Use Taylor Swift disappointment to fuel Thai soft power

[webfact]

In the swirling buzz of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” skipping Thailand for a six-show run in Singapore, thanks to an exclusive deal that’s got the whole of ASEAN locked out, there’s a bitter pill we’re swallowing here.

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin spilled the beans, revealing how Singapore’s sharp move—backed by a hefty 100 million baht investment per show—means Swift won’t grace Thailand with her presence this time around. It stings, no doubt, especially knowing that had she come here, the scale of sponsors and tourists flocking could’ve been monumental. Yet, here we are, on the outside looking in, as tickets in Singapore fly off the shelves.

 

But let’s not dwell too long on what’s slipped through our fingers. Instead, let’s talk about a wake-up call, a rallying cry for us Thais to channel this disappointment into something monumental. Think about it—why sit back and let international stars’ tour schedules dictate our cultural landscape when we have the talent and creativity to light up the world stage ourselves?

 

OPINION by Wanchai Vatanakool

 

Full story: THAI ENQUIRER 2024-02-29

 

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[bamnutsak]

What a miserable op-ed piece.

 

Reeks of envy and self-loathing.

 

 

If a Thai cultural element is worthy of achieving "soft power" it will happen naturally, in a free and open society.

 

Thais are forced to self-censor, so that won't lead to new forms of expression.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

Singapore won out over Thailand in the competition to host Taylor Swift's tour because the infrastructure is better and the culture less patriarchal, and less corrupt.

 

No queues of influential people, who it appears are (unlikely) long term Swifties expecting to be photographed with her, better performance venue, cleaner environment ( actually important - the "Swiftie" phenomenon is squeaky clean) no impromptu Police "clampdowns" raising cash from young fans. All the way down the list to taxis with meters which work!

 

If you want to put the country where it is influencing with "soft power" then clean up your act both physically and metaphorically, and lose the grim faced goons in uniforms and big hats, straight out of "central casting"!

[huangnon]

Big deal. Anyone would think that Taylor Swift is some sort of musical / cultural messiah, instead of being just another vapid auto-tuned pop-star.

Just shows that like PT Barnum once said, never underestimate the stupidity and bad taste of the general public. 🤣

[ChrisY1]

Strettha really must be a dope...how he managed to build a billion dollar business is beyond me....maybe corruption and graft gave a little assistance.

But IMO, Thailand needs to clean up the air...pollution would drive people like Swift away.....then there's corruption...police incompetence....human rights abuses, eg:jailing young people for years for upsetting certain people...deporting Uyghur back to China to ascertain future..then never enquiring as to their health. There are so many reasons big names avoid Thailand, Cambodia and other despot nations. Security though, is the number one concern!

[herfiehandbag]

  On 2/29/2024 at 3:08 AM, huangnon said:

Big deal. Anyone would think that Taylor Swift is some sort of musical / cultural messiah, instead of being just another vapid auto-tuned pop-star.

Just shows that like PT Barnum once said, never underestimate the stupidity and bad taste of the general public. 🤣

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Or me - I rather like her!

 

"Will you still love me tomorrow"! I am sure she was thinking of me, in the video she looked straight at me; I shall now go and lie down in a darkened room!

[Dcheech]

  On 2/29/2024 at 1:55 AM, webfact said:

let’s not dwell too long on what’s slipped through our fingers.

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Slipped through their fingers, .  More like the Poohbahs that be, never had a clue about Taylor Swift, until the Singapore concerts were announced. Singapore on the other hand has been on this for years, & that is how they got it.

Flashback for soft power dreamers.

Lady Gaga makes a fun quip about a fake Rolex in Bangkok& the Thai government has a hissy fit, then doubles down with yet another hissy about the Thai flag on her motorcycle.  

A couple weeks back the VIP section for Ed Sheeran’s concert got out of hand as only Poo-Yai Privileged are allowed to in Thailand. You reckon this has happened many times before, just not reported in the media. 

All reasons why Taylor Swift is going to Singapore. Perhaps the Thai Enquirer journos can get on this, albeit after a deep rethink of yesterdays opinion piece on punishing western tourists & expats for South Koreas immigration snubs to Thai citizens. That type of vindictive thinking, those ideas, do not lead to Soft Power, by the way.
 

