The Chinese New Year or “Spring Festival” was celebrated from the reign of Emperor Huang Di 皇帝 in 221-210 BC. Legends told of a mythical beast called the Nian or Year 年 which would come to devour livestock, crops and to prey on human. To appease Nian, the villagers would put food in front of their doors with the hope that the beast would be filled and not attack again. One day, it was observed that Nian was scared away by a young child wearing red. Hence, the villagers would hang red lanterns and spring scrolls outside their houses and popped firecrackers to frighten Nain away. It was believed that an ancient Taoist monk, Hongjun Laozu 鸿钧老祖, later tamed Nian, used it as his mount and rode away never to return. Celebration of the new year is called guo nian 過年, meaning the “passing of the beast”.

Traditional CNY songs:

CNY songs by Rita Chao & Sakura Teng:

St. Valentine’s Day falls on February 14. Here’s a special song for all the sweethearts around the world …

Formed in 1960 in the Sembawang area, The Swallows recorded instrumental hits like “Senandung Malam” (Lover’s Star). In time, the band adapted and began backing popular singers such as Ahmad Jais, Sanisah Huri, Ahmad Daud and P. Ramlee. In 1965, they were recruited to provide the soundtracks for two movies: “Pusaka Pontianak” and “Sayang Si Buta”. In 1966, they signed on Kassim Slamat as main singer and recorded the popular songs “La-a-Obē” (which became a hit in West Germany) and “Angkok-Angkok Bilis”. It is notable that The Swallows were always only a part-time band with its members holding fulltime day jobs while moonlighting as passionate musicians. They were the first and most successful Kugiran Melayu Pop Yeh Yeh in the 60s.

The Swallows:  Affandi Haji A. Rahman (drums, Leader), Yusope Lamat (rhythm guitar), Yahaya Galib (lead guitar), Hamid Ba’ahs (bass guitar), Kassim Slamat (vocals)

Shin Joong Hyun is a guitarist-singer-songwriter, affectionately named the Godfather of K-pop. He started by listening to the rockabilly sound played on AFKN (American Forces Korea Network) with a crude hand-made radio. He formed his band “Add 4″ and recorded the endearing 빗속의 여인 (The Woman In The Rain) in 1964. From rockabilly and Merseybeat, he adapted and again led the charge into psychedelic rock as the culture emerged in the mid 1960s. During the regime of (South Korea) President Park Chung Hee, he was imprisoned and his songs were banned. It is estimated that he composed a staggering 50% of all Korean classic hit songs for artists like The Pearl Sisters 펄 시스터즈 and Lee Jeong Hwa 이정화. He was honored by Fender Musical Instruments Corp. by becoming the first Asian musician and the sixth in the world to be the recipient of the Fender Custom Shop Tribute Series guitar (joining five of other such rock legends as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Stevie Ray Vaughn).

The members of The Add 4: Shin Joong Hyun (lead guitar), Han Young Hyun (bass guitar), Seo Jung Gil (rhythm guitar) and Kwon Soon Keun (drums).

The Add 4

The Add 4 with the Pearl Sisters (Korea)

The Checkmates, featuring Benny Chan (lead guitar), Hann Hussein (rhythm guitar), Lawrence Lee (bass guitar) and Amir Samsudin (drums). They recorded only once as a band, an EP consisting of four original instrumental compositions – 45 R.P.M. (Lawrence Lee) and Galaxy (Benny Chan/Lawrence Lee) are featured here. Philips Records had earlier signed them as an answer to the Quests and EMI.

The alumni of The Checkmates were like the Who’s Who in the Singapore music scene. The initial lineup consisted of Reggie Verghese who was replaced on lead guitar by the original bassist, Benny Chan, when he left to join The Quests. When they decided to add a vocalist, Shirley Nair was brought in. After she left to join The Silver Strings, Robert Song (of The Flamingos) was recruited but he was replaced by Vernon Cornelius (of The Trailers) when the band started to lean toward R&B. Vernon would again leave to join The Quests after Keith Locke returned to UK. The Checkmates’ new singer was a British serviceman, Bryan Neale of The Easybeats. When Brian Neale left to return to UK in 1967, The Checkmates continued to play as the resident band at Golden Venus until 1968. The Checkmates also recorded with The Cyclones and Bryan Neale.

RJ & The Riots: Ramon Jacinto (lead guitar, singer), Jimmy Colayco (rhythm guitar), Alan Austria (bass guitar) and Bernie Evangelista (drums)

Ramon “RJ” Jacinto is a pioneer and legendary figure of the Pinoy pop scene of the 60′s. It started very early on (at around age 15) when his love and passion for music prompted him to set up his own recording studio with a first multi-track recorder in the Philippines. He formed his band “RJ & The Riots” with schoolmates and played the first gig at the Ateneo H.S. Christmas Party in 1960. By age 17, RJ had also established his own radio station DZRJ which introduced what’s then the “alternative” music to Filipino youth with acts like The Ventures and later The Beatles. In those early years, the band played a lot of “Ventures” as typified by their composition and signature instrumental hit “Weightless”. Martial law would force RJ into exile overseas for fourteen years. After the peaceful Philippine revolution, RJ returned to create the RJ Bistro for live performances to help revive the night life in Manila. RJ also started a very successful guitar factory and a chain of stores - RJ Guitars. Today, RJ with his New Riots is one of most enduring acts which continues to perform regularly at the RJ Bar (“Thank God It’s RJ!” and “RJ Sunday Jam”) and other dates. An updated version of “Weightless” and a live recording of “Sugat Ng Puso” with the Manila Symphony Orchestra (2005) are selected for presentation here.

