And the angel said unto them: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Christmas in The Philippines: Maligayang Pasko

Clarence Wijewardena (1943- 1996) was considered the father of Sri Lankan pop music. He pioneered the use of the electric guitar and formed his first band Moonstones with Annesley Malewana as the lead singer. Wijewardena was the exceptional composer and music director for the band. They released their debut album ‘Mango Nanda’ under Philips label in 1968. Wijewardena’s musical prowess was recognized when the title song Mango Nanda was selected as the best Sinhala song by the Hit Parade program on Radio Ceylon. During this period, Wijewardena also took turn to sing lead like in the hit song Dileepa Podi Puthu. In 1981, Wijewardena parted with the Moonstones to form The Golden Chimes with ex-Moonstones bassist Chanaka Perera and Lankika Perera. The talented lead guitarist, Dixon Gunaratne, was added later. Their first song ‘Kimada Naawe’ became an instant hit. In 1972, Wijewardane regrouped with Annesley Malewana and with Dixon Gunaratn, left to form The Super Golden Chimes. As a band, they dominated the Sri Lankan pop scene, and ruled both the Sinhala and English Services of Radio Ceylon. They disbanded in 1979. Wijewardena continued successfully as a solo act until his untimely death. The surviving members of The Super Golden Chimes came together for a reunion concert in 2004. The extended live version of Sathuta Senasuma (Happy Feelings) from the concert is presented here.

The Super Golden Chimes

The bourgeois Shanghai in 1930s-1940s was swinging. The innovation of the gramophone and the Bai Dai 百代 record company served to secure this period as the golden age of Mandarin popular music and a time of brilliant soundtracks for the young Chinese film industry. The era came to an abrupt end with the Second Sino-Japanese War and ensuing suppression of pop music by the Chinese Communist Party. One singer to survive was Liang Ping who sang the spirited The Youth of Mine (Shao nian re who) which is always revived and played during Chinese New Year.

(THE YOUTH IS MINE 少年的我)
春天的花是多麼的香
秋天的月是多麼的亮
少年的我是多麼的快樂
美麗的她不知怎麼樣

春天的花會逢春開放
秋天的月會逢秋明亮
少年的我只有今天快樂
美麗的她不知怎麼樣

寶貴的情像月亮
甜蜜的愛像花香
少年的我不努力
怎能夠使她快樂歡唱　

Growing up listening to pops and jazz in places like Tachikawa frequented by the Occupation troops, ” Miki” (or “Mici”) sang her debut single 子供じゃないの (a cover of Helen’s Shapiro’s Don’t treat me like a child) in 1961 at age 14. By the following year, she was tapped to sing ヴァケイション (Connie Francis’ hit: Vacation) on the spectacular NHK’s (Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai, or Japan Broadcasting Corporation) new year’s eve celebration Kōhaku Uta Gassen and was invited back for the next four years in succession, and again in 1969, 1970 and 1971. She sang the theme song, “Leo no Uta,” for the popular Japanimation TV series Kimba the White Lion.

(子供じゃないの DON’T TREAT ME LIKE A CHILD)
先生は駄目だと 言うけれど
お出かけするときはね
マッ赤なハイヒール
私もそろそろお年頃
おしろい口紅つけたいな
するとね みんなが ステキだって言うの
たまには イカした男の子と
腕くみ二人で 行きたいわよ
コーヒーのみに
すてきな人から さそわれて
ハートがドキドキ してきたら
それはね 恋でしょ もうなんでもわかるの
隣のおじさん ステキだけど
いまでもガムを 買ってくれるから嫌い
パパやママは いつまでも私のことを
子供と思っているけれど
外をね 歩けばほら みんながふりむくの
子供じゃないのよ

Rock ‘n’ roll music was sweeping the world and Japan was not spared. The Peanuts was a duo comprised of two identical twin sisters, Emi and Yumi Ito. In those early days of J-pop, they sang many Japanese covers of popular hit songs from the West. They also recorded successful original compositions like “Jyonetsu no Hana (Passion Flower)”, “Koi no Bakansu (Vacation of Love)”. “Koi no Fuga (Love Fugue)” and “Sayonara wa Totsuzen Ni (Goodbye is Sudden)”. The sisters were also widely known as the Mothra Twins for featuring in the three Mothra movies where they appeared as shobijin (pixies). They retired from performance in 1975.

