18 hours ago, webfact said:

The 200-million-baht price tag for the appearances of Thai-born rapper Lalisa Manoban, commonly known as “Lisa”, of South Korea’s girl group “BLACKPINK” and Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, at the New Year countdowns in Phuket and Bangkok respectively, is worth the money, according to Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) Secretary-General Adit Chairattananont.

200M for what, line some officials pockets?

One million will come to watch ???? and I can't even get a glass of wine with my Mrs. when we are out for dinner. 

So if she is a k-pop artist then I imagine she will have played just about every mall and tv show in Asia like they seem to do by being constantly marketed to get cash quick before being dumped by the record label for the next younger artist ! What makes them think people love her that much they are going to go to another country just to see her instead of seeing her in their own country ?

Bocelli yes worth every penny , although I think it’s someone in government feeding their own desires with government funds .

But her ? Unless she is getting 1-2 million bht then forget her .

18 hours ago, Orinoco said:

Thailand has lost the plot,

No thought to the people who have lost it all to Covid 19.

TIT.

Shame on this government but more shame on any artist that accepts this kind of money to come here at this time. 

 

The regime have previous for this though, remember they paid Federer and Djokovic millions to play an exhibition match for them a few years ago. 

 

It's all to satisfy the elites wants, nothing to do with tourism or promoting the country. 

 

It should be absolutely clear already, they don't care a jot about the Thai people. 

17 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Just watched the LALISA video on You Tube.

I certainly would!

I'm not a fan of k pop but even I know the genre is more prominent than ever. Bts and blackpink generate billions of clicks and that's what sells these days. 14 year olds in Thailand may not be rich but 14 year olds from China probably have more pocket money than the pension of some here. When McDonald's have a collaboration meal with BTS that sold out throughout the world and even cold play did a song with them, you gotta know there are tons of money to be made. Even American mainstream media recognize that. On a separate note, I actually prefer Korean movies and drama now than Hollywood <deleted> because of the rising quality. 

4 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

So the world has to stop and no entertainment paid for because a small number of Thais get in line for handouts?- whether needed or not. Money well spent on Lisa, she is a world class super star but I can't see the logic of an opera singer as well. Better to have had something progressive appearing eg Rap against dictatorship or cutsie Asian like BNKB48. 

World class superstar?????? you must be 16 years old ????.

Glad you didn't put the word music after the word rap.

If she really wanted to make herself even more fantastically popular than she already is, she would waive her fee to help her country back onto its feet.

 

But a million extra tourists? How the heck will they get here? A million Thai teenagers yes, but foreigners? Not sure about that.

58 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Well, Signor Bocelli can sing jolly loudly, so even with social distancing everyone should be able to hear him...

 

Joking apart ( and believe me it was quite hard to think up a joke set against such a stupid,  bizarre and insensitive proposal) it is quite grotesque to be even contemplating spending that sort of money ( which would go a long way to relieve suffering) on what is basically an ego boost for those who are attempting to seize control of the tourist market; set amidst the economic and social destruction of the inchoate policies which they and the government which answers to them have imposed. Obscene.

I do understand your sentiment as I doubt that this is the best way to spend money as a tourist promotion institute. But you do realize that for instance giving the money away to those needy won't be possible and could even land those in charge in trouble ?

 

I mean they got this money to promote tourism and they have to spend it that way not to relieve the suffering of the people. Other parts of the central budget are for that. Personally i think its great they promote tourism to help everyone in this country. I just think this is not the right way to do it. There are better ways.

 

But its not as if they can just change how money is used. They can't do that in other countries they can't in Thailand. Their job is to promote tourism not help the suffering. Its crude to say it but they are forbidden to use money outside their scope of operation. 

 

Im sure you understand how things like that work as you seem thoughtful. Sure if we had magic wands and stuff and could freely move budgets without impact and so on. But the reality is that this does not happen in other countries and that there are rules that have to be followed. Just like i would love to see the military spend their money on the poor (cant be done). These things should have been done during the budget allocation. Afterwards is almost impossible.

Why bother when Boticelli wont even see her.

Meanwhile thais are starving and jobless as a result of the pandemic  …that money could have gone to better use

Well not get into the economic viability of the proposed event, I would just like to juxtapose 2 videos: BlackPink with LaLisa doing "How You Like (that that)" with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Don't do me like that"

 

 

13 minutes ago, robblok said:

I do understand your sentiment as I doubt that this is the best way to spend money as a tourist promotion institute. But you do realize that for instance giving the money away to those needy won't be possible and could even land those in charge in trouble ?

 

I mean they got this money to promote tourism and they have to spend it that way not to relieve the suffering of the people. Other parts of the central budget are for that. Personally i think its great they promote tourism to help everyone in this country. I just think this is not the right way to do it. There are better ways.

 

But its not as if they can just change how money is used. They can't do that in other countries they can't in Thailand. Their job is to promote tourism not help the suffering. Its crude to say it but they are forbidden to use money outside their scope of operation. 

