THAILAND: TWO EUROPEANS BECOME INSTANT STARS IN THAILAND BY PERFORMING TRADITIONAL THAI SONGS IN ORIGINAL THAI DIALECT

Record ID: 389794

  • Title: THAILAND: TWO EUROPEANS BECOME INSTANT STARS IN THAILAND BY PERFORMING TRADITIONAL THAI SONGS IN ORIGINAL THAI DIALECT
  • Date: 25th June 2000
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (JUNE 25.2000) (REUTERS) SCU SOUNDBITE (English) JONAS ANDERSSON SAYING: "I hope that it will be encouraging to Thai people to see that foreigners also appreciate the Thai culture and the Thai music so that may create a greater advantage for young people."
  • Embargoed: 10th July 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA51XPPPKVCGH1U9A1WJV6QTJYT
  • Story Text: Two young Europeans have become instant stars in Thailand - by performing traditional Thai folk music and singing in its original language. Christy Gibson from the Netherlands and Jonas Anderson from Sweden have hit the spotlight with their language skills - mastering a difficult Thai dialect from the northern part of the country.
    Two westerners are enjoying cult status in Thailand - performing traditional Thai music and dance.
    Dutch woman Christy Gibson, 22, who has lived in Thailand since she was six years old and her colleague Jonas Anderson, 28, from Sweden, have amazed Thai music fans by performing traditional 'look thung' Thai music.
    "Look thung" - which means son of the rice field - is the most popular form of folk singing in Thailand for its unique lyrics and poetry which usually tells the stories about grassroot Thai life and the people who live in the rural areas.
    "It does take some adjustment to work with Thai music because the scale they use is slightly different and the way their songs are produced and written is quite different, "
    Anderson told Reuters.
    "And, singing in "look thung" is something which I really appreciate - I pretty much like the way "look thang"
    singers sing and the way they control their voices and the things they can do with their voices - I feel they are very good," he added.
    Born in 1972, Jonas lived in Sweden until he was nine years old. He has been living in and out of Thailand for the last 17-years, learning Thai, mainly from his friends.
    Jonas is not a professional artist and the main reason for performing is his love for Thai music and cultural heritage.
    He has cut one solo album and expects to continue preforming traditional music programmes everywhere in the country together with his friend Christy Gibson.
    Christy Gibson, a Dutch girl who came to Thailand with her parents when she was six, sings traditional Issan (northern Thai) songs and takes singing lessons to improve her skills.
    Christy still lives with her parents who are involved with the "Family Volunteer Organisation". Jonas and Christy met and formed a small performing group called "Heart to Heart".
    "The 'look thung' singers themselves are very good. Of course, we cannot compete with them and we don't try to. But we just try to do what we can to show that we really love the Thai culture. That's the main thing for me...doing 'look thung' singing," Christy Gibson said.
    The singers also use six foreign friends as dancers for their concerts along with numerous Thai performers.
    Christy is expected to release her first solo album some time in October this year.
    Both singers hope to be able to continue performing in this authentically Thai form of entertainment, and it seems that many Thais are more than willing enjoy their singing.
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