Dirty Dancing Leaves Everyone In A Spin

[george]

Dirty dancing leaves everyone in a spin

By Tulsathit Taptim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWf2_WJK2HU

Controversial "Itchy Ears"

The latest craze sweeping Thailand is the band Ja Turbo and their song "Itchy Ears". The title and the actions may seem a little at odds with each other unless you know that the vulgar Thai word for a females genitals is ...

TV talk show host Woody Milintachinda was not the one who threw the first stone at Ja Turbo, but his was probably the biggest and it bounced back the hardest.

Describe the online community any way you want - powerful, fickle or suspicious - but, overnight, it has all but redeemed the most controversial Thai female teen singer of the hour and put a well-loved celebrity on a pillory of hatred and anger. Ja Turbo, whose real name is Nongpanee Mahadtai, had put on a show that made Michael Jackson's crotch-grabbing move look like a teasing act in a parents' day performance. The YouTube clip of her show has attracted 15 million views and counting. Naturally, she came under fire from left, right and centre. Until Woody came along, that is.

He invited "Nong Ja" to his show and asked some hard-hitting questions, some of which, critics say, were his own thinly-veiled commentaries. Woody was joined by two like-minded commentators who helped create an impression of holier-than-thou adults character assassinating a helpless teen who had been forced to be naughty and bitchy to stay competitive in a fierce nighttime entertainment business.

The rest, as they say, is history. The online world re-evaluated and then embraced her while turning against him. If the compassion showered upon Ja was amazing, the extreme hostility towards Woody was shocking. He has been cursed, scolded, scorned and virtually torn to pieces on YouTube. Tens of thousands of stinging feedbacks prompted the TV host to clarify his stand, which probably has made things worse.

In defending himself, Woody suggested that people should not judge him based on that one broadcast interview, where many things had to be taken into account. "If you ask me what I think of her personally, I like her a lot. But you have to understand that, on TV, you've got to keep your style in asking interview questions," he said.

That was what Ja tried to say during the interview, albeit in a stammering, emotionally-stricken manner. After Woody said, "What got to me was the question why our country has this kind of woman", she replied, her voice shaken, "It was just a show. It's a job. An honest job. If I had been able to choose, I would not have chosen this kind of life. I'm not that good looking and I don't sing that well. In this business, I needed to find a selling point."

Misguided about a "selling point", maybe, but what the audience saw was a naive girl being totally truthful about what she did and why she did it. My younger brother played in a pub band and I know exactly what she was talking about. When bands auditioned for contracts, the first thing prospective employers demanded was that female singers and dancers be scantily dressed. The dirtier the dance, the better the chance of getting the job. Like it or not, that's the way things are.

"It doesn't matter if you play like the Scorpions or are terrible as hell," my brother told me. "The first thing a pub-owner is interested in is near nudity in your show. Every band now has to employ sexy singers who are not afraid to appear all but naked. The way Nong Ja is dressed in that video is a modest version of what's been going on in various pubs around the country."

Putting Nong Ja's clip on YouTube does not expose her. It exposes what countless struggling young artists have to go through to stay afloat in the cutthroat entertainment business. The girls have to seduce to survive. Some of them are having fun in the process. Nong Ja was giggling while performing was what described during the Woody talk show as "the lowest form of art".

Perhaps it's too early to call the growing support for her in the online community a solid sign that Thai society is becoming far more liberal. Maybe Woody inadvertently helped turn it around for Nong Ja. She did not insist that it was the right thing to do. All she did was innocently ask for sympathy, and that might have been a straight shot to the heart. Public fire was redirected and it was Woody who had to bear the brunt of it.

In his self-defence, Woody said viewers might not even have thoroughly watched the talk show before passing judgement. In her self-defence, Ja said that her controversial dance "did not reflect who I am". In a world where judgement is passed increasingly quickly and easily, both of them are most likely right. Each, however, has a different lesson to learn.

-- The Nation 2011-09-30

[FOODLOVER]

Let me get this straight, she is singing about an itchy va jay jay? Was the concert sponsored by Vagisil?

[LivinLOS]

I have to say TV has stepped up the reporting standards.. Normally this kind of thread is useless without pics..

...But now we have video !!

[DiamondKing]

Let me get this straight, she is singing about an itchy va jay jay? Was the concert sponsored by Vagisil?

Cant say I saw anything wrong with it, sexy girls dancing and singing scantily clad, sounds like its a winning formulas not only Thailand but around the world.

The response she got from this Woody guy is just the typical 2 faced approach to the subject where thais are concerned, they love this stuff as can be seen in the many Karaoke joints/bars around the country and this Woody Geezer just saw a chance to pick on the poor girl and thankfully it backfired on him

And in reality there is a real important public health message in that song, just remember you guys when your hanging with a nice thai lady dressed like that she just might have a itchy joo joo so remember to wrap that big boy up

DK

Edited September 30, 2011 by DiamondKing

[Thai at Heart]

I am sure some blue haired, horn rimmed pooyai in an office somewhere has been rushed to hospital after seeing that.

