Our Bedok Kampong House Singapore

Our grandmother really enjoyed eating the wantan mee from the coffee shop at the corner of the row of shops facing Bedok Corner along Bedok Road at the turn. Almost every day, our cousin - whom Grandma had raised from infancy and who lived with us in our Bedok kampong house - would head out to buy this meal for her. She was in her early teens then, around 1964. On the way to the stall, she would pass the sundry shop and the Ho family’s house at 6C Bedok Road. She remembers clearly how, time and again, music spilled out from that home - guitars strumming, a band rehearsing, and a young female voice rising above it all. It was only a year later, when Silver Threads and Golden Needles became a hit in 1965 (her favourite song), that she realised she had been walking past the home of one of the members of   Singapore’s 1960s music royalty: The Crescendos . All she knew back then was that she had a teenage crush on one of the boys, Raymond Ho “he is so handsome!” Many thanks to Ra...

On lazy weekends, the songs of old - especially those beloved Chinese melodies from the 1960s like Lover’s Tears - would drift through our Bedok kampong, carried from someone’s Rediffusion box or a Radio Singapura AM set. They invited us to hum along to their beautiful tunes, even when the lyrics were heartbreakingly sad. Ann Froud remembers this song well, and she even kept her original 1963 record. Here is Poon Sow Keng (Pan Xiuqiong) once again lamenting her lost love for us, her voice as tender as ever. Thank you, Ann, for sharing your 45rpm EP cover, this lovely memory, and for opening this gentle doorway back to the world we once knew.

We once shared about how our parents brought us to the National Theatre at River Valley Road in 1967, where we wandered through its beautiful gardens and fountains. But our memories of that place didn’t end there. One visit stands out vividly: our dad taking the whole family to watch a traditional Japanese Kabuki performance there. As children, those dramatic masks and elaborate costumes were both mesmerising and a little frightening, yet they opened our eyes to cultures far beyond our shores and taught us to appreciate art in all its forms. Then came the mid ‑ 1970s, when the theatre took on a very different kind of excitement. Cliff Richard was in town, and we had tickets to see him live at the same venue — right in the era of “ Power to All Our Friends. ” It turned into an unforgettable night, especially the moment when the drummer played with such intensity that he broke part of the bass drum, which had to be swapped out while he kept going. 1967 with our mother on the grounds...

Just sharing this memory of one of our house treasures with you. This was the first known vocal LP (33 1/3 rpm) that our father owned. He bought it not long after its release in 1956 and our mother just loved “I’m In The Mood For Love” as she sang it. We kept this LP with us until now.. In case you are interested, the back sleeve copy reads: Arthur Godfrey has an eye and ear for unusual talent, and his latest discovery—Miyoshi Umeki—is probably the most bewitching “bird of paradox” he has ever presented on TV. Visually, the tiny Oriental nightingale possesses the fragile beauty and delicate grace of a Japanese print, while vocally, she displays all the modern technique and polished phrasing of a really hep Occidental canary. Godfrey first introduced Miyoshi to American audiences on his CBS-TV show “Talent Scouts” at the beginning of 1956. The doll-like performer—attired in a quaint kimona—astonished both the famous red-head and his audience by singing a sultry version of “How Dee...

Every once in a while, the family would make a trip to visit our maternal second aunt and her family at Jalan Khairuddin at Opera Estate, Singapore. What was interesting about that house was the music selection our cousin enjoyed, and played while we were there. While we (already 12 and 10 years old at this time) had been exposed to music that our father played at our Bedok kampong house with his LPs (33 1/3 rpm) and EPs (45rpm) vinyls, we heard different kinds of songs from her. Bread, America, Sergio Mendes, Carole King – unfamiliar sounds to us at that time.  But on this day in 1973 it was to celebrate our cousin’s 21 st birthday. To us boys it was a loud party! She and her friends were dancing in the living hall which had its main light turned off with some psychedelic lights to create the atmosphere. No rock’n’roll by now and we distinctly heard them play “I Feel The Earth Move” (1971) by Carole King and “Smoke On The Water” (1972) by Deep Purple! But after the party was over...

Music was always wafting through our Bedok kampong house and right about the time the older of us began his days at kindergarten in 1967 a new singer began conquering the Singapore radio airwaves with his love ballads, as well as hearts of the womenfolk like our mother – the British singer ‘King of Romance’ Engelbert Humperdinck. We boys did not know at that time that he was named after the German composer but the name was long and complicated to spell for us! Songs like ‘Release Me’, ‘The Last Waltz’ and ‘Les Bicyclettes de Belsize’ was swoon worthy indeed and easy to listen to and enjoy. Even our mother’s youngest uncle was collecting Engelbert’s LP vinyls and when we visited him in his Geylang kampong house, he would always oblige us to play his latest songs (we remember 1968’s ‘Pretty Ribbon’). Amazingly Engelbert continues to sing (and be active on social media too) and this year at 89 years of age, will be back in Singapore for a concert in November 2025. This post is to celebrat...

