1960

1960

The era of 1960, showered the Singapore people with the melodious music. At that time, various local bands proved their talent with the original compositions and became popular by giving stage performances featuring live and recorded albums successfully. This is the era where the opportunity for the local bands to inspire by the western groups like “The Beatles”, “The Shadows”, “Blue Diamonds” and so on. As Singapore is the home for diverse culture, in this era, A Malay (Malaysian pop) a music style also arose and influenced by British rock in 1960. These bands performed in Malaya language, English language and instrumental music also. Singapore is the fusion of different musical styles, along with the popular music, even urban music also emerges in the region. Before securing the Independence, Singapore merged with Malaysia for a short period. In the year 1961, Malaysian Radio station started a cultural program, “Suara Singapura” which broadcasted in many languages . After getting the great response to this program, the Singapore television started a multi-lingual program in the year 1963, to develop intercultural relations between the people of Singapore and Malaya.

The Singapore local musicians regularly cited Cliff Richard (Sir Cliff Richard, a philanthropist and a British pop musician, who was recognized as one of the British top singers) and started their career by imitating him.

Music scenario of Singapore in 1950

In the middle of the era Radio Malaya(before independence Malaysia is known as Malaya) started a competition and hugs the hearts of Singapore singers and gathered a following in Malaysia and Singapore. In the year 1961, the top British singer along with his electric bands appeared on the Happy World Stadium. This is an era where the instrumental music became popular by the introduction of electric guitar and electric music by the pop stars.

In the late 1950's, the classical composer Leong Yoon Pin provided help mainly to the orchestral and choral works by his collections, this marked an introduction of choral music and the formation of the Youth Choir, which laurel internationally. Various other foreign performers proved their talent in Singapore including “Rolling Stones” also. The youth was more attracted by the Cliff Richard's performances and began to prove themselves with their own bands. The local performers are in the initial stages, and not having proper training for playing instruments and music, most picked up music as their profession and later they practiced and imitated the top singers.

Popularity altitude

During World War II music platform changed to a new direction and strengthened. The Japanese troops were entertained by these local music bands during their war period. This made the local bands to prove themselves and made music as their occupation. With the experience gained in the Vietnam War, where the local bands performed in their military camps, and in dance halls and performing in many other different venues , made the local singers to sign to the recording companies and even signed with television and radio also. As there was demand for the popular British and Americal songs, the local bands covered them and later released albums also.

Musical sequences at the end of the era

At the end of the era, there is a decline in the local music performances. When the Singapore freed from British after 140 years, there is a decrease of foreign troops entering into the country, in addition to this the government campaign begun and rejected to degenerate the influence of external culture. For many reasons the popular bands disbanded, and because of the sequences raised at that time many musicians shifted to other National Services and some settled down and taken music as their profession. One can say that this is the most significant time for the musicians to get popular and they never get a chance to regain to get the same popularity.