Thai Singer Banyean Raggan

[penzman]

Hi all,

Does anyone know of Thai singer Banyean Raggan?

A friend is for looking for information, website, etc.

Thanks

Penzman

[elsie]

http://www.isangate.com/entertain/banyen.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banyen_Rakgan

http://www.allthaicd.com/product/music_det...Product_ID=2578

Oh bugger... I posted under the wrong login name..

Edited July 26, 2005 by LovelyCutie

[thai3]

I have met her and am a big fan of hers, she deserves the title rachinee morlam. Lived in the US for several years before coming back to thailand I believe. Sings some latin numbers as well as morlam, I don't like her luktung singing though I think she is more suited to morlam. Name dropping here but only (as very often) somebody says otherwise, Siriporn Ampaipong told me Banyen is the master of the phoot thai style of morlam. I believe she designs all her many ethnic costumes herself. Her singing is truely amazing and can be trance like, she is also the finest dancer I have ever seen. She is not as one online 'encyclopeadia' stated a morlam cing star. Along with Pimjai, Banyen is Jintara Poonlap's favourite singer, quite right too, check out her many CD's, she is from Ubon-peter

Edited July 26, 2005 by thai3

[bina]

slightly off topic but been wanting to ask for ages:

can someone explain the (technical/ethnic/musicology/anthropology) differences between morlum sing, morlum, luuk tuung, etc....

i can differentiate when i hear some music and i ask and am told what i'm hearing, but i dont know what that means , and list examples of cd's (singers etc) with the different types

[thai3]

slightly off topic but been wanting to ask for ages:

can someone explain the (technical/ethnic/musicology/anthropology)  differences between morlum sing, morlum, luuk tuung, etc....

i can differentiate when i hear some music and i ask and am told what i'm hearing, but i dont know what that means , and list examples of cd's (singers etc) with the different types

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Would take more time than I have right now but lukrung is 'city music' stylish romantic ballards not involving any ethnic insrtuments and origianlly sung to the backing of piano, bass, sax, trumpet etc, started in the 30's/40's. Not too familiar with some of the original singers but some from the 80's worth listening to are yew pempeyom, olawee sjanon and varunee, sunalee also has recorded lukrung. Lukrung has a mostly older following, which is a pity as there are some really beautiful songs. You will sometimes the ladies singing this style in the cafes of some hotels, esp strangely enough up country rather than in bkk.

Luktung evolved not from Issan music as is sometimes said but from central thai folk traditions, one of it's early centres, (sort of like nashville or detroit) was Supanburi. The supan sound is still refered to but it's more of an era and a collection of singers. Luktung differs from city music in theat the subjects are not always about love but can reflect the harsh realities of life, as well as harking back to those left at home after moving to the big city, lost love, comedy etc etc. Luktung took off in the 50's and has gone through a few different types of style since then. More recently it has sometimes included laos instruments and rythms, but that does not make it morlam. Morlam is centuries old and includes a great many different styles, it is not originally thai. Like luktung morlam has evolved into different modern sounds that include non Lao instruments such as the guitar rather than the pinn. Don't try to work out what style is what, even most thai's don't know. Books say there are at least 15 styles of morlam, but I think over 20 would be more like it. Morlam cing is one of the most misunderstood styles and fast luktung songs seem to be often mistaken for cing. Cing is a fast morlam style often sung between a man and woman with risque words. There are no big stars that I know of that just sing this style, it's looked down on somewhat by the purists as being a bit on the common or cheap side.

As for the big shows there is little difference between a luktung and a morlam show, both will have comics and likey that both luktung and morlam will be sung. A few great luktung singers are or were Surapol, Pumpuang, Sayan Sanyar, Pongsri Waranuch, Yui yatt Yerr, Fon Thanasunthorn, Sunaree Rachesima, Mike Piromporn, Ying Yong, Deang Jitakorn, Monsit Khomsoi, got, luknok etc etc

Some of the big morlam stars of today also sing a lot of luktung as it's more commercial, big names are the most divine Jintara Poonlap, Pornsak, Banyen Raggen, Job and Joy (twins) Somjit, Pimjai, Siriporn etc etc

Hope this helps-peter

Edited July 29, 2005 by thai3

[bina]

thanx for taking the time

siriporn, mike et al i know.... and the molum cing that i saw on video/karoake were very risque or what i would consider as non sophisticated country humour

apart from googling, where can i find more info, or what books (in english); or maybe when u have time u can elaborate more, sure there are others here that want to know but ar afraid to ask ; can u recommend some cd's of morlum music only (without the five piece cd sets that get sold at molum shows)

