Live Aid 1985

It's 12 noon in London, 7:00am in Philadelphia and around the world it's time for LIVE AID.

If there’s anyone who hasn’t watched the Live Aid DVDs before, this 57-minute video—which premiered on YouTube on the 14th of July to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Band Aid and 39th anniversary of Live Aid—has encapsulated most of the highlights from the London and Philadelphia performances. The video also serves as an unspoken mini-tribute to Freddie Mercury, with Queen’s Radio Ga Ga shown in its entirety, unlike the other performers’ truncated songs.

Live Aid, held on 13 July 1985, was a dual-venue benefit concert that brought together some of the biggest names in music to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine crisis. Organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, it is considered one of the most significant concerts in rock history and was watched by nearly 40 percent of the world's population. The event featured legendary performances from artists such as U2, David Bowie and Elton John, among many others. Queen’s set, in particular, is often hailed as one of the greatest live performances of all time, with Freddie Mercury’s showmanship and vocal prowess captivating the global audience.

Band Aid itself was a charity supergroup featuring mainly British and Irish musicians, founded in 1984 by Geldof and Ure to raise money for the famine. Their iconic song Do They Know It’s Christmas? became a massive hit, sparking the creation of Live Aid the following year to further support the cause.

For those who missed the DVDs, this video offers a condensed yet powerful glimpse into the magic of the 16-hour Live Aid satellite telecast that captured the spirit of unity and generosity that defined the event.

Waning, not waxing

I stepped out of the house last Saturday morning at six o'clock and was greeted by this sight of the overhead waning moon.

Old farts talking cock

Old friends from our Westlands Primary schooldays gathered for a small chit-chat over dinner on Saturday night at one of Penang's oldest Hainanese seafood restaurants, the Ocean Green. The exact date when this restaurant began its business is uncertain, but there are indications that it could be some 40 to 50 years ago. Nevertheless, it sits on the seafront, directly in front of the Paramount Hotel, which had its beginnings after the Second World War. As the land on which the restaurant sits also belongs to the hotel's owners, I would presume that long before the restaurant was set up, this area fronting the hotel was used for catering functions, where the best-dressed baba-nyonya would turn up for dances and makan-makan sessions. When these activities became less popular in the late 1970s, the hotel owners decided to convert the vacant area into a dining area with a roof to shelter people from the elements. Even today, it attracts a large crowd of local diners, with their foreign or outstation guests in tow, for its delectable traditional Hainanese dishes such as choon piah, grilled spring chicken, satay and more. The seven of us old farts, with at least 490 years between us, spent close to three hours exchanging opinions, gossip and generally talking cock in the restaurant, and our wallets were thinner by some RM50 each. But it was time well spent as some of us had not seen one another for at least a year. Our opinions were, however, another matter as we were very certain that whatever we said, they surely won't change the world during our lifetime.

Ewe Leong, Chien Ch'eng, Seng Huat, Oon Hup, Siang Jin, Seng Huat and I

The Free School guiders

Finally, my friend and I have completed the workshop for this year's batch of Free School Guiders. Over the course of one-and-a-half days, we have been gathered in the Sixth Form Block's lecture theatre with some 22 students from Penang Free School, ranging from Second Formers to Upper Sixers. Although we allowed some of the sessions to be led by last year's batch of Guiders, Siang Jin trained them on their roles as responsible student ambassadors, imparting right information to any visitors to the School. Meanwhile my task was to coach and correct them on the School's history.

"Ask and you shall be told," I had informed them. Thus, I have been feeding them information about the School's main building, especially the Pinhorn Hall, the senior government quarters on the other side of the school field, and the School's history in general. Of course, it was impossible to tell them everything or even more. For that, they'll have to fall back on Let the Aisles Proclaim, or failing that, then at least the 10 Free School videos and the Free School app. I tried to pay special attention to this batch of students as this year's Student Leadership Workshops are taking a hiatus for the year. Due to some unavoidable issues, the leadership workshops should be set for return next year.

Timeless tapestry

I wonder whether the cat on the cover of Carole King's Tapestry is still around? After all, the album is 53-years-old this week. Released in 1971 on Ode Records, it still stands as a monumental achievement in music history. I remember being blown away by the intimacy of her songs. From the first moment I placed the record on the turntable, her voice, though not the most powerful, cut across my living room and conveyed a sincerity that was truly captivating. 

