PM Eyeing A-List Performers Amid Taylor Swift’s Singapore Shows

[webfact]

 

PRIME MINISTER Srettha Thavisin is moving to draw A-list performers to Thailand to boost tourism amid the upcoming shows by Taylor Swift in Singapore with the island republic being her only stop in Southeast Asia during The Eras Tour, Matichon newspaper said today (Feb. 16).

 

Speaking at iBusiness Forum 2024 entitled “Reshaping Thailand for a Sustainable Future”, Srettha said many people are probably wondering why Taylor Swift didn’t come to Thailand and some Swifties might fly to Singapore to catch her concert taking place during March 2, 3, 4 & 7, 8, 9 at the  at the National Stadium there.

 

The big question is why A-list performers like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé did not come here and while Coldplay did do so it was only for two days.

 

The answer would probably shock people, he said, and this is because the Singapore government is subsidising the shows at US$2 to 3 million per show, or approximately 500 million baht.

 

by TNR Staff

Taylor Swift, left, and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, right. Photo: Matichon

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-02-17

 

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[spermwhale]

Keep Trying. Never gonna happen. All the big bands skip BKK. It doesn't have the venues nor big enough audience for them. Rolling Stones have known this for years and have never played in BKK, knowing they can pack them in Tokyo. Also Thais are not into many of the bands that make it globally. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The big question is why A-list performers like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé did not come here and while Coldplay did do so it was only for two days.

Thailand us not on the A-list bucket list?

[kwan]

Book 'The Eagles' ! 5555

[ChrisY1]

Does anyone believe that Singapore would let everyone know if they subsidised the Swift movement? Of course they would not...and anyway, the Swift machine has much smarter people, than the entire Thai government.

 

[chang1]

Lady Gaga found out why Thailand is not a good place to perform with the flag incident. Why risk that kind of bad publicity over a minor discretion?

[thesetat]

1 hour ago, spermwhale said:

Keep Trying. Never gonna happen. All the big bands skip BKK. It doesn't have the venues nor big enough audience for them. Rolling Stones have known this for years and have never played in BKK, knowing they can pack them in Tokyo. Also Thais are not into many of the bands that make it globally. 

Given Thailands English abilities, it is understandable why they would never get such a large audience. Most Thais would not listen to nor understand the foreigner music. Those that do go to these types of shows. Those that do not make comments blaming others for this country offering less money to pay the artists to come. 

[stoner]

why would A listers want to come to this D grade place ?

[newbee2022]

19 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Given Thailands English abilities, it is understandable why they would never get such a large audience. Most Thais would not listen to nor understand the foreigner music. Those that do go to these types of shows. Those that do not make comments blaming others for this country offering less money to pay the artists to come. 

Singapore or South Korea or Philippines are more related to Western music. That's why Swift and others wouldn't come to Thailand.

[brianthainess]

42 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Given Thailands English abilities, it is understandable why they would never get such a large audience. Most Thais would not listen to nor understand the foreigner music. Those that do go to these types of shows. Those that do not make comments blaming others for this country offering less money to pay the artists to come. 

IMO This is why Thais are crap at English, most countries around the world listened to songs sang in English, but not Thailand 'cept the ole hotel California.

[HappyExpat57]

1 hour ago, chang1 said:

Lady Gaga found out why Thailand is not a good place to perform with the flag incident. Why risk that kind of bad publicity over a minor discretion?

I hadn't heard about that:

 

https://www.nme.com/news/music/lady-gaga-282-1277040

[zhounan]

Srettha, call in the Slayer!

[stoner]

20 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

IMO This is why Thais are crap at English, most countries around the world listened to songs sang in English, but not Thailand 'cept the ole hotel California.

 

how dare you forget the scorpions. 

[it is what it is]

3 hours ago, spermwhale said:

Keep Trying. Never gonna happen. All the big bands skip BKK. It doesn't have the venues nor big enough audience for them. Rolling Stones have known this for years and have never played in BKK, knowing they can pack them in Tokyo. Also Thais are not into many of the bands that make it globally. 