That said, for shock value, pretty good going. Great advertising for the international education hub among teenage boys too.

Son :Dad, Can I go to school in Thailand?

Dad :Only if I get to go with you.

[upena]

Ah - Thailand's image damaged once again. Perhaps the Culture Minister would be better off worrying about the damage caused by the Sacred Hearts students in their Nazi attire.

[CTO]

If the poor girl has a itch to scratch!

There is another video of this singer performing in a famous nightclub where another famous male singer is in the audience and keeps leaning up to "assist" in the song.

Problem was his girlfriend also saw the video and true Thai gossip is not impressed.

AHhh - where would we be without Thai gossip!

CTO

https://plus.google.com/112451486399280374785/posts

[Thai at Heart]

Indeed, do this on stage, it is an uproar. Look at porn in the privacy of your own home, that is illegal.

Go to pole dancing show in the centre of downtown Bangkok, that is ok? Build entire beach resorts around this, it is ok?

It doesn't hurt Thailand's image any more than it already is. This is a big part of Thailand's international image, and no amount of hand wringing in the country is not going to change it, because it is there for all to see, pretty much every day, everywhere.

Blame it on Madonna, blame it on Lady Gaga, blame it on the west, but it is in the vast majority Thais running it, profiting from it and working in this business in Thailand, and Thais running the government.

One can only conclude that they have cottoned onto the fact that sex sells extremely well, and like it very much, since no one ever does anything to stop it. It is probably in the top 5 exports in the country.

Edited September 30, 2011 by Thai at Heart

[aechzen]

I have to say TV has stepped up the reporting standards.. Normally this kind of thread is useless without pics..

...But now we have video !!

one time i saw a show for thai military , the girls was complete nude

[FOODLOVER]

Let me get this straight, she is singing about an itchy va jay jay? Was the concert sponsored by Vagisil?

Cant say I saw anything wrong with it, sexy girls dancing and singing scantily clad, sounds like its a winning formulas not only Thailand but around the world.

The response she got from this Woody guy is just the typical 2 faced approach to the subject where thais are concerned, they love this stuff as can be seen in the many Karaoke joints/bars around the country and this Woody Geezer just saw a chance to pick on the poor girl and thankfully it backfired on him

And in reality there is a real important public health message in that song, just remember you guys when your hanging with a nice thai lady dressed like that she just might have a itchy joo joo so remember to wrap that big boy up

DK

Oh ok i get it now, this was all done through the Heath Ministry. Makes sense. Have they notified the Culture police?

[anon467367354]

This is nothing new, and good for Woody for exposing the hard truth. Sex sells and that's all there is to it. Nong Ja said that she did what she had to do to make it in today's industry, that I think is what the ministry is having a hard time about, the truth. Some things still stand in Thailand and actually nothing to get all worked up and hot about.

[sfbandung]

Tame enough. Britney Spears and Madonna engaging in a bit of tongue on stage has become famous. Scandal is good press.

Perhaps Woody would prefer her to be working in some grotty joint in Walking Street, wearing far less and behaving far more badly.

[spermwhale]

That's one annoying, talentless girl and a lame performance. I can't believe anybody has bothered giving her attention. AND the orgasm moans to Thai country music, the worst noise on earth, were so low class.

Of course she has to rub her squeeze box in a skimpy bikini on stage cuz she sure can't sing, she can't dance and she ain't cute.

[AGareth2]

doesn't look if she really knows what to do

tame

[Payboy]

Itchy ear you say - I don't mind giving her a earful.

[PingManDan]

To answer that question they are called "a wai ya seuup phan khawing ying" female genitals

[zakk9]

This is not the western world, and as opposed to in the west, the teenage audience is rather ignorant with regards to the consequences of testosterone, alcohol and boys who couldn't care less if the girl gets pregnant. It's not his responsibility anyway, and there's always another 15 year old around the corner who is willing to spread her legs after a couple of Spy. A lot of the sex going on in the Thai community would be considered rape in most western countries. Here, as long as the girl is drunk and/or the boy is stronger, it's considered normal.

No one factor is responsible for the enormous number of teenage pregnancies in this country and the fact that millions of children grow up without a father, but those concerts (which is part of a trend that has been going on for years here) sure don't help. As usual, the combination of factors make the poor remain poor, since the teenage mother has no choice but dumping the child with the nearest relative while she gets a job as a maid/bar hostess/karaoke girl or similar, which will sooner or later lead to another pregnancy. And in 15 years, two new candidates for the "entertainment business" arrive in Pattaya.

[uptheos]

It's exactly what the tourist's want........a bit of Thai culture.

As said before, the Thai guys go nuts over this sort of thing and fight each other to stuff 100+ baht bills into girls knickers. Then off to the mia noi for some jollies, then last of all home to the wife and kids for dinner and falling into bed soooo tired.......but they wash their hands first.

[softgeorge]

What is the issue? Geez go to 7 Eleven in Pattaya and you would see more.