The music in Tapestry can be described as deeply personal and heartfelt, blending elements of pop, rock and folk with a strong singer-songwriter sensibility. There are rich, melodic compositions that are both introspective and relatable, with lyrics that speak to the universal experiences of love, loss and personal growth. Her piano-driven arrangements complemented by soulful vocals, created an intimate and sincere listening experience. The simplicity and emotional honesty of her music have made it a timeless classic, resonating with listeners across generations.

With over 25 million copies sold worldwide, Tapestry remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. Its impact was recognised in 2003 when it was ranked 36th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Moreover, it was one of 50 recordings chosen by the United States Library of Congress that year to be added to the National Recording Registry, cementing its cultural significance.

Tapestry topped the Billboard 200 for an impressive 15 consecutive weeks and remained on the chart for over 300 weeks between 1971 and 2011. The album’s lead single, It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move, dominated the Billboard Hot 100, holding the number one spot for five weeks.

At the 14th Annual Grammy Awards, Tapestry swept the major categories. It won Album of the Year, and Carole King received Grammys for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Record of the Year for It's Too Late and Song of the Year for You've Got a Friend. These accolades made King the first solo female artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and the first female to win the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.

Beyond its commercial success and critical acclaim, Tapestry is an artistic benchmark, a cornerstone of '70s pop, and an industry phenomenon. With heartfelt lyrics and melodies that resonate with listeners across generations, Carole King's masterpiece continues to endure, influencing artists and captivating audiences worldwide.

Side One: I feel the earth move, So far away, It's too late, Home again, Beautiful, Way over yonder

Side Two: You've got a friend, Where you lead, Will you love me tomorrow?, Smackwater Jack, Tapestry, A natural woman

 

#caroleking #tapestry

Tan Teong Kooi (1937-2024)

I received word today about the passing of a former teacher at Penang Free School. After his training from the Malayan Teachers' College in Kirkby, England, and the Specialist Teachers' Training Institute in Kuala Lumpur, Tan Teong Kooi  eventually joined the teaching staff in the Free School in 1970 and remained until his retirement in 1994.

He never taught me, of course, because I was already in Form Five when he joined the school, but I remember him as one of the hippest teachers around. When not teaching Art and Craft to the boys and girls, he was usually found in the Teachers' Common Room, playing a decent enough game of chess with his teacher cronies, Toh Kok Aun, Tan Liang Joo and Chuah Soon Pheng. At the height of the world chess championship match in 1972, when the Chess Club initiated the PFS closed chess championship for a challenge cup donated by Fang Ewe Churh, the founder President of the Penang Chess Association, Teong Kooi worked his way past the competitors to play in the finals against... me! Yes, in those years, the PFS Chess Club allowed the teachers to join the tournament. I underestimated him in the first game and lost, but got my revenge quickly in the return game. We were declared joint champions. Having left the Free School at the end of that year, I don't know whether the teachers retained the same fervour for the game from 1973 onwards.

Teong Kooi's name is listed on the Penang Free School Roll of Honour for teachers who served more than 20 years. However, his real mark on the School was in 1978-79. As the Senior Art Teacher, he led a group of students to design the grand archway at the main entrance to the school grounds. For the inside story on the School Arch, this is what I wrote on pages 252-254 of Let the Aisles Proclaim, published in 2016 in conjunction with the School's Bicentenary celebrations

In the same year (1975), he (Goon Fatt Chee) mooted to the Board of Governors the necessity to build a main School Gate and four smaller gates at the other entrances, although real discussions on this ambitious project were only initiated in 1976. Based on his estimates, the cost of constructing the main gate would be about $40,000 while each of the smaller ones would cost less than $10,000. In 1977, Goon expressed confidence to the Board that funds could be raised for the gates’ construction from donations and the School would not have to bear the expenses. A disgruntled voice among the Governors questioned whether the gates were needed at all, but the Headmaster argued that the School deserved a front gate worthy of its stature and prestige. Further, he said, proper school gates would help considerably in tightening security of the school premises and keeping trespassers out. Another of the Governors spoke of adopting a less elaborate design but in the opinion of the Chairman of the Board of Governors, “nothing short of the best and most impressive was worthy of the School.” Eventually, a vote was taken of the Governors with seven in favour of the project and one against. In providing more information to the Board, the Headmaster said that the design shown to the Board had been drawn up by the pupils of the School under the supervision of the Senior Art Teacher. Much attention and care had been paid to ensure that the design retained the motifs of the main school building so that it would be in congruity with the architectural design of the parent building.

