By Nihal D Amerasekera
Nina and Frederik are names that take me back to my roots and those vibrant teenage years. They were the voice of my generation growing up in Sri Lanka. Despite a battery of important examinations that was indeed a magical time in my life. The soft tone of Nina’s voice blended beautifully with Frederik’s husky voice striking a chord with the music loving public. They moved effortlessly from folk to calypso and pop, remaining icons well into the 1960’s.Many of those songs were popular and sung by several artistes.Their songs werealso murdered ruthlessly on talent shows and karaoke bars.Yet nobody delivered the lyrics with quite the same warmth and humanity as Nina and Frederik. There was a calming Zen air and a mystique about them and their music. It was obvious then that the couple were something very special.
Frederik van Pallandt had a privileged childhood. His father was the Dutch Ambassador to Denmark. Less is known of Nina’s early life but it is believed she too had similar aristocratic connections in Denmark. Nina Moller-Hasselbalch spent her childhood in Copenhagen. They were both born in 1932. Perhaps apocryphal, the story goes that they first sang together aged 4 years. Frederik’s father was the ambassador in Trinidad. He attended the University of Trinidad and Tobago. During those years Frederik and Nina had remained in contact. Nina had visited the van Pallandts in Trinidadand they began to sing together. Frederik played the guitar. They sang their kind of folk and calypso music first to friends and family and then at parties. Before long they became a popular singing duo in Trinidad. Socially too they were in great demand. Their popularity spread until in 1957they were invited to perform at the famous Mon Coeur night club in Copenhagen. They received a rapturous reception and enjoyed critical and popular acclaim. This gave them the courage and the determination to go further with their music. Soon they had their own TV program in the UK. Love blossomed and Nina and Frederik married in 1960.
In those days I saved my pocket money to buy all their 33.3 vinyls and the 45 rpm’s.Over the years I had almost their full collection. They first made their mark in 1959 with “Mary’s Boy Child” and “Little Donkey” which were hits for Harry Bellafonte. Then came “Jamaica Farewell” and “Come Back Lisa” that hit our charts like a storm. Their two albums reached the top 10 in February 1960 and May 1961. “Long Time Boy” and “SucuSucu” came in late 1961. They had a string of hits with “Little Boxes”, “Try to Remember”, “Puff the Magic Dragon”, “Blowing in the Wind” and many more.
Nina and Frederik were a glamorous couple. They werehandsome,
elegant and graceful on stage. With their fine blend of music they soon became
famous in Europe. Before long their popularity soon earned them international
fame and acclaim.In 1963 they performed at the prestigious Savoy Hotel, the
Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London.The duo became a
fixture in the newspapers and magazines and their popularity soared among the
jet-set. In their live shows the fans experienced their innate sense of showmanship. They speak warmly
of theirsinging and their visible attraction to each other. The duo had the
wonderful ability to make those songs personal as if they sang it specially for
you.
After their marriage ended Nina carved out a solo career for herself. In 1970 Nina was associated with Clifford Irving who was jailed for fraud. She went on to appear in several movies. In 1976 she married Robert Kirby, a South African actor in Cape Town. Nina van Pallandt wrote her memoirs and called it “Nina” but not much is known about her life beyond this.
The 70’s was a period of enormous transformation in my life. I was finding my feet in a new country. Changing jobs, change in career meant further examinations that required time and enormous effort. Burgeoning family commitments brought great happiness, although a struggle at times. There was no time for reflection and my love of music was on hold. Until the children were at university I was on the treadmill of life. When I dusted off my vinyls I found the music industry and the technology too had moved on. Compact disks had taken over from records.The new amplifiers and speakers provided music much closer to a live performance. As I entered the real world the big names in music too had changed. Some of my favourites had crossed the vale, some had retired and the others had lost their way in the new world.I finally recaptured the enjoyment of music. Listening to the old music brought back many memories of people, places and events. Nina and Frederick always featured high in my list of all time greats. As I hear “Listen to the Ocean” I recall the peace it brought to my soul in those turbulent teenage years. “Come back Lisa” brings home the heartaches of teenage loves lost in the rough and tumble of life. Nina and Frederik earned the applause and drew the crowds. It brings me great sadness to hear the way their lives panned out despite their many achievements and success.
