Chotto Matte Kudasai, Excuse Me While I Cry...

Saturday, March 19, 2011

SONGS I LOVE:
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An English song by The Sandpipers but with a Japanese title is Chotto Matte Kudasai. In Japanese (ちょっと待ってください) it means, 'please wait a second' or 'please wait a moment.' although 'Shosho omachi kudasai' is more polite.
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The simplicity and sentiment of the lyrics, possibly conjuring an image of a beautiful girl or young man (depending on the singer), make it so popular that it has been recorded in other languages. Singapore, Malaya, other Asian 60s music artistes like Frankie Cheah and Frances Yip have recorded it.

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Martin Denny has quite a sugary version vocalised by an Asian lady. In the new century a Filipino group called Joey de Leon and The Sex Bombs has another. It is a lounge favourite with both pianists and night clubbers, a karaoke 'must sing' and can be heard in any building that plays elevator music.

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A hit with elementary keyboard enthusiasts, Chotto Matte music notes are found within the pages of numerous books teaching children songs. Like Que Sera Sera and Annie Laurie, the melody is loved by many young 'uns. Three cheers for evergreens.
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Chotto matte kudasai
Please excuse me while I cry
Seems sayonara means goodbye
But no one ever told me why

Sakura was in the spring
When our hearts found songs to sing
But Sakura has gone away
And so has our love, so they say

Chotto matte kudasai
Please excuse me while I cry
Without your love I would die
Please don’t leave me kudasai...
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Image: Google Images.

Original article: Andy Lim

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

(PART IV OF IV) "WHERE THE BEACH USED TO BE, WON'T BE NOTHING AT ALL..." >>>>>>

Way back in 1968, John Hartford, who wrote Glen Campbell's famous, Gentle On My Mind, composed and sang California Earthtquake way before Lady Gaga wrote her Earthquake Song. It was picked up Mama Cass Elliot (The Mamas n The Papas).

CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE
(John Hartford)

Recorded by : John Hartford; Mama Cass.

I heard they exploded,
The underground blast,
What they say's gonna happen,
Gonna happen at last,
That's the way it appears.

They tell me the fault line runs right through here,
So that may be,
That may be,
What's gonna happen gonna happen to me,
That's the way it appears.

They tell me the fault line runs right through here.
Atlantis will rise,
Sunset Boulevard will fall,
Where the beach used to be,
Won't be nothing at all,
That's the way it appears.

They tell me the fault line runs right through here
So that may be,
That may be,
What's gonna happen gonna happen to me,
That's the way it appears.

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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

TSUNAMI (PART III of IV) WILL SINGAPORE EVER BE AFFECTED BY RADIOACTIVE FALL-OUT?

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There are songs about nearly everything. According to Wikipedia, a 1969 song about radioactive fallout by *David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Paul Kantner (Jefferson Airplane) "seems to deal with the ever-present fears of an apocalyptic nuclear war." The words of the song depict the horrors confronting the survivors of a nuclear holocaust. It's called, Wooden Ships:
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"Wooden ships on the water, very free and easy,
Easy, you know the way it's supposed to be,
Silver people on the shoreline, let us be,
Talkin' 'bout very free and easy...
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Horror grips us as we watch you die,
All we can do is echo your anguished cries,
Stare as all human feelings die,
We are leaving - you don't need us.

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And it's a fair wind, blowin' warm,
Out of the south over my shoulder,
Guess I'll set a course and go... "

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*Crosby, Stills, Nash, (Young: 'Heart Of Gold') group: active from 1968.

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Information: Wikipedia.

Video: You Tube skoebiedoe

For a full explanation regarding the composers please go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooden_Ships

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There are many songs about the fears and consequences of radioactivity and nuclear fallout.

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The Night Has Been Too Lonely, The Road Too Long Tsunami: (Part II of IV)

Monday, March 14, 2011

"Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone." Subjects differ but the themes express fear, loss, hurt, depression, loneliness... and hope. 60s and 70s music have them all:

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"Someone told me long ago
There's a calm before the storm
I know it's been coming for some time

When it's over so they say
It'll rain on a sunny day
I know shining down like water

I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day"

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(Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

Creedence Clearwater Revival,

John Fogerty - 1970)

"Been walking my mind to an easy time

My back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows

It'll turn your head around

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Well, there're hours of time

On the telephone line

To talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines

In pieces on the ground

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that

I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times

When I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you

One more time again.. "

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(Fire and Rain - James Taylor 1970)

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"When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong

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Remember in the winter
Far beneath the winter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose"

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(The Rose - Bette Midler, Amanda

McBroom - 1979)
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"Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness everyday
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away"

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(Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone -

Bill Withers - 1971)

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"Only the lonely
Know the way I feel tonight
Only the lonely
Know this feeling ain't right

Only the lonely
Know the heartaches I've been through
Only the lonely
Know I cry and cry for you"

(Only The Lonely: Roy Orbison/Joe Melson - 1960)

Cash donations for the Japan Tsunami Fund (March, 2011) at the Singapore Red Cross at 15 Penang Lane from Mondays to Fridays from 9.30am to 9pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9.30am to 6pm.

Cheque donations made payable to the 'Singapore Red Cross Society' and sent to the Singapore Red Cross at 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486. You should indicate at the back of the cheque the following: Japan Disaster 2011, the name of the donor, contact number and address.

SMS donations by text messaging 75772. For every message, $50 will be donated to the fund. Each SMS carries a charge of 30 cents.

From today till April 13, customers of OCBC, DBS and United Overseas Bank can also make a donation via ATM, mobile and Internet banking. Donors can get more details by logging on to the banks' websites.

(Donation information and instruction from: The Straits Times Singapore.)

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_645264.html

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Earthquakes, Tsunamis And Giving Hearts! 11.3.11 Japan Tsunami (Part I of IV)

Friday, March 11, 2011

Earthquake, Tsunami In Japan (2011). Earthquake, Burning In Frisco (1906):

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The nightmare repeats itself as our citizens of this earth bear yet another disaster when the earthquake and tsunami strike again. Just when the world was reeling from an aftershock because of the Christchurch shake, Japan is in ruins once more as the terrible twins rampage the country.

The Burning Of Frisco Town (composed by Theron C. Bennett with Bob Adams in 1906), the same man who penned, Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree, tells the tragedy that rocked the US and the world then. Do read the lyrics and think about the dilemma that is haunting Japan today:

The Burning Of Frisco Town

(Theron C. Bennett/Bob Adams)

The 18th day of April 1906
In old San Francisco
An earthquake shook the bricks

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It started fires that burned away
Most rich and poor as well
How many souls have perished
In those flames no one can tell

Oh the sorrow and the anguish
For our loved ones who have gone
Who left us flashing memories
Upon that faithful dawn.

But I am glad I am a witness
And I'm proud of my great land
Who's so loyal to its needy
Stretched right out its helping hand

We will mourn for those who left us
Give the home this food and gown
For our nation's wrapped in sorrow
By the burning of Frisco Town

Many dear ones parted
Upon that fateful day
Earthquake fire and chaos
Drove families all astray

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Longing for their loved ones
Awaiting their return
Anxiously they're looking

And for some news they yearn

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So while in all their sorrows

Let's not forget each one

When you stretch for the helping hand

It's a duty nobly done...

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IF YOU WISH TO GIVE, THERE ARE DONATION CENTRES IN SINGAPORE.

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Image: from Google Images

Article: Andy Lim

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