Thai teen Nene Royal wins AGT 2026 title

24 minutes ago, visalady said:

These shows are a joke, if she had been playing Thai music instead of parroting western crap she would never have been on the show. She was a novelty act- little Thai girl playing 'our' music. she's not even that good compared to other young Thai youngsters. Petty Rock won a contest in California years ago- hardly any coverage for her, she won world championship of performing arts in 2017. No film of it that I could find.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_qhyqVwbiY&list=RDY_qhyqVwbiY&start_radio=1

Not a very good song choice. She recorded many that are far better representation of her.

22 minutes ago, Issanraider said:

I hope that she acknowledges the other members of the Ozone band that she has been effectively been busking with in Phuket who have been a significant part in her meteoric rise to stardom.

I started watching them on TicTok only a few months ago when they were playing to audiences of only a few people with the customary tip box as their source of income

Thai song, in Los Angeles, with her band after the AGT show ended.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by tomazbodner

Howie the AGT judge said she was better than Hendrix .

That's where the Hendrix comparison started actually.

She has raw talent.

Managed well and with a lot of good luck she might have a major career.

Maybe anyway.

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

I believe the million dollar prize is divied up and paid annually over a defined period of years: no lump-sum option, so she needs to make sure she has her tax affairs in order.

There is a lump sum option.

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

There is a lump sum option.

As has been mentioned already. Now I stand twice-corrected.

9 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Howie the AGT judge said she was better than Hendrix .

That's where the Hendrix comparison started actually.

She has raw talent.

Managed well and with a lot of good luck she might have a major career.

Maybe anyway.

Howie's on drugs. Obviously.

11 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Howie the AGT judge said she was better than Hendrix .

That's where the Hendrix comparison started actually.

She has raw talent.

Managed well and with a lot of good luck she might have a major career.

Maybe anyway.

Just shows you what a load of over hyped nonsense these shows are, you only have to look at where the past winners are to see that. Good a Thai kid won and made a packet, but none of the winners are great. Comparing Nene to Jimi is just laughable, but that's just what these shows are, a circus for the plebs. Do we think other young Thai performers like Ung Ing, Paan, Sophia, Ton khow, or Yuki would have ever have gotten on this show, of course not, they have to be copying western genres or be a talking dog or some other novelty, if they have no sob story for the artist they often make one up. These international talent shows are exploitative garbage.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by visalady

39 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Not a very good song choice. She recorded many that are far better representation of her.

Thai song, in Los Angeles, with her band after the AGT show ended.

Sek Loso's one hit wonder, a drug abuser and wife beater, hardly a good choice. Last time he came on stage I went off shopping. Not a good role model. The original https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dSGCzeuPlA&list=RD2dSGCzeuPlA&start_radio=1

Just now, visalady said:

Sek Loso's one hit wonder, a drug abuser and wife beater, hardly a good choice. Last time he came on stage I went off shopping. Not a good role model. The original https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dSGCzeuPlA&list=RD2dSGCzeuPlA&start_radio=1

Sek Loso's music still resonates with the greater Thai unwashed....and a sizeable chunk of the Thai diaspora in LA apparently.

1 hour ago, visalady said:

These shows are a joke, if she had been playing Thai music instead of parroting western crap she would never have been on the show. She was a novelty act- little Thai girl playing 'our' music. she's not even that good compared to other young Thai youngsters. Petty Rock won a contest in California years ago- hardly any coverage for her, she won world championship of performing arts in 2017. No film of it that I could find.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_qhyqVwbiY&list=RDY_qhyqVwbiY&start_radio=1

1 hour ago, visalady said:

Hendrix was a musical genius, this kid is one of thousands of youngsters doing covers with limited talent. she cashed in now, but if she wants to continue it will be gigs at the Hard Rock Cafe again, not world tours.

Jesus, what a nasty miserable person you are. Get a life.

What had you achieved by 16?

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Geez. don't ask me.

The contestants have gotten a lot more international over the years.

The voting is only within the USA though.

Perhaps the USA is a lot less xenophobic than the ruling maga party.