悲しき１６才 (HEARTACHES AT SWEET SIXTEEN)
ひとりぼっちお部屋で
夢見るわあの人
なぜか悲しいこの頃
私は１６

今日もそっとオシャレ
呼んでみても知らんフリ
それが悲しいこの頃
そんな私なの

どうすればいいんでしょう？
本当に　悲しいわ

こんな気持ち誰にも
判るはずがないのよ
パパやママも私を
ただ笑うだけ

こんな気持ち誰にも
判るはずがないのよ
パパやママも私を
ただ笑うだけ

ただ笑うだけ

HEARTACHES AT SWEET SIXTEEN (by Kathy Linden)
I’m sitting all alone and feeling blue
I’m wondering if he found somebody new
Whoever thought that I’d be going through
Heartaches at sweet sixteen
He wouldn’t speak to me at school today
He made real sure to look the other way
What did I do to him, what did I say
Oh these heartaches at sweet sixteen
Can I make him care at all
I’ll die if he doesn’t call
No matter how my parents tease and laugh
I’ll wear his ring and kiss his photograph
They just don’t understand or know the half of
Heartaches at sweet sixteen

Made in Japan: There was Eleki and then there was Group Sounds (GS), a genre of Japanese rock music inspired by The Beatles and a fusion of Japanese kayōkyoku music and rock music. The Wild Ones led by Kase Kunihiko was one of the top GS bands. Among some very memorable hits by the band was a major hit in Japan in 1966: 思い出の渚 Omoide No Nagasi (“The beach of memories”). The Shadows would later recorded it as an instrumental hit.

The Shadows in Japan!

(思い出の渚 OMOIDE NO NAGASI)
君を見つけた　この渚に
ひとりたたずみ　想い出す
小麦色した　可愛いい頬(ﾎﾎ)
忘れはしない　いつまでも
水面(ﾐﾅﾓ)はしる　白い船
長い黒髪　風になびかせ
波に向かって　叫んでみても
もう帰らない　あの夏の日

長いまつげの　大きな瞳が
僕を見つめて　うるんでた
このまま二人で　空の果てまで
飛んでゆきたい　夜だった
波に向かって　叫んでみても
もう帰らない　あの夏の日
あの夏の日

Eddie Peregrina was another OPM (Original Pilipino Music) legend. While he sang with The Blinkers in Japan, he also became the first jukebox king in his homeland where Filipinos thronged around the coin-operated machines to drop 20 centavos to listen to their favorite singing idol. With the band, Eddie Peregrina gave us memorable hits like Blue Eyes and Together Again. During his prime, Eddie Pergrina was also doing TV (like the popular The Eddie-Nora Show) and acted in movies with leading ladies (like Vilma Santos, Espie Fabon, Nora Aunor). Eddie died from a car accident at the age of 32 in 1977. He was survived by his wife, Lyn, and two daughters, Edlyn and Michelle. He left a legacy of evergreen songs like Alaala ay ikaw and Nabubuhay ako dahil sa’yo.

The Blinkers were: “Eddie” Peregrina (vocals, lead guitar, and organ), Salvador “Buddy” Yap (bass guitar), Edgardo “Bee” Morelos (rhythm guitar), Max “Boy” Alcaide (drums), and Edgard Oscar Asusr (keyboard, 1967 – 74).

(ALAALA AY IKAW)
Malilimutan ko pa ba aking mahal
Ang maligayang araw nating nagdaan
Habang ako’y nag-iisang nalulumbay
Ang alaala ay ikaw

Ang aking suyuang walang kasing tamis
Sa gunita pala ay ubod ng pait
Ang nagtampong pag-ibig mong di ko batid
Kung minsan pang magbabalik

Kaya wala nang nalabi sa dibdib ko
Kundi ang alaala ng pag-ibig mo
Asahanmong jhindika na mawawala
Dito sa aking gunita

Tsui Ping 崔萍 was born in Harbin, China and grew up in Hong Kong. At a young age, she was always fascinated by great Shanghaise singers like 張露 and 白光. While singing at nightclubs, she was encouraged by songwriter Wong Fuk Lin 王福 齡 who later wrote two songs for her which would become major hits:”Treasure Tonight” 今宵多珍重 and “Nang Ping Evening Bells” 南屏晚鐘. She is a much respected singer with many of her cover of previous hits being considered better and were more popular than the originals like 重逢 and 兩相依. She retired from professional singing in 1971.