 

agree, my thai friends at the recent coldplay concert estimated only about 15% of the audience were thai, they said they felt like they were in a foreign country. 😄

 

there simply isn't the local demand for big western bands, and i like that, supporting local bands is great

[tigerbeer]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Singapore or South Korea or Philippines are more related to Western music. That's why Swift and others wouldn't come to Thailand.

I think there are some political issues in various countries in SEA, hence she only chooses Singapore. 

[tigerbeer]

Bruno Mars is performing two nights in Bangkok. He is quite high up there. Its not true that many big artistes skip Bangkok. BTW GnR were amazing couple years ago! 

[Kalorymetr]

How about start playing music other than traditional Thai whining on the radio, maybe people will start demanding international bands.

 

Blew my mind when I got a car and couldn't find a radio station with normal music except for one English speaking.

[herfiehandbag]

I can't say that I blame him, eyeing that is, she is quite noticeable after all.

 

Maybe time to take down the Olivia Newton John poster and replace it with a Swiftie poster?

[proton]

22 minutes ago, Kalorymetr said:

How about start playing music other than traditional Thai whining on the radio, maybe people will start demanding international bands.

 

Blew my mind when I got a car and couldn't find a radio station with normal music except for one English speaking.

 

This is Thailand, why should the radio have western music all over it? Normal music for Thai is luktung, morlam, phua cheewit, string etc not western sounds. People will never be demanding international bands beyond a few such as Blackpink or BTS while they have such great music of thier own, one thing Thais have a genius for is music.

Thailand does not need inflated western ego's, some with minimal talent coming at enormous cost. The few that have appeared here like Elton John, the Gaga woman and potty mouthed Cardi B have not gone down that well. For tickets costing thousands of baht Thais expect to see a show and be entertained, turning up is not enough. 

[schultzlivgthai]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

IMO This is why Thais are crap at English, most countries around the world listened to songs sang in English, but not Thailand 'cept the ole hotel California.

And John denver’s Take Me Home country road 🤣🤣🤣

[brianthainess]

4 minutes ago, schultzlivgthai said:

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

IMO This is why Thais are crap at English, most countries around the world listened to songs sang in English, but not Thailand 'cept the ole hotel California.

And John denver’s Take Me Home country road 🤣🤣🤣

Oh and I forgot the Cranberries song Zombie, and when sang by a Thai sounds like Someday,

And another favorite of mine is Proud Mary by Tina Turner, comes out as 

🎶....Lolling lolling, .. lolling on a Liver.. 

[Kinok Farang]

2 hours ago, stoner said:

why would A listers want to come to this D grade place ?

I did.

[john donson]

but why ?  do your job, no need for promotion of superstars

 

do something about pollution, corruption, non enforcement of laws...

[worgeordie]

I think the PM just wants to mingle with the stars , 

 

regards worgeordie

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, tigerbeer said:

I think there are some political issues in various countries in SEA, hence she only chooses Singapore. 

I said: Swift and others

[tigerbeer]

10 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

I said: Swift and others

Swift + others = Swifters 😛

[newbee2022]

23 minutes ago, tigerbeer said:

Swift + others = Swifters 😛

Yeah, have the last say on that😂🥳🌞

[lavender19]

Just make sure they don't book anyone on one of the numerous no alcohol days

[tigerbeer]

5 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Yeah, have the last say on that😂🥳🌞

i have been to Shawn Menzes, Billie Eilish concerts with my kids. Majority were Thais. New generation thais have a huge western music following. your initial statement is not quite correct on why Taylor Swift did not come to Thailand or some other countries here in SEA. There are reasons why Swift and some other do not come to certain countries in SEA and its very politically linked. Junta, Human rights etc etc etc etc etc. 

 

that would be my last say on the topic.... 

[stoner]

1 hour ago, Kinok Farang said:

I did.

 

welcome to the d list.