Actor/singer Krissada ‘Noi Sukosol Clapp’ is perhaps best known among Thais for getting in a fight with rocker Sek Loso in New York.
In 2006 the pair were performing at the Lincoln Centre for Performing Arts in a rock opera adaption of the Ramakien play.
Noi (น้อย กฤษดา สุโกศล แคลปป์), playing Hanuman and wearing just a pair of white boxers, was dancing when Sek, playing Phra Rama, strode onto the stage and belted him over the ear with a shoe.
At the time, Thais were angry with Sek, who they said brought Thailand into disgrace. I wonder if Sek's reputation ever recovered?
He spent the next two years overseas, and has only recently returned, to promote a concert and a new album.
Still, Thais love watching replays of their clash. It is the first item to appear on Google searches of Noi's name.
Noi, a Thai/American, is lead singer of the indie group Pru, whose work I am only now discovering, thanks to YouTube.
In the same year as the clash with Sek, he starred in the thriller 13 Beloved (13 เกมสยอง), by Love of Siam's Chukiart Sakweerakul.
Noi won best actor at the Thai national film awards for his performance.
Pru is an indie group, belonging to the old Bakery label, which Noi's brother Kamol Clapp helped found.
Their mother is Kamala Sukosol, a jazz singer and heiress of the Siam City Hotels and Resorts chain.
As a performer Kamala is perhaps best known for the Bakery song, Live and Learn, which should be a gay anthem, if it isn't already. This woman is a diva extraordinaire.
Singer/dancer/actor Noi has a slight frame, and velvety voice. Perhaps the prettiest Pru song I have found is Yang Ror Ter Summer, here.
Other MVs worth a watch are Took Sing; Rak Ter Jon Jop Chiwit, which contains pretty scenes of central Bangkok; and Peuan Euy, which portrays scenes of Thai friendship, particularly among students; and Neuy Jai, another pretty song from the heart.
Noi and ageing rocker Sek have now made up, which is fortunate for Sek, as he wants to make a comeback.
5 comments:
The issue w/Sek seems a classic case of Thai schizo-pride. They are all turned on by having one of their stars go "inter" - but just don't go too far along with it.
Sek is easily one of the most talented artists in the pop world but, where are his Thai fans these days?
I had this discussion last summer with friends who work at Sek's record co.
I don't believe the Ramakien incident mattered much, Thais are self-centered.
It's more likely that once Sek went to Britain for immersion English, he was perceived as having chosen English as "superior" to Thai...I don't have to tell you what that can lead to in a country such as Thailand.
There is also the factor that among younger Thais, Sek who is now in his mid-thirties is not as "pretty" as many lesser talents that lend themselves to the Youtube generation.
It's interesting to compare the relative fortunes of Sek and Thongchai McIntyre after their 04 tour. Bird has been able to go to lengths at playing the cuteness factor into his 50s...Sek to-date has not bothered.
For better or worse, rock-pop are now most heavily weighted toward visual appeal. The kids don't just take the songs with them, they take the MP4 vids too.
Sek, and immersion English...I keep reading about this, notably at Wiki. According to his entry there, he took a six month course. So what?
No one knows much about Sek, including how much English tuition he has taken, or whether it matters.
Maybe Thai music fans prefer young singers as you say. But Thais are not helped by a lazy media, either.
Journalists seemed surprised last week when Sek told them that he had a woman in his life, and two kids, the elder of whom is almost a teen.
A reporter put the question to him at a press conference caled to promote his concert. How come no one thought to ask before?
'Oh, he goes on concert overseas a lot,' one gossip rag speculated.
Maybe journalists just lost interest in him when he disappeared. He also appears much older than his fan base. 'I will perform my usual - songs of heartbreak and angst,' he said.
At Sek concerts, Thai teens like to beat each other up, according to one webboard message I read.
Can you see grannies buying tickets to concerts where they could get hit? I can't.
Maybe Thais don't like him because he's too old for that kind of thing, and younger ones look more authentic.
By the way, I am not sure I agree that Bird portrays himself as cute...his appeal crosses generations because he's been doing it so long, and he's also rather good.
He sings so-called string music, but then he's the right age. Would you have him don black shades like Sek, and writhe away with an electric guitar?
Sek should act his age. His wife and kids might even agree!
I was actually there that night at the Lincoln Center Festival. It was bizarre to say the least. Lots of little old ladies walked out, especially the second night. It was a rather avantgarde production and quite loud.
I just discovered there is a developing pipeline of Thai rock/indie concerts in the USA. Bodyslam was here this month. Moderndog are coming to play 5 shows next month. The circuit seems to be LA, San Francisco, Chicago, DC, and NYC. There have been some other artists here recently as well. There must be enough demand. Moderndog's LA show tickets are going for $50 a pop and the venue there apparently holds 500.
"..he took a six month course. So what?" -Well he also lived in UK during that time (and often since) and put out an English album.
Thais may perceive him as too inter.
"Journalists seemed surprised last week when Sek told them that he had a woman in his life, and two kids, the elder of whom is almost a teen"
Their surprise is not too surprising considering vids like "Confused Sa" The lyric and visual are pretty forward about it -even for Thailand. Even their fans commented on this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1nLWp35sfc
"By the way, I am not sure I agree that Bird portrays himself as cute."
He does. Case in point: "Believe"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba87eoOAXAQ
He is one of my favorite artists of any country. We are about the same age, and I too have no wrinkles, gray or paunch.
My point is that His ability and effort to appear ageless has helped him with that cross-generational appeal.
"Would you have him don black shades like Sek, and writhe away with an electric guitar"
He did that on the Bird/Sek tour in 04...it was a bit strained
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Asians and Latinos are much less sensitive to the age of celebrities than N.Americans.
In Mexico Juan Gabriel (age 59) is still a major star even w/my 20-something friends. He has written over 500 songs and is probably Mexico's most prolific composer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz71bCTJbFk
He's gotten rather "gordo" still has a good face.
Sorry- i've just never been interested in celebrities, American or otherwise.
I usually just breeze over those posts to be honest :P
Although i do stop and read about Mario now and again ;)
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