 

Im sure you understand how things like that work as you seem thoughtful. Sure if we had magic wands and stuff and could freely move budgets without impact and so on. But the reality is that this does not happen in other countries and that there are rules that have to be followed. Just like i would love to see the military spend their money on the poor (cant be done). These things should have been done during the budget allocation. Afterwards is almost impossible.

Understood, but imaginative use of that money could provide employment and income opportunities to those most hurt by the destruction of the industry. 

As it is the only way the "common herd" will benefit is from a few hours casual labour sweeping up the debris on January the 1st!

 

My objection, as I am sure you are aware, is that instead of being used in projects which will promote sustainable tourism and directly benefit those most hurt by the damage to the industry, it is being spent on a party which will essentially serve to puff up those in charge. To add insult to injury the whole project is being underpinned by the usual ludicrous "TATtery" when it comes to ridiculous projections of the visitors it will bring and the money they will spend!

19 hours ago, Pravda said:

200,000,000/500=400,000

I Agree. You could spread happiness to 400.000 poor Thai people, by giving them each 500 Baht!

2 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Understood, but imaginative use of that money could provide employment and income opportunities to those most hurt by the destruction of the industry. 

As it is the only way the "common herd" will benefit is from a few hours casual labour sweeping up the debris on January the 1st!

 

My objection, as I am sure you are aware, is that instead of being used in projects which will promote sustainable tourism and directly benefit those most hurt by the damage to the industry, it is being spent on a party which will essentially serve to puff up those in charge. To add insult to injury the whole project is being underpinned by the usual ludicrous "TATtery" when it comes to ridiculous projections of the visitors it will bring and the money they will spend!

I 100% agree that it should have been spend better, and that its will puff up those in charge. IMHO it does not has to have these kinds of stars. I think its crazy to pay that much (not sure what these people make and so on).

 

Just pointed out that its hard to spend outside what is has been earmarked to do. But I agree could have been better. Loans to those who can't open and stuff like that make much more sense. (but TAT is not setup for that). I would say better infra structure and easier available data would be good too.

 

My point was more that many people don't seem to understand that money cant be just spend as they wish. That there are rules just like in any other country. 

2 minutes ago, Xonax said:

I Agree. You could spread happiness to 400.000 poor Thai people, by giving them each 500 Baht!

 

Actually it's how many tourists would have to come with the new 500b fee to cover the cost of this event.

With lab created 'beauty' and computer created 'talent', can the Apocalypse be far away?

 

Autotuning, fake instrumentals, banal 'dance moves'.....such is 21st Century 'entertainment'.

 

It's interesting to go back to almost any generation and listen to what was popular. That was back when people had to spend time learning to play an instrument, working on their vocals because no computer could bring them back on key and into proper pitch, and dancers actually had to be able to string together multiple moves. Today's videos limit dance moves to about 2 seconds, then there's a camera cut, splice, etc.  Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly often did 3+ minute takes with zero camera changes.

 

It's a bit of a shame that today's youth may never actually see or hear genuine talent. They are raised on things like TikTok, where those without talent produce content for those without taste.

Andrea Bocelli, a world renowned international opera singer.................Maybe???

 

Lalisa Manoban................. WHO????????? LOL

1 hour ago, sungod said:

If she was in the line up @ Billboard once Nana reopens I guess I may be tempted to pop in and say hi.

Having watched a number of "Black and Pink" and "Lalisa" music videos, purely in the interests of research and with a critical eye trained by my media studies degree, ( the production values are remarkably firm, and the important parts delightfully rounded), I thought those pelvic thrust routines were familiar!

 

I may have to lie down in a darkened room for a while...

6 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

With lab created 'beauty' and computer created 'talent', can the Apocalypse be far away?

 

Autotuning, fake instrumentals, banal 'dance moves'.....such is 21st Century 'entertainment'.

 

It's interesting to go back to almost any generation and listen to what was popular. That was back when people had to spend time learning to play an instrument, working on their vocals because no computer could bring them back on key and into proper pitch, and dancers actually had to be able to string together multiple moves. Today's videos limit dance moves to about 2 seconds, then there's a camera cut, splice, etc.  Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly often did 3+ minute takes with zero camera changes.

 

It's a bit of a shame that today's youth may never actually see or hear genuine talent. They are raised on things like TikTok, where those without talent produce content for those without taste.

Young people these days and their so called music...

 

Actually your first paragraph has given me an idea for an all girl music and dance group!

 

I wonder if any of the young ladies from "After Skool Bar" in Soi Cowboy would be interested in auditioning for a place in "The Four Slappers of The Apocalypse"?

20 hours ago, phetphet said:

All depending on the Covid situation at the time.

If you want  to attract millions hire the Rolling Stones

 

But my question is more generic.

 

Right now no one is allowed into the country.  Do they think that by December tey will be able to open the floodgates to you Korean girls and allow Thais to travel freely.

 

Also right now there is a limit on the size of groups.  If you open this up to the numbers that you would need we are looking at NYE pre covid where everyone is bunched together there is drinking and partying.

