Let's continue with the Asian female singers from the 70s.
Teresa Teng (pinyin: Deng Li Jun) was a very popular and musically influential singer from Taiwan, who came into the limelight in the early 1970s. She is especially well known for folk songs and romantic ballads. Her voice and songs are instantly recognized throughout Asia and in areas with large Asian populations, to the extent that it has been said, "Wherever there are Chinese people, the songs of Teresa Teng can be heard."
This lady continued to have much success until her untimely death at 42 from an asthma attack in 1995. However her memory lives on, and her albums continue to be immensely popular. My wife has her complete collection of songs on CD, as I'm sure many other fans do.
So turn up the volume and enjoy her crystal clear voice in "Tian Mi Mi", meaning "Sweet Honey" (I think?) ...
Undoubtedly Teresa Teng's classic song is "Yue Liang Dai Piao Wo De Xin", which is literally translated as "The Moon Represents My Heart". Enjoy ...
Next let's turn to our very own Sarawakian songbird who was prominent during the swinging seventies. ELAS mentioned her in his previous comments, and I recall her music as well. She is Rose Iwanaga, and she, together with her band The Avengers, have the distinction of being the first English-language recording music group from East Malaysia. The Avengers comprised James Ong (rhythm), Jimmy Ho (lead), Peter Ho (bass) and Jalek Zula (drums). I believe the group made 3 albums.
L to R: James, Jimmy, Peter, Jalek, Rose
I often wondered what happened to Rose and her band. There are a few websites on them, but no one seems to know. Do any of you?
That's it for today. More in Part 3 ...
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Posts
Nostalgia central!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat tribute to Teresa Teng Li Jin ... Thanks WJ.
ReplyDeleteAnyone heard of Naomi something ... Cannot remember her band name..
ReplyDeleteIt's Naomi and the Boys, and I remember the song "Happy Happy Birthday Baby"
ReplyDeleteWow...Rose Iwanaga ! Thanks WJ - maybe can get her to sing at our next Reunion..have to change the title of the song, though - from "Too Young" to "Too Old" ! ( just kidding ! )
ReplyDeleteAnd talking of the "Avengers" - I didn't even realise that one of the band members is known to me - Peter Ho, formerly with Ibraco and also an avid Bowler, until he injured his ankle.
Music, like sports unite people. It transcends all boundaries, race, creed, colour, religion and language. "USA" for Africa collected millions to feed the famine-strickened Africans. Celine Dione, Maria Carey, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick and Karen Carpenter, among others, have inspired millions with their songs. The Beatles even transformed the hairstyles of the 60s/early 70s ! Not to mention Deep Purple and The Rolling Stones.
I believe the lyrics and themes of the songs go a long way to influence the youths - both in a positive as well as a negative prespective.
Call me "old-fashioned" - but the songs of yester-years will always have a place in my heart. The modern "rap" music only add to my stress in an already stressful environment !
Someone once mentioned - "MUSIC is ORGANISED noise !" How true.
And to distress ? Just put on your head-phones in the late evening and listen to Teresa Teng's "The Moon Represents My Heart" - her soothing voice is enough to lower your BP by a few millibars !
Cheers WJ, and please keep up the good work !
I think you meant "destress", Edmund :) I don't think Teresa Teng's song will cause anyone distress.
ReplyDeleteLyrics of "TOO YOUNG"
ReplyDeleteThey try to tell us we’re too young
Too young to really be in love
They say that love’s a word
A word we’ve only heard
But can’t begin to know the meaning of
And yet we’re not too young to know
For love will last though years may go
And then some day they may recall
We were not too young at all
Teh-O-Pok....you're right...the correct word should be "destress" Thanks for your feedback/comment. Much appreciated !
ReplyDeleteOn another note...call it coincidence or whatever..my friend Edgar Ong just mentioned that he will be having dinner tonite at the Club with..of all people..Rose Iwanga! [Edgar Ong via Andrew T. Y. Lim: The evergreen Rose Iwanaga - having dinner with her tonight @ The Club!]
WJ - is this "telepathy" or "ESP" or what else ?
Cheers & God Bless !
