If the singing doesn't pay off

Overall champion Thanon “Non” Chamroen demonstrated his gift for impressions. His impersonations of other contestants’ dancing, singing and other behaviour was spot-on – and hilarious for the audience and host Krit Sriphumseth.
First runner-up Thachaya “Keng” Prathumwan also generated laughter by describing what it’s like to have a weirdly spiky hairdo – especially when you’re a kindergarten teacher.
Second runner-up Pichet “King” Buakhum revealed that he’s a professional singer who’s been in the back-up chorus for top stars like Thongchai “Bird” McIntyre and has performed on his own in many places. “I still sing at the Saxophone pub every Monday,” he told Soopsip while visiting The Nation last week. We asked whether his fee has shot up thanks to “The Voice”. “No,” he said. “I owe the pub owner too much!”
And third runner-up Trakarn “Ta” Srisangchan proves to be a great artist, rendering a fine portrait of Krit. The host wanted to know how long he’s been pursuing art. “Just this year,” Ta grinned.
The four will soon be hitting the road together for “The Voice” tour, starting in Chiang Mai on January 23.

He knows guys
Hello! magazine has Bonanza Khao Yai owner Paiwong Techanarong on its latest cover, and inside, the father of Songkran (and father-in-law of actress Taksaorn) talks about studying at Woodbury University in the US and opening a chain of Thai restaurants.
He also denies that he’s ever been involved in organised crime. “There is no such thing as a ‘Mafia’ in Thailand, believe me,” he says.
But Paiwong, currently an adviser to the interior minister, admits he’s well connected due to his time in the States, where he greeted many senior Thai visitors.
“I was president of a Thai association there and it was my duty to greet them. Would you believe I’ve been to Disneyland almost 80 times?”