We take it for granted now but back in the day, listening to the radio required a license. Issued by the Department of Broadcasting, Malaya this annual license fee of $12 is evident with this non-transferable 1956 Broadcast Listening Station license our late father had kept in his records.

By 1972, us boys would have approached our tween years at 11 and 9. Influenced by our father’s love for music (he was after all in Radio Malaya, then RTS), we started listening and enjoying the newest EP vinyl records (45rpms) in our Bedok kampong house once we loved what we heard on the radio. We even started buying those lyric song books (some with guitar chords) from the nearby mama shop to sing along with those songs. 3 EPs come to mind that we kept standing by the turntable to listen to again and again that 1972 year. ‘Beautiful Sunday’ by Daniel Boone, ‘Black and White’ by Three Dog Night and everyone’s favourite, ‘Puppy Love’ by Donny Osmond (it was a remake of the Paul Anka original which we only found out later).. Here are the clips to share! Beautiful Sunday by Daniel Boone (1972) Black And White by Three Dog Night (1972) Puppy Love by Donny Osmond (1972)

Here is some ‘claim to fame’ for us: In 1971, we (at aged 10 and 8 then) were thrilled to turn on our black and white TV at our Bedok kampong house to watch Mel & Joe Ferdinands compete in the RTS Talentime then. We most remembered them singing the song “I Play & Sing”. At that time, they lived further up from our place at Bedok Road at the Bedok Walk area and we took the same bus to our primary school then, St Stephen’s (at Siglap Hill). Unfortunately by the time the school bus arrived at their place, all seats were taken and they had to stand but Joe was really friendly to us and smiled mostly! (these days standing not allowed but those were the days) (photos not ours)

In 1969, the older of us boys was only 8 years old in Primary 2, and the younger in kindergarten – so while we enjoyed the music mostly played on the radio, we don’t recall too many wonderful songs (which we now know) that ruled the airwaves in that year of 1969 except for these great songs we recall playing in our Bedok kampong house! Hermans’s Hermits’ ‘My Sentimental Friend’. Introduced by our cousin living with us, this brings back so many wonderful memories especially singing from the lyric songbook she hand wrote. Bobbie Gentry’s ‘I’ll Never Fall in Love Again’. Honestly this was the first time we learnt the word ‘Pneumonia’ found in the song lyrics. Karen Young’s ‘Nobody’s Child’. So sad this song, that we can't forget it! Tommy Roe’s Dizzy. Such a fun song with a title we young boys could not forget! Venture’s Hawaii Five-O. This must be the greatest and most memorable TV theme song (other than Mission Impossible) ever written! Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) was the best! Fi...

As our cousin who lived with us began to grow up into young adulthood in the early 70’s, enjoying her time with friends at a dance was a weekend ‘thing’. One of her favourite places was just 2km down the road from our Bedok kampong house and along Upper East Coast Road, the Country Club Hotel. Likely too, each New Year’s Eve was spent counting down to the new year here. Now replaced by The Summit condominium, somehow no photos of the place nor her visits are available save for the matchstick boxes (and plastic cocktail drink stirrers) she brought back that became part of our collection! Country Club Hotel at 447-A Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 16 The Summit condominium now stands where the Country Club Hotel used to be

We believe the first time we ever got introduced to Christmas songs was when our parents bought us kids this EP of a few songs from the Ray Conniff Singers “Christmas with Conniff” in the 60’s. We never forgot how we thought “Jingle Bells” was to be sung! The delightful and cheerful song we loved was “Here Comes Santa Claus”. Recently in the new 2024 movie Red One (starring The Rock) this wonderful song was the movie opener - Oh what fun!

When we visited our maternal cousin at her home in Siglap Opera Estate in the early 70's we remember her playing songs from Carole King, Bread and Elton John. But over here at our Bedok kampong house, 5 songs of that year of 1971 took us by storm and this writer at 10 years old then remember these vividly as 1.       Knock Three Times by Tony Orlando & Dawn 2.       Me and You and a Dog Named Boo by Lobo 3.       Love Story (Where Do I Begin) by Andy Williams 4.      Hello Darlin’ by Lynn Anderson (besides the already spoken for  "Rose Garden  (I Beg Your Pardon)") 5.       Joy To The World by Three Dog Night The songs were either playing on Radio Singapore then or we had purchased EP vinyls of the songs. Some of the songs were really joyful and til today we still enjoy listening to them immensely Knock Three Times by Tony Orlando & Dawn Me and You ...

