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Covering 25 years of Carabao
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Ad Carabao
The songs-for-lifers have invited artists from different genres to perform new versions of some of their best-known tunes
The Kingdom's music industry may be going through a crisis as more and more people switch to downloading their favourite tracks, but that hasn't stopped Carabao's new star-studded album, the aptly titled "Mon Phleng Carabao" ("Charm of Carabao Tunes" , from selling more than 200,000 copies in just four weeks and topping the best-seller charts.
Covering 25 years of Carabao
The songs-for-lifers have invited artists from different genres to perform new versions of some of their best-known tunes
The Kingdom's music industry may be going through a crisis as more and more people switch to downloading their favourite tracks, but that hasn't stopped Carabao's new star-studded album, the aptly titled "Mon Phleng Carabao" ("Charm of Carabao Tunes", from selling more than 200,000 copies in just four weeks and topping the best-seller charts.
"We're really surprised how well the album has sold," says an official from Warner Music (Thailand), the band's long-time label.
"The first cut, 'Thalay Jai', really caught the attention of deejays."
"Thalay Jai", an old favourite by the veteran songs-for-lifers, has been re-recorded by Tanachai "Pod" Ujjin, singer with rock band Moderndog. The second cut is the ever-popular "Bua Loy", covered here by Peerapat "Bee" Tanewong, vocalist with rock outfit Crescendo.
By releasing these two tracks first, Warner Music is hoping to hook in the new generation.
The album, which celebrates Carabao's 25th anniversary, features two discs of 26 rearranged songs including bonus track "Khon Sang Chart" covered by 27 singers from different generations and from very different genres - from look thung (Thai country) to pop jazz, pop and rock.
As a result, the album isn't only being promoted on radio stations spinning mainstream music but also those devoted to look thung.
All the songs on the album will be performed at the "Mon Phleng Carabao" concert being staged next month at Impact Arena.
"I wanted to have the concert at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, which is a great venue, but the police said no because of the brawls that broke out at previous Carabao concerts," says Season magazine editor Tiva Sarachudha, who produced the album and is also in charge of next month's show.
Tiva selected 25 of Carabao's 500 songs for the album, taking care to choose a mix that he felt reflected the political and social situations of the past quarter century, as well as patriotism, humour, love and philosophy.
Pianist and keyboardist Isra Suwannatvipa was put in charge of the rearrangements.
"We wanted 'Rak Thorahod' to have the kind of excitement and quick rhythm that would match Chai Muangsing's singing style. For 'Bua Loy', we moved the original intro to the end and shifted the riffs to the middle instead.
"'Tukkata' and 'Tham Ha Khwam Rak' are rearranged for a string quartet, with the former having just piano or synth plus soprano saxophone. 'Mai Phai' is still guitar-based but the tempo is quicker," explains the editor-cum-producer.
"But we've retained the unique Carabao sound."
The look thung contingent features such well-known names as Chai Muangsing, Sunaree Ratchasima, Monsit Kamsroi, Surachai Sombatcharoen, Sayan Sanya, Wipoj Petchsupan and Khwamjit Sriprajan.
The rock stars include Billy Ogan, Crescendo's Peerapat, Stone Metal Fire's Patompong Sombatpibul, Blackhead's Arnond Saisangchan and Moderndog's Tanachai, while the popsters are Setha Sirachaya, Sobchai Graiyoonsen, Sakda Pathasima and Surasee Itthikul.
"My voice has more tremolo than Ad's", says Chai.
"Most of the songs have a high pitch," says Patompong.
"I considered all the singers in relation to the music and the lyrics. The younger singers are not suited to the more mature lyrics but are better for the simple ballads. Of the older singers, Sobchai is perfect for 'Phaendin', which is about the country, while Surasee covers the philosophical 'Sathuchon'.
"Phi Pao [Sayan Sanya] is suitable for 'Barb Borisut', which is rearranged in a heavier rock style, and Wipoj and Khwamjit are doing the folky 'Yai Sam-ang'," says Tiva.
"Rungrudee Pengpongsai has sung many numbers about destinations, such as 'Ao Khwam Khom Khuen Pai Thing Mae Khong' or 'Pattaya Thi Rak', so she was a natural choice for 'Mae Sai'. Pong [Patompong] is singing 'Fah Long', which has been changed from blues to hard rock."
"But even with the rearrangements, some of them had problems with the keys in rehearsals."
Arranger Isra was joined by several noted musicians including drummer Nol Singholaka, bassist Suthep Pan-ampan, electric guitarist Chakarin "Pop" Duongmaneerattanachai, acoustic guitarists Kirati Prohmsaka Na Sakolnakorn and Payat Puvichai, percussionist Natawut Leekul, and saxophonist Sombat Prohmma plus a strings section composed of Suwan Manosorn and Jirawat Sudsamran on violin, Somkeit Srikham on viola, and Pipat Suanchupol on cello.
"I'm responsible for several guitar parts including the solos," says the Sun's Pop, a long time Carabao fan.
"I composed new solos, played them live then improvised. The most difficult were the chord lines, which I've changed to make them sound smoother. For 'Fa Long', I wrote a solo in my own style but the others are typically Carabao blues and rock.
Tiva is reluctant to say how much it has cost to make the album but admits the price was high.
"I have no idea how many copies the album will sell but I hope people will appreciate the work that's gone into making it and the contribution of veteran singers who don't often appear on today's music scene," he says.
Tiva has been involved in the music business for more than 20 years and is a long-time friend and associate of Yuenyong "Ad" Ophakul.
"I remember how excited I felt when I first heard Carabao's new songs-for-life sound. It was so unlike the folk-style music being played by other songs-for-lifers.
"Carabao's first album was much more colourful, bringing together rock and reggae," says Tiva, who at that time was working as a music critic.
He's been following the band's career ever since.
"Carabao's songs are in the hearts of all people, no matter what level of society they belong to. They are also a very stable band, with hardly any changes in the line-up over 25 years, which is very rare. They write superb songs and their numbers aren't too hard to play. No wonder they are so popular."
The "Mon Phleng Carabao" concert takes place at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani on July 7 at 7pm. Tickets at Bt2,000, Bt1,500, Bt1,000, Bt800 and Bt500 are available at Thaiticketmaster.com.
Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul
The Nation
http://www.nation...er%20Story
Redigeret af d. 27/06-2007 12:38
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