The First Singtao Amateur Singing Contest took place in 1960. Among the thirty finalists was Wong Jum-sum, who had adopted the stage name ‘Wong Jim’ for fear of being embarrassed from losing.

The contest was divided into a Mandarin and a Western pop section, with, rather symptomatically, no Cantonese section. More than a thousand people joined. Their choice of songs reflected closely the musical leanings of the time.

Wong Jum-sum was ousted at the final 15, an event he regretted for life. By contrast his good friend Judy Jim comfortably got the grand prize in the Western pop section, by taking a leaf from the Patti Page songbook.

The winner of the Mandarin section was Cheung Hoi-wan. She received classical music training and sang the ever-popular Liang Le-yin composition ‘The Song about Selling Sweets’ with a tantalizing mix of inflections.

Very soon, singers from both sections would take a big stride forward, stepping into a brave new world we call the 1960s.

You're the Right One (1953)

Composer: Harry Warren
Lyricist: Jack Brooks
Vocalist: Dean Martin

Your the right one
Yes, the right one
I have never been so sure
Of anyone before

Your the first time
And the last time
You're the one time
They'll be no more

You're the star
That always seems so far
But darling here you are
For all the world to see

So if you love me
Say you love me
For I know that
You're the right one for me

You're the star
That always seems so far
But darling here you are
For all the world to see

So if you love me
Say you love me
For I know that
You're the right one for me