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.

Teddy (1960)

Composer: Paul Anka
Lyricist: Paul Anka
Vocalist: Connie Francis

There's the guy
I want you to know
He's the guy
I love so
He's my Teddy
Oh Teddy
I, I love him so

Oh, I remember
The day that we met
I'd be so silly
To ever forget
Woo Teddy
Oh Teddy
I, I love him so

Oh, he is so shy
It doesn't matter
You're my guy
Can't you see
That I want you
I need you
I love you, I do
And you belong to me

I'll always love you
The rest of my life
We could get married
I'd be your wife
Woo Teddy
Oh Teddy
I, I love you so

I'll always love you
The rest of my life
We could get married
I'd be your wife
Woo Teddy
Oh Teddy
I, I love you so