Boxing for the better man
Young singers Kacha and Tao join forces in a battle of song and dance
Two alumni of TV’s reality talent show, Academy Fantasia Season 8 – Sattaphong “Tao” Phiangphor and Nontanun “Kacha” Anchuleepradit, collectively known by their young fans as “Khoo ’Gin” – return to the stage of Bangkok Convention Centre at Central Lat Phrao” next month for their third full-length concert.
After a spot of relationship-building in 2012’s “At Love The Series” and of working together in last year’s “The Final Mission”, the show this year puts them at loggerheads in line with the theme “Let’s Fight”.
“At our previous concert, we were partners who helped each other finish our mission. Now we’re fighting. It’s a battle to see who can sing and dance better,” Kacha says.
“We’ve never done this kind of show before,” Tao continues. “The audience will hear plenty of fighting words.”
Tao and Kacha will perform 20 songs, including their latest singles “Loke Mai Na Yoo” and “Tha Roo Kor Khong Mai Bok” and will be joined by Lipta plus Pichaya “Golf” Nitipaisalkul and Sucha “Aom” Manaying, stars of the upcoming horror flick “The Couple.”
Tao, a fan of Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown, says his “Loke Mai Na Yoo”, is about a man whose girlfriend has broken his heart.
“Quite by accident, it follows on from my last single, ‘Korn Wan Sud Thai Ja Ma Thueng’ which related a couple’s story before they split,” he explains, adding that the melody is still Brit pop rock and also samples the organ wedding tune in the intro.
“My song, ‘Tha Roo Kor Khong Mai Bok’, is about friendship that develops into love. The man can either choose to keep his feelings to himself or tell the girl, and he decides to declare his love. The girl though doesn’t want more than friendship but the fact that he has spoken out causes their relationship to change,” says Kacha, who admires Jay Chou and Bruno Mars.
“I started by singing it in my usual vocal style but that just didn’t go with the music. My producer Phi Pui [Dusit Thansakul] suggested I listen to Adele and try to emulate her powerful and emotional voice.”
Neither of the boys particularly likes the “Khoo ’Gin” label they have been given but say they’ve become immune to the suggestion that they are a couple.
“When I first heard it, I had no idea what it meant. Perhaps our fan clubs would like us to be together! But now it doesn’t trouble me. I know who I am,” says Kacha.
Tao agrees. “I think some people like to imagine us as both friends and lovers. And because a number of artists have come out about their homosexuality, it’s almost become popular to admit to being gay,” he says, adding that he isn’t sure if fans would really accept them as a gay couple.
“And in any case, it’s impossible because both of us are into girls,” Kacha says.
That’s not to say they have anything against same-sex relationships. Neither is bothered by the kissing scene between boys in teen move “Hormones” or the TV series “Love Sick the Series”.
“It depends upon the intention behind it. There’s nothing right or wrong with loving. Society must open its doors and be more tolerant,” says Kacha.
“In my view, anything that makes parents accept and respect their children’s preferences is a good thing. Relationships are about love and feeling,” says Tao.
So would they act out a gay kissing scene if required to do so?
“I’d have to think about it and discuss it with the person who wanted me to do it,” Kacha laughs.
“I’ve never done it and never been asked,” Tao adds. “But I guess it depends on the merits of a particular situation.”
Gloves off
_ “Let’s Fight” takes place at the Bangkok Convention Centre, Central Lat Phrao” on November 2 at 2pm
_ Tickets cost from Bt1,000 to Bt3,000 at Thai Ticket Major outlets and online at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.