Ramon “RJ” Jacinto

(SUGAT NG PUSO)
Sugat ng puso
Araw-araw na lang ang hirap ko
Luha ng buhay
Alaala ng kahapon lamang sa piling mo

(Chorus)
Bakit tayo nag-alinlangan
Hindi natuloy ang kasintahan
Kay lupit ng pag-ibig
Kailangang manalig
Araw-araw na lang ang hirap
Dalawin mo ako

The scars you left me
Everyday I just try to hide them from you
The tears of night come
I remember the joys and laughter with you

(Repeat Chorus)

Sugat ng puso
Araw-araw na lang ang hirap ko
Luha ng buhay
laala ng kahapon lamang sa piling mo

(Repeat Chorus)

Sugat ng puso, luha ng buhay
Sugat ng puso, luha ng buhay
Dalawin mo ako
Irog, dalawin mo naman ako oh
Sugat ng puso, luha ng buhay

Judy Ongg ジュディ・オング (翁倩玉, Weng QianYu) was born in Taiwan but has lived in Japan since she was 2 years old because her father worked there. The young talented Judy Ongg was also caught up in pops, and her appearance on TV show 青春ア・ゴーゴー (1966) left an indelible impression on the Japanese audience where she sang Say Mama accompanied by The Spiders. Movie contracts followed both in Taiwan and Japan. She has recorded for Columbia Records, CBS Sony and Toshiba EMI. Some of her more popular songs are 珊瑚戀 (A Coral Romance, 1969) and 祈禱 (My Prayer). Her singing and movie career spans over four decades.

祈禱 (Qi Dao) MY PRAYER
讓我們敲希望的鐘呀　多少祈禱在心中
讓大家看不到失敗　叫成功永遠在
讓地球忘記了轉動呀　四季少了夏秋冬
讓宇宙關不了天窗　叫太陽不西衝
讓歡喜代替了哀愁呀　微笑不會再害羞
讓時光懂得去倒流　叫青春不開溜
讓貧窮開始去逃亡呀　快樂健康流四方
讓世間找不到黑暗　幸福像花開放
讓我們敲希望的鐘呀　多少祈禱在心中
讓大家看不到失敗　叫成功永遠在
讓大家看不到失敗　叫成功永遠在

Penang had it’s own favorite Elvis impersonator in the early 60s — Vince Chu. Vince was actually an Indonesian Chinese attending school in Georgetown, Penang (Malaysia) when he won the local Elvis Presley Contest title. Like Rocky Teoh, he sang many contemporary Chinese pops in English (Here, Please be mine from the popular Chinese song, 午夜香吻 Midnight kisses). He recorded with The Jungle Lynxs and toured with the Maggie’s A Go Go Pop Show in Malaysia and Brunei. He also recorded an EP with The Tyros.

TENDER FEELING
I can’t conceal the tender feeling
Now that you are close to me
I look at you with tender feeling
And can’t help kiss you tenderly

I offer you a true devotion
All life through my love I vow
For this is real, this sweet emotion
This tender feeling I have now

Somehow I knew from the moment our lips first met
You’d be the girl I could never forget
No other love could be appealing
I loved you right from the start
And with each kiss I’ll keep revealing
The tender feeling in my heart

In 1960 in The Netherlands, Hans van Eijk (lead guitar) got together with Joop Oonk (bass guitar), Tjibbe Veeloo (rhythm guitar) and Frits Tamminga (drums, later replaced by Kees Kranenburg Jr.) to start the band. They had became one of the Dutch top acts by mid-1963. In 1964, they toured the Far East, covering Singapore, Malaysia and Pakistan. They left behind a legacy with an EP recording of local favorite instrumentals (The Jumping Jewels in Singapore, also re-released as Tribute to Malaysia commemorating the newly formed Federation). They disbanded in 1965.

The Teenage Hunters were from Kuala Lumpur. They formed in 1963 at SJI (St. John’s Institution). The members were Terry Thaddeus (lead guitar), Jimmy Olivero (bass guitar), Danny Wong (rhythm guitar) and Kenny Rebel (drums). They were the winner of the Beatles Competition in 1964. These were school boys who recorded very successful original instrumental hits (composed by Terry Thaddeus) like “Merwill” and “I thought only twice”. The band lasted until school was out in 1965. Some members regrouped as The Hunters and toured the buzzing club and vibrant music scene in Bangkok. After they disbanded, Terry Thaddeus went on to play with other groups, most notably The Strollers.

Aloysius Riyanto formed Band 4 Nada in 1966. They were one of the first and more popular instrumentalia bands in Indonesia. Riding on the crest of their fame, Remaco Records quickly recruited them to be the backing band for various singers to jumpstart their careers; and many went on to become very successful like Titiek Sandhora, Ernie Djohan, Lilis Suryani and Pattie Bersaudara.

The band were: Aloysius Riyanto (organ & guitar), Eddy Syam (guitar), Nana Sumarno (bass guitar), M. Sanni (drums). A. Riyanto and most of the members left to form Favorites Group in 1972. Syafii Glomboh took over as the new organist for Band 4 Nada. Aloysius Riyanto went on to become one of the top songwriters of the country.

Aloysius Riyanto (1943-1994)