[thai3]

thanx for taking the time

siriporn, mike et al i know.... and the molum cing that i saw on video/karoake were very risque  or what i would consider as non sophisticated country humour

apart from googling, where can i find more info, or what books (in english); or maybe when u have time u can elaborate more, sure there are others here that want to know but ar afraid to ask ; can u recommend some cd's of morlum music only (without the five piece cd sets that get sold at molum shows)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First off I would not trust any online info without double checking it, you can include me as well. So much online info is wrong as it's mostly written by falangs with a smattering of knowledge. Sadly there is very little published work but maybe one of the best easily available are the chapters in the rough guide to world music written by John Clewley who has been writing on the music of SEA for nealry 20 years. John really knows his stuff and often writes in the Bangkok post.

If you read thai luktung fm publish year books full of music info and pics, 200 baht each, I think you can order from their website. I called at the office last Nov to buy one and Job and Joy were there so sat with them outside at the cafe, they are gorgeous and a top act.

I know what you mean about those morlam show packs-full of comics mostly which is not what we are after! One of the biggest morlam names is Nok Noi Ulraiporn asking for a CD might be best as that will not have all the unwanted stuff on it. Her son Mai Tai ulraiporn also sings with her, has a very good VCD out called Buksida, very funny first track and great album. Nok Noi shows are the biggest, at one time she had 300 dancers, I went out with one whose twin also danced with seang issan. Any Banyen Raggen album is worth getting and never seen one of hers with all the comic stuff on. There are so many morlam singers I can't remember the full names, Dernpen is a great singer as is Dogfah Petchupan, I'm not keen on male morlam singers, except Somjit Bortong and Aee Porchana. I'll send you the URL of a lao site when I can get round to it which has many examples of morlam styles on it.

For luktung a CD of Pumpuang's greatest hits would be a good start along with Siriporns Parin Ya Jai CD and Fon Tanasunthorns Jai Orn album. Tai Orantai is presently a very popular luktung singer, Nok Pornpana and Waranuch Puttachart are also excellent, but if you look on ethaicd you will see there are scores of singers. Very good new male singer is Mot Rangsit man. If you find precocious kids interesting then Nong mai (carrot song) or nong benz junior, a cute 7 year old girl, might impress. She might be another Yui Yatt Yerr who started singing around the same age. Chock Dee-peter

Edited July 30, 2005 by thai3

[bina]

wow, thanx for all that

the thai worker that works with me here is a close relative of dang kitikorn so i hear mostly him every day... my fave is siriporn.... will check out the others now, i detest child singers in any language (israeli cassette singers are big on that stuff also)... i cant read thai really (except for food words) so will have to wait a while... i do have access to the guitar books that the guys bring with them to here which include a broad range of songs including some john denver pieces ! will have to start bugging them to translate and explain...would definately appreciate hearing more... is musicology your speciality?

[thai3]

wow, thanx for all that

the thai worker that works with me here is a close relative of dang kitikorn so i hear mostly him every day... my fave is siriporn.... will check out the others now, i detest child singers in any language (israeli cassette singers are big on that stuff also)... i cant read thai really (except for food words) so will have to wait a while... i do have access to the guitar books that the guys bring with them to here which include a broad range of songs including some john denver pieces ! will have to start bugging them to translate and explain...would definately appreciate hearing more... is musicology your speciality?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Deang Jitakorn is from KK check out his song maleng wang bowa, it's on his 11th CD sixth track, very atmospheric. Saw him at lao chareon once when there were only about 20 people there, great singer with the right song. Some singers are not much when you see them live though. Some on the other hand are pretty limited talents like Apaporn Nakonsawan or Luknok Supaporn but then make up for it by being such great stage entertainers. Deang has recorded with another Dogfa, forget her second name.

I forgot there are some mags that have the music and chords in them as well as TV pool which is more glossy pic stuff.