In 1977 Dato’ Ch’ng Eng Hye responded generously to the School’s appeal for donations to build the main School Gate. According to the School Magazine, three generations of the Choong family had studied at the School. Ch’ng was a pupil of the Free School from 1919 to 1923 – he was the Head Prefect in 1923 – and his sons, Eddy Choong Ewe Beng, Freddie Choong Ewe Eong, David Choong Ewe Leong and Louis Choong, were also educated here, as well as many of his grandchildren. The other Old Boys that donated to the cause were Loh Kah Kheng, Lim Seng Hock and Teh Choon Beng. The main gate, constructed at a cost of about $23,000, was modelled on similar arch patterns found in the School. The slanting roof, pillars, motifs of rings and criss-cross patterns were similar to those on the main school building. The project began in late 1978 and finished sometime near the end of the second term in 1979. The School Gate was declared open officially by Ch’ng on 29th September 1979. The Headmaster, in his school report at Speech Day 1978, paid tribute to the spirit of love and loyalty of the Old Frees who had rallied to the call of the Alma Mater. “The School required some gates that reflect the architectural grandeur of the main building,” he said, “and out spoke generous Dato’ Ch’ng Eng Hye, an Old Free. ‘I’ll donate the main gate to the Grand Old School,’ he had told the Board of Governors. We are proud of him. Other groups of Old Frees came forward too and said they too would donate for the two small gates."

On the cusp

UPDATE at 11.40am: He's done it! Poh Yu Tian is no longer a FIDE Master but a full-fledged International Master. Malaysia's 10th and the youngest to date! He deservingly obtained the title by winning his final game against his Filipino opponent, John Dave Lavandero, and with ease too. No-one else in the Under-18 Open category event was able to match him on points. Yu Tian's performance in this Standard Chess event has been an exemplary display of targeted training, good preparation coupled with natural talent.

Earlier this morning, I had written that he was on the cusp of becoming an International Master. Playing in the eighth Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship at the CitiTel Hotel in George Town. At that time, he was leading the Under-18 Open category with seven points from his eight games, having only dropped two draws.

To secure an outright first place in his category and be awarded the title from the World Chess Federation, he needed to win his final game today. If he had drawn, he would likely have tied for first place in his category and collect his third and final IM norm, which would still grant him International Master status. However, why share first place when he could win it outright? I had hoped he achieve the title in style. This type of success warms my heart.

As an indication of his current playing strength, here is Yu Tian's win in the eighth round yesterday, where he took control of the game and converted it into a textbook attack with opposite-coloured bishops. This 15-year-old truly has remarkable vision! I tell you, he has eight eyes, not four!

[Event "8th Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championship 2024"]
[Site "Cititel Penang Road"]
[Date "2024.07.14"]
[Group "U18"]
[Table "1"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Poh, Yu Tian"]
[Black "Tenuunbold, Battulga"]
[WhiteElo "2426"]
[BlackElo "2134"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. Nce3 Ne7 18. Nxe7 Qxe7 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. O-O f5 21. exf5 Bxf5 22. Qe2 Be6 23. Rd1 Bf7 24. Ra2 Qe8 25. Rda1 Bd8 26. Rf1 Qc6 27. Rd2 Bg5 28. Rd3 a4 29. Nb4 Rxb4 30. Bxf7 Rf4 31. Bd5 Qa6 32. g3 R4f6 33. bxa4 Qxa4 34. Kg2 Qa7 35. Rf3 Qc5 36. Rxf6 Bxf6 37. c4 Bd8 38. Be4 Qd4 39. Rd1 Qb6 40. Rd2 Bg5 41. Rd5 Qc7 42. h4 Bh6 43. Qc2 g6 44. Rb5 Bg7 45. Rb1 Qc8 46. Qe2 Qe6 47. Rh1 Bh6 48. h5 Kg7 49. Rb1 Qf6 50. Rb6 Qd8 51. Ra6 Rf7 52. hxg6 hxg6 53. c5 Rf6 54. Ra7+ Rf7 55. Qa6 Bg5 56. Rxf7+ Kxf7 57. Qb7+ 1-0

World Chess Day 2024

Today is World Chess Day. Why so? Because 100 years ago on 20 July 1924, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded in Paris, France. Hence, FIDE is also known as the Fédération Internationale des Échecs. Today is thus very special indeed for the worldwide chess community, and FIDE calls it reaching a monumental milestone: One Hundred Years of promoting and governing the game of chess.

World Chess Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 12 December 2019 to mark the date of FIDE's establishment in 1924. However, under FIDE's own initiative, this date—the 20th of July—has been observed as World Chess Day by chess players around the world since 1966.

The designation of World Chess Day not only recognises the role of FIDE in supporting international cooperation for chess activity and aiming to improve friendly harmony among all peoples of the world, but also provides an important platform to foster dialogue, solidarity and a culture of peace.

