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Siva Choy

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Sivanandan Choy
Born (1947-05-22) 22 May 1947 (age 77)
Colony of Singapore
Died4 March 2018(2018-03-04) (aged 70)
Perth, Australia
Alma materUniversity of Singapore (BA)
OccupationMusician
Years active1957–2018
Musical career
OriginSingapore
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Labels

Sivanandan Choy (22 May 1947 – 4 March 2018), better known as Siva Choy, was a Singaporean musician, comedian and writer, known for his Singlish rap classic "Why U So Like Dat?", released in 1991.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Choy was born to an Indian family in Gillman Barracks, located in Alexandra. His father, was from Kerala and moved to Singapore to work as a civilian foreman for the British Army, managing a British military power station located in Gillman Baracks. His mother, was born in Singapore to M K Chathukutty, a migrant from Kerala and founder of the Singapore Malayalee Hindu Samajam (SMHS), and Ammalu Amma, a migrant from Tamil Nadu. As a migrant, his father went to SMHS to look for jobs, and was introduced to Chathukutty's daughter and eventually got married.[4]

Choy was the youngest amongst the three brothers.[4]

Choy was supposed to be Choyi, as his father's name was Choyi, but a clerk at the registry issuing his father's identity card spelt it as Choi. Eventually, when Choy was born, a clerk at the hospital made another mistake by spelling his surname as Choy instead of Choi, making him the only person in his family with the surname Choy.[5]

Living in Gillman Barracks in his early childhood, Choy found himself immersed in music of different languages, such as English, Malay, Tamil, Mandarin and Hindustani. Choy attended Pasir Panjang Primary School, where he learnt how to play a recorder and a guitar, and together with his brother, James, they were known as the Cyclones, eventually pioneering the local R&B scene.[6][7][8] While attending Bartley Secondary School, Choy often performed in plays and took part in singing competitions.[9][10] Choy was also a pole vaulter, and he won first place in an interschool competition after being the only athlete competing in his division, setting a school record of 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in).[11]

In 1969, Choy graduated from the University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts with honours in philosophy, political science and English.[10][12][13]

Career

[edit]

In 1964, the Cyclones joined the Checkmates to be their lead vocalists, performing regularly at tea dances organised by the Golden Venus club located along Orange Grove Road in Tanglin.[14][15] After being offered a contract by Philips Records, the Cyclones released two EPs, one in 1965 and another in 1967.[6][9] Later, Vernon Cornelius joined the band, and the band was renamed as Unit 4+2+1, inspired by popular British group Unit 4+2.[6]

In 1967, Unit 4+2+1 disbanded as the members began working regular jobs, and Cornelius left the band to join The Quests.[6] Together with members of the Comancheros, Choy formed the X-periments and released two singles and two LPs under RCA Records.[9][16]

Upon graduation from university, Choy worked as a journalist for Fanfare, an entertainment magazine published by Straits Times Press.[12][13][17] In 1971, Choy also worked briefly as a correspondent for New Nation.[10][18][19]

Thereafter, Choy spent five years busking in Europe and another year cycling from Holland to Singapore, before starting a job in the advertising industry in 1976.[20][21][22] Choy also authored the popular Kitchi Boy stories, which told the story of a group of local boys in Singlish and colloquial humour. Eventually, the stories were compiled as books Oh No, It's The Kitchi Boy Gang and I'm Sorry, It's Kitchi Boy Again, published in 1985 and 1986 respectively.[1][22]

In 1990, Choy moved to Perth for retirement, while occasionally returning to Singapore to perform. Choy also played in two blues bands, performing in gigs and shows across Australia.[10]

In 1991, together with comedy group Kopi Kat Klan, Choy released an album titled Why U So Like Dat?, consisting of Singlish songs and sketches. The album sold more than 50,000 copies, and its title song enjoyed frequent radio airplays.[7] In 1998, the album was issued as a CD, containing 11 tracks from the original cassette version and seven new tracks.[20]

From 1999 to 2012, Choy wrote a column for The New Paper.[23][24]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1986, Choy married Ilsa Sharp, a freelance writer based in Singapore.[10]

After suffering two strokes, Choy was hospitalised at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and was left in a coma for two days.[2] He died on 4 March 2018.[1][2]

Discography

[edit]
Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I'll"Lawrence Lee2:58
2."Oh No, She Didn't Say"James Choy, Siva Choy2:26
Total length:5:24
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She's Mine All Mine"Lawrence Lee3:03
2."The Dew"James Choy, Siva Choy2:04
Total length:5:07
Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Your Thoughts, Your Cares And You"James Choy, Siva Choy3:22
2."A New Man"Lawrence Lee2:32
Total length:5:54
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Stop Your Sobbing"Davies2:50
2."I'll Be Home"Ned Washington, S Lewis3:45
Total length:6:35

All lyrics are written by Siva Choy

1991 Cassette edition: This side
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Why U So Like Dat"Siva Choy1:52
2."The Debate" 7:44
3."Newsflash"  
4."DJ De Souza"Derek Zuzarte6:06
5."Newsflash #2"  
6."Me, You & SDU" 3:41
7."R-rated Movies" 2:57