Privilege, education, talent, fame and fortune, Nina and Frederik had it all. But these provide no protection from the frailties of human life and the awesome force of destiny.
For a time Frederik started a farm in Ibiza. That was short lived. He later married Sussanah and moved on and settled in the Phillipines. He allegedly became involved with drug trafficking. Frederik was an avid sailor and loved the sea. Tragedy struck in 1994 when Frederik and his wife were in their yacht, The Tiaping,with their young son, when they were both shot and killed. The murderer is believed to have been another member of the syndicate. Overcome with grief,Nina flew out to the Philippines and took his body back to his homeland. He was buried near his parents' grave in the Netherlands.
My thanks to Nina and Frederik for their wonderful music. They came, entertained and faded away. The songs live on, helping us to relive memories of a simpler and less frenzied world. Still when I hear Nina and Frederik sing I’m transported back to a time of tremendous uncertainty and hard study. Their music coincided with great personal success too.I found entry into the Faculty of Medicine and then to an immensely satisfying professional career. At least for me their unique blend of music will remain timeless forevermore.Nina and Frederik are a true music icon, their legacy will live on.
May Frederik find eternal peace and may Nina now 88 be happy and have a peaceful life.
Thanks, Nihal for that walk through memory lane to the accompaniment of music by Nina and Frederick. I am a great fan of their music but wasn't aware of their personal histories. Somewhat tragic though. When I think of husband and wife duos in Sri Lanka, I immediately recall several famous ones such as Dharmadasa and Lata Walpola. Lata Walpola is her stage name and she was Rita Fernando before she married Dharmadasa. All their five children are great singers too (nature or nurture?). The other famous couple is Eranga and Priyanga. I still have a CD produced by their son Dinuke called "Turning Point" with songs such as Podi Nona, Vessanthara, Baila Medley, Rala Bindu, Cosas del Amor etc. Their popular song "Podi Nona" (So much powerful officer’s daughter Hang-ed and died, my small lady) was first sung by her father Leonard Weerasinghe, with Lakshmi Bhai – both language versions – at the Tower Hall Theatre. It was a traditional folk song that they adopted, maybe referring to a white memsahib who committed suicide. Her mother was a great pianist. Priyanga was musical too and played the guitar. They were apparently introduced to each other at a party and liked each other straight away and three years later got married. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2014. Tony Fernando, famed for managing the Jetliners, discovered them and got them playing at the Coconut Grove. They performed throughout the world. They migrated to the UK and then to the Los Angles as they wanted a warmer climate (don't blame them!).In the UK, they were contracted to the BBC and also recorded for EMI. In the US they moved to Hawai and finally settled down in New York. Right through their careers, they wore traditional Sri Lankan dresses and insisted on retaining their original names resisting pressures from agents to adopt more anglicised names.
ReplyDeleteAs Nihal says, the 70s were a tumultuous period of change and adaptation for all of us. We were frogs darting about freshly released to a world outside we had heard of but not seen. For me too, music has been a constant source of solace and joy. I am fortunate enough not to be blinkered and being able to appreciate a wide range of musical genres. I am all for experimenting and evolving and I enjoy the musical fusion of western and eastern music which has produced a unique type of music. Thanks again Nihal
To add to your list of husband and wife singing duos, I am reminded of PLA Somapala and Chitra. They lived down Chitra Lane (I wonder whether it was named after the singer)in Colombo 5. Their son Chitral has inherited the mantle from his parents. His promotional song for Lion Lager is superb. Chitral had opened bowling for Issipatana. Sanath and Malkanthi Nandasiri, and Malkanthi's sisters Amara and Niranjala who married singers Dayaratne Ranatunga and Abeywardene Balasuriya were also popular singers. There were others like Rukmani Devi and Eddie Jayamanne, but they never sang together.
DeleteI remember Priyanga who was quite wealthy, driving around in a Mercedes Benz with a soft top (tourer)in the early sixties. That was before he married Eranga. Perhaps because of the popularity of Podi Nona, another hit - Rala Bindu never made the mark. It's a lovely song.
