'Kopi Susu' With 'La Colegiala' Sandra Reemer

Saturday, May 14, 2011

She was of Dutch, Chinese and Javanese extraction and born in Bandung, Indonesia on Oct 17, 1950. Barbara Alexandra (Xandra) Reemer loved to sing as a child but it was only after the family moved to the Netherlands (Holland) in 1958 that she started to participate in singing competitions.

Her chance came when young Sandra (X became S) appeared on the famous Katholieke RadioOmroep (KRO) show in April 1962. Her performance was quickly noticed by well-known bandleader and talent scout Frans Kerkhof who took her to Philips Records for an audition.

By the middle of 1962, the twelve year old Sandra shot to stardom with her Dutch version of Al Di La. She also became popular with her extensive repertoire which included Indonesian Malay songs. When she recorded some of these folksy favorites, listeners took an immediate liking as they became very popular.

Sandra has made herself known more as a songstress from the Netherlands than one from Indonesia, having represented the country three times at the internationally famous Eurovision Song Contest. The years were 1974, 1976 and 1979 and she sang, When It Comes To Love (in Dutch), The Party's Over and Colorado respectively during the shows.

Her hit songs that had spread far and wide in Singapore, Malaya and the Far East included songs in Dutch and Indonesian. Some of the Indonesian Malay titles are: Kopi Susu (Coffee And Milk), Nona Nona Djaman Sekarang (Today's Modern Ladies), Kapal Ladju (Speed, Boat!), Indonesia and Singapura.

As the years rolled along, successful Sandra stood tall and was soon in the same league with countrymen and stalwarts Anneke Gronloh, The Blue Diamonds, Johnny Lion and The Jumping Jewels. The Indo/Dutch invasion of Singapore had begun. Listen to her sing 'La Colegiala' on the right bar. The word means 'schoolgirl' in Spanish. Hot, Hot, >>

The maturity, style and sophistication are evident in Reemer's voice. The La Colegiala has gone a long way since Kopi Susu. This 'nona' is truly 'zaman sekarang.'

(Check Wikipedia in Dutch: Reemer's biography after the 70s.)
Images: Universal Music, Singapore/Google images.
Information: Wikipedia and Questing Bandstand.

Edited by: Andy Lim.

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Lokananta Studio: Indonesia's Abbey Road: 4th Asian Games Souvenir Vinyls Feature Moluccas Songs

Sunday, January 30, 2011

(Images: a 10-inch LP, one in a series of 4 distributed during the 4th Asian Games in Djakarta in 1962.)

While I was posting the last few articles about Jimmy Linchong and a song from the Moluccas, I remember my few pieces of 10-inch Long Play records that I have, pressed by the famous Lokananta (literal: heavenly gamelan without drums) label. They are precious and not easily available in the market. And as I rummaged again feverishly through my cupboard I found four. One of them (image 2) contains the song Ajo Mama (j is pronounced yerh in Indonesian).

According to a website (internet address below), the Lokananta studio (image 1,2) in Indonesia is as famous as the one in Abbey Road, Westminster, London. It is the first Indonesian music label, founded in Solo, Central Java. Since its inception, Lokananta has been producing and duplicating records and audio cassette tapes.

When it started in 1958, the records were marketed through the RRI (Republic Rayat Indonesia). As the label reached its state enterprise status, the company activities included: administering, recording, broadcasting, printing and publishing.

Lokananta has thousands of songs from all over Indonesia in its treasure trove and its vast collection encompasses folk, ethnic, world and pop music. So there is keroncong, Javanese gamelan, Balinese, Sundanese, Batak (North Sumatra) and other regional music.

This vast music collection includes many recordings of famous singers from Indonesia. Master tracks in the studio contain songs from legendary composers and singers like Gesang, Waljinah, Titiek Puspa, Bing Slamet, and Sam Saimun. Lokananta has more than 5,000 such track recordings of local songs. Besides songs, state speeches of the late President Sukarno are kept.

Aside: Controversies abound regarding the well-known song Rasasayange. According to the same web-site, this song, together with other Indonesian folk songs, can be found on a single master-track in the Lokananta studios. It is claimed by a certain country as its original folk song but is actually an original from the Moluccas.

Record Detail:

Part One - Tracks on Side One: Dari Barat Sampai Ke Timur, Ba Bendi-bendi, Seringgit Dua Kupang, Ajo Mama, Side Two: Potong Bebek Angsa, Sarinande, Lenggang-Lengang Kangkung, Kaparinjo. Orkes Lokanada, pimpinan B. Y. Supardi.

The original and detailed version can be found in the website below:
http://www.reviewing-blogs.blogspot.com/2010/05/lokananta-indonesian-abbey-road.html
Record Cover image: Andy Lim Collection.

(Because of copyright, I have deleted the two photographs showing the recording studios and replaced them with the image of my own personal copy of the album I discussed. You can see the studio images on JGP 4838 Flickr.)

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Lam Chun See Remembers Teresa And Jimmy

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

THANK YOU CHUN SEE: Read his comments under Jimmy Linchong's posting. Ayo Mama or Ai Qing Nali Lai is by Teresa Teng. She learnt this song together with Rasa Sayang when she stayed in Indonesia. Rasa Sayang and Ayo Mama originated from the Maluku Islands (Spice Islands) of Indonesia.