 

Financially I do not see it as viable unless they open the bars in Phuket and Bangkok.

 

Andre Botacelli and I really do not see Young Thais flocking to anywhere in BKK to see him.  As to Lalisa.  Yes they numbers may grow in Phuket.  

The rest of the country will stay home and watch it on their TV's or in town locations with big TV's.

 

Get prepared for covid 19 spread again if they screw it up like I think they will

He mentioned  1. million foreign tourists over this period to watch the singer

What planet is he on maybe  Thai tourists  who will know of  her 

Does seem a bit extrovert  spending this sort of money in these times 

20 hours ago, webfact said:

“Suppose Lisa’s appearance attracts a million foreign tourists into Thailand and each of them spends an average of 75,000 baht, this will translate into 75 billion baht in foreign exchange,” said Adit

A public spanking of all corrupt politicians and officials, would help save Thailand much more than 75 billion baht.

Terrible voice. Blunders about the stage. All publicity hype.

 

I think Lisa's good though. 

9 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Young people these days and their so called music...

Each of my kids have a hard drive that contains all of our family pic since they were born and are updated a few times a year.  Also included on the disks are hundreds of mp3's of music from the 70's, 80's, and early 90's.  The teens actually have been going through these "oldies" and we often speak of the nature of music at this time in their cultural experience and how formulated and superficial it has become.

I guess the Thai government and TAT are sure hoping that enough travelers will be in Thailand

to pay for this New Years bash.  I guess the local population will be ga ga enough to pay even

if only a trickle of international travelers do show up with the present restrictions, and extra cost

for this Winters break.  

Geezer

20 hours ago, robblok said:

I think most older guys wont know her.

 

She is one of the famous K pop idols but she is Thai. One of the few K pop idols that is not Korean. 

 

I don't understand the need for such expensive artist to perform. But im sure some kickbacks and stuff will help the ones who organize it. Money like this could better be spend elsewhere. 

Get Carabao and some great female mullam artists and send the rest of the money to Thai orphanages desperate for money. Baan Jing Jai and TakeCareKids in Pattaya for example.

36 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Young people these days and their so called music...

 

Actually your first paragraph has given me an idea for an all girl music and dance group!

 

I wonder if any of the young ladies from "After Skool Bar" in Soi Cowboy would be interested in auditioning for a place in "The Four Slappers of The Apocalypse"?

The Four Horsemen are saddling up, and with the advent and popularity of that hopelessly banal medium and Chinese trojan horse aimed at sapping the drive of the world's youth---TikTok----the locusts are beginning to swarm. Soon the seas will be on fire. Heck, we already have the plague.

 

Sure, every generation has had its share of throwaway 'talent', but even the Monkees eventually learned how to play instruments. K-Pop stars seem to hit a wall where they realize they are actually talentless and on the verge of becoming stale bread, and the result tends to be self-destruction---literally.

 

Life seems to be imitating art in an odd way. Entertainment is becoming a kind of Socialism where almost all are equal. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr wrote a tale about a time when nobody is allowed to outshine anyone else, and the public loves it. In the tale, a skilled ballet dancer is made to wear 50 kg of buckshot on his back so that he stumbles and falls down, just as one with zero talent would do.  The audience feels better about itself.

 

i think that is the ultimate goal of all these manufactured stars: You, too, could be this Lisa if you just have some surgery and let the computers give you a voice.

 

(Just having fun here...kids can watch whatever makes them happy.....while I can listen to Brahm's First or Michael Hedges playing Ritual Dance or the Grateful Dead playing Friend of the Devil and feel myself superior---ha!)

20 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Just watched the LALISA video on You Tube.

I certainly would!

So would I but she is a tad busy right now , guess I will have to wait. After you sir .........................

8 minutes ago, ronjomtien said:

Get Carabao and some great female mullam artists and send the rest of the money to Thai orphanages desperate for money. Baan Jing Jai and TakeCareKids in Pattaya for example.

Great idea but its just not possible. Sorry these things don't work that way. Anyone with some business experience and who knows about budgets and how they are checked would know that this is just not possible. It would be really really hard to do. Same for other countries. You can't just shift budgets from one place to an other those are government decisions and once allocated they people in the government businesses need to use the money in the way the government has described it.

 

I am not saying it should not be done or that this event is a good idea (i already said its not). However if you don't spend your money conform the financial guidelines for that budget people are liable in court. So it wont happen. This is something they also can't do in other countries. Just imagine if the army or police donated part of their budget to welfare. It would totally mess what they got their money for and create problems later on. That is just how it is that is things are done.(and with good reasons now its bad but in most cases its good that things are set in stone like that)

 

 

 

Lisa’s appearance attracts a million foreign tourists into Thailand and each of them spends an average of 75,000 baht into 75 billion baht in foreign exchange,” said Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) Secretary-General Adit Chairattananont.

 

Now Íve read it all and you can switch off the internet for good!

 

Just start building a stadium big enough to accomodate the one million foreign visitors from far away lands queueing now already at the borders of the Kingdom for the occasion!