Mahen
ReplyDeleteThank you for your unstinting support for everything that appears on the blog. Those comments are thought provoking and well thought out. I remember Dharmadasa Walpola and Latha who were a sensational singing duo both on celluloid and airwaves. I still listen to Chaminda Walpola and his Indian wife Preethysha who sings so beautifully. Her Indian accent adds to the beauty of those songs reminding me of that ever popular
Lata Mangheskar. Their rendition of “May Soumya Rathriya” is a winner. Eranga and Priyanga too bring back many memories for me of our Faculty days when WDL Fernando and HVJ Fernando sang “Officer’s daughter” in forensic detail at the Health Dept sports Club one sunny afternoon. Apparently it is a true story of suicide of the daughter of a high ranking British Officer. I have just a vague recollection of Lakshmi Bhai and those Tower Hall days from my grandparents.
I remember Tony Fernando and the Jetliners connection. Tony owned “Tony’s record shop” in Bambalapitiya where I was a regular visitor to splash out my pocket money. If I remember correct Tony was married to Mignonne Ratnam of the Jetliners. Sadly Tony died young of leukaemia.
The current lockdown is a great privilege and a wonderful opportunity to walk down the musical memory lane and also to listen to some of the more recent songs from my homeland. A glass of wine no doubt enhances the enjoyment beyond measure. I am deeply impressed and thankful for the enormous collection available in YouTube and also Spotify. I like the jolly music of the Marians and the revamped old songs by many brilliant new singers with wonderful instrumental accompaniment. Chandimal Fernando and Keerthi Pasqual sing those old songs with verve and vigour. Mohideen Beig’s son Ishak sings those old Sinhala cinema favourites brilliantly with Uresha who sings like Rukmani Devi. Sashika Nisansala sings those old songs so very well. There is a recording of WD Amaradeva singing “Shanta me ra yame” with the Marians. This must be one of Amaradeva’s last recordings as he looks feeble and also forgot his lines too but were wonderfully and ably supported by Nalin Perera The Marians and it all sounded seemless.
Thanks Mahen for your thoughts and memories.
Thank you ND for a great post.I always read them again and again.My favourites
Deleteof them were Mango Vendor ,Maladie D’Amour,Jamaican Farewell and Banana Boat.What a glamorous couple they were.Epitomes of Nordic beauty.I saw their images much after I had heard the songs.You will remember, Ingrid Bergman,Anita Ekberg,and Britt Ekland amongst others.They and North Indian actresses,like Nimmi,Nargis and Suraiya were the secret idols of my youth.
Mahen
Priyanga was a classmate of ours(me,Bora ,Lareef etc ) for many years at STC.We were not aware of his musical talent then.He was studious,and prim and proper unlike a lot of our unruly mates.He was usually,the class monitor and would write the names of the boisterous boys on the the blackboard.Most teachers being sensible, did not pay attention to these infamous lists.
I met him twice recently at Thomian functions, and he looked mellowed and distinguished.I first saw Eranga and Priyanga in a BBC children’s program in 1974 and was bowled over.He came from a distinguished lineage, which I think included Sir Paul E Peiris.Another of our classmates who ventured on an unusual path was Rohan de Soysa.He left us in SSC prep and continued schooling in Switzerland;subsequently he became a well known photographer in UK and also SriLanka.He is now the chairman of Sapumal Foundation which has a gallery in Barnes Place Colombo ,housing the work of the ‘43 Group.It is a must see in Colombo for art lovers.
It’s so wonderful to catch up with these old mates at reunions ,much like our own ‘62 batch.”So inspiring to have someone walk beside me and be my friend “ Albert Camus
Kumar
DeleteAh! Those were the favourites of our time - Maladie D'amour. Banana boat song etc Ingrid B and Anita Ekberg got my pulse racing too. I do remember those Hindi film stars Nimmi in particular. Eranga and Priyanga brings back wonderful memories of a certain time in my life. I still listen to their "Officer's daughter". What a wonderful talent.
Kumar, how fascinating to learn that Prianga was your classmate! You may be aware that his wife Eranga has a brother Sohan Weerasinghe who is a musician and leader of the band,Sohan and The X-periments. This was formed in 1976. He was the Lead vocalist. I have no idea whether he is still in the business.
DeleteTony Fernando (as Nihal correctly identified as Mignone's husband) arranged E & P to perform every Sunday at the Coconut Grove’s ‘Sundown Dances’. They had a spot of 15 minutes to which they fitted in four to five songs, with their ‘theme song’ included. Eranga wore redda-hatté and came on stage with bare feet while Prianga wore a sarong.
