Latest doesn't always mean finest. When the new kids on the block come up with songs that don't make the cut, veteran artists can often fill the slot with the same old satisfaction guaranteed.

Whether it's because they feel modern music lacks melody or simply to nurture nostalgia of older fans, artists who have been out of the industry for a few years or are behind the success of the new generation are stepping back into the limelight with their own albums.

And not only are they winning recognition from younger audiences but they're also landing prestigious awards.

Manasawin Nantasen, aka Tik Shiro, has been getting a lot of airplay both on radio at TV and last week won Best Solo Male Artist at the well-respected Season Awards for his latest album "Boran Man" ("Ancient Man").

Others like pop star Anchalee Chongkhadikij, Inca and Noklae bands are now almost as popular as they were more than 10 years back.

"For listeners hearing these old voices doing numbers with the same arrangements is like meeting up with an old friend," says veteran DJ Nopporn Udomsuk from FM One.

Most of the successful returning stars have wisely stuck to their past images. Nopporn mentions an unnamed artist whose comeback wasn't a success because he wanted a completely new look.

But maintaining the look doesn't mean you can't modify the details.

Co-producer Pirom Wichitsumpan and founder Somkiet Suyaraj of the decades old Noklae Band felt it was essential to get up-to-date. The naive-looking outfit from the North has gone from "Num Doi Tao" ("Doi Tao Boy") to "Doi Tao dot com".

Instead of singing about the hard life of the hilltribes as they did 20 years ago, the lads now talk about their Otop products, e-commerce in the village and even touch on the current political conflict.

However, they've retained their original style - the hilltribe look and sound. "People still like their northern accent and the naivete," says Pirom.

"Fashion has come the full cycle," comments Anchalee Chongkhadikij who was rocking fans 20 years back and setting a record for female vocalists by selling more albums than many male singers of her generation.  She returned to the scene with her "50" album after several years of singing with her church choir.

"Now that we've seen a revival of the '60s, the '70s and '80s are in line to be the next trends."

Bell-bottomed trousers never really leave the fashion world, Anchalee says. They just re-appear with different details.

"The details in the newer versions of the pants have changed a little to cater to the current market."

Likewise, modern details like musical techniques need to be included in a song to make it catchy for the younger audience. To record a successful album, she says, both producer and songwriter must be in touch with the trends and know what the audience likes.

Today, she sings love songs written by romantic songwriter Boyd Kosiyabong.

Tik Shiro also knows the secret of shaking up music fans. He's returned with his original R&B style but with more up-to-date content. Despite his success, Tik admits that after 10 years of working behind the scenes, it took him longer than usual to produce the latest album.

"You've to be different," he comments.

"I wanted 'Boran Man' to appeal to young generation listeners as well as my older fans."

Once hailed as Thailand's Michael Jackson, Tik - who is also an award-winning drummer - decided to drop his dance steps to make his album stand out from the many releases put out by today's pretty faces.

"Dancing peaked a long time back," he explains.

He also used real instruments rather than computerised backing on "Boran Man". And while the lyrics talk about love, they're sung in the R&B style that made "Aok Ma Ten" ("Let's Dance") a smash hit 15 years ago.

Tik says that his music as well as albums recorded by other musicians from the last couple of decades still sells because some of older listeners can't accept the changing style of music.

"They reject the contemporary [computerised] music and long for the beauty of the melodies and lyrics they used to hear years ago."

Music buff Tidarat Israngkul Na Ayudhaya agrees. While she has nothing against the dozens of young bands in the music industry, "they don't seem to have anything unique about their sound. Most of the songs appear have the same kind of lyrics and rhythm," she says.

"Sometimes I can't figure out whose song it is. They are so similar," the part-time piano teacher complains.

Songs from past decades, which she describes as having a certain arrogance about the language, made it much easier to identify the singer.

Worawit Pikulthong, producer of Inca Band, understands the longing for melody and the need for nostalgia.

"They [today's music makers] seem to focus only on the words or slang to catch the attention. It's just a marketing tool."

Inca Band recently returned to the music industry with "Inca Arrival" after a hiatus of 13 years. Fifty per cent of the album features romantic love songs in Inca's original style, the other half is a mix of tunes.

DJ Nopporn feels nostalgia is the way to go, explaining that it's really about meeting listeners' expectations. Almost every artist wants to return and have her or her own album again.

"If the timing's right and the singer has the passion to meet the demand from old time fans who long for the good old days, then it will be a success," she says.

Sirinya Wattansukchai

The Nation