Another factor is that it's more fun to watch with such diverse acts so thus a bigger audience and more money / better ratings.

Clips are watched of course globally on youtube and the fame and million dollar prize for winning draws them in.

From Japan alone!

Britain's Got Talent and America's got talent started out as talent shows for those countries although they were nver restricted by nationality. But as it has grown over the past 20 years or so they have become huge, launching major careers (One Direction, Harry Styles, Diversity in the UK for example). There are local offshoots but as it got bigger and bigger everyone wants to perform and win AGT and BGT as they are now the two biggest talent shows on the planet.

Quite simple.

1 hour ago, visalady said:

this kid is one of thousands of youngsters doing covers with limited talent.

Absolute nonsense, just like you calling Sek Loso a 1 song star. She has a good voice, can play guitar and performs well on stage. Her being only 16, everything will improve over the years as she will get more professional help as of now.

Well I'm Nene'd out

She has made Thailand proud as if Thailand wasn't prideful enough already.

Best of luck to her and all her fans

13 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Absolute nonsense, just like you calling Sek Loso a 1 song star. She has a good voice, can play guitar and performs well on stage. Her being only 16, everything will improve over the years as she will get more professional help as of now.

Can you name another Sek Loso hit? no you can't. She's a basic performer who won a meaningless talent contest, good for her but nothing to get hysterically nationalistic about, which Thais will

26 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Jesus, what a nasty miserable person you are. Get a life.

What had you achieved by 16?

Typical pointless attack on another posters opinion you don't agree with.

52 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Sek Loso's music still resonates with the greater Thai unwashed....and a sizeable chunk of the Thai diaspora in LA apparently.

Has been, Grammy sacked him over the drugs and wife beating revelations. Attempted a comeback, has not really worked.

8 minutes ago, visalady said:

Typical pointless attack on another posters opinion you don't agree with.

No, disagreements are fine, it is the bitterness I disagree with.

5 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

do the contestants need to hold US citizenship (including those with dual nationality)?

Nope, they do not.

1 minute ago, josephbloggs said:

No, disagreements are fine, it is the bitterness I disagree with.

Sek was bitter when he got sentenced, they let him out after 13 months of a three year sentence for drugs and fire arms offences

https://thailandnews.co/2025/05/thai-rock-legend-sek-loso-sentenced-to-prison-in-final-court-ruling/

On parole lol

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3275962/rocker-sek-loso-freed-on-parole-with-monitoring

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by visalady

13 minutes ago, visalady said:

Can you name another Sek Loso hit? no you can't. She's a basic performer who won a meaningless talent contest, good for her but nothing to get hysterically nationalistic about, which Thais will

Loso was a leader in Thai charts - 2 albums as I recall - not one hit wonder. He was wildly popular. But as always - along with those before him - the establsihment, frightened by a working class hit, chased him away. He went to the UK for a while - allegedly to try his hand in western music - which was nonsense. When he came back they went after him on drugs and 'wife beating'.

It's why they are silent on LaLisa. They don't dare move on her.

Not my taste in music, but well done lass, you have put Thailand on the map!

15 minutes ago, visalady said:

Sek was bitter when he got sentenced, they let him out after 13 months of a three year sentence for drugs and fire arms offences

https://thailandnews.co/2025/05/thai-rock-legend-sek-loso-sentenced-to-prison-in-final-court-ruling/

On parole lol

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3275962/rocker-sek-loso-freed-on-parole-with-monitoring

It was a stitch-up like I just explained by the people who 'run the country for themselves'

They can't have the masses loving someone of their own kind - it upsets the natural order of 'their' society

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by ronnie50

19 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Loso was a leader in Thai charts - 2 albums as I recall - not one hit wonder. He was wildly popular. But as always - along with those before him - the establsihment, frightened by a working class hit, chased him away. He went to the UK for a while - allegedly to try his hand in western music - which was nonsense. When he came back they went after him on drugs and 'wife beating'.

It's why they are silent on LaLisa. They don't dare move on her.

