Orchestral fantasy with hard-hitting lyrics
Carabao team up with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra in celebration of the band's 1984 release "Cambodia"
Songs-for-life veterans Carabao recently joined up with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra at Mahidol University’s Salaya campus for a concert that saw the band’s unique version of Thai rock blending beautifully with the more classic sounds of the TPO.
Titled the “Cambodia Big Band concert”, the event was part of the ongoing celebrations to mark Carabao’s 30 years in the music industry though perhaps not surprisingly, it failed to drew the usual hardcore songs-for-life fans and those who did come along chose to respect the occasion by dressing up.
The audience remained seated too for the first 90 minutes of the show, with frontman Yuenyong “Ad Carabao” Opakul only forcing the crowd up to its feet for the three last numbers: “Talay Jai”, a reprise of “Din Nam Lom Fai” and “Khon La Fun”, none of which appeared on the set list. Ad also convinced the TPO musicians and their conductor, Prateep Supanroj, to dance along and Prateep was happy to oblige, putting down his baton and shaping his hand into the traditional buffalo hand sign as he moved around on his podium.
Musically, the concert showed how much Thai music has developed over the years. Ad’s unique vocals were complemented by the orchestra on such numbers as “Rak Tong Su”, “Chan Chao Kaa”, “Ngaem Jai”, and “Ba” and the powerful lyrics of Cambodia” and “Din Nam Lom Fai” brought a charge to Prince Mahidol Hall. The sounds of mouth organ on “Din Nam Lom Fai” and the flute on “Duen Pen” were also enhanced by the orchestral backing, and underscored the sheer beauty of the distinctive melodies.
Early in the show, Ad talked about his “Cambodia” album, explaining that he found the situation both in the country and on its border with Thailand in the years following the fall of the Khmer Rouge so depressing that he wanted to provide encouragement to the victims through music. He also joked about his days at Rajamangala University of Technology Uthentawai Campus, saying that while the technical college was producing fights and rivalry even back then, it also gave birth to a lot of artists, among them fellow Carabao founder Preecha “Lek Carabao” Chanapai and songwriter Kamrom Samboonyanon, who composed “Baan Yai Hom” and “Kratom Kancha” for the show.
And while he could still remember his student ID number – it was 15047 – Lek could not.
Before singing “Tam Ha Khwam Rak”, Ad made reference to the recent surrogacy scandal involving a Thai woman and an Australian couple, and reminded the audience of the lyrics, which tell young couples to be considerate of innocent lives. He also made a wish that the special needs baby at the centre of the scandal would grow up as handsome and talented as guitarist and third founding member Thierry Mekwattana.
Renowned author Chiranand Pitpreecha was among the fans in the audience and said she had enjoyed the harmonious blend of songs-for-life and orchestral music.
“Songs-for-life have traditionally be part of political and social movements. The show tonight marked a step forward for the Thai music industry by not limiting followers of any genre.”
Ad, as ever, had the last word, swinging into a song that he apparently wrote just that morning – “Kin Jae Kin Jae”. On the surface, the number celebrated the vegetarian festival but also contained a sarcastic message about how people today do not eat only food but soil, stone and cement – the fruits of corruption.