Nargis was called the "Elizabeth Taylor" of India,just like our own Rukmani Devi, of Ceylon.
Anita Ekberg (sigh!!), when you admire a picture of her in a magazine, you had to make sure it was at distance to avoid "a lasting impression" on your face, just like Jayne Mansfield and Gina Lollobrigida!
Mahen, a bit of trivia for you. The actress Mariska Hargitay is Jayne Mansfield's daughter. She stars in the long running TV series "Law and Order SVU." I don't know if you get that series in the UK.
DeleteFriends
ReplyDeleteThis is a timely reminder that the 30th of May is our Remembrance Day when we remember our departed friends from our batch. Please contribute a tribute in whatever form to be included in the Blog. They will never be forgotten.
When I revised the list of deceased members after Ranjith K's death, I thought of remembrance day. Ranjith was the 41st in the list out of 166.
DeleteNihal and Mahen, In the 1950 s in our residence at 47, 42nd Lane, Wellawatte (house by the sea) we had an annexe and Leonard Weerasinghe and his family were our tenants.I remember Priyanga quite well, although it was well before her singing days. Later the tenant was one Iranganie Peiris and among her frequent visitors were her relatives Eranga as well as Senaka Bandaranayake. Many years later. Senaka inquired from me in which house the Chilean Nobel Laureate poet, Pablo Neruda had lived. Apparently he had lived down 42nd Lane in the 1920s, before my father had constructed the house.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Sanath. As they say, it is s small world! I think Eranga was the lady and Priyanga the man.
DeleteSanath
ReplyDeleteI remember very very long ago , perhaps early 1950's, my father's brother Annesley married a lady from 42nd lane. Her name was Pearl but don't recall the maiden name. She had a daughter from a previous marriage. That lane seemed the centre of the universe in those days as I had relatives in the next lane too whom you know.
Nihal, who were your relatives down 41st Lane , now re-named as EA Cooray Mawata?
ReplyDeleteThe Weerasekera family lived in 41st Lane. My mothers family too were Weerasekera. My mother's brother married from the Weerasekera family in 41st Lane and that was a Weerasekera - Weerasekera marriage. Suveni Weerasekera the girl who married my uncle was at LCC and well known to Sriani and perhaps to Srianee too. Rohini Anandaraja too knows her from school. It is indeed a small world.
DeleteI'm sure you recall Poopa from our batch and also Vedavanam lived round the corner from there.
Hi Nihal, Thank you for the history of Nina and Frederick. I have that one Calypso album that I converted to digital format and play it from time to time (I'm listening to one of their songs as I write this - "Eden was Like That" -which I found on iTunes)
DeleteAnyway, about the Weerasekeras who lived on 41st Lane, I knew them well. I believe Sriani Basnayake is in touch with Suvendrini. Hiranthi, her younger sister married Naomal (Bole) Jayasundera. He passed away several years ago. I believe she still lives in Arkansas. We rode in the LC school bus together when I lived down Rajasinghe Road.
The Colombo 1960 batch has a good reference to apage Nina Nona saha Pederik mahatmaya!http://1960medicalbatchcolombo.blogspot.com/2015/03/nina-frederic-oldies.html
ReplyDeleteAnd
http://1960medicalbatchcolombo.blogspot.com/2016/04/nina-and-frederik-songs.html
Nihal
ReplyDeleteI still enjoy the golden oldies.I fully agree with your comment “bring back memories of people, periods, places and events”.
C.T. Fernando's Evergreens like "Lo ada ninde", "Salalihini Kowul","Belinda nalawe ukule" remind me of the fifties….
In 1953 six boys from the STC Prep School entered the STC Mount Boarding. H.N.Wickremasinghe, my brother Ranjith and myself were amongst these. Although we were in different houses, we moved as a group during our free time, so much so, we were referred to as the Prep School gang. Tragically during the first term HN lost his father. We were all devastated. That is the first time I had encountered the loss of someone connected to me . At this tender age it took me sometime to get over. At the time of this death, CT’s song “Belinda Nalawe Ukule” was being played frequently over the radio: in houses, shops and boutiques. That song always reminds me of HN’S father. For several years after his death, I would be overcome by melancholy on hearing this song.
