Showing 1 - 10 of 14
Remembering the 'King of the Talking Song'
Life, John Clewley, Published on 13/08/2024
» National Artist and luk thung icon Phloen Phromdaen passed away on Aug 3, aged 85. He was one of the titans of the luk thung world, garnering the nickname Raja Phleng Phut (King of the Talking Song) for the spoken passages in the middle of his songs.
Farewell to a maestro
Life, John Clewley, Published on 10/04/2024
» The world of molam has been in mourning since news emerged that Thailand's greatest phin player Thongsai Thap Thanon passed away on March 20 at his home in Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani, at the age of 77. The phin is a two- or three-stringed Isan Lao lute that is part of the trinity of molam instruments, along with the iconic khaen (free reed bamboo mouth organ) and the sor (fiddle).
Country comes to the city
Life, John Clewley, Published on 31/01/2023
» The All-Thidsa Molam Band was in Bangkok this past weekend to perform at the Thailand International Jazz Conference. World Beat caught up with band last Friday when they played two sets at Isan Spicy BBQ, a rooftop bar at the Jim Thompson Art Center.
Couch surfing
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 30/07/2021
» Most of us dream of walking down the aisle -- the airplane one -- and the awkwardness that comes with trying to find your seat while avoiding people putting their bags in the overhead bins.
New kid on the block
Life, Published on 23/03/2021
» When Thai virtuoso rapper Nuttawut Srimok, better known as Golf F. Hero, realised that he had no notable song after working in the music industry for almost two decades, he decided to produce and release his first album, Into The New Era, in 2019. The seven-track album featured catchy high-quality songs and was an outstanding achievement that won him multiple prizes -- best artist and best album -- at Season Awards. By working hard, the rapper produced songs that music enthusiasts could sing along with at live concerts such as Suea Sin Lai (A Stripeless Tiger), Jam Keng (Slipped Your Mind) and Jam Loey Rak (Defendant Of Love).
A shining star in the North
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 24/01/2020
» After the hugely successful releases of the first three films, Thi-Baan The Series, one of a new breed of upcountry films, has just released the first spin-off movie of its franchise Thi-Baan The Series x BNK48, featuring teen pop idol group BNK48.
Mourning three legends
Life, John Clewley, Published on 13/08/2019
» Three legends died recently, each one of whom made important and distinctive contributions to their own musical cultures -- molam producer and impresario Theppabutr Satirodchompu, South African musician and bandleader Johnny Clegg, and New Orleans songwriter, pianist and bandleader Art Neville.
Made in Thailand
Guru, Published on 05/07/2019
» To say that Thailand has been getting global recognition lately may be a bit of an understatement. After all, it's not a secret that it's a famous tourist destination with plenty of beautiful beaches and street food that's been topping lists for years now. Of course, these are only just a few things Thailand is well-known for but we don't really have the time to get into all of that (*cough* rigged election *cough*). However, people from the outside may have a narrow view of what Thailand and its culture really is, but fortunately, there are things that help put a spotlight on these things. The next instalment of the Fast and Furious franchise is filming right now in parts of Thailand, including Krabi where its governor stated that the film would be a "great advertisement for the nature, culture and history of the kingdom". Erm sure, that's what the Fast and Furious franchise is all about anyway. While the film will most likely be more about cars zoom-zooming and vroom-vrooming, there are a number of shows on TV that give a better focus on Thai culture. Here are a few.
'Pluem' spreads his political wings
News, Nattaya Chetchotiros, Published on 16/10/2018
» Surabot Leekpai, the 30-year-old fledgling Democrat Party member, says he is a politician who understands Thai youth.