Doesn't matter if you can't read Chinese. Enjoy song on the Right Bar >>>>>

印度尼西亚民歌

小河弯弯 流水不断来
河里的水草
跟着漂过来
流水长在 长流那天外
问一声河里水草哪里来

哎哟 妈妈
莫非也像我的恋爱
哎哟 妈妈
可是来的这样奇怪
哎哟 妈妈
怎么你不讲个明白
谁知道我的爱情哪里来

小河弯弯 春风吹过来
河边的花香
跟着飘过来
遍地花开 芬芳到心怀
问一声春天从哪里来

哎哟 妈妈
你可不能不理不睬
哎哟 妈妈
我的寂寞情意难挨
哎哟 妈妈
给我怎么样的安排
你可叫我怎样的安排
谁知道我的爱情哪里来

Ayo Mama: Indonesian lyrics (literal translation):

Ayam hitam telurnya putih (Black chicken too has white eggs)
Mencari makan di pinggir kali (Searching for food by the lakeside)
Sinyo hitam giginya putih (Dark-skinned bride has white teeth)
Kalau ketawa manis sekali. (When she smiles, she's so sweet)

Ayo mama, jangan mama marah beta (Oh mum, don't you scold me)
Dia cuma cuma pegang beta (He's just holding her playfully)
Ayo mama, jangan mama marah beta (Oh mum, don't you scold me)
Lah orang muda punya biasa. (It's natural with the young)

Anyone willing to help with the Mandarin translation? Doesn't matter anyway. It's the beat that matters. Cha-cha-cha!!!

Taken from:
http://teresateng.multiply.com/video/item/14?&item_id=14&view:replies=reverse

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Soekarno Beatles Music Censorship In Indonesia 60s: By Dr Steven Farram, Darwin Australia

Friday, November 12, 2010

If you are into serious study about past pop music from this region then Dr. Steven Farram is the person to check out on Google. I quote his credentials, as he is "a Research Associate in the School of Creative Arts and Humanities" at Charles Darwin University in Australia.

"His main research interest are the history and politics of Timor-Leste, Indonesia and the Northern Territory. He has authored books, book chapters and journal articles in all three areas, including his paper, Wage War Against Beatle Music! Censorship And Music In Soekarno's Indonesia (published in RIMA in 2007)."

I was first introduced to Steve and his wife at the end of our Silver Strings performance (2008 VivoCity gig, Reunion Of The Sixties). They were both rockin' and rollin' with the crowd to the beat of Mike and Herb's songs.

When the music finally stopped, his handshake was wet as he was hot and perspiring. They had to hurry home the next day and came to Singapore just to see the Beatles of Malaysia perform. However, we promised to meet again.

We did meet again and, with email exchanges, became good friends when he returned to Singapore in April 2009. Even with the dinners, coffee breaks and discussion about 60s music, he never told me about himself.

It was only after reading the novel, The Year Of Living Dangerously by Christopher Koch and looking around for articles to write for this blog, that I chanced upon his name while googling for Soekarno and the Beatles.

Steve has been providing many comments and insights on this blog and interested parties can also read his articles at: garagehangover.com

I know you don't need this publicity Steve but I hope more reseach can be done on Asia's 60s music and with your help!

Image: Charles Darwin University Australia Website.

http://www.cdu.edu.au/lba/steven_farram.htm

Original article: Andy Lim.

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The Blue Diamonds - Sparkling 'Right Back'

Friday, July 2, 2010

THIS POSTING IS FOR LL:

Go to any CD shop in Singapore and ask for The Blue Diamonds. The response from a particular young lady at one shop counter: "Don't know Blue Diamonds."

Me: "What about Jumping Jewels?"

Counter lady: "Who?"

Go to a record and CD shop in the US, UK or any other western country and the person in charge will check on his computer before searching for the title/artiste on the shelves. Only then the response: "Sorry, sir. We don't have it but we can try and order it for you if you like." Shouldn't sales people in Singapore be taught some courtesy and know a little about pop music history before they are allowed to sell CDs? Cannot lah, too expensive to train!

A Blue Diamonds CD (image) was given to me as a present. I am not familiar with some of the songs but then it had been a while since I found a BD CD and as a big fan, this gift is worth its price in diamonds. And the songs are sparklers. This one includes Neil Diamond's Song Sung Blue. Yes, Diamonds sing Diamond.

The title track Right Back is first, followed by: I'll Mend Your Broken Heart, Cryin' In the Rain, The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine, Day After Day, Alice Long, Skinny Ginny, When You Are A King, I Will Love You Endlessly, Uptown, Bend Me Shape Me, Don't Let It Show, Sweet Little Girl, Cry, Sweet Dream Baby, Lonely Street, Surfin' In Sunshine and Right Back Front. (Originally: Long Play TELSTAR - 12 tracks, recorded 1987).

The Dutch duet's last hit was in 1971 but they continued to perform together until Ruud de Wolff's death at the end of 2000. Riem de Wolff continues to perform and release albums.

*In autumm 2005, Riem recorded a new album in the Deans studio in Kirkby, Liverpool. Called, Mr. Blue Diamond, Back On Track, it has John Pettifer (The Deans) and Sarah Jory, a special guest musician, playing slide-guitar and singing with Riem on this album. Check SideBar/YouTube. Sounds like, Sultans of Swing.

Image: CD Cover from a great friend (you know who you are.)

*Riem's web: (1) http://www.bluediamonds.nl/cd_nw_gb.htm

(2) http://www.american-legends.nl/riem_bio.htm

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