1968 and the entire Singapore was abuzz with the excitement of the RTS Talentime. All of us at our Bedok kampong house joined in the revelry of watching the performances on our black-and-white TV. Celebrating each week’s winners and sadly saying goodbye to those who did not make it to the next round drove the emotional quotient high. When it came to the results and the fabulous Tidbits won with their song “I Believe”, it became everyone’s anthem too! So enamoured were we with the 3 girls that when they won the contest in February 1968 and our paternal aunt was 3 months pregnant with her second child, and when it was discovered to be a girl, she was named after one of the Tidbits, Serene! 1968 RTS Talentime winners 'The Tidbits' with their winning song 'I Believe' (photo credit - RCA Cosdel) 1972 photo taken in our Bedok kampong house garden with the newest and youngest cousin then

Here is a 1959 (circa) photo of the ladies at our Bedok kampong house and their relatives resting after a great swim at Bedok Beach. Right behind them is the fencing around the holiday home of the Sultan of Pahang (we posted an earlier story about him), which is next to our house. Our mother and cousin told us that from time to time there was exciting live band music emanating from this house of the Sultan (Abu Bakar and grandfather of the current Sultan of Pahang). So they would creep to the fencing to try to catch a glimpse of the famous actress at that time Maria Menado (most famously known for her 1957 movie Pontianak, and still alive today) as she was known to attend! Little did anyone know that she would soon be a consort of the Sultan and marry him later in 1963. What glam we had in those days too! Circa 1959/early 1960 shot taken at Bedok Beach just outside the Sultan of Pahang's holiday home (credit to Mr Ronald Ho for the information) The beautiful actress and star of Mal...

Our cousin who lives with us in our Bedok kampong house (and 11 years our senior) was 15 and like any teenager those days would just love music. We found these newspaper clippings of 1965 in her lyrics songbook advertising the presence of singing stars and bands coming over to Singapore to play! Feb 1965 and Freddie & The Dreamers played at both the Cathay Restaurant and the Arundel Room at Goodwood Park hotel. They then played at the National Theatre in March 1965!  Freddie and the Dreamers were an English beat band that had a number of hit records between 1962 and 1965. The band's stage act was enlivened by the comic antics of Freddie Garrity, who would bounce around the stage with arms and legs flying (source: Wikipedia) 1965 and Millie Small of 'My Boy Lollipop' fame performed here in Singapore as well! Millie Small was a Jamaican singer who is best known for her 1964 international hit "My Boy Lollipop". The song reached number two in both the UK and US ch...

It is said that music seals the memory of a particular moment, and in 1970 when this writer was just 9, three songs from that year stood out so well because I remember our cousin and I would play the 7" EP single that our father bought for us, and would stand by the turntable of our Bedok kampong house and play the song again and again! I THINK I LOVE YOU - THE PATRIDGE FAMILY This was actually the first LP our father bought for us. The funny thing was that we only play the first song and sometimes the second song and ignored the rest!  IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE - GLEN CAMPBELL This EP of this song by Glen Campbell would enjoy replays by our cousin and I and we could not get enough of this song! MY SWEET LORD - GEORGE HARRISON We did not know the meaning of the lyrics then but the lead guitar was infectious and yes again this EP was on repeat play

Our father made sure music filled our Bedok kampong house especially on weekends and on his off days. In the earlier days of the 78 rpm, he had Victor Silvester & Orchestra, then when the 33 1/3 LP (now called Vinyl records) arrived in the mid 60's it was the Los Indios Tabajaras and their instrumental hit Maria Elena. Then a mid 60's trip to a record shop along East Coast Road very near the Siglap Road junction and opposite the now empty Siglap flats, it was a purchase that is still a treasure today - Skeeter Davis' Here's The Answer. Of course there was the 45 rpm too and a big buy our father did was for our mom in 1960 when he got her Elvis' 'It's Now Or Never' EP single. After all, which young lady in those days did not have Elvis as their idol? (all photos not ours) 1960 -  It's Now or Never by Elvis Presley (we never played the B side!) 1961 1965

A big pastime in those days if you like to listen to the radio is to 'copy down' (that was how we said it!) the lyrics of the songs when you hear them. At our Bedok kampong house, our cousin has written down hundreds of songs within these books, along with cutouts of her teen idols Cliff and Elvis. Together with her friend they would sit down and sing along to the songs in the alcove of our kampong house below the stairs leading to the kitchen. Enjoy this short clip!