At the Rhythm & Boyd Alumni Concert this week, Boyd Kosiyabongse showed off the singers of his compositions like a proud school principal flaunting his trophy-winning students.

Dubbed Thailand's Santana - whose compositions were famously performed by a number of singers over 10 years - Boyd played host onstage, grandly presenting his "alumni" one by one to a crowd of 30,000 at the Chulalongkorn University Stadium, while the fans were praying it wouldn't rain.

The crowd screamed in response to the intro music - "Lom Hai Jai" ("You're My Everything"), but the tune quickly faded into "Pleng Rak" ("Love Song"), which Nop Ponchamni and Boyd sang together on the circular stage in the middle of the stadium.

Throughout the show Boyd and his alumni tried to cover all the angles, running around while singing and talking to different sectors of the audience.

And Boyd did talk quite a bit. Besides a series of well-known numbers, there was Boyd Talk all along.

Before singer-cum-news anchor Suthipong "Heart" Tadpithakkul came out to perform "Klang" ("Mad"), the crowd shrieked as young Burin Boonvisut of Groove Rider crooned "Sanya" ("Connected"). They were frenzied when Peacemaker's Boy conjured up "Huajai Pook Pan" ("Because our Hearts are Tied").

With his hair bound in a knot behind his head, Boy was the first singer whose voice was really clear through the very loud music.

"Boyd gave me life in my music career," Boy said in gratitude. "Even though I have other engagements, I just had to be at this concert."

Then it was time for the Rhythm & Boyd Eleventh, in which 11 performers, plucked from bands like B5 and Lipta, teamed up for "Tad Sin Jai" ("This Time"). Pru's Krisada "Noi" Terrence pulled his usual ballet antics, sliding about like Jamiroqui, while singing "Por" ("Enough").

Long-lost entertainer Santhorn Kraiyoonsane - Sopchai "Ford" Kraiyoonsane's brother - made a surprise appearance to duet with Marisa Sukosol Nunphakdi on "Keb Dao" ("Star"), moving the audience with romantic crooning.

"We almost didn't get Santhorn because he lives in a very exotic country and was very much unreachable," Boyd joked.

When Thee Chaiyadej started scratching his guitar on "Ja Keb Thur Yuu Nai Jai Samer" ("Always"), the audience decided it was time to sing along.

Noi returned for another number, this time with the rest of Pru, and then B5 blasted through a soul-style medley.

One of the oldest of the alumni, Phaiboonkiet "Pun" Kiewkaew, took the audience for a ride "Home", everyone singing along slowly.

The mellow mood didn't last for long though. Joined by Nop, Po of Yogi Playboy made his way onstage in a typically sexy manner for "Tieng Kuen" ("Midnight").

Next, performing one of the most popular songs in Boyd's repertoire, Radklao Amaratisha sliced through the octaves with Zomkiet Ariyachaipanich's remixed "Lom Hai Jai", which got the fans dancing.

Boyd's blue-eyed boy - Modern Dog's Pod - did a double on "Rak Khun Khao Laew" ("Falling in Love") and "Chao Ying" ("Princess").

The concert ended just like that, without a proper goodbye, but a few seconds later there was a message on the screen: "Do you want more?" The screaming only produced a second message: "I can't hear it".

The encore began with DJ Salinee Panyarachoon on screen, cajoling the audience to vote by SMS who should sing first - Kamala Sukosol Clapp, Anchalee Jongkadeekij or Settha Sirachaya.

The grandma diva won.

Kamala was superb with her Broadway-like vocal reverberating through "Live & Learn". She was followed by Settha, singing "Muan Koey" ("As Usual"), and then all three performers sang Anchalee's "Hang Klai Lua Kern" ("So Far Away").

Then Pod was back with "Krai" ("Who"), presented in a shower of gold and silver confetti, prettily blown to reflect the lights.

As the concert drew to a close, Boyd said he wanted someone truly inspiring to sing "Song Tor Kwam Rak" ("Pass the Love Forward"), and gave the stage to Santi Lunphe.

Santi's formidable voice has featured in a number of patriotic tunes, including the national anthem.

The night ended with all the singers assembled for "Rue Do Tee Tak Tang" ("Seasons Change"), and the audience was sent home with an impressive display of fireworks.

Kreangsak Suwanpantakul

The Nation