Sivanandan Choy
Birth dateMay 22, 1947
Birth placeColony of Singapore
Death date4 March 2018 (aged 70)
Death placePerth, Australia
Alma materUniversity of Singapore (BA)
OccupationMusician
Years active1957–2018
SpouseIlsa Sharp (m. 1986)
Siva Choy
Backgroundsolo_singer
OriginSingapore
Genre
Instrument
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Label

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

Sivanandan Choy was born to an Indian family in Gillman Barracks, in Alexandra. His father, was from Kerala, India, and moved to Singapore to work as a civilian foreman for the British Army, managing a British military power station located in Gillman Barracks. 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 of three brothers.[4]

Choy was supposed to be Choyi, like his father's; a clerk at the registry issuing his father's identity card spelt it as Choi. 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 listed to music in different languages, including 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, and pioneered 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]

In 1969, Choy graduated from the University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts with honours in philosophy, political science and English.[10][11][12]

Career

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.[13][14] 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][15]

Upon graduation from university, Choy worked as a journalist for Fanfare, an entertainment magazine published by Straits Times Press.[11][12][16] In 1971, Choy also worked briefly as a correspondent for New Nation.[10][17][18]

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.[19][20][21] 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][21]

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.[19]

From 1999 to 2012, Choy wrote a column for The New Paper.[22][23]

Personal life

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

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

Discography

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
2001One Leg KickingSammy Best[35]

Bibliography

  • 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

  1. ^ Yip, Wai Yee (2018-03-05). "Veteran blues musician Siva Choy, who penned Singlish rap classic Why U So Like Dat?, dies aged 70". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  2. ^ "Veteran musician Siva Choy, songwriter of Why U So Like Dat? dies at 70". Today. 2018-03-04. OCLC 46474542. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  3. ^ Ong, Tanya & Lay, Belmont (2018-03-05). "Why 90s 'Why U So Like Dat?' Singlish song is so memorable". Mothership. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  4. ^ Choy, Siva (2004-06-22). "Oral History Interview". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  5. ^ Choy, Siva (1971-03-06). "Saturday with Siva Choy". New Nation. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  6. ^ "Remember when...". The Straits Times. 1982-08-10. p. 22. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  7. ^ "R.I.P. pioneering blues musician and humourist Siva Choy (The Cyclones and Kopi Kat Klan)". bandwagon.asia. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  8. ^ Walker, Judy (1982-07-02). "Swinging again". New Nation. pp. 32–33. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  9. ^ Pereira, Joseph C. (1999). Legends of the Golden Venus. Singapore: Times Editions. pp. 11–25. ISBN 978-9-8123-2058-2.
  10. ^ Long, Susan (1997-02-09). "He cracks jokes and sings the blues". The Straits Times. p. 7. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  11. ^ "SIVA CHOY TALKS ABOUT...". The New Paper. 1999-03-02. OCLC 224529521. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  12. ^ "Siva's many faces". The New Paper. 1999-03-02. p. 18. OCLC 224529521. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  13. ^ Toh, Christopher (2015-11-02). "Take a trip back in time with Stars Of The Golden Venus". Today. OCLC 46474542. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  14. ^ Utomo, Delfina (2014-11-21). "Before Zouk, there was Venus… Golden Venus". Coconuts Media. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  15. ^ "FOR LOVE OF THE SIXTIES". The Straits Times. 1982-04-15. p. 1. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  16. ^ Quek, Barbara & Yeo, Zoe (2016-04-10). "Cover to Cover". National Library Board. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  17. ^ Choy, Siva (1971-01-21). "Historic site loses its relics". New Nation. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  18. ^ Choy, Siva (1971-01-21). "The bus rush pickpocket team at work". New Nation. p. 16. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  19. ^ Tee, Hun Ching (1999-01-15). "No roots, Dat's the way I like it". The Straits Times. p. 4. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  20. ^ Wong, Kim Hoh (1991-10-06). "Why you so like dat, uh?". The Straits Times. p. 12. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  21. ^ Cheah, Philip (1986-05-17). "Meet the real Kitchi Boy". The Straits Times. p. 4. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  22. ^ Choy, Siva (1999-03-30). "Ill wind didn't blow in there". The New Paper. OCLC 224529521. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  23. ^ Choy, Siva (2012-03-11). "The REAL dangers of digital devices...". The New Paper. p. 35. OCLC 224529521. Retrieved 2024-12-08. – via NewspaperSG
  24. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "The Cyclones". nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  25. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "I'll". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  26. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "Oh No, She Didn't Say". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  27. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "She's Mine All Mine". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  28. ^ The Cyclones (1965). "The Dew". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  29. ^ The Cyclones (1967). "Your Thoughts, Your Cares And You". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  30. ^ The Cyclones (1967). "A New Man". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  31. ^ The Cyclones (1967). "Stop Your Sobbing". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  32. ^ The Cyclones (1967). "I'll Be Home". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  33. ^ Choy, Siva (1991). "Why U So Like Dat?". Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  34. ^ Choy (1998-12-31). "Why U So Like Dat?". Apple Music. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  35. ^ "One Leg Kicking". www.nas.gov.sg. 2001. Retrieved 2024-12-08.