This is weird and wonderful. Can your friend get her to sign a message to the Class of 1976, who are obviously still her fans? Ha ha.
ReplyDeletewho sang "Silver Threads and Golden Needles"? Was it an Asian goup or ang moh?
ReplyDeleteSilver Threads and Golden Needles", a song written by Jack Rhodes and Dick Reynolds, was first recorded by Wanda Jackson in 1956.
ReplyDeleteWikipedia
That Teresa Teng has the voice of an angel.
ReplyDeleteRose Iwanaga and the Avengers ... Yeah! We grew up with their music.
ReplyDeletewow, din know Mr & Mrs WJ & Co are into these nite club-type of songs.
ReplyDeletereminds me of the days 20 years ago when somehow (due to certain circumstances) i was a nite club regular where amongst other things, i picked my spoken mandarin.
Bring back wonderful memories of yesteryears.
ReplyDeleteI once had that record of Rose Iwanaga and the Avengers. But after countless house moving, it was sadly lost.
ReplyDeleteNot Skeeter Davis meh? I mean singing 'Silver thread and golden needles'
ReplyDeleteHow old is Rose Iwanaga now? No wonder everyone said 'I want a naga' or dragon.
20 years ago, nite club GROs were mainly from Taiwan at about RM70 per hour of booking for singing and dancing companionship. Chin Thien Pu Hui Cia was all-time favourite and often sung with gusto and pride. Stories had it that a lot of towkays ( fondly known as Uncle Robert ) went bust after being head over heels smitten by them. Now that Taiwan's economy is better than ours, they don't have to cari makan here anymore and as their replacements, we have the dragon ladies of PRC, right ex-nite clubber? Comparatively, they are more daring and
ReplyDeleteaggressive. So, be careful ohh...
Many of the so called night club songs hailed from the hey days of Shanghai of pre 1949. Needed good vocals and BIG lungs to deliver.
ReplyDeleteI was a fan of the Strollers. Anyone likes "The Silly Joke and Do What you Gotta Do "? There were this band called The Stylers and The Quests as well. Does anyone remember Huang Qing Huan?
ReplyDeleteHappy listening
ReplyDeleteAnneke Gronloh famous for he song Oh Malaysia.
Here she sings burung kakak tua
http://questing.wordpress.com/category/anneke-gronloh/
When I was in Johore in the 70's, Frankie Cheah a school teacher was my fav singer
Here he sings woman in my life
http://questing.wordpress.com/category/frankie-cheah/
Naomi and the boys: Happy happy birthday baby
http://questing.wordpress.com/category/naomi-the-boys-with-henry-suriya/
Jose Mari Chan a filipino sings Beautiful Girl
http://questing.wordpress.com/category/jose-mari-chan/
Mark, this for you. Huang Ching Yian
http://questing.wordpress.com/category/wong-ching-yian-%E9%BB%84%E6%B8%85%E5%85%83/
and here's the Quest
The quest:
http://questing.wordpress.com/category/the-quests/
Just copy the link and paste it to your browser.
Cheers
Seems that our blog is getting boring, not many or less and less people visiting. Only a handful of faithful regulars coming in.
ReplyDeleteAny methods or subjects that may get them in or not?
The age old way of attracting customers to online websites can be summarised in three letters: G, G and G.
ReplyDeleteThey stand for Girls, Games and Gambling.
WJ, try out this formula? LOL
Who says that our blog is getting boring with not many or less and less people visiting?
ReplyDeleteWho says that our blog has only a handful of faithful regulars coming in?
Who says that our blog needs methods or subjects that may get them in or not?
:( :(
NO LAH! THIS BLOG GOT VERY INTERESTING TOPICS.
ReplyDeleteWHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TELL MORE OF YOUR FRIENDS ALL ABOUT IT. HUAN YING! HUAN YING! WELCOME! THEN WE WILL HAVE MORE NEW VISITORS.
RIGHT, WJ?
Nothing can be compared to the 60's music from our local scene. I am a avid collector of these
ReplyDeletesongs. Especially songs by Rose Iwanaga, Janice Wee, Heather & The Thunderbirds, Rita Chao etc are not easy to find in CD format. It takes patience to go and look for them. BTW I am just a music friend and not your class of 76