Other favourites of the Fifties:
The nostalgic songs by Dean Martin,"That’s Amore" and "Don't let the Stars getting in Your Eyes" by Perry Como. I can recall these two songs along with "la cougeracha" being played over and over again at the 1953 Royal Thomian match in the Thomian tent in between overs and during intervals. When I hear these songs I can picture P.I.Peiris stroking the ball in his innings of 123. Royal were beaten by an innings. Apologies Sanath for reminding you. Mahen you must have still been a Prep School Thomian, chuckling over my confabs!
From St Thomas to Medical School:
Songs by the Beatles and Sir Cliff Richards, along with the theme song from the film, “Come September” are some of the hits which remind me of our Medical College Days.
Passing out:
"Please Release Me'', "Ten Guitars", "Delilah", with C.T's Wana Bamburu bring back memories of graduation and the euphoria which followed. Idem for CT's other hit song "Sihina Lowe sihina mawu mali” (Dream World etc) - what an appropriate title for that period! This music also evokes fond memories of the internship, fellow interns and squatters at the main quarters, the fun and enjoyment experienced dancing at the Coconut Grove (Jetliners), Akasa Kade (Spitfires) and the Union Place night club (Rex De Silva).”
“Those were the days, my friend. “
Priyanga Peiris Kumar, Lareef and myself were classmates.. Priyanga did not show much musical talent when he was with us. I vaguely remember he had a deep voice(more baritone than tenor). Priyanga was a promising cricketer, left school early, otherwise may have had a chance of making the First X1..
Sohan Weerasinghe who sang Englebert, Tom Jones and Jim Reeves numbers was his wife Eranga’s brother.
Bora
DeleteThank you for your wonderful recollections of a life and time now long gone. Yet those memories linger. Your thoughts of HN takes me back to my internship when we spent a year together. We had a raucous group with Tudor Wickramaratchi, AP Gunatilaka (Asoka) one from STC and HN. Those CT Fernando songs were still in vogue and I fondly recall the heavy drinking and singing them at the top of our voices into the stillness of the night. It breaks my heart to think none of them are alive today. I wonder if you knew AP Gunatilleke. I know he went to New Zealand but lost touch. Do you have any information as to how his life panned out? Did he get married and have a family?
Take care and keep blogging!!
Nihal
DeleteI knew AP very well at STC.We were in the same dormitory in 1953/54 and played a lot of tennis ball cricket with him.
I do not know whether he got married, you are right he went to N.Z ,I was told he had problem , I vaguely know what it is but do not wish to discuss it in the open.
Thank you for your post,I enjoyed N&F and as you described their voices blended beautifully.All this time I thought that Jamaican Farewell and coconut woman were Harry Bellas originals.Very informative and stimulating
HI
ReplyDeleteIn my previous post I should have mentioned that soon after HN lost his father,he left STC and joined RC,we lost touch until we met again in medical college.
Bora, you may have missed my comment after Kumar which starts thus:-Kumar, how fascinating to learn that Prianga. I mentioned the fact that Eranga's brother is the singer and band leader Sohan Weerasinghe and his band The X-periments. This was formed in 1976 and I wondered whether they are still performing 46 years later!
ReplyDeleteAll the songs you mentioned are my favourites too. I must add Tony Brent to the list- I loved his songs such as In my Little room, Little serenade, how can I be so lonely etc. We can easily start a new discussion on Sri Lankans who made it big in the International scene. Yes, I was still in STC Kollupitya when you were rollicking at STC Mount in the sixth form. Just remind me how you and Kumar Boralessa are related. One last point, I think Prianga spells his name with an "i" and not a "y".
OOPs! Two errors. Sohan's band 44 years not 46 years and you were not in the 6th form at STC Mount in my final year at STC Kollupiiya and in equivaent of Form 1 at Royal.
DeleteMahen
DeleteYes,I had missed Kumar G's post and your reply
re E & P.Kumar B is my younger brother.