 

[Tarteso]

  On 2/29/2024 at 1:55 AM, webfact said:

when we have the talent and creativity to light up the world stage ourselves?

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Can not believe… Can not 

[Srikcir]

Thailand is not the Hub of the World Stage.

Sorry.

[hotchilli]

  On 2/29/2024 at 1:55 AM, webfact said:

Think about it—why sit back and let international stars’ tour schedules dictate our cultural landscape when we have the talent and creativity to light up the world stage ourselves?

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I thought about it, and couldn't think of anyone.

[herfiehandbag]

  On 2/29/2024 at 4:04 AM, Dcheech said:

Slipped through their fingers, .  More like the Poohbahs that be, never had a clue about Taylor Swift, until the Singapore concerts were announced. Singapore on the other hand has been on this for years, & that is how they got it.

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"Pooh bahs", the very word I have long been searching for so long to describe these characters. Thank you!

[DLock]

  On 2/29/2024 at 1:55 AM, webfact said:

why sit back and let international stars’ tour schedules dictate our cultural landscape when we have the talent and creativity to light up the world stage ourselves?

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Who would that be exactly?

[stoner]

  On 2/29/2024 at 1:55 AM, webfact said:

there’s a bitter pill we’re swallowing here.

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sreetha you a little late

got nothing in your brain 

that's what people say ..um hmmm

that's what people say.. um hmmm

 

keep changing visa dates

but we can't make em stay

at least that's what people say.. um hmmm

at least that's what people say.. um hmmm

 

but we keep cruising 

can't stop won't stop loosing

its like i got excuses in my mind saying its gonna be alright

 

cause thai people gonna pay pay pay pay pay 

yellow team gonna hate hate hate hate hate

we're just gonna take take take take take 

take it all take it all

 

thailand needs to just shake shake shake ....shake them off shake them off 

 

 

 

 

 

[HappyExpat57]

There was a similar article over the last few weeks on this subject. One of the largest considerations was how poorly artists here are treated. Case in point - about ten years ago, Lady Gaga was publicly ridiculed for her stage presence. Stodgy old farts found her outfits unsavory, but I've seen many Thai models in much skimpier outfits. Farts were also upset that she had a Thai flag on the back of a motorcycle but in no way did she ever use the prop in a disrespectful manner. And the fake Rolex thing? Well, we all know the truth about fakes sold here.

https://www.richardbarrow.com/2012/06/thailands-culture-ministry-upset-with-lady-gaga/

 

Taylor Swift is a class act, donating tens of millions of dollars to worthy causes every year. It is NO loss to her to skip performing in Thailand, plenty of other countries welcome her with open arms. Anyone here who doesn't care for her? She couldn't care less. IF she were to perform in LOS, there wouldn't be an empty seat in the house. Also consider the millions of baht that will never be generated by the peripheral sales/concessions at every concert.

 

Sum num naa.

[johng]

  On 2/29/2024 at 8:55 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

There was a similar article over the last few weeks on this subject.

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The Russian band that where arrested in Phuket  and eventually deported back (to not Russia) ?

[HappyExpat57]

  On 2/29/2024 at 9:24 AM, johng said:

The Russian band that where arrested in Phuket  and eventually deported back (to not Russia) ?

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Their case was a little different. They were working without a work permit.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/2733010/russian-rock-band-faces-deportation-from-thailand

[lavender19]

So who's disappointed? Most the Thai's I know have never heard of this terrible screeching puppet

[Bangkok Barry]

  On 2/29/2024 at 3:08 AM, huangnon said:

Big deal. Anyone would think that Taylor Swift is some sort of musical / cultural messiah, instead of being just another vapid auto-tuned pop-star.

Just shows that like PT Barnum once said, never underestimate the stupidity and bad taste of the general public. 🤣

Expand  

 

This 'vapid auto-tuned pop star' is a multi-million dollar industry, who has won many, many awards and who generates huge revenue wherever she goes. Which is, actually, what this article is about as Thailand missed out on its share. Calling her millions of fans 'stupid with bad taste' is insulting to them. and shows that the stupid one is you for not recognising that. Bad-mouthing those millions because you don't like her is juvenile, and suggests it is you that is out of touch, not them.

