Songs for His Majesty

IT HAS long been a tradition for the country’s musicians to compose and record special songs honouring His Majesty the King on December 5, his birthday. This year, as the country mourns its beloved leader, many have come up with new songs commemorating his passing on October 13.
Seven of them explain their inspiration behind these newly penned songs.

“Phor Khrub” (“Daddy”) by Patiwet “Fongbeer” Uthaichalerm, songwriter and managing director of ME Records, a subsidiary of Music Move Entertainment
“I have never written a song for the King before and would describe this one as a personal letter of condolence. I have gone away from the standard song format of voice, hook and solo and written straight from my heart. I drew on the atmosphere of heavy rain and the outpouring of grief, saying in the first verse that the tears of the Thai people flow even harder than the rain. I’m like a child of the father of the nation talking about my feelings for him. And rather than look for an artist to sing this song, I have chosen to sing it myself. 
“It’s very different from my usual love songs and I haven’t had to draw on my imagination to come up with lyrics, as I have loved the King since the day I was born. 
“Today, I try and live my life according to the King’s sufficiency philosophy. I’m easygoing and wear simple clothes even though my income would allow me to buy designer gear.
“I’ve always been impressed by the King’s musical genius. His songs are very valuable.”
Listen to the song at http://tinyurl.com/zocw63s

“Chan Kerd Nai Ratchakaln Thee Kao” (“I Was Born in the Reign of King Rama IX”) by Seksan “Sek LoSo” Sukpimai
“I wrote my first song for the King, ‘Song Phra Charoen’ (‘Long Live The King’) five years ago. For this one, I have stuck to my usual easy-to-understand language in writing the lyrics. I worried at first about the timing but decided to go ahead because I believe it is my duty as a musician to put my feelings into words. 
“I started by writing the hook for the words “this song is for my father” on guitar and in the first verse I say that I was born in the reign of King Rama IX, just like 80 per cent of all Thai people. The lyrics say that I love the King and will try to do good according to his guidance.
“The video of the song has already gone viral, with more than four million views in just three days.”
See the video at Facebook.com/sekloso.official/?fref=ts

“Lao Soo Larn Fang” (“Story to Tell a Grandchild”) by Sala Khunawut, a luk thung (Thai country) songwriter with GMM Grammy
“I was shocked at hearing the announcement. It was like all the lights in the country had gone out. I suddenly felt very alone. At home in Ubon Ratchathani my parents always told me to worship the King’s image, which was kept alongside the images of the Buddha. Our lives have changed radically over the past years and the King was the only constant. Now we no longer have him. 
“During my time at GMM Grammy I have worked on many songs for the King. This time though, it is very different. I have produces two versions of the song with both male and female vocals – mine and those of Tai Orathai. I want other artists to sing it and post on their own channels too. 
“While writing the words, I imagined myself sitting weeping by a picture of the King when a grandchild asks me why I am crying. The grandchild represents the new generation born after his reign who would wonder about the man in the picture making their parents cry. 
“I think the best thing we can all do is follow the King’s guidance – do good and be united. He is still very much part of our lives.” 
Watch the video at http://tinyurl.com/hx6d8fw

“Phor Bhumibol” (“Father Bhumibol”) by songs-for-lifer Yuenyong “Ad Carabao” Ophakul
“I was inspired by the images of the King going out into the countryside.There is no monarch in the world like HM King Bhumibol, who travelled frequently to the rural areas and put his knowledge at the disposal of his people for the |vetiver grass project, the diversion of water to the paddy fields as well as his many royal projects. 
“An American friend told me that he would like his country to have someone like the King of Thailand.“All the lyrics of my song speak of his great work for his people. 
“My aim to convey the message that Thai people should follow in the King’s footsteps and continue to develop our country creatively and economically.”
See the video at http://tinyurl.com/hctgnfb

“Kor Pen Kha Rong Phrabat Thuk Chart Pai” (“May You Forever Be My King”) by Bodin “Pae” Chareunratch, front man of pop band Mild
“I really regret that I never did anything for the King. Now I hope I am making up for that by writing this song. It is the tale of a father. I would like the generation to come to know his story and why the King was called a father. 
“In this period of mourning, his life has been narrated on TV, in the newspapers and on the Internet, and I started writing the song while watching them. The name of the song explains everything about the King.
“The King always said that it’s so hard to be a good man, because good relies on perseverance, diligence and tolerance as well as a steadfast spirit. The King was a visionary.”
See the video at http://tinyurl.com/hdfhycg

“Tha Sathit Duangjai Thai Chua Niran” (“The King’s in Thais’ Heart and Memories Forever”) by Apiwat “Toey” Boonanak, the singer of Maha Sarakham pop band Night Tingle 
“I wrote this song after hearing the announcement of the King’s death and getting a call from a pub owner to tell me that all entertainment had been cancelled. 
“I wanted to show my sadness through a song for our beloved father. Our guitarist, Apisit ‘Tom’ Waewbut, wrote the music and I added the lyrics, which are based on my feelings for the King. The song tells of the loss of a father. We used a nylon-strung guitar to imitate the sound of the khim.”
Listen to the song at http://tinyurl.com/gwe6mdk

“Sam Nuek Nai Phra Maha Karunathikhun” (“In Recognition of The King’s Benelovence”) by Chinnakorn Krailas, National Artist luk thung, 1998
“I started by thinking of the title of the song and once I had that about the tangible benevolence of the King. One verse is about water. Every time I see water, I think of his artificial rain project and his sufficiency economy philosophy.
“If we don’t follow a self-sufficient path and are greedy, we won’t understand happiness. The other verse is inspired by the message of condolence from Russian President Vladimir Putin, which reads: “The King is a leader who didn’t fight on the battlefield but against the poverty of his people. Thai people are so lucky to have this King.”
Watch the video at http://tinyurl.com/gqarbzf