To celebrate the occasion and FIDE's Centenary, the Malaysian Chess Federation with assistance from the Penang Chess Association will officially join other national chess federations in an ambitious attempt to set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for the most chess games played in 24 hours. From novices to grandmasters, in classrooms and on streets, online and over-the-board, chess enthusiasts from every corner of the globe will participate in this historic event.

Today's final round of the main Standard Chess competition in the eighth Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in Penang, along with the subsequent Blitz tournament, has been registered as part of this world record attempt. We aim to contribute at least 180 Standard and 1,600 Blitz games to the global numbers.

#FIDE100 #FIDEChess #AsianChess #MalaysiaChess #PenangChess

Parental encouragements

Among my photographs taken at the eighth Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship, the most captivating are not of the individual players but of the parent-child interactions. These moments occurred in the few minutes before the start of each round when parents were still allowed in the playing hall. Regulations state that no parent or spectator is permitted in the playing hall once a round has started, so parents had to leave and wait in a smaller designated room. However, most preferred to wait out the time in the lobby.

During those precious minutes in the tournament hall, you could see parents and children all in their own personal worlds. Parents encouraging their sons or daughters, especially those in the Under-8 and Under-10 categories, helping the youngest ones fill out their particulars on the scoresheets, or sharing some not-so-private moments. Once the games began though, the children were on their own. The players in the Under-12 to Under-18 categories were more independent, and except for two or three, parents were no-where to be seen. 

These interactions reveal the blend of support and independence that characterises youth chess, revealing both the determination of the young players and the dedication of their parents.

1974 revisited: My reflections on Penang chess

Thank goodness for today’s rest day at the eighth Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship. It’s a much-needed break after five intense days of chess, with two more days to go. While I could be toiling away as an arbiter—being an International Arbiter myself—the younger arbiters are doing a most commendable job and I don’t envy their demanding role. My focus has been on capturing the essence of the event through photographs, keeping me on my feet from eight in the morning until six or seven in the evening.

Photographing the participants isn’t as easy as I had anticipated. Despite the spacious hall at the Cititel Hotel, the back-to-back arrangement of chairs leaves little room to manoeuvre without disturbing the players. Still, I’ve managed to take some decent shots.

During one of the rounds, I remarked to a fellow member of the organising committee, "Seeing these faces concentrating deeply on their games reminds me that we were once young players like them." He nodded in total agreement. How time has flown! Fifty-two years ago, when the Penang Chess Association was founded, we were using school canteens to play chess. Today, I am the only surviving founding life member of the Association—and among the most senior members. 

In December 1974, the Penang Chess Association organised its first international competition, and it was a significant one: the Asian Team Chess Championship, co-organised with the newly formed Malaysian Chess Federation. We played at Dewan Sri Pinang at the Esplanade, and notable figures like Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Syed Sheh Hassan Barakbah, Abdul Razak Hussein, Dr Lim Chong Eu and the Deputy President of the World Chess Federation attended the ceremonies. Yes, that was the vibrant Florencio Campomanes I referred to. Tan Chin Nam was the then-President of the Malaysian Chess Federation. (See the note below.)

More than just hosting the Asian Team Chess Championship, we also hosted the FIDE Bureau in Penang. As part of the World Chess Federation’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, FIDE held their fourth quarterly Bureau meeting at the Merlin Hotel, now the City Bayview Hotel. For several days, Dr Max Euwe presided over the FIDE Bureau meetings. Some board members also delivered public seminars. Although I was a player on the Malaysian team, I took every opportunity to attend these talks. While many details are now hazy, I distinctly remember Dr Euwe’s enlightening analysis of Bobby Fischer’s victory over Boris Spassky in the 10th game of their 1972 world championship match. Eminent speakers like Ineke Bakker who was FIDE’s General Secretary, Colonel Ed Edmondson of the United States Chess Federation, and Boris Rodionov of the USSR Chess Federation also graced the event. Both Edmondson and Rodionov were their respective federation’s permanent delegates to FIDE.

Reflecting on these moments makes me appreciate the rich history and evolution of world chess and also Penang chess, and it’s heartening to see the torch being passed to a new generation of players and organisers.

Note for history buffs: Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj was Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Syed Sheh Hassan Barakbah was Penang's third Governor after Independence, Abdul Razak Hussein was Malaysia's second Prime Minister and Dr Lim Chong Eu was Penang's second Chief Minister. 

#PenangChess #EAYCC2024 #ChessLife #ChessHistory #FIDEChess #AsianChess #MalaysiaChess

\