Welcome to the “What We’re Listening To” ongoing series where volunteers talk about the music they’ve been listening to at site. Here you’ll find PCVs sharing their thoughts, reflections, and reviews on music of any genre. Leave us a comment below if you have a take on this music!
Gretchen Evans, 136 YinD
I truly am one of those people who listens to a little bit of everything. I’m a mood listener just as much as I’m a mood reader! While I’ve been on a “Folklore on repeat” kick lately, I also find myself exploring subgenres I didn’t even know existed.
One way I like to connect with a culture and further my integration is by listening to the music the people in my village listen to when they get together or go on long drives. In a way, this article is also what Thai people in Isaan are listening to!
When I am with my coworkers, the Thai rock genre, pleng phuea chiwit (พงษ์สิทธิ์ คำภีร์) or “songs for life”, is common casual listening territory. I have found this to bring nostalgic feelings of childhood – my parents love 70s rock and 80s/90s country music! “Songs for life” certainly has a Western influence, even with the same political and social undertones. Popular artists in this genre would align their music with ongoing protests and movements, like the 1973 Democracy Movement that ultimately altered the nation’s political landscape. Caravan, Carabao, and Pongsit Kampee are trailblazers in this endeavor. If you’ve watched season three of White Lotus, there’s a good chance you have heard a Carabao song! “Made in Thailand” opened up the season with a musical introduction to this season’s resort location. I immediately ‘Shazamed’ the song on my first watch and have listened to it on my many, many bike rides.
When I listen to music that falls into the “songs for life” genre, I recall prime (Western 1990s) country music, 70s American songs that protested participation in the Vietnam War (think: “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young or “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival) and even hints of reggae. This beautiful blend of music is exactly what globalization is all about! Sharing creative work and curating a unique subgenre is art that should be celebrated.
As for Western influences, I went down the rabbit hole of the Thai subgenre’s namesake and found that a particular song can point to its origins. Bluegrass band (which features a mandolinist!) The Seldom Scene and American singer Rodney Crowell recorded “Song for the Life” in the 70s on separate occasions, and the incredibly popular song was seen as an anthem for many:
Somehow, I’ve learned how to listen
For a sound like the sun going down
In the magic that morning is bringing
There’s a song for the life I have found
It keeps my feet on the ground
Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, John Denver, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and many others have blessed us with their renditions of this song. Alan Jackson’s recording is perhaps the most popular, and probably why I associate this genre with prime country. Regardless of who sang it and where, I think it is safe to say that hardworking people from all around the world can resonate with songs that describe the daily grind and beauties of a slower life.
Thai rock singer Pongsit Kampee arrived at the “songs for life” scene much later. He was able to look up to Caravan and Carabao, but also bring a ’90s spin to this meaningful music. My counterparts showed me “หวัง”, or “Hope”, and I was instantly hooked. They explained to me that this song was about the fight for democracy in Thailand – that it was a call to action to never give up hope. It is raw and moving; in every lyric, you can feel the pain in his voice.
ไม่เป็นธรรมทุกสิ่งหรอก
มันไม่ เป็นธรรมทุกอย่างหรอก
คนตาย คนตายลงไป
คนอยู่ ก็สู้ต่อไป
ประชาชนอย่างเรา
ถึงหัวใจเป็นของเรา
Not all things are right, not everything is fair
People are dying
People are still fighting
People like us
Our hearts belong to us
พงษ์สิทธิ์ คำภีร์ – หวัง【Official Audio】
In rural Thailand, at least at my site, pleng phuea chiwit is as much a battle cry as it is a grounding practice. This subgenre has a range. From slow ballads on lost or unrequited love to workout-worthy jams, you can’t go wrong. I have found myself thoroughly enjoying the “songs for life” genre, and I strongly encourage others to give it a listen, especially 70s rock music enthusiasts.
Finally, while these are not considered songs for life, I would be remiss if I didn’t include the top two songs I hear at site, on repeat by people of all ages. Two girls, ages 5 and 7, whom I tutor at the SAO, know every lyric just as well as any woman working in my office!
F.HERO Ft. ก้านตอง ทุ่งเงิน x SARAN – กุหลาบ (KULARB) [OFFICIAL VISUALIZER]
จื่อบ่ (ຈື່ບໍ່) – ก้านตอง ทุ่งเงิน【OFFICIAL MV】
Sources
Political Change in Thailand: Democracy and Participation. (2002). United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
Cultural Crisis and Social Memory: Modernity and Identity in Thailand and Laos (2002)
Whitburn, Joel (2017). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2017. Record Research, Inc. pp. 175–177. ISBN 978-0-89820-229-8.
Rodney Crowell – Song for the Life lyrics | Musixmatch
พงษ์สิทธิ์ คำภีร์ – หวัง lyrics translation in English | Musixmatch
Sticky Rice 