
How the news is read today.
Rolling Stones: 'Yesterday's Papers'
YouTube video from: Wolfierouz
'Get Your Paper' [The Newspaper Song]
By Eddie Fisher.
YouTube Video from: Eddie Fisher - Topic
Hiroshi Deguchi Shares His Papers with Sakura.
Hiroshi Deguchi and the late Sakura
who passed away not too long ago.
Lying down on my side on the floor, I open the newspaper with my head on my arm. This is the way I read the newspaper delivered to home every morning. But before that, I had to fight over reading the paper first with my dog Sakura and won.
Andy Young
Hiroshi Deguchi, Thanks Hiroshi for your very humorous and cute experience. Apparently Sakura is still in your thoughts... and the connection is still strong. Appreciate your photograph too. Just shows how close you and family are with Sakura. You bring life to the blog too with your stories. ARIGATO GOZAIMAZU.
Here he is again ladies and gentlemen, Michael Bangar, pop singer and rhythm guitarist with The Silver Strings, doing his second love, writing for this blog, right straight from the heart.
Thanks very much Michael.
Dear Andy, Part Two
Meanwhile, in the UK and Europe, Cliff Richard and The Shadows and their likes were rocking the charts with some of their own catchy hits. In the US pop music in the charts were watered down to keep in line with the authorities idea to phase out rock n roll eventually.
Michael Bangar
In the meantime, the US troops that were stationed in Germany, especially the African American were bringing with them and introducing their music to the European audiences and bands performing there by Rock and Roll artistes like Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, Bill Haley and His Comets, Ricky Nelson, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and of course King Elvis Presley.
African American artistes included: Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ray Charles. Blues singers like BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, etc.
In Hamburg, a relatively unknown five-piece band from Liverpool, England calling themselves The Silver Beatles were doing the rounds there in clubs like The Star Club, doing covers of American rock n roll, pop, soul and blues. Made up of 3 guitarists John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe on bass and Pete Best on drums, they drew the crowd.
They paid their dues there working long sets to hone their craft. During a violent tragic incident where they were beaten up by thugs, Stuart succumbed to his injuries and passed on. Sad!
At home in the UK, some bands were doing the same thing. The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Animals, The Searchers, and others were also doing the rounds in clubs and concert halls polishing their skills, doing mostly covers of American music.
The Fab Four were smart enough to shorten their band name to The Beatles and dressed in matching outfits. With their Beatle boots and moptops, they started a fashion craze worldwide. In a short while in the UK, bands started sprouting out all over the place imitating them and their image.
Upon returning to England, Paul switched to bass and *Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey - real name) replaced Pete Best on drums. They got involved with Brian Epstein who took on their management. He worked on a recording deal for them. *Ringo Starr and the Singapore reaction: http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2018/03/beatles-ringo-starr-is-now-sir-richard.html
Decca Records rejected them first saying that "guitar bands are on the way out" before EMI (Parlophone Label to be exact - who put them on to producer George Martin) took them on. Then they started their run of hits: Love Me Do, Please Please Me, From Me To You, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Help, A Hard Days Night and the list went on and on.
The groups formed and The Searchers had Sweet For My Sweet, Needles And Pins When You Walk In The Room. Gerry and The Pacemakers had How Do You Do, I like It, Ferry Cross The Mersey and the Liverpool Football Club Anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone. Freddie and The Dreamers gave us If You Got To Make A Fool Of Somebody, I Understand a remake of The Four Tunes 1954 hit (integrated with Auld Lang Syne)and Do The Freddie (their dance hit). Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas hit the British charts with George Harrison's Do You Want To Know A Secret, Bad To me, I'll Keep You Satisfied and Little Children.
All the groups came along and followed their footsteps. They gave The Rolling Stones their first hit, I Wanna Be Your Man, which Ringo Starr recorded on their first album called, With The Beatles. Other Stones' hits followed - The Last Time, Under The Boardwalk (American group, The Drifters original) their giant hit Satisfaction and Get Off Of My Cloud.
The Kinks, with their hits You Really Got Me, All Day And All Of The Night, Dedicated Follower Of Fashion and Waterloo Sunset. Manfred Mann with hits like 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, If You Got To Go, Mighty Quinn, Go Now, Pretty Flamingo and Doo Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Doo. The Dave Clark 5 gave us Glad All Over, Catch Us If You Can, Because Because I Love You, Reelin' and A-Rockin', a Chuck Berry original.
The Animals with House Of The Rising Sun (an American traditional folk song first popularised by Nina Simone), Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Bring It On Home To Me, We Got To Get Out Of This Place, See See Rider. Hermans' Hermits and their hits I'm Into Something Good, No Milk Today, A Little Bit Better, Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter. During that period, the early 60's there were some short-lived groups that had their songs in the UK charts as well. Like The Merseybeats with hits like I Think Of You, Sorrow, Wishing And Hoping.
The Fourmost hits were A Little Loving, Hello Little Girl, Baby I Need Your Loving. The Honeycombs with a lady drummer gave the UK charts, Have I The Right, Leslie Anne, That's The Way. After a short period, these bands faded away from the UK pop music history book.
.jpg)
