Of Wedding Bells, House, Baby, Papa And Mama

Monday, November 29, 2010

(a): 'Mama looka Boo Boo,' they shout.

Their mother tol' them, 'Shut up your mouth,

That is your daddy.'

'Oh no. My daddy can't be ugly so!'

'Shut your mouth, go away...'

(b): Somebody bad stole de wedding bell

Somebody bad stole de wedding bell

Somebody know but nobody tell

Cause somebody bad stole the wedding bell

Who's got the ding, dong, who's got the bell...

The songs I listened to during my youth are the ones I still remember today. The tunes and lyrics spin in my head all the time and can be turned on immediately. It's like clicking on to the song-list of an mp3 player or an i-phone. The explanation follows the list below:

l. Where Will The Dimple Be? - Rosemary Clooney

2. House Of Bamboo - Earl Grant

3. Looking For Henry Lee - Jo Stafford

4. High Noon - Frankie Laine

5. Ivory Tower - Gale Storm

6. Papa Loves Mama - Donald Peers

7. Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell - Georgia Gibbs

8. Mama Looka Boo Boo - Harry Belafonte

Can you still remember the songs you love?

1> Rosemary Clooney (image), who is George Clooney's aunt, used to be a pop singer in the 50s and 60s and her version of, Where Will The Dimple Be (1955) was a favourite on Radio Singapore's request programme, Calling All Hospitals where Maisie Conciecao was the DJ (we use the term, 'announcer' those days). It was the most requested song for a baby dedication. And KK (Kandang Kerbau) Hospital was the maternity hospital then.

4> Tall and lanky actor Cary Cooper, the male lead in High Noon, was one of the icons for Westerns. The movie was a hit when it was shown in Singapore, drawing crowds at the cinemas. High Noon, the song (1952), by Tex Ritter, was a request favourite and played on the air everyday. The Frankie Laine version was more popular locally.

6> When Papa Loves Mama (1960) came on the air, it became the anthem for many Singapore families and a favourite for dancing the cha-cha-cha. The original and only version I know is by Donald Peers; so in this instance it's the song, not the singer. The giggling girl accompanying Peers could be Joan Regan.

7, 8> The other novelty tunes on my list, Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell (1954) and Mama Looka Boo Boo (1956) must be heard to be appreciated. With humorous lyrics and a grand calypso beat, these two classics are hardly played on the radio today. The Georgia Gibbs version of SBSTWB is unavailable on You Tube. MLBB by Belafonte is on You Tube, accompanied by Nat King Cole (side-bar). Great songs for kids too!

(c): On the baby's knuckle, on the baby's knee,

Where will the baby's dimple be?

Baby's cheek or baby's chin

Seems to me it'll be a sin

If it's always covered by the safety pin...

Shall we discuss the other songs on another posting? Are you familiar with any of these songs?

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Naturally BBC: English Gentleman Without The Stiff Upper Lip - Larry Lai Interview - (Part II)

Sunday, June 6, 2010

"You speak and behave like an English gentleman. All you need is a bowler hat, an umbrella with a whangee handle and polished leather shoes. Like John Steed in The Avengers?" That was the truth about this celebrity broadcaster because he did not have a phoney accent and spoke as naturally as the announcers on BBC. And according to him, "The BBC was where I learnt my trade... yes... listening to the station daily... from home." So as we started on our Katong laksa, Larry Lai, who never liked to talk about himself, reluctantly related in impeccable Queen's English his 18 year relationship with Rediffusion.

He came with his family from Shanghai, China, had his education at Pearl's Hill Primary and studied commercial subjects at Outram Secondary. He started as a Rediffusion announcer in 1960 with Tan Swee Leong. They had replaced Tan Hock Lye and Steven Lee who left for Radio Singapore. Being a broadcaster was challenging but he loved his profession at the station, working with the Rediffusion family until he retired as manager and producer in 1978.

Larry remembered how difficult the job could be. Besides doing the routines where he had to broadcast, make announcements, play music requests, prepare scripts, etc. in the studio, Larry had also to carry out extra curricular activities outside.

When his boss Len Thorne phoned him in December, 1961 to interview U.S. crooner Frank Sinatra at Singapore Airport, he lugged his heavy, bulky tape recorder and sped all the way to the tarmac hoping to get a scoop. He was excited when Sinatra finally emerged from the plane but before he could approach "Ol' Blue Eyes", the singer made an about turn and disappeared. Larry was so upset, he refused to play Sinatra records on air for a week!

On another occasion, he and Tan Swee Leong climbed a tree, risking broken bones, to catch a glimpse of 60s Calypso singer Harry Belafonte at the Raffles Hotel. When the singer saw them perching precariously beneath the pale moon and fearing their safety, he quickly agreed to the interview. It was an exclusive for Rediffusion and a pat on the back for the "terrible twins" (Lai & Tan).

But then there were other moments of joy too when Larry compered game shows with beautiful, perfume scented ladies. Like when he hosted and interviewed Philippino songbird Teresa Carpio, Hong Kong superstar Jennie Tseng (sidebar image), Cathay Pacific's ambassador, Frances Yip (above image) and other glamorous celebrities during live shows at the National and Victoria theatres, cinemas, shopping malls and the Rediffusion auditorium.

At this point of the interview I interrupted him and asked, "And the lady in your life, Larry. Tell us about your very pretty wife. We've been introduced, so perhaps you'd like to recall how you met her the first time? "

"Oh," he said, "that's with Saloma and Ahmad Daud... at the Lido Cinema. And she was with this gentleman. But it's another story... "

Image: Larry Lai Collection: (The lady next to Frances Yip is Katherine Kan from an earlier metamorphosis of Media Corp, possibly RTS. It was backstage at the National Theatre during an end-of-year show in the early 80s.)