[luckizuchinni]

Lame performance, lame singing, not that erotic even. But that is my opinion. Who cares if she sings and dances like this? You can see far more explicit things here in Thailand, so if she can make a living like this, and if there are people who want to see it, so be it.

With a former massage-parlor owner in the government, with huge palaces for sex along major Thai boulevards, with bars galore openly flaunting the no nude dancing laws, it is so hypocritical that the police come down on four independent Thai college girl escorts, a Thai-Western swingers group, a couple of girls who take off their tops at a Songkran street party, a guy who sells sex toys, and a camgirl house.

[kumsamut]

It turned out she was a very sweet girl. She said it was all a making money for university. She said she was nobody and she was just an entertainer.

Two TV shows took her on TV.

First show: bombarded her with nasty comments and questions. A lot of people got angry at the show and support her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjCkXzr-4-s

Second show: Chatted to her like a friend, dressed her up, and allow her to Jazz.

Edited September 30, 2011 by george

[Madivad]

1. Maybe this is only new to Thailand because every generation has had their share of controversial pop/rock/dirty dancing artists, although possibly not so extreme. Thailand, late as usual and pushing the boundary.

2. I wouldn't mind seeing the interview, didn't watch the video, I've seen it enough times--the wife watched it endlessly for hours one night a while back.

3. But what got me the most about this article, can someone speak in their "self-defence"? And it happened twice in the one paragraph. Don't we have editors anymore? "In his defence, Woody said... In her defence, blah blah blah."

4. Where is she playing next, the misses wants to go :-)

[skorchio]

I think she is fantastic. I think Thailand is fantastic. And if you moan about the double standards, ask yourself, do you really really hate the double standards? Would you prefer to live in Singapore? Because thats the product of good governance and law enforcement and observation. If you hate double standards in governance, would you please go spend a couplee of years in Singapore.

[uptheos]

It was exactly the same, lame dance that you see in 100's of Thai places..............now, if a Thai singer could come up with some new moves that made headlines, they would make a killing. This was just pole dancing (sans pole) and poor singing.

[SAffer]

Sex is top of mind when we think of Thailand. My poor mother is so worried about me, because she has never been here, but she thinks that the girls here are all sluts, basically. But, be that as it may; I am a man, a single man, so for me it is a treat to have so many willing young (and old...) women who are open for some fun. I think that the people who oppose Thai sex industry are like Ostriches with their heads in the sand. Many Thais simply try to ignore the fact that theirs is a highly sexual society. For me, I see more flesh on the streets of Bangkok than I do on the average beach... yet the Thais insist that my eyes are deceiving me- yes: the difference between how Thai girls dress, and how western girls dress is; the Thais cover their body and westerners expose themselves- this is from the ABAC Thai culture course. So, look at the video all you like- and consider that to the Thais it is just a sign of WESTERN influence.

[bkkjames]

Sex is top of mind when we think of Thailand. My poor mother is so worried about me, because she has never been here, but she thinks that the girls here are all sluts, basically. But, be that as it may; I am a man, a single man, so for me it is a treat to have so many willing young (and old...) women who are open for some fun. I think that the people who oppose Thai sex industry are like Ostriches with their heads in the sand. Many Thais simply try to ignore the fact that theirs is a highly sexual society. For me, I see more flesh on the streets of Bangkok than I do on the average beach... yet the Thais insist that my eyes are deceiving me- yes: the difference between how Thai girls dress, and how western girls dress is; the Thais cover their body and westerners expose themselves- this is from the ABAC Thai culture course. So, look at the video all you like- and consider that to the Thais it is just a sign of WESTERN influence.

I like the last part - towing the company line - always the farangs fault. Ok I take the blame for this one personally.

[animatic]

I don't think Tata Young has anything to worry about.

Marginal talent, trying to shock to become a well known and profitable marginal talent.

Lets hope later in life she doesn't become the female Arisaman.

PS. The market for this performance is NOT Farangs.

Edited September 30, 2011 by animatic

[luckizuchinni]

I think she is fantastic. I think Thailand is fantastic. And if you moan about the double standards, ask yourself, do you really really hate the double standards? Would you prefer to live in Singapore? Because thats the product of good governance and law enforcement and observation. If you hate double standards in governance, would you please go spend a couplee of years in Singapore.

Yes, I bemoan the double standards. Why should a guy get arrested for selling sex toys? Why should a swinger's party, where no money is being exchanged, get raided and the foreign husband of the party organizer arrested and held in jail for a couple of months? Why should a place where girls can go work as camgirls get raided and shut down?

Those same camgirls can work in scuzzy whorehouses or fancy Rachadapisek massage palaces so guys can have sex with them, but they get arrested for flashing on a cam? Makes no sense to me. Live and let live, as long as no one is being hurt.

[DavidOxon]

this is a much sexier version

Was sent this link ages ago by a Thai friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkjbnjJlFDk

David

[mattpatt]

Looks good to me.

My Mrs had a video via FB from one of her (female) friends and it was the same girl I think, but a tad more saucy. She thought it was amusing.