By the way, I wouldn't know one of her songs from another, like you I assume. But, while that doesn't stop you having an opinion about something you know nothing about and insulting those who do, I choose only to acknowledge her importance to the business she is in. 

[Bangkok Barry]

  On 2/29/2024 at 9:57 AM, lavender19 said:

So who's disappointed? Most the Thai's I know have never heard of this terrible screeching puppet

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See my comment above.

[Crossy]

Missing Taylor Swift?

 

How about The Heimatdamisch, Conny has a voice, she's just not quite Ms Swift.

 

 

 

[still kicking]

  On 2/29/2024 at 9:57 AM, lavender19 said:

So who's disappointed? Most the Thai's I know have never heard of this terrible screeching puppet

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You got no idea I have seen her in Melbourne every concert booked out also in Sydney but I guess you can do better can you.

[johng]

  On 2/29/2024 at 10:06 AM, Crossy said:

How about The Heimatdamisch

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They are brilliant  I love their version of

"Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine"

are they coming to Thailand soon ?

[chmeatloaf]

Wake up Thailand! Thailand is not everything the World needs or craze for. It's business as usual for Singapre, and being a businessman Settha should know better than how to win over not only Talyor Swift but the rest.

[Stocky]

  On 2/29/2024 at 6:21 AM, Srikcir said:

Thailand is not the Hub of the World Stage.

Sorry.

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....just the lost hub cap by the side of the road

[huangnon]

  On 2/29/2024 at 10:01 AM, Bangkok Barry said:

 

This 'vapid auto-tuned pop star' is a multi-million dollar industry, who has won many, many awards and who generates huge revenue wherever she goes. Which is, actually, what this article is about as Thailand missed out on its share. Calling her millions of fans 'stupid with bad taste' is insulting to them. and shows that the stupid one is you for not recognising that. Bad-mouthing those millions because you don't like her is juvenile, and suggests it is you that is out of touch, not them.

By the way, I wouldn't know one of her songs from another, like you I assume. But, while that doesn't stop you having an opinion about something you know nothing about and insulting those who do, I choose only to acknowledge her importance to the business she is in. 

Expand  

 

Get over yourself. It's just an opinion. The quote was from PT Barnum who was the godfather of promotion. Like you say, she is a multi-million dollar industry, has a big team behind her, managing her image, writing her songs, making sure she says the right things, etc. Tomorrow there will be another pretty face, when her 15 minutes are done. Big deal.

[Bangkok Barry]

  On 3/1/2024 at 1:48 AM, huangnon said:

 

Get over yourself. It's just an opinion. The quote was from PT Barnum who was the godfather of promotion. Like you say, she is a multi-million dollar industry, has a big team behind her, managing her image, writing her songs, making sure she says the right things, etc. Tomorrow there will be another pretty face, when her 15 minutes are done. Big deal.

Expand  

 

I know where the quote came from. You wrote what the source was. The fact remains that you insulted her many millions of fans, and her. If you don't like her or her music or the fact that she is successful at what she does, infinitely more than you are I'd guess, throwing insults was totally unnecessary and pointless. As for 'another pretty face', that applies to anyone in music, sport or anything else. No-one lasts at the top forever. Perhaps you haven't noticed that. If you don't like her, it is surely you that needs to get over yourself.

[huangnon]

  On 3/1/2024 at 1:59 AM, Bangkok Barry said:

 

I know where the quote came from. You wrote what the source was. The fact remains that you insulted her many millions of fans, and her. If you don't like her or her music or the fact that she is successful at what she does, infinitely more than you are I'd guess, throwing insults was totally unnecessary and pointless. As for 'another pretty face', that applies to anyone in music, sport or anything else. No-one lasts at the top forever. Perhaps you haven't noticed that. If you don't like her, it is surely you that needs to get over yourself.

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Gosh, Barry. I didn't mean to upset you so much.. Or indeed Taylor and her "Swifties". 😆

 

Good job she has such a sanctimonious soul like you to defend her, eh?

[Bangkok Barry]

  On 3/1/2024 at 2:37 AM, huangnon said:

 

Gosh, Barry. I didn't mean to upset you so much.. Or indeed Taylor and her "Swifties". 😆

 

Good job she has such a sanctimonious soul like you to defend her, eh?

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 I would have thought that 'sanctimonious' exactly described your original post. And you don't even recognise it as such. Funny.