(NANG PING EVENING BELLS 南屏晚鐘)
我匆匆地走入森林中
森林它一叢叢
我找不到他的行蹤
只看到那樹搖風

我匆匆地走在森林中
森林它一叢叢
我看不到他的行蹤
只聽到那南屏鐘

南屏晚鐘 隨風飄送
它好像是敲呀敲在我心坎中

南屏晚鐘 隨風飄送
它好像是吹呀吹醒我相思夢

它吹醒了我的相思夢
相思有什麽用
我走出了叢叢森林
又看到了夕陽紅
我匆匆地走入森林中
森林它一叢叢
我找不到他的行蹤
只看到那樹搖風

我匆匆地走在森林中
森林它一叢叢
我看不到他的行蹤
只聽到那南屏鐘

南屏晚鐘 隨風飄送
它好像是敲呀敲在我心坎中

南屏晚鐘 隨風飄送
它好像是吹呀吹醒我相思夢

它吹醒了我的相思夢
相思有什麽用
我走出了叢叢森林
又看到了夕陽紅

(CHANCED MEETING 相逢)
人生何處不相逢，相逢猶如在夢中
連年為你呀留下春的詩，偏偏今宵皆成空
人生何處不相逢，相逢猶如在夢中
你在另個夢中把我忘記，偏偏今宵又相逢

相逢又相逢，莫非是夢中夢
以往算是夢，人生本是個夢
人生何處不相逢，相逢猶如在夢中
你在另個夢中把我忘記，偏偏今宵又相逢

Pop Indonesia!

Koes Bersaudara (Koes Brothers) hailed from the Bojonegoro-Tuban area in East Java. The Koeswoyo siblings were: Koesdjono (Jon), Koestono (Tonny), Koesnomo (Nomo), Koesyono (Yon) and Koesroyo (Yok). When the fever of Beatlemania spread to the world’s largest archipelago, the band’s music also began to adapt and change with it. The young republic was unprepared for the pop subculture; Koes Bersaudara’s new songs, viewed as a symptom of Western decadence, were banned from radio. After an angry mob showed up during a performance, the brothers were jailed without due process by the Highest Operation Commando (KOTI). Finally released just before the nation’s coup d’état in 1965, the band recorded the experience in the famous album To The So Called The Guilties in 1967. It contained popular songs like Di Dalam Bui (In Gaol), Voorman (Gaoler), Poor Clown and the title track, To The So Called The Guilties. Koes Bersaudara became Koes Plus in 1969, and continued to carry on into the 1970’s as one of the most popular Indonesian bands.

(TO THE SO CALLED THE GUILTIES)
When your heart is down
And you sit in front of the court
The lawyers do something for you
They judge the right against the wrong
While you don’t know what happened behind
To the so-called the guilties
They try to differ
From good to bad
The court may sentence you
Prison or even death
Then beat afast
That you feel what’s in your heart
If you forget the Lord
Yes … the Lord above

Pop Indonesia!

Alfian Harahap was one of the most popular singers from Indonesia in the 60’s. His greatest hit was “Semalam di Cianjur” (A Night in Cianjur) recorded about 1965. Other popular hits included Salawati, Bimbang, Dara Singapura, Senja di Kaimana, Sebiduk disungai Musi, Terpesona, and Tiaga tangis mengiringi perpisahan. He passed away in 1992.

(Credits: Thank you, Hart, for the corrections)

(SEMALAM DI CIANJUR)
Kan kuingat
Di dalam hatiku
Betapa indah semalam di Cianjur
Janji kasih yang tlah kau ucapkan
Penuh kenangan
Yang takkan terlupakan

Tapi sayang
Hanya semalam
Berat rasa perpisahan
Namunku telah berjanji
Di suatu waktu
Kita bertemu lagi