Original Article: Andy Lim.

Check out: Saturday, May 08, 2010
Larry Lai King Of Singapore 60s Airwaves (Pt I)

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'Banana Boat Song' Calypso Music 60s (Pt I)

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

SONGS I LOVE:

(While searching for songs to entertain my grandson, I remember The Banana Boat Song with its sunny island rhythm, bongo backing and repetitive lyrics. Up till today his, "Day-o, day-o," has kept many neighbours wide awake.)

In the 50s and 60s when calypso music (from Trinidad) made its debut in Singapore and when Harry Belafonte became a household name with his signature song, nearly every Singaporean went crazy with this Jamaican folk.

Although its origin is not completely known, it is calypso and usually sung by Jamaican banana field workers who work on plantations and banana dock workers who load the fruit on the boats. They improvise the lyrics from time to time but the most common reference is "daylight come and we wan' go home".

The first recorded version called Day De Light was found in the album, Songs From Jamaica (1952) with Trinidadian singer Edric Conner and his band, The Carribeans, with lyrics by Ivrine Burgie from the Barbados. It's been covered by other singers and parodied too.

**The YouTube animation by 'acretiansholiq', "Run Mr Taliban." composed after the 9/11 attacks, features a parody version apparently performed by Colin Powell on the microphone with George W. Bush on bongos. The main refrain is, "Come Mr. Taliban, turn over bin Laden/Payback come then we drop the bomb..."

Explanation:

1) Come Mr Tally Man, tally me banana/Daylight come and we wanna go home = when daylight comes and the shift is over, they want their work to be counted (tally) so that they can go home.

2) Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch = the length of banana combs.

3) Hide the deadly black tarantula = these spiders are found on the bananas.

For younger listeners the song was used in the comedy film, Beetlejuice where in the dinner scene, the possessed guests sang and danced,

*The Banana Boat Song.

Day-o, day-ay-ay-o/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Day-o, day-ay-ay-o/Daylight come and me wan' go home

Work all night on a drink of rum/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Stack banana till de morning come/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana/Daylight come and me wan' go home

Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Day, me say day-ay-ay-o/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Day, me say day, me say day, me say day/Daylight come and me wan' go home

Beautiful bunch of ripe banana/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Hide the deadly black tarantula/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch/Daylight come and me wan' go home

Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Day, me say day-ay-ay-o/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Day, me say day, me say day, me say day/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana/Daylight come and me wan' go home

Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana/Daylight come and me wan' go home/Day-o, day-ay-ay-oDaylight come and me wan' go home/Day, me say day, me say day, me say day....ay-ay-o/Daylight come and me wan' go home...

No underlying meaning. The slow version lulls my second grandchild to sleep. A beautiful song indeed. But maybe it's not a song for children? "Work all night on a drink of rum..." But the version by Wiggles group from Australia dismisses it all.

Image: From Andy Lim's Kitchen.

*http://www.digihitch.com/road-culture/music-lyrics/419

**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqFSXcrPdyw

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Mary's Boy Child Harry Belafonte 60s Christmas

Thursday, December 24, 2009

SONGS I LOVE:

Mary's Boy Child is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston, first sung by Belafonte and covered by more than 30 singers far and wide.

Mary`s Boy Child (Harry Belafonte)

Long time ago in Bethlehem

So the Holy Bible say

Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ

Was born on Christmas day.

Hark, now hear the angels sing

A new King born today

And man will live forever more

Because of Christmas day.

While shepherds watched their flock by night

And see a bright new shining star

And hear a choir sing

The music seem to come from afar.

Now Joseph and his wife Mary

Come to Bethlehem that night

And find no place to born swee' child

Not a single room was in sight.

Hark, now hear the angels sing

A new King born today

And man will live forever more

Because of Christmas day.

By and by they find a little nook

In a stable all forlorn

And in a manger cold and dark

Mary's little boy was born.

Hark, now hear the angels sing

A new King born today

And man will live forever more

Because of Christmas day.

From: You Tube: Inky261. Thank You!

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'We Are The World' Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Paul Simon

Thursday, July 2, 2009

This song is not from the 60s but some singers are, and as a tribute to Michael Jackson, it has to be posted. It is one of the greatest pop songs and it helped to raise much money for the poor in Africa.

We Are The World was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced and directed by Quincey Jones and performed by 45 of the best of America's current pop singers. Island In The Sun, 60s Calypso singing sensation Harry Belafonte suggested it, and proceeds from the single and album helped relief organizations in Ethiopia, Sudan and other African countries.

Michael Jackson skipped the American Music Awards ceremony that night, to record the chorus of the song, as a guide to the other singers. The lyrics and melody are similar, but each star put his or her own style of delivery. The whole gigantic effort, Hands Across America raised about $100 million for famine relief. Both the single and album won 1985 Grammies for Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

The singers, starting with Lionel Ritchie were, in order of appearance: Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, the late Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

Then a new verse with Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan and the late Ray Charles.

Backup singers were: Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Lindsey Buckingham, The News, Sheila E.,Bob Geldof, Jackie Jackson, LaToya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Bette Midler, John Oates, Jeffrey Osborne, The Pointer Sisters, Smokey Robinson.

Watch out for the Springsteen, Wonder combination and the final fade out, going one full circle with Lionel Ritchie. Quincey Jones conducted and those who didn't turn up were: Linda Ronstadt, Madonna, Pat Benatar and Prince.

Catch them as they sing?

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

From: http://www.open.saloon.com/

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