Pop Yeh Yeh: Psychedelic Rock From Singapore and Malaysia Vol.
If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, then you’ll definitely want to check out Pop Yeh Yeh: Psychedelic Rock From Singapore and Malaysia Vol. 1. This compilation album features some of the best psychedelic rock bands from Singapore and Malaysia, and is a must-have for any fan of the genre.
Introduction
present day music styles in Asia, and specifically Southeast Asia, have been greatly influenced by the music of the West. This is most apparent in the popularity of genres such as rock and roll, hip hop, and R&B. However, there is another genre that has had a significant impact on contemporary Asian music, and that is psychedelic rock.
Psychedelic rock, also known as acid rock or hippie music, is a style of rock that emerged in the mid-1960s. The sound is characterized by extended improvisation, experimental instrumentation, and a trippy or hallucinogenic atmosphere. The genre was popularized by Western bands such as the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane, but it also found a home in Southeast Asia.
In Southeast Asia, psychedelic rock developed in conjunction with other Western-influenced genres like pop and garage rock. Bands like the Quests from Singapore and the Stylers from Malaysia were some of the earliest exponents of the style. By the early 1970s, psychedelic rock was firmly established in Southeast Asia, where it would go on to exert a significant influence on subsequent generations of musicians.
The Music
Pop Yeh Yeh is a compilation album of Psychedelic Rock from Singapore and Malaysia. The album was released in 2004 by Sublime Frequencies. It contains music from the 1960s and 1970s. The album is named after a style of music that was popular in Malaysia and Singapore in the 1960s.
The Bands
In the 1960s, a new type of music emerged in Singapore and Malaysia that came to be known as “Pop Yeh Yeh”. This was a form of psychedelic rock that was influenced by Western pop and rock music, as well as traditional Malay and Indonesian music. The bands that played this type of music were mostly made up of ethnic Chinese musicians, and they often sang in Mandarin, Cantonese or Hokkien.
One of the most popular Pop Yeh Yeh bands was The Strollers, who were formed in Singapore in 1964. The band’s original lineup included lead singer and guitarist Alex To, bassist Chow Kok Kee, drummer Wong Hung who later changed his name to Eric Wong, and keyboardist Raymond Leong. They were one of the first Singaporean bands to release an album, and they achieved considerable success both locally and in Malaysia.
Other popular Pop Yeh Yeh bands included The Quests from Singapore, The Phantoms from Malaysia, and The Silver Strings from Indonesia. These bands all played a mix of pop, rock and traditional Malay or Indonesian music, and their songs were often about young love or rebellion against authority.
Pop Yeh Yeh was a short-lived but hugely influential musical movement, and the bands that played this type of music continue to be popular today.
The Songs
1. “POP YEH YEH” – ROSLAN AZIZ & THE POP YEH YEH GROUP
2. “SATU MALAYSIA” – ROSLAN AZIZ & THE POP YEH YEH GROUP
3. “ISTANA BIRU” – MOHD RAFI & ORKES BETAWI DELIMA
4. “REPUBLIK SINGAPURA” – AMEERA AL-RUMI & ORKES MELAYU LAMA
5. “PERGI UNTUK BERCINTA” – SUKIMAN & HIS GOLDEN GUITARS
6. “MASUK KAMPUNG” – SALEEM AHMAD & HIS COMBO
7. “ANAK AYAM” – MOHD RAFI & JARIS SALLEH
8. “HELLO MR. X” – JUFRI SUPEJO, HIS ELECTRIC GUITARS, AND RHYTHM GROUP
9. “TELAGA SUNGAI BATU NILAI” – JOHNNY INCOGNITO AND HIS SILVER STARS ORCHESTRA
10. “Ye Ye Pop Yeh Yeh (OST)”
The Legacy
Pop Yeh Yeh is a compilation album of Psychedelic Rock from Singapore and Malaysia that was released in 2014. The album was compiled by psychedelic rock historian and enthusiast, Dr. Trevor Jones. It is a two-volume set that includes 24 tracks from artists such as The Quests, The Stylers, and The Pioneers.
The Influence
Pop Yeh Yeh is a collection of songs that came to define an era in Malaysia and Singapore. The music is a brand of psychedelic rock that was popular in both countries during the 1960s and 1970s.
The genre is characterized by its use of electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, and keyboards, as well as its fusion of traditional Malay and Chinese music elements. Pop Yeh Yeh songs often dealt with topics such as love, social issues, and politics.
The style of Pop Yeh Yeh was influenced by a number of Western artists, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix. However, the genre also developed a distinctly Asian flavor, thanks to the inclusion of traditional Malay and Chinese musical elements.
Pop Yeh Yeh enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the early 21st century, thanks in part to increased interest in vintage Asian music. A number of compilations featuring Pop YehYe songs were released during this time, helping to introduce the genre to new audiences.
The Recordings
In December 1965, Pye Records released the ground-breaking album, Pop Yeh Yeh, by The Quests. It was the first LP to document the incredible array of Malaysian and Singaporean groups who were fusing Western pop with traditional Malay and Indonesian influences to create a fresh and compelling musical hybrid – what writer Kevin Odegard dubbed ‘Pop Yeh Yeh’. This phrase quickly entered into common usage to describe this new style of music that was taking Southeast Asia by storm.
The album’s release coincided with a boom in interest in all things Eastern and exotic, fueled by the success of The Beatles’ film Help! which had been shot partially in Malaysia. Radio DJs in the UK and US started playing tracks from Pop Yeh Yeh on their shows, and the album became something of a underground hit, selling over 50,000 copies.
The Quests were one of the leading lights of the Pop Yeh Yeh scene, and their recordings are arguably some of the best examples of the style. Their infectious blend of jangly guitar pop, Malay influences and boy-girl harmonies quickly made them favorites with locals and Westerners alike, leading to them being invited to tour Japan and Europe as well as making numerous appearances on Malaysian television.
Sadly, The Quests disbanded in 1968 before they could build on their success, but their legacy lives on – both through their recordings (which have been anthologized several times over) and through the many other Singaporean and Malaysian bands who followed in their wake.
Conclusion
The album “Pop Yeh Yeh: Psychedelic Rock From Singapore and Malaysia Vol.” is a great collection of psychedelic rock tunes from the 1960s and 1970s. The tracks are all performed by some great musicians, and they are all very catchy and enjoyable to listen to. If you are a fan of psychedelic rock, or if you are just looking for some great music to listen to, I would highly recommend this album.