Siriporn Ampiapong has the best show, her niece sings with her and the supporting singers are very good as are the dancers. Her great hit Bo rak si dam was the most popular morlam song ever and she always sings it along with parin ya jai, she is very professional and I have never seen her turn up late or give a poor performance.-peter

Edited July 30, 2005 by thai3

[thai3]

Don't bother with Jonas Anderson or Christy Gibson the falang 'singers' actually she is not so bad if having a somewhat cold and unfeeling delivery. They are both members of the children of god AKA the family, without going into what this organisation has gotten up to in the past, surfice it to say the pair give financial support to this cult including a cut of CD sales-peter

[thai3]

http://www.savannanet.com/laomusic/laomusic.htm

this is the dogs &lt;deleted&gt; for morlam styles, don't waste time emailing the owner he never replies. There are several lao sites but mostly ex pats who are only interested in what imo is crap, eg lao hip hop or pop. There are also wonderful sites in english on khmer culture, sadly nothing really on thai music unless you can read thai, I cannot-. There's a bloke in texas with a good site-monsoon country, should come up with a search-peter

[bina]

great!!!

yeah i have to hear maleng wang bowa about a hundred times a day since my worker sings while he works (thats how i know hes in a good mood); apparently he was also dang's driver but the guys wife wants a decent house etc and the pay wasnt so good so he came to israel like everyone else does to work , and dang apparently doesnt help his family so much as some thai do (i asked why, if they go to his house a lot visiting etc , he doesnt help out some of the extended family who presently live in buriram but got no answer) or at least sompong says so...

si dam is the workers' fave

will now take your lists and info and go thru their cvd's/tapes with more attention to whom and what i am listening to...

yeah, i actually wrote to jonas to ask if they could perform in israel for the thai workers gratis as charity (before i knew that they actually did that once i guess at the embassy's invite); they didnt respond to me, a lowly citizen ), got no answer of course and now that u mention their affiliation,

well definate food for thought... too bad more people here on the forum arent that interested

[thai3]

Can you ask your friend if Deang is married or not, saw him once with a girl from kk who said he is maried to her cousin. But since then somebody else told me he is not married.

Jonas never answers anyone, they like to bang on about all their 'charity work' but you have to ask what the real motivation is. On their website they did have a link to a Bk post interview with christy where she admited the children of god link. When I emailed them asking about it they deleted it. I always wonder how they seem to have permanent visa's. That cult is very dangerous to oppose, so I'd better shut up

Yes it's odd that more falangs don't like thai music (not counting loso, carabao etc) but then who wants hordes of lager louts and pervy second rate teachers ruining the scene -peter

[bina]

very definately married for sure + two (i think) but i have to check tomorrow i'll ask ... i think he just gave birth to the second one recently during the winter ; but from what sompong tells me, he drives fast, plays hard etc.... last year had a car crash while drunk driving....

since youve mentioned styles and people, i've been paying more attention (we listen to music during coffe breaks or when cleaning out the goats); some of the singers he has on old cassettes and he says they are old singers, so maybe there are no cd's of them... will ask names, again...

the same reason most anglos dont like israeli cassette singers (the turkish/arabic weepy waily styles which by the way are similar to the thai types: shiny clothes, young/handsome, glitzy, and very popular with 'locals' or 'the people' as opposed to the 'intellectuals'.... ) in the beginning the music is unfamiliar to foreigners, and u have to learn to listen to the music even if u dont understand the words, to hear riffs and sounds of different instruments, and then u learn to like it: not everyone likes to hear the ouz, for instance, it kind of grows on you...as does the waily tremelo style of morroccan/turkish types

actually most of the guys here from way up country dont seem to like falang music; a knock down punch up fight once broke out do to most of the guys wanted to see a cdv karoake, and one city guy from KK wanted to hear some falang music and they only have one video/dvd setup: a few black eyes, and lots of bad feeling and broken cd's!!! over one hour of music!!!!

i dont like most of the female singers though by the way, just rubs my ears the wrong way except for a few

[thai3]

actually most of the guys here from way up country dont seem to like falang music; a knock down punch up fight once broke out do to most of the guys wanted to see a cdv karoake, and one city guy from KK wanted to hear some falang music and they only have one video/dvd setup: a few black eyes, and lots of bad feeling and broken cd's!!! over one hour of music!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

KK is a bit special IMO as it's the only place I met singers who could speak good englsih, so learned a lot from them. There is, or was, a female morlam singer called Noi Keanju from KK who sings a bit like Jintara. I gave her a CD of hers to sign and she put her phone number on it, rang her up the next day. Not heard about her for a while, singers tend to come and go unless they really make it. There is a new singer called Ajareeya Busaba from the north somewhere who is as cute as anything and has a great voice, another one called Air Suchawadee on the sure label. Nor sure if they will really make it long term as the competition is so high, even harder for the blokes. One last mention of a great morlam singer-honee sri Issan who died in 1992 but you can still get her CD's (2)-peter

Edited July 31, 2005 by thai3