Tony Brent was one of my favourites too,particularly,"Little Serenade" which
went like Lal la la la just a little street down in Puerto Fino.Have you been there.I saw Andrea Boccelli's concert on TV held in Puerto Fino and the venue lookrd stunning, fell in love with the place stat.I saw Tony Brent live when he performed at St Peters College Bamba in 1959 or 1960.His first
two hits were "Cindy Oh Cindy' and "Two innocent Hearts" in 1957.Tony
was an Anglo Indian but not known outside the sub continent.
Nihal,I think "Bole"Jayasundera who was in our senior batch married a Weeresekere girl from 41st Lane. You are right about Pupa and Vedavanam;Pupa lived at the top of 40th Lane, which was a blind end and Vedavanam lived down Rajasinghe Road. Bunter Fernando lived at the top of Rajasinghe Road. We used to play soft ball cricket on 40th Lane and Joe Wijayanayagam who was in our junior batch,used to be a regular player.
ReplyDeleteSanath
DeleteThats correct. Bole married Hiranthi and my uncle married the elder sister. The youngest sister married Prof of Dentistry - Ekanayake
Dear All,
ReplyDeleteDuring our internship,CT Fernando performed live in the Boosa racecourse grandstand.His songs and music were divine.Quite a contrast to our raucous screechings ,fuelled by alcohol and accompanied by a lone guitarist Byrd G.Most of the consultants including Drs Wilfred Perera,Anandaraja and Tony Gabriel attended.They shouted Beehive brandy shots for us ,amplifying our fun.Sunna and I got a lift back from DBK De Silva(Eye Surgeon).He had also invited two pretty young nurses ,so we were a tight fit in the back seat of his VW.The rumour that our hands strayed is a mischievous fabrication.We escorted them to their rooms in the top floor of the Obstetrics wing.To prolong the journey Sunna kept ,pressing the up/down button.Finally he relented to their pleadings ,that they will get into trouble with the supervisor.
Such are the tales of our well spent ? misspent youth.
Bora, fortunately, I did not see the Royal-Thomian match of 1953 as I was in the RPS. Ubhaya de Silva was the captain of our team. From 1954 on wards I have not missed a Royal -Thomian match, unless I was abroad. In 1997 I came from abroad to watch the match.The first time I witnessed Royal losing was in 1963 when Premalal Goonesekere captained your team and Shaw Wilson captained our team.Your brother Kumar opened batting for STC.Sarath Seneviratne scored a brilliant 90 odd runs which he did in two successive years. During school holidays Premalal used to go for cricket practices from our house. I am a life member of the Mustangs tent.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I witnessed a Royal victory was in 1969, when Eardley Lieversze (Darrell's cousin)captained our team and Dijen de Saram captained STC. Dijen is FC's son and he married Siva Obeysekere's daughter. Long ago Siva Obeysekere consulted me because her grandchild was a chronic wheezer.
Sanath
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that you were not taken for then Royal-Thomian when you were in the RPS,I started going for these matches from 1950 when I was at STC Prep.Cannot remember anything of the 1950 match.1951 :STC lost ,Melinda
Amerasinghe my cousin and Chester Ratnatunga's uncle played for Royal.
Correction;Premalal captained and Royal lost in 1964.
I believe Nanda Dias (Tilak Dayaratna's uncle)and Chanaka De Silva(Dr Stella'snephew) hold the record for attennding consecutive Royal-Thomians.I
understand you are there from start to finish,do many of your class mates come to the Mustang tent.
Being such a keen Royal-Thomian fan ,I think this story which was related to me
might interest you.In order to get familiar with the surroundings and more
importantly the pace of the wicket Royal played a practice against the Tamil Union
a few days before the Big match probably in 1957.Royal opted to field first and
Patrick Poulier(I hope I got the name right) was given the new ball.Sathasivam is
the opening batsman and on his way to the wicket he tells the bowler,I know your
father well,bowl line and length,I don't want any bouncers.Mynah.W overheard this
conversation and mischievously advised Patrick,"Machang the bugger is scared of
bouncers give him a few.The first delivery is a chest high loosener,Satha takes a
step back,muttering "I told you not to bowl bouncers" hooks the ball for six.Next time Iam in Colombo,I must check this story with Michael Dias.
Bora,As I know Mahinda W.(Channa's brother) quite well, I will check with him. The captain of our winning team that year was Vairavanathan and I think he is a brother of Dr. Visvanathan and an uncle of Thiyagaraja who was a Vice-captain of our team. He was in our junior batch.I will check from Chanaka whether he still holds the record.
