New Mandala readers who are fans (or observers) of Carabao – Thailand’s most famous “songs for life” band – will find this recent Bangkok Post report worth a read. In tribute to the band, a 25th anniversary album has been recently released with the title Mon Pleng Carabao (The Magic of Carabao’s Music).
For context:
The list of performers on Mon Pleng Carabao is made up of the best and most diverse artists available, but this is no surprise considering Carabao’s unrivalled popularity, longevity and achievements. Hailed as the first songs for life band to achieve mainstream success, Carabao play protest songs riddled with political implications, cultural criticisms and social reflections.
And in other news:
Yeunyong ["Ad" Opakul] revealed that the band is working on a double album to be released later this year that is likely to send chills down the spines of those in power.
“There are still many things left uncriticised in our country. There are many things to say, and we will say them,” said Yuenyong, taking another sip of wine.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Amateur // May 17, 2007 at 2:17 am
But it must be said that “Ad” is not as revolutionary as he has been and claims to be. His “Carabao Daeng” has revealed his revolutionary-turned-enterpreneur attitude, and in some crudial moments you have missed his statement. Where was he during the coup?
But by the end of the day – Even Dylan has turned commercial…
2 patiwat // May 17, 2007 at 9:08 am
Carabao has been strangely silent these past few months.
I remember after Bloody May, Carabao came out with a wonderful song titled ล้างบาง (laang baang, purge) urging the people to not vote for parties that had supported the military government. For them to be silent in this day and age is truely puzzling.
3 serf // May 17, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Ad has a long history of forging cosy relationships with dodgy politicians such as Barnharn Silapa-Archa. Pretty much what you would expect with someone with such a heavy investment in the ‘health drinks’ market. I can understand that it is difficult to make money out of music when there are so many counterfeiters around, but I have never been able to figure out how his arse-licking fits with his supposed radical chic. One of the first lessons you learn here is never to trust anyone who looks vaguely hippyish. What might be good-natured roguishness at home usually transfers into downright slipperiness here.
4 jeru // May 17, 2007 at 10:48 pm
“One of the first lessons you learn here is never to trust anyone who looks vaguely hippyish.” Is that your best try at wisdom ’serf’?
‘Serf’ you put too much faith on dapper clothes and expensive neckties. Thailand was scammed by one such very well-dressed con artist with initials TS.
Maybe I’ll play ‘Made in Thailand’ and drink the beer AD promotes. Still sounds good to me after all these years ’serf’!
5 chut // May 18, 2007 at 2:41 am
This is Carabao, not Caravan chai mai?
6 Johpa // May 18, 2007 at 11:57 am
Who give’s a rat’s derriere about Ad’s politics. The man puts together a great band with great music. I first arrived in Thailand around 1981 so me and Carabao have some shared history. They had a tour in the US two summers ago, and I got to see them in a small club with maybe all of 200 people in the club. Me and a few hot over 50 mamas embarassed the heck out of the younger Thais by dancing our middle-aged arses off Thai style for nearly two hours, only 10 meters from the stage, whilst the younger folk couldn’t do much more than wave their lame hands in the air. Apart from Isaan folk music, Carabao is the only Thai band I can listen to.
7 serf // May 18, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Wisdom is for intellectuals, Jeru. Another waste of space.
8 polo // May 21, 2007 at 12:20 pm
There was a point when Ad started dancing with Big Jiew and his AK-47 armed entourage — some said he himself — were running around bullying people, acting like their own mafia, grabbing land (wasn’t there a protected forest scandal involving him?).
That’s a point when his politics did, and do, matter, as much as the music. I like the pleng of the 80s but not his kaan muang of the 90s. Compare it with how the Caravan people have carried themselves. I’ll take Nga anytime.
9 Norma // Nov 17, 2008 at 8:42 pm
It’s been a while since posts about Carabao were put on here but what do you all think about Ad not singing at the protest rally that’s going on now?
I do agree with Johpa, I’ve been to many different Carabao concerts both here in the USA and in Thailand, for me it’s about the music. Johpa, you weren’t at the one in SF were you?
Does anyone really know how much is publicity, myth or reality when it come to what Ad has done in the past? I keep meaning to ask him. One of these days I think I will.
I love Carabao, always! If anyone wants to talk with me about Carabao please check my website, CuriousCreations.com
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