A passion for the past

It was another concert of nostalgia, one performed by popular singers of the past. But this one at Bangkok Hall, Suan Lum Night Bazaar, last Saturday (July 21) was different. Its cause was for charity, rather than business.

Proceeds from the concert go to Wat Phra Baht Namphu, which provides hospice and lodging for HIV/Aids patients. The temple is running out of funds due to a large number of patients, as well as orphans of the dead dwellers, under its care.

The concert was organised by the temple to raise funds for the project. It was managed by a group of followers of the temple's abbot Phrakhru Udom Prachathon, led by Prathuang "Mao" Udomkitnuphab, the bass guitarist of popular boy band of the past "Chatree".

Each ticket cost Bt1,000 and the holder was entitled to one Chatukham amulet, a goodluck charm which has become a national craze. The seating price was reduced by half shortly before the doors were opened for concertgoers.

The concert began half an hour after the schedule with the hall halffull. It began with a littleknown band of young men called Tabasco, in which Prathuang's son Ratchakorn is the lead singer.

Then came the main performances by 10 popular singers of the past. They were either solo artistes or lead singers from different bands and most of them never performed together.

Prathuang warmed the audience up with three of his once popular songs: Sanya Jai (Agreement of the Hearts), Fan Chan (My Girl), and Jai Nang (Woman's Mind).

Chairat "O" Thiebthiem and his guitar was next to perform. He charmed the audience with his smooth voice doing trademark songs Sukha Yu Hondai (Where is the Toilet?) and Ther Thirak (My Sweetheart), as well as his sense of humour.

Some members of the audience were overheard commenting that Chairat's voice remained almost unchanged from when he was more than 20 years younger.

It was the next performer that managed to attract much participation from the audience. Phusming Nosavan, who described himself as a musician who can sing, encouraged the listeners to sing along and clap while he was playing his guitar and singing his popular songs of yesteryear in cheerful tunes  Tua Thaen (Substitute) and Botrien Son Jai (Lesson from Love).

Real fans of the performers not only offered them flowers and presents but also gave them encouragement right in front of the stage, showing them thumbsup and singing along in groups.

Prawit Pongthananikorn, better known to his fans as "Wit Freebirds", performed wellknown songs by "Freebirds", his boy band of the early 1980s. The songs include Coy (Wait) and Sing Sudthai Kue Ther (The Last Thing is You).

The performers joked about their ages and those of the audience. Most of the audience are in their late 30s or over. That's not surprising given the fact that most of the songs performed that night were popular more than 20 years ago.

Then came female singers. Pornpimon "Koy" Thammasan and then Janthani Unakul went on stage to mesmerise the audience with their timeless songs. Fans sang along effortlessly to the familiar lyrics.

Pornpimon performed a few songs from her heyday  Waen Laek Jai (Trading Your Ring with My Heart), Sai Koen Pai (It's Too Late) and Maimee Wannee Eek Laew (Today Will Be No More).

Janthani got loud cheers when starting and finishing her trademark songs in her still charming and mesmerising voice  Sai Chon (Stream of Water), Ther (You), and Long Rak (Experimental Love).

She also sang an extra song that has never been in her commerciallyreleased albums. The lyric for "Dok Mai" (Flowers) comes from a poem she wrote in memory of her departed mother. She said her engineer husband later composed the melody and the finished song was released in the form of CDs distributed to participants of her father's funeral.

The song uses flowers as analogy for life and death. The message is that you cannot stop flowers from withering and decaying in the same way as you cannot stop humans from getting old and dying.

Singer Opas Tossaphorn, who is known among his fans as "Odd Brandy", performed popular songs from his longdefunct band "Brandy" and a couple of wellknown "luk thung" songs he covered after becoming solo artiste.

Then it was the turn of cheerful singer Varunee "Uan" Suntreesawad, who wowed the audience with her powerful voice and triggered laughter with her sense of humour. She performed her popular songs like Kid Kon (Think First), Ther Ja Lueak Krai (Whom Will You Choose?), and Kod Chan (Hug Me).

Joining Varunee later for duo song was her former duo partner Direk "Tu" Amatayakul, who is equally funny although he became a bit too naughty sometimes during the show.

Direk later went solo with his wellknown songs like Sao Bang Pho (Bang Pho Girls) and Dek Wat (Temple Boys). Wearing his trademark attire decorated with a string of CDs, Direk danced his way towards the end of his session. Actually, he began panting at the start of his third and last song.

Chatchai Sukhavadi, better known by his stage name of "Rang Rockestra", was the last one to go on stage. He performed a couple of his hits Kid Thueng (Missing You) and Rak Ther Prathet Thai (Thailand, I Love You), which has been selected by the government for its campaign for social and political unity. A former naval officer, Chatchai also performed his new song "Klai Kangwon" (Far from Worry), which coincides with the name of His Majesty the King's palace in Hua Hin.

Chatchai made some obscure political comment while calling for social unity, but that was enough to upset some fan of the former government leader seated behind this reporter. She was heard complaining about "economic hardship" and "unfair treatment" to someone.

The last song, composed by the abbot Phrakhru Udom Prachathon and dedicated to HIV/Aids patients, was performed by all the 10 singers of yesteryear, taking turns to sing each line of the lyric.

Most of the performers succeeded in fulfilling the expectations from their fans. They managed to keep most of the audience members in their seats until the very end of the concert, which lasted three hours.

Kittipong Thavevong