Nonsense. He was a wife beater and a drug addict. He did it. Nothing to do with the establishment.

Believe me, I know. Well, you probably won't believe me, that's ok, but I know.

42 minutes ago, visalady said:

Can you name another Sek Loso hit? no you can't.

Yes, i can:

• ซมซาน (Som Sarn) — 304M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube

• ใจสั่งมา (Jai Sung Ma) — 174–179M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube+1

• อะไรก็ยอม (Arai Kor Yom) — 212–219M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube+1

• เคยรักฉันบ้างไหม (Koei Rak Chan Bang Mai) — 95–96M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube+1

• รอยยิ้มนักสู้ (Fighter’s Smile) — 148M plays

Other Major Hits

• คืนจันทร์ (Kuen Jan) — 67–76M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube+1

• ไม่คิดนอกใจ (Mai Kid Nok Jai) — 60–69M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube+1

• พันธ์ทิพย์ (Phan Thip) — 32M plays (classic rock anthem) https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube

• นานเท่าไรก็รอ (feat. Bird Thongchai) — 172M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube

• อมพระมาพูด (Om Pra Ma Pood) — 40–70M plays (various versions) https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube

• เจ็บหัวใจ (Jeb Huajai) — 36M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube

• แม้ว่า (Mae Wah) — 95–97M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AAYouTube+1

• ฝนตกที่หน้าต่าง (Rain at the Window) — 72M plays https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.407HUlKHBVZIhIoyqhW7AA

Edited 54 minutes ago54 min by FritsSikkink

I am happy for Nene that she won, however I am always a litttle cautious for winning big awards on a young age. Winning must be challenging and too early at the top can make drive to become better fade or even result in stopping in what they are doing. Seen it many times in the sport. Youngsters stopped because they could not handle the pressure anymore or were bored before the could cash their talent

Edited 31 minutes ago31 min by ikke1959

1 hour ago, visalady said:

Can you name another Sek Loso hit? no you can't. She's a basic performer who won a meaningless talent contest, good for her but nothing to get hysterically nationalistic about, which Thais will

A basic performer who has just won a "meaningless" global multi-hundred million dollar talent contest franchise's top prize.

Meaningless has a new meaning.

Edited 25 minutes ago25 min by NanLaew

5 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I am happy for Nene that she won, however I am always a litttle cautious for winning big awards on a young age. Winning must be challenging and too early at the top can make drive to become better fade or even result in stopping in what they are doing. Seen it many times in the sport. Youngsters stopped because they could not handle the pressure anymore or were bored before the could cash their talent

That is a fair point, but from what I can tell from her audition, performances, and what people say about her she seems an exceptionally well grounded young lady. The videos of her playing in the Phuket night markets when she was 12-13-14 just show you she had determination and drive. And if you look at the comments on those videos on YouTube they are full of people saying things like "wow, I saw this girl in the market tonight, she is going to be a star" etc.

So, valid concern, but she seems to made of the right stuff. Let's hope so anyway. I don't think the pressure will phase her.

1 hour ago, josephbloggs said:

Britain's Got Talent and America's got talent started out as talent shows for those countries although they were nver restricted by nationality. But as it has grown over the past 20 years or so they have become huge, launching major careers (One Direction, Harry Styles, Diversity in the UK for example). There are local offshoots but as it got bigger and bigger everyone wants to perform and win AGT and BGT as they are now the two biggest talent shows on the planet.

Quite simple.

I think you are getting a little confused between BGT and the X Factor. I don't recall any major singing acts coming out of BGT (other than perhaps Susan Boyle and Paul Potts some 20 odd years ago). Diversity were a dance troupe which there seems to be many of every series.

I think most of the pop acts that have achieved fame were spawned from X Factor. The likes of One Direction, Little Mix, Olly Murs, Leona Lewis, JLS, Alexander Burke etc.

From a musical point of view, BGT is definitely second rate compared to X Factor and perhaps The Voice. Understandable as they purely concentrate on singing whereas BGT is a general talent show.