Suzanne Walker is Singapore's best radio DJ but I haven't heard from her in so long. I can understand why she's stopped coming on radio - just listen to the new generation of presenters on-air - and anyone can understand why she's left the industry. Actually, to be fair some of the old radio DJs are still around but they say the same old thing over and over again. Suzanne was very personable on air and not fake. If she's sad she'll tell you she's sad, if she's happy you'll know she's happy. That was the most human aspect about Suzanne, unfortunately only male presenters can be themselves the female jocks always have to happy peppy and positive; its so fake. I'm sure there is a feminist explanation for this - something about the servile nature that society expects from women and because of this false pretense all these girls come on radio and perpetuate this sterotype in full make up and emanciated frame.
ok I"m just raving, I've been trolling the internet looking for Suzanne Walker and only come across a few articles about her. Strange that with so much talk of Singapore having a 'lack of talent' we let talented creative people like Suzanne Walker slip through so easily into obscurity.
I like this photo of Suzanne I found on the internet; Suzanne Walker miss you on radio, you're the best DJ Singapore every had. I remember calling you to dedicate messages on radio through the years and you're always ready for a random chat whenever I ring the public line to the DJs. Take care and thank you for those precious memories when radio was exciting and everything I looked forward to.
ok I"m just raving, I've been trolling the internet looking for Suzanne Walker and only come across a few articles about her. Strange that with so much talk of Singapore having a 'lack of talent' we let talented creative people like Suzanne Walker slip through so easily into obscurity.
I like this photo of Suzanne I found on the internet; Suzanne Walker miss you on radio, you're the best DJ Singapore every had. I remember calling you to dedicate messages on radio through the years and you're always ready for a random chat whenever I ring the public line to the DJs. Take care and thank you for those precious memories when radio was exciting and everything I looked forward to.
Hi Annie,
ReplyDeleteI think I can help you here. I understand Suzanne Walker went to work for the United Nations somewhere in Africa and returned a few years ago to attend the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS on a scholarship. My friends who met her at university said she was very humble and low profile, never calling attention to herself. She would tell her classmates that she was a student like everyone else whenever someone tried to call her out.
You're right about Suzanne in being very friendly and personable but I don't think she bought into the celebrity lifestyle. It is true that female DJs seem to have to fit into a cookie cutter mold and any women with some brains won't want to stick around long enough; Suzanne came across as more of a personality than being glamorous or cute. I remember how I used to sit in the car after I had parked it at my HDB lot and listened to her show until 2am. Anyone who heard her on Love Songs on Class 95 will know what I mean; she didn't just make the show romantic, she made it sappy, funny, realistic and even practical. These days I'm prepared to switch channnels while driving and the radio is the first thing I turn off once I park. Anyone who listened to her will understand what I mean because radio is so boring now. Nothing personal to the DJs, I know they have a tough job.
Hope my inputs helped.
Sorry there is one photo of Suzanne, her last press photo for radio 913. I wanted to paste it for you but can't. Here's the link
Deletehttp://sg.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A2oKias_.WdSvDUAkcYl4gt.;_ylu=X3oDMTFxcTN2ZXR1BHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAMwZWNmNGNhNjQxNGZiZjRiZTdkMWE5ZTUxZWYzY2E0NwRncG9zAzI-?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsg.images.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dsuzanne%2Bwalker%26fr%3Dyfp-t-712%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D2&w=199&h=300&imgurl=radio913.files.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fsuzanne_walker.jpg%3Fw%3D497&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fradio913.wordpress.com%2Fabout%2Fsuzanne-walker%2F&size=17KB&name=%3Cb%3ESuzanne+Walker+%3C%2Fb%3E%7C+Radio+91.3+%28Unofficial%29&p=suzanne+walker&oid=0ecf4ca6414fbf4be7d1a9e51ef3ca47&fr2=piv-web&fr=yfp-t-712&tt=%3Cb%3ESuzanne+Walker+%3C%2Fb%3E%7C+Radio+91.3+%28Unofficial%29&b=0&ni=21&no=2&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11ji0bie2&sigb=13a9lo8u1&sigi=11t5istj7&.crumb=gcFVisMmdnB&fr=yfp-t-712
interestingly both of you brought up insightful observations of Singapore's society. the lack of inclusiveness and the obsessive need to categorize and label individuals. this could have been derived from our systemic rating of individuals - fat/thin, rich/poor, school smart/technical inclined. It is an indication of society's sophistication when we can embrace and accept individuals who choose to not be a part of the herd. I would call suzanne a maverick; she lived her own life and had her own opinons and many of us could not accept someone who is different. The reason why radio is getting boring is because the 'personalities' have become predictable; they have been groomed to be accepted by the masses. In doing so, they in turn join the herd and breed mediocrity. Disagree if you must, but this is my opinion.
ReplyDeletebtw, I heard from classmates who took classes with her that she was very low profile but fun to do group work with. She is a good mimic and could do great impersonations of all her professors.
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ReplyDeleteMs Pek, You have fallen prey to your own hypothesis - you have labelled suzanne after having underscored the crippling effects of labels and rankings. Ms Walker may have other skills beside broadcasting and decided to embark on a different career path as a result. I would if I had to listen to Justin Bieber everyday! That I wager would be the reason why many good djs leave - crappy music is enough to make anyone loose their good sense of humor and render them silent. Personally, i think some DJs on radio right now have no mind and thus should not attempt to speak.
ReplyDeleteI still remember when France lost to Italy in the World Cup. She was at it on air, she was pretty much into the Z Z sending off etc and I find them rather hilarious when she said she gonna stay away from all thing Italian. Hope she's back into pasta and pizza now. Missed her voice on air...
ReplyDeletethis lady was crazy on radio; when she and sheik haikel were on air everyone was calling up to say they were from Tampines just to listen to Sheik repeat Tampines with the emphasis on 'peeenes'. they pick safe djs to crack safe jokes these days, not one dj around today can cut their teeth internationally, i mean hitting a foreign market with their personality period! Has anyone heard the kind of banter on radio? It's like conversation from a sewing circle!
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