Setha steals the show
The new National Artist and his former Impossibles band members light up the night
In testament to singer and newly crowed National Artist Setha Sirachaya’s continuing popularity, more than 3,000 fans turned out to the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre for last Tuesday night’s “Jak Wan Nan Thueng Wan Nee Proh Mee Khun” concert by Setha and his former Impossibles bandmates.
In fact, the fans – most of them in their 50s – were so impatient for the show to begin that they arrived early, coming by MRT subway and car and taking over the food centre as well as the stairs of the plenary hall from early evening.
The sold-out concert started at 8pm on the dot with Setha and the Impossibles’ remaining members – Vinai Phanthurak, Sithiporn Amornphan, Pichai Thongniem and Panuwas Pathanakul – donning their signature bright blue suits and opening with a medley of “Aquarius” and “Let the Sunshine In” from the musical “Hair”, and a cover of Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Love Me with All of Your Heart”.
“This is different from my earlier concerts. Before I started, I felt tired even though I only had to tackle two steps,” quipped the 68-year-old crooner. “Now, I’m going to sing three songs from the first CD. I was wondering whether you even were born when those songs came out. But now, looking at your faces, I’m more confident.” The audience laughed.
Setha was referring to his latest release, a box set of four CDs featuring 40 songs penned by four master songwriters: Sa-Nga Aramphee, Chalee Inthrawijit, Phayong Mukda and Suraphol Donavanik. These have been re-arranged by four producers: Vichai Punyayan, the former frontman of Pink Panther, Panathep Suwannabun, Pathai Wijitvejakarn and Chatree Kongsuwan.
Standing alone on stage with a backup band behind, Setha started his first set with Sa-Nga’s tunes “Chao Phraya”, “Phom Noi Jai” and “Nueng Nai Roi”. They received enthusiastic applause though I felt the new arrangements made then harder on the ears.
The Impossibles returned to the stage briefly with Vinai soloing on “Khoi Nong” before the whole band joined him for “Chuen Rak”.
Next Setha paid tribute to Chalee in “Wa Wae”, “Paan Chan Nee” and “Muean Mai Khoei”, explaining that the latter was originally written as a poem. These three numbers sounded more modern than the first set but older people familiar with the songs would find it hard to sing along with the re-arrangement.
Setha then handed the stage to Sithiporn for a guitar version of Don McLean’s “Vincent” before a cheerful set by the Impossibles that featured such hits as “Thalay Mai Khoei Lup”, “Lam Nam Rak”, and “Oh Rak” that had the audience singing along. Pichai went solo for “Khad Ther Khad Jai”, Vinai made “Nai Wa Ja Jam” his own and Panuwas borrowed “Mahasajan Haeng Rak” from his son, Ton Chanat.
The band closed out first half with a medley of oldie songs that included “Goin’ Out of My Head” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”.
The second part of the show started much like the first with a medley of oldies like “Simon Says”, “Proud Mary” and “The Talk of All the USA” followed by “Ngua Hai” and a medley of their Thai songs.
Setha paid respect to master Payong with “Chan Pen Khong Ther” with an acoustic guitar, “Khiriboon Bin” with grand piano accompaniment, and “Ram Pitsawas” with a melancholy tone.
Guests Mam Patcharida and Poom Orawan, formerly of popular trio Sao Sao Sao and the chorus singers for the fourth CD, sang together in “Hua Jai Hern” before providing the backup for Suraphol’s “Nao Nuea” and “Ror”. Chatree’s rearrangement made the slow songs feel livelier. The producer then sang the string combo’s song “Joob Fah La Din”.
Setha and friends closed their concert with “Pen Pai Mai Dai”, the number with which the Impossibles’ traditionally ended their sets.