ReplyDeleteZita usually 'brings up the rear' but in no way is what I am about to say about your fantastic article about Nina and Frederick, music in general and about its role in your life, any the less appreciative of your fantastic writing. You do keep us so interested and on the 'edge of the seat' almost the way you write. I have not read the comments of the others above, yet but each one has his or her own way of appreciating, anyway. To me too, my childhood and early adult years are indelibly marked by the music and personalities of Nina and Frederick. To me, music and entertainment almost stopped with these magical characters in music history. It was the ultimate in entertainment, relaxation and indulgence in all that music means to a person! I was really sad when suddenly their voices seemed to have got silenced, or stopped being a day to day sound, and now I realise that the sudden change in their life patterns and their break up were responsible. And your recounting of the rest of their history breaks one's heart, almost, as no one would even slightly wish any of these bad things to happen. That just shows how unpredictable life can be even if it starts off like a fairy tale. Nothing can take away what they did for music history and our own journey through it. Nothing can detract from what we thought of them and let us just realise that fame is not everything it is cracked up to be. In our own way if we led a life of dedication to helping others like we all have done, we can look back and be happy in these our twilight years. Thanks, Nihal, for keeping us entertained and enthralled by your own fantastic writing and we look forward to more from your pen guided by your brain which has accumulated not just medical knowledge but a great store house of many other interesting subjects. Zita
ReplyDeleteZita,you have expressed your thoughts cogently and beautifully.I couldn't agree more with your sentiments. Life is a journey which is mostly unpredictable, taking us through happy as well as sad experiences with stops and starts where passengers get in and out, where we experience generosity as well as selfishness but all the "vehicles" we travel in move ultimately to one destination, "the end" and once we alight form that vehicle, we don't really know what happens as we pass through "customs", never to be seen again! So, let us take to heart your wise statement above -"Nothing can detract from what we thought of them and let us just realise that fame is not everything it is cracked up to be. In our own way if we led a life of dedication to helping others like we all have done, we can look back and be happy in these our twilight years". Amen!
DeleteZita
ReplyDeleteIt is the encouragement from people like you that keep the blog alive. Thank you. I wish Joe read this as well as he is a keen music fan. Lockdown is an opportunity to write. Let there be many more of those lovely rhyming poetry from you Zita. Take care and be safe
Nihal,
ReplyDeleteThank you for bringing us the detailed life story of this great musical duo.
It is difficult to fathom their heartbreak given they brought so much joy to all the world.
It brings to mind the ‘fatalistic’ lines of the beautiful ‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’ by Thomas Gray-
“ And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave. “
May Nina have peace the rest of her life - while the duo’s music entertains generations to come.
Rohini
DeleteThank you for your thoughtful comment. I call it the awesome force of destiny to the chagrin of the likes of Mahen who prefer to have mathematical logic to such phrases. Free speech is such a wonderful thing. I can get away with it.
Srianee - Not forgetting the trouble you took a while ago to travel by tuk- tuk in SL to get us an entire album of Nina and Frederick on line - scanned from your dad’s collection of vinyls I think - Thank you
ReplyDeleteSrianee
ReplyDeleteI recall your love of the duo and their music. You most kindly sent me a fine collection of their songs which I still cherish.
Hi again, Nihal and Rohini, (I wrote a 'reply' comment above) Yes, I was happy to do that vinyl to digital conversion because at that time I couldn't find Nina and Frederik on iTunes. But now they seem to be available. I am presently listening to Nina and Frederik's version of Jamaica Farewell, which is lovely. I also love the Harry Belafonte version. By the way Belafonte is in his 90s and continues to be a political activist. I saw a lovely documentary on his life done by his daughter I think.
ReplyDeleteNihal, I may be seeing this in May but your wishes, your sentiments mean a lot to me and Joe. The latter, as you know, is the all time fan of your writing just as much as I am. I always have to print out your articles and writings so he can relax in bed and read them and enjoy the beauty of the writing as well the content which is always special! Well done to Lucky and our Blog for giving our batch mates a platform where after 50 years or more after our medical days, they have the chance to show their 'mettle', almost like 'metal'. Yes you have to be made of hard stuff to go through this life!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nihal! from Zita