Bob Marley Is The Only International Star To Make It In Thailand

[garro]

I was just thinking that many of the stars we grew up thinking were world famous are basically unknown in Thailand. Bands such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen and U2 are not well known here. The only exception to this seems to be Bob Marley who is not only recognized by a lot of Thais but there is a whole group of them who copy his dress.

I know that the influence of western music can be easily heard in modern Thai pop and Indie but there doesn't seem to be any other significant international personality to cause an impact an there probably never will be again. What do you guys think?

Edited August 4, 2007 by garro

[girlx]

actually there are a lot of stars who are just as well known in thailand, including most of the ones you mentioned? just go watch any thai cover band and you will have your fill of the eagles, U2, the Beatles, etc.

[Mid]

tropicarium.se

[garro]

I forgot about them. I had never heard of The Scorpions before coming to Thailand.

[jasreeve17]

Bob Marley, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, U2, Queen and scorpian.

One of them seems a bit out of place...

[garro]

Yes, I should have named this thread 'why the hel_l are the Scorpions popular in Thailand, or indeed anywhere'.

I remember a couple of years ago a guy in our village asked if I had the guitar chords for any Scorpion songs.

I told him to pi** off

[jasreeve17]

The worst thing is that I've started to quite like "Changes" now. It's so wrong.

[taxexile]

engleberts in town next month i believe.

[WaiWai]

Baby, don't worry, about a thing,

Coz every little thing

Is gonna be alright ..

How Thai is that sentiment ?

Just dusted off my CD - thanks for reminding me .

[tayto]

[garro]

engleberts in town next month i believe.

Is he touring the whole country or is it just the one bar he is singing in?

[Ulysses G.]

I forgot about them. I had never heard of The Scorpions before coming to Thailand.

Me either, and I kind of liked them, but bored now.

[t.s]

I was just thinking that many of the stars we grew up thinking were world famous are basically unknown in Thailand. Bands such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen and U2 are not well known here. The only exception to this seems to be Bob Marley who is not only recognized by a lot of Thais but there is a whole group of them who copy his dress.

I know that the influence of western music can be easily heard in modern Thai pop and Indie but there doesn't seem to be any other significant international personality to cause an impact an there probably never will be again. What do you guys think?

not sure who you have been talking to but those bands are all well know here.

[bowthai]

bob marley is like a god in hawaii and they think he's still alive there but i think it's due to them smoking pakalolo religiously.

and if i hear another horrible rendition of hotel california in a bar i'll scream.

[Maxwell Smart]

Bob Marley? The only star to make it in Thailand?> Nothing could be further from the truth

[garro]

Sorry ts but I disagree. I've lived here a few years and been to enough parties to know that your average Thai wouldn't have a clue who these bands were. They may recognize a few songs but that would mostly be people who previously worked in the entertainment industry that dealt with Farang. While you may have groups like I-Nam wearing Beatles shirts, it doesn't mean that the average person would know who they are.

Have you ever asked Thai people who the famous star is in the picture beside HM?

I have yet to meet one who knew it was Elvis.

[Old Man River]

Sorry ts but I disagree. I've lived here a few years and been to enough parties to know that your average Thai wouldn't have a clue who these bands were. They may recognize a few songs but that would mostly be people who previously worked in the entertainment industry that dealt with Farang. While you may have groups like I-Nam wearing Beatles shirts, it doesn't mean that the average person would know who they are.

Have you ever asked Thai people who the famous star is in the picture beside HM?

I have yet to meet one who knew it was Elvis.

I wonder who all the Elvis impersonators in Thailand think they are impersonating if they don't know Elvis?

[garro]

Sorry ts but I disagree. I've lived here a few years and been to enough parties to know that your average Thai wouldn't have a clue who these bands were. They may recognize a few songs but that would mostly be people who previously worked in the entertainment industry that dealt with Farang. While you may have groups like I-Nam wearing Beatles shirts, it doesn't mean that the average person would know who they are.

Have you ever asked Thai people who the famous star is in the picture beside HM?

I have yet to meet one who knew it was Elvis.

I wonder who all the Elvis impersonators in Thailand think they are impersonating if they don't know Elvis?

Huh, where are all these Elvis impersonators?

[Mid]

All SHOOK UP in memoriam

Published on August 2, 2007

He may have left the building for good 30 years ago this month, but Thailand's Elvis impersonators are streaming through the doors

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

The Nation

[enyaw]

The eagles..

[garro]

Well Mid, this article would suggest that I am wrong but I have never seen any evidence personally of this Elvis phenomena. I also seem to remember teaching classes of Mathyom students and seeing them struggle to name 1 European/American band or singer.

[Old Man River]

Well Mid, this article would suggest that I am wrong but I have never seen any evidence personally of this Elvis phenomena. I also seem to remember teaching classes of Mathyom students and seeing them struggle to name 1 European/American band or singer.

Besides Elvis, let me throw another one out that I don't think has been mentioned yet. How about Cliff Richards? Maybe the young students don't remember him, but their parents will.

[garro]

Come on now, OMR you have got to be joking?

[KhaoNiaw]

Bangkok university kids know loads of current western bands that I've never heard of.

[chownah]

Michael Jackson......ask around and see if they've heard of him.

Edited August 4, 2007 by chownah

[garro]

Michael Jackson......ask around and see if they've heard of him.

The Thai kids may have heard of him but only in regards to keeping out of his way

[KhaoNiaw]

Come on now, OMR you have got to be joking?

No, he's right. There used to be an old guy with his sewing machine on the street in Paknam (Samutprakan) who could sing a lot of Cliff's songs. Rated our Cliff more highly than Elvis.

The Carpenters and the BeeGees also very popular long after they had outworn their welcome elsewhere.

Edited August 4, 2007 by KhaoNiaw

[garro]

Come on now, OMR you have got to be joking?

No, he's right. There used to be an old guy with his sewing machine on the street in Paknam (Samutprakan) who could sing a lot of Cliff's songs. Rated our Cliff more highly than Elvis.

The Carpenters and the BeeGees also very popular long after they had outworn their welcome elsewhere.

I'm sorry but that's just sick!

[Mid]

Music and Dance in Thailand

Influence of western music and pop: The influence of western music lead to the evolution of many new forma of music like the Luk Grung which was a romantic music popular with the upper class and also later the Wong Shadow that was influenced by the Rock Music of Cliff Richards. The first Thai pop band was named the String.

Asiarooms Pte. Ltd

[Old Man River]

Come on now, OMR you have got to be joking?

I wasn't joking about the Elvis impersonators and am not joking about Cliff Richards. Not my favorite, but I was dragged by some Thai friends to one of his concerts in Bangkok and it was packed (with Thai's). You should get out more.