All lyrics are written by Siva Choy

1991 Cassette edition: That side
No.TitleMusicLength
1."The Tunnel" 3:09
2."The Debt Collector" 7:21
3."Commercial Break"  
4."Beer & Mee Goreng & Albinoni"Siva Choy2:47
5."Be Smart, Don't Smoke"  
6."Weekend Dracula" 6:24
7."News At Ten" 0:41

All tracks are written by Farid Long, Martin Tang, Siva Choy

1998 CD edition
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Why U So Like Dat?"Siva Choy1:52
2."Hey Gumak, Gumak"Annie Tan2:36
3."The Debate"Siva Choy7:44
4."The Tunnel"Siva Choy3:09
5."The Back-seat Driver...The Wife?"Siva Choy2:18
6."News at Ten"Siva Choy0:41
7."Beer, Mee Goreng & Albinoni"Faridah Ali2:47
8."Getting Thru' to the Boss!"Siva Choy3:59
9."The Debt Collector"Siva Choy7:21
10."DJ De Souza"Siva Choy6:06
11."Me, You & SDU"Siva Choy3:41
12."The 5 Cs"Siva Choy2:45
13."R-Rated Movies"Siva Choy2:57
14."Weekend Dracula"Siva Choy6:24
15."Airline Reservation"Siva Choy2:19
16."One Fine Summer Morning"S. Rajagopal2:39
17."Night Training"Siva Choy2:42
18."Oooh Baby"Jay Shotam0:36
Total length:60:02

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role
2001 One Leg Kicking Sammy Best[36]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Kitchi Boy (1985). Oh No, It's the Kitchi Boy Gang!. Singapore: Times Books International. ISBN 978-9-9716-5220-3.
  • Kitchi Boy (1986). I'm Sorry, It's Kitchi Boy Again!. Singapore: Times Books International. ISBN 978-9-9716-5223-4.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Yip, Wai Yee (5 March 2018). "Veteran blues musician Siva Choy, who penned Singlish rap classic Why U So Like Dat?, dies aged 70". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Veteran musician Siva Choy, songwriter of Why U So Like Dat? dies at 70". Today. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  3. ^ Ong, Tanya; Lay, Belmont (5 March 2018). "Why 90s 'Why U So Like Dat?' Singlish song is so memorable". Mothership. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b Choy, Siva (22 June 2004). "Oral History Interview". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  5. ^ Choy, Siva (6 March 1971). "Saturday with Siva Choy". New Nation. p. 4. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "Remember when..." The Straits Times. 10 August 1982. p. 22. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b "R.I.P. pioneering blues musician and humourist Siva Choy (The Cyclones and Kopi Kat Klan)". bandwagon.asia. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  8. ^ Walker, Judy (2 July 1982). "Swinging again". New Nation. pp. 32–33. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Pereira, Joseph C. (1999). Legends of the Golden Venus. Singapore: Times Editions. pp. 11–25. ISBN 978-9-8123-2058-2.
  10. ^ a b c d e Long, Susan (9 February 1997). "He cracks jokes and sings the blues". The Straits Times. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  11. ^ Choy, Siva (18 December 1971). "Siva Choy GOES WEST". New Nation. p. 12. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  12. ^ a b "SIVA CHOY TALKS ABOUT..." The New Paper. 2 March 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Siva's many faces". The New Paper. 2 March 1999. p. 18. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  14. ^ Toh, Christopher (2 November 2015). "Take a trip back in time with Stars Of The Golden Venus". Today. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  15. ^ Utomo, Delfina (21 November 2014). "Before Zouk, there was Venus… Golden Venus". Coconuts Media. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  16. ^ "FOR LOVE OF THE SIXTIES". The Straits Times. 15 April 1982. p. 1. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  17. ^ Quek, Barbara; Yeo, Zoe (10 April 2016). "Cover to Cover". National Library Board. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  18. ^ Choy, Siva (21 January 1971). "Historic site loses its relics". New Nation. p. 3. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  19. ^ Choy, Siva (21 January 1971). "The bus rush pickpocket team at work". New Nation. p. 16. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  20. ^ a b Tee, Hun Ching (15 January 1999). "No roots, Dat's the way I like it". The Straits Times. p. 4. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  21. ^ Wong, Kim Hoh (6 October 1991). "Why you so like dat, uh?". The Straits Times. p. 12. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  22. ^ a b Cheah, Philip (17 May 1986). "Meet the real Kitchi Boy". The Straits Times. p. 4. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  23. ^ Choy, Siva (30 March 1999). "Ill wind didn't blow in there". The New Paper. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  24. ^ Choy, Siva (11 March 2012). "The REAL dangers of digital devices..." The New Paper. p. 35. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  25. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "The Cyclones". nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  26. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "I'll". Spotify. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  27. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "Oh No, She Didn't Say". Spotify. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  28. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "She's Mine All Mine". Spotify. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  29. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "The Dew". Spotify. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  30. ^ The Cyclones (1967). "Your Thoughts, Your Cares And You". Spotify. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  31. ^ The Cyclones (1967). "A New Man". Spotify. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  32. ^ The Cyclones (1967). "Stop Your Sobbing". Spotify. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  33. ^ The Cyclones (1967). "I'll Be Home". Spotify. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  34. ^ Choy, Siva (1991). "Why U So Like Dat?". Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  35. ^ Choy, Siva (31 December 1998). "Why U So Like Dat?". Apple Music. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  36. ^ "One Leg Kicking". www.nas.gov.sg. 2001. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
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