US embassy releases viral Songkran celebration clip



BANGKOK, 11 April 2014 (NNT) – The US embassy in Bangkok has made a video clip to celebrate the Thai New Year, which is also known as the Songkran Festival.

Like the previous year, the US embassy in Bangkok released a 1:34 minute long video clip dedicated for the Songkran Festival. The clip started with US ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney greeting the viewers and starting to lip-sync a Thai song called “Suk Kan Thoe Rao”. The video also showed scenes of the embassy staff splashing water and dancing to the song.

The clip went viral on the internet, receiving over 30,000 hits on the video-sharing website Youtube in just a day.

The clip was also made to commemorate 180 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and USA.

The video can be viewed on Youtube. Simply type in “Sook Sun Wan Songkran from U.S. Embassy Bangkok” and enjoy the clip.


-- NNT 2014-04-11

//clip added

There will be a few cringing when they see that.

Can't wait to see the Thai follow-up on the 4th of July.

There will be a few cringing when they see that.

You betcha and I'm one of them. At 27 seconds into the video I saw the person I referred to in the post below. Front row left.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/671714-us-embassy-in-bangkok-still-open-despite-uss-shutdown/page-3

Par for the course for Kristine isn't it?

English teacher, sure. Ambassador? Not made of the right stuff at all.

Yingluck-esque indeed.

Looks viral material. Wait. That was Gandam Style; been there, undone that!

I'm waiting for the Russian Songkran video to compare and contrast ...

As a Brit I thought it was a good video partly for the time of year and partly to release some tension and bring in some laughter and joy.

To be honest I can't see the UK embassy and ambassador doing the same thing somehow..

Perhaps the UK-embassy might record another version, with all the men wearing pinstripe-suits & bowler-hats, defending themselves from the water-throwers with their umbrellas ?

To the tune of 'Rule Britannia' ?

... imagine the germans with dirndl dresses and lederhosen

Wait for it.

The Americans gojng around the world , interfering in politics bla.

A bucket of water on you grumps.

A good-natured video. I wish my own embassy (Germany) would've produced something similar. But then again, a bunch of stern-looking guys goose-stepping in drenched lederhosen might not be a particularly pretty sight

180 years relations between Thailand and the US??? Are they on drugs or am I missing something here?

180 years relations between Thailand and the US??? Are they on drugs or am I missing something here?

Siam.

I'm waiting for the Russian Songkran video to compare and contrast ...

The Russian Embassy just posted this playful pic:

180 years relations between Thailand and the US??? Are they on drugs or am I missing something here?

Siam.

I also believe, that the US was just a few loosely knit states, back then not the singular version of it, it is today. Did they actually have diplomats in Siam/Thailand since then? That would really surprise me. (not saying they didn't.. Just asking ;-) )

just a bit of fun, loosen up,,,

I'm waiting for the Russian Songkran video to compare and contrast ...

The Russian Embassy just posted this playful pic:

The Russians never quite get it do they!

Perhaps the UK-embassy might record another version, with all the men wearing pinstripe-suits & bowler-hats, defending themselves from the water-throwers with their umbrellas ?

To the tune of 'Rule Britannia' ?

Where's John Steed when you need him or would Archie Leach be better suited for the job?

Perhaps the UK-embassy might record another version, with all the men wearing pinstripe-suits & bowler-hats, defending themselves from the water-throwers with their umbrellas ?

To the tune of 'Rule Britannia' ?

Where's John Steed when you need him or would Archie Leach be better suited for the job?

Now if it was Purdey getting wet we'd be seriously doing some talking

180 years relations between Thailand and the US??? Are they on drugs or am I missing something here?

Siam.

I also believe, that the US was just a few loosely knit states, back then not the singular version of it, it is today. Did they actually have diplomats in Siam/Thailand since then? That would really surprise me. (not saying they didn't.. Just asking ;-) )

Yes, surprisingly, 'relations' do go back that far.

Amusing also to compare the Siamese-American treaties of 1833 and 1856 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese%E2%80%93American_Treaty_of_Amity_and_Commerce) with the Siamese-British treaties of 1826 and 1855 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowring_Treaty).

Note that the Americans demanded improved terms in 1856 after the British got carte blanche in 1855 to do essentially whatever they wanted within Siam under threat of Britain's 'gunboat diplomacy'.

Americans may be interested in the 1966 treaty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Amity_and_Economic_Relations_%28Thailand%E2%80%93United_States%29) - although not as one-sided as the 1856 agreement it is still better than what most other foreigners got in the Thai 1999 Foreign Business Act.

I'm sure John Cleese would make a great job of a counter for the Brits.

Perhaps the UK-embassy might record another version, with all the men wearing pinstripe-suits & bowler-hats, defending themselves from the water-throwers with their umbrellas ?

To the tune of 'Rule Britannia' ?

Where's John Steed when you need him or would Archie Leach be better suited for the job?

I suspect a UK version would be closer to the BBC Ambassadors series

I reckon Ambassador Kenney is safe from the dreaded Thai insult -- she tink too mut!

Perhaps the UK-embassy might record another version, with all the men wearing pinstripe-suits & bowler-hats, defending themselves from the water-throwers with their umbrellas ?

To the tune of 'Rule Britannia' ?

Rule Britannia... Britannia rules the waves.

Thailand waves the rules.

I reckon Ambassador Kenney is safe from the dreaded Thai insult -- she tink too mut!

In all fairness to the criticisms of her behavior "unbefitting a senior diplomat," all I can say is...yeah, mostly. She's sort of the female version of the Mr. Bean of Ambassadors.

I reckon Ambassador Kenney is safe from the dreaded Thai insult -- she tink too mut!

In all fairness to the criticisms of her behavior "unbefitting a senior diplomat," all I can say is...yeah, mostly. She's sort of the female version of the Mr. Bean of Ambassadors.

Perhaps, but in a weird way considering how seriously bad the political crisis is in Thailand, and how the USA really shouldn't be associated with any of the sides here, there may be a certain brilliant wisdom to the goofy approach.

180 years relations between Thailand and the US??? Are they on drugs or am I missing something here?

Yes, you're missing a lot. It's only supposed to be some light hearted fun. Lighten up.

I think it is great! However if she ever decides to go into politics someone would use that against her.

180 years relations between Thailand and the US??? Are they on drugs or am I missing something here?

This will help you find some of what you are missing. You can share this at the next meeting of the Happy Hour History debate.

The start of official diplomacy between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Siam is marked by the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which was finalized on Marcy 20, 1833 C.E. (2376 B.E.) between Siam’s Ministers of State, under his majesty Kim Rama III, Nangklao and American envoy, Edmund Roberts, whom was sent by President Andrew Jackson to negotiate the first treaty with an Asian nation.

Siam had previously established diplomatic and trade relations with several European nations–namely Portugal, France, and Great Britain, but Edmund Roberts negations marked the first time that Siam recognized USA as an equal trading partner with the ranks of its European counterparts. And so Thailand became the first Asian nation that USA entered into treaty relations with, even before Japan or China.

http://thailand-usa.com/history/history-diplomacy-relations-between-thailand-siam-united-states-of-america

I'm waiting for the Russian Songkran video to compare and contrast ...

The Russian Embassy just posted this playful pic:

The Russians never quite get it do they!

I'll have the one on the far left