| Luk Thung: The Phenomenon of Thai Country Music | |||
| UPDATE : 24 May 2010 | |||
Thai country music, also known as luk thung (‘child of the fields’), has been charming the hearts of the Thai people for over half a century. Its charm lies in the lyrics, which describe life in rural Thailand, along with the highly original music. While luk thung represents a unique sense of ‘Thainess’, Western-style instruments are used by the musicians to produce the overall sound. Eye-Catching Displays You can learn more about this particular branch of Thailand’s entertainment industry by visiting a temporary exhibition taking place this month at the National Discovery Museum Institute called Luk Thung: The Phenomenon of Thai Country Music.
The first section of the exhibition features an eye-catching display of fancy gowns that typify the style of dress worn by a female luk thung singer. These highlight the wit of local designers, who manage to expertly combine traditional Thai costume styles with fashion trends originating in the West.
Most of these brightly-colored dresses, which feature delicate embroidery and glittering crystals, are made from authentic Thai silk. Many feature ornate patterns and emulate the styles worn by members of high society. They are often combined with semi-precious accessories, such as a bracelet, necklace, headdress and crown. An accompanying notice explains that the gowns represent the kind of dream world that many rural girls associate with life in the Thai capital as a means of escape from rice farming in the countryside. Other outfits include symbols of the musical world of cabaret, such as glittering crystal-encrusted sashes, worn over the shoulder, as well as a headdress decorated with long feathers. Some of the dancers’ costumes are clearly influenced by ethnic costumes, but have also been fused with more modern styles. A Beneficial Blend The second part of the exhibition deals with the history of luk thung since its establishment during the early 1960s. The genre really emerged when Thai musicians decided to blend modern Western musical instruments, such as the guitar, bass, drums and wind instruments with traditional Thai songs. The lyrics usually refer to tales of love and life in the paddy fields and in the rural environment in general. Soundtrack to Success Thai country music really evolved through its interaction with the Thai movie industry. Before movies featuring soundtracks were introduced to the kingdom during the latter half of the 1960s, country music played a major role in providing both themes and musical accompaniment for Thai movies. Songs that were specifically composed for a particular movie would often go on to become hits in their own right if the movie proved to be a success. While the stories continued to feature young girls and boys from rural areas, the influence of Thai movies decreased while the settings began to change during the 1970s as more young people migrated to work in the factories located in Bangkok’s suburbs from their homes in the provinces. Many of the lyrics longed for a simple, rural lifestyle, or referred to the sense of loneliness caused by a move from a rural locale to a huge city. Sometimes the lyrics refer to the obligation many young migrants face to send money back home to their parents or other relatives in the provinces. A New Era The early 1980s really marked a new era for Thai country music as the music video emerged as a powerful new promotional tool. Poompuang Duangjun began to develop her career successfully during this period and she would go on to become a major Thai country music star. Poompuang introduced music, lyrics and stage shows that added a broader meaning to the genre, featuring fun, challenging and bold lyrics that touched on subjects never previously discussed so openly. During the 1990s, Thai country music went into a state of decline for a while as pop culture and Western influence began to dominate Thai society. However, a handful of major stars managed to break through thanks to their glittery productions, which gained a good deal of attention, particularly in the provinces. Back on Track As the economic downturn kicked in during the late 1990s, many Thais chose to reexamine their own roots. Since then, the Thai country music industry has enjoyed something of a resurgence with the emergence of a host of new faces and styles of stage performance. Luk Thung: The Phenomenon of Thai Country Music is being held at the National Discovery Museum Institute through June 20. Admission is free. The National Discovery Museum Institute opens from Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am until 6 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays. For further information, visit the museum's official website at http://www.ndmi.or.th, or call Tel: +66 (0)2 622 2599. Transport Connections: Bus: Take local bus numbers 3, 6, 9, 12, 32, 44, 47, or 53 and get off by Wat Pho ('Temple of the Reclining Buddha'). If you walk in the direction that leads away from the Chao Phraya River, you will reach Sanam Chai Road, where the entrance to the museum is located. Photos used courtesy of the National Discovery Museum Institute. | |||
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 17 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2553
Luk Thung: The Phenomenon of Thai Country Music
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