KOH, Billy Huan Liang 许环良
Performing Arts in Singapore (Music),
Accession Number 003483
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 3
Total Reels
- Teo Kian Giap
Interviewer
- 02:34:02
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 3
Metadata
- 19 Feb 2010
Recording Date
- 00:58:08
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born 1963. From humble family background. Learnt to be thrifty and hardworking. Top student in Chao Yang Primary School. Studied in River Valley Secondary School and joined the Chinese Orchestra, which was an introduction to music to him. Mentioned Colin Goh and Ng Guan Seng (both colleagues at Ocean Butterflies (OB). Influenced by leftist thinking within the orchestra and the Cultural Revolution. Collapsed of the Gang of Four made him admire Western idealism. Listened to English music like Bob Dylan, Peter,Paul and Mary, Beatles. Learnt to play guitar and subsequently taught guitar at Yamaha. Got to know Ken Chang, then sales manager and who was active in the arts scene. In Singapore Polytechnic, got to know Koh Nan Seng (another Ocean Butterflies colleague). He, Koh and Ng Guan Seng joined the Community Service and Culture Club where they sang English songs. Reasons he joined Singapore Polytechnic. Participated in the group session of 1981 Chinese Talentime but that category was later cancelled due to insufficient entries.
The group was invited as guest performers during the Finals. How they came up with the name The Straws (水草三重唱). Invited to be back up singers for Maggie Teng. Around that period, there were groups in National Junior College, Hwa Chong Junior College that started to compose songs. How this trend spread to other junior colleges. The group was invited to perform in these colleges. In 1982, there was a forum to discuss how to promote Singapore-composed songs. A term, 新加坡年轻人自创歌谣 （新谣）, was coined. There were also other “national” songs being composed but the intended message was too strong and thus could not be popularized. Xinyao did not have such baggage. A radio show ge yun xin sheng (歌韵心声) on Radio 3 help to promote Xinyao songs. There were criticisms of these songs but the groups did not engage in verbal war with them.
In 1983, The Straws and other groups in the JCs were graduating and/or entering National Service, so they organized a concert (沙漠足迹) sha mo zu ji. During national service, The Straws entered Talentime again, but they had to withdraw as they were considered professional singers. During national service, he got to know (梁文福) Liang Wern Fook, (陈志群) Chen Zhiqun, (吴庆康) Wu Qingkang. They reminisced about the last concert and decided to make a recording. Billy was the producer and they recorded the songs in EMI Studio at McDonald House. No major companies expressed interest in releasing the record until a small company took up the offer. The album was named Tomorrow 21 明天21. The album was a success but the business was a scam. Realised that they have to protect themselves and thus the formation of Touch Production. The first album 海蝶逐日 was released. Commented that the xinyao movement started out from a dream and through coincidence, it developed.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 3
Metadata
- 19 Feb 2010
Recording Date
- 00:58:12
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
1984 was an important year for Xinyao. Groups had opportunities to go on TV to promote their songs. Mentioned Lim Sek, who just joined the TV station. Community Centres also had several xinyao groups like 梧桐小组 (wu tong xiao zu). A 4-hour xinyao concert at Hong Lim Park was held in Aug 1984. It was deemed the second most important concert after (沙漠足迹) sha mo zu ji. The groups participated and the key members. Album海蝶逐日 was released. Adopted the multi-producer format from Taiwan to produce this album. Reason for the album title. Released Eric Moo and Di Xia Tie “xin kong xia”(巫启贤与地下铁“星空下”) As most group members were serving national service, they had to feature Eric Moo as he need not serve national service and thus was be able to promote the album. Spoke on Eric Moo. Highlighted that a few record companies are also promoting xinyao artists. Thoughts on what to do after leaving national service.
The Straws was invited to Taiwan to record a charity song 明天会更好 （ming tian hui geng hao.）. Was inspired by the music makers there on how they started the Taiwan folk movement. Decided to form a company, Ocean Butterflies (海蝶制作公司) in 1986. Album zui chu de meng(“最初的梦“) was released. Featured songs by Liang Wern Fook (梁文福). Mentioned that Zhuang Hui Niang (庄惠娘) from Performing Rights Society (before COMPASS) encouraged them to join as members. Early days of Ocean Butterflies in Jalan Sultan Plaza. Helped National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) to organize a song writing competition open to all Singaporeans. Ng Guan Seng stepped in to sing the winning entry, xiao ren wu de xin sheng (小人物的心声).Then Secretary General Ong Teng Cheong was impressed. In 1987, things did not improve for Ocean Butterflies. The Straws decided to split up. Xinyao Festival in 1985.
Formed a society Young Songwriters Society in 1986 to organize Xinyao Festival from 1986 to 1990. An award ceremony, Sing Award 新乐奖, was introduced in 1987. Xinyao in 1987 was still active and accessible, but getting more commercialize. Groups like Wu Tong and tiao dong lv (跳动率) became popular and Singaporean composers were involved in soundtracks of SBC TV serials. Rock Records was in discussion with Ocean Butterflies (OB) to buy over the company but it did not materialize. Xinyao declined in late 80s/early 90s due to disbanding of the pioneer groups. The succeeding generation was not ready to take over and the environment had changed. Ocean Butterflies had to refocus its business plans by going into record production for Taiwanese singers, doing Chinese commercials jingles. Two key directors left OB. Singapore producers and songwriters became known to Taiwanese market. Interviewee believes that Singaporean singer should be able to make it in Taiwan. They discovered a girl who had the potential.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 3
Metadata
- 19 Feb 2010
Recording Date
- 00:37:42
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How Ocean Butterflies (OB) launched Kit Chan’s career in Taiwan. Noted other Singaporean singers who made it overseas. Singaporean singers' success overseas was not coincidence. Part of the reasons were due to the pioneer batch of xinyao players. Commented on the characteristics of Singapore music and the advantage of a multi-cultural, multi-lingual society. There are still youngsters composing songs but the medium they used are different, such as through the internet; haviing better resources to make music. As the lines between countries are blurred, it may not be necessary to define what is Singaporean music. Mentioned key people who contributed to the xinyao movement:Lin Zi Hui (林子惠 Radio 3 DJ), Zhuang Hui Niang, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (who was involved in the NTUC Song Writing Competition), then NTUC Secretary General Ong Teng Cheong, media people such as Du Nan Fa 杜南发，Pan Zheng Lei 潘正镭. Spoke about his two members of The Straws. Commented that the recent TV reality shows have allowed them to be known to the younger generations. On whether he felt any difficulties when working with Taiwan record companies. How they prepared Kit Chan for the Taiwan market.
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