Tata Young Ready For Love

Tata Young's latest international album "Ready For Love" releases on August 25, 2009.



The album's first single, "Ready For Love", was written by Alex Smith, Mark Taylor and Ayak Thiik and produced by André Brix Buchman from Valicon Company in Germany. It also features a track ‘Perfection’ co-written by Leona Lewis along with many of the tracks written by internationally acclaimed songwriters.

Short-haired Tata Young is "sexy and glamorous", says Rainmaker Cho, the South Korean who's shot her latest music video, but he set out to make her even "more energetic and lovely".

Tata Young gets a Korean makeover for her highly anticipated third international album.



The concept of the music video for the first single "is basically from me", Tata told reporters the other day as they previewed the CD produced by Andre "Brix" Buchmann of Berlin's Valicon Productions.

Like Cho, who's previously worked with South Korean superstars Rain and Wang Lee Hom, Buchmann wanted more variety.

Rhythm and blues mix with dance pop on 12 tunes from songwriters around the world.

The title track, which has been airing for a couple of weeks, "feels cool and energetic like in the '60s", Tata says, saying she learned the "big voice" techniques of American R&B singers Aretha Franklin, Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson.

"My Bloody Valentine" will be the follow-up single. "Mission is You" and "Shine Like a Superstar" are Silom Soi 2-style rousers. "Burning Out" and "Suffocate" get melancholy.

"Ugly" is a return to the catchy form of "Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy" and "Love is the Law" sounds like Madonna's "Rain".

Tata calls "Boys Will Be Boys" her favourite track, and "Exposed" the "opposite of her real life".

"It isn't me, but the Sony bosses in Europe said it's gonna be a hit there."

It's about a small-town girl who's dumped by her lover after she becomes famous, and that's sure not our big-city Tata.

A massive advertising campaign is pushing "Ready for Love" across Asia, Australia and Europe.

Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and Japan will receive an unprecedented level of promotion for an album by a Thai pop artist.

Susan Boyle, the next Paul Potts?

Susan Boyle has become the latest You Tube sensation after her singing act on the third series if Britain's Got Talent 2009. She surprised the judges with a strong performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables in the competition's first round, aired on 11 April 2009, getting the live audience on its feet within 20 seconds and eliciting the "biggest yes in three seasons" from Piers Morgan and "yes" votes from both Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

47 year old Susan is a church volunteer and lives alone in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland with her cat Pebbles, and has never been kissed! She has been catapulted to international fame after her performance on Britain's got Talent.

Mobile phone sales man Paul Potts brought people to tears with his amazing talent as did six year old Connie Talbot with her perfect voice!

Is Susan Boyle going to be the next Paul Potts?

Michael Learns to Rock Live in Bangkok

Michael Learns to Rock (MLTR), one of my all time favorite bands is performing a live concert in Bangkok on November 26, 2008 at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.

Before visiting Bangkok, MLTR will perform a concert in Manila, Phillipines on 22nd November.



Michael Learns to Rock have just released their new album "Eternity" in Europe on 27th October 2008. Their new single "Sweetest Surprise" is currently being aired on the most popular Danish radio stations.



MLTR is a Danish soft rock band formed in 1988 and performs songs in English. The band is well known in Europe and especially popular in Asia, where many of the albums have gone gold and platinum. Their current band members include Jascha Richter, Kåre Wanscher, and Mikkel Lentz. Søren Madsen, a former band member left the band in 2000 to pursue a solo career.

I love their talent for writing fine pop songs, with lyrics which are fairly easy to learn and sing along. MLTR has always had a very strong fan base in Asia. MLTR will always remind me of fond memories of my school days.

Some of my favorite songs include:

• That's Why (You Go Away)
• Sleeping Child
• 25 Minutes
• The Actor
• Paint My Love
• Someday
• I'm Gonna Be Around
• How Many Hours
• Breaking My Heart
• Complicated Heart
• Love Will Never Lie
• Nothing To Lose
• Out Of The Blue
• Take Me To Your Heart
• Blue Night
• Crazy Dream

MLTR has an offical website at www.mltr.dk

Yoshiki of X-Japan in Bangkok

Yoshiki Hayashi of X Japan, a popular legendary Japanese band arrived in Bangkok on 18th September 2008 as part of his promotional tour across Asia. He arrived on his private Boeing 737 jet at Don Muang Airport, Bangkok at 14:30.



More than 1,000 members of his fan club turned up at the press conference, as they have been waiting since 10 years for X Japan.



A press conference was held at Siam Paragon regarding their concert dates in Thailand, and to formally launch the band's official Thailand website at www.xjapan.in.th. The Thai concert will take place within the beginning of 2009.



Yoshiki is well again and he has been traveling across Asia, having been to
Taiwan (September 15th - 16th)
Hong Kong (September 17th)
Bangkok (September 18th)
Korea (September 19th)





As for the X Japan World Tour Yoshiki has announced that it is going to kick off in France on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 at Palais Omnisports Paris Bercy, Paris, France. It will be the first time a Japanese band plays in such a large venue. The sale of the tickets for the Paris concert will start in the beginning of October.

There will be a X Japan December 31st count down concert in Tokyo, with the venue yet to be announced.

The video game "Rock Band 2" will contain music from X Japan, which will be sold in America and Europe.

No Samak, No Cry

This song is based on "No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley & The Wailers. It's called "No Samak, No Cry" and it goes out to Samak for losing his beloved seat.



No, Samak, no cry;
No, Samak, no cry;
No, Samak, no cry;
No, Samak, no cry.

Said - said - said: I remember when you used to sit
In the government house on your seat,
Oba - obaserving the journalists
As they would mingle with the good people you meet.
Good friends you have, oh, good friends youve lost
And now you're out of that house.
In this great future, you cant forget your past;
So dry your tears, I seh.

No, Samak, no cry;
No, Samak, no cry.
ere, grumpy old man, dont shed no tears:
No, Samak, no cry.

Said - said - said: I remember when-a you used to sit
In the government house on your seat.
Now the protesters took over that house,
And they all want you to get out.
Back then you cooked khaow kha moo with coca cola,
Of which youd boast with reporters;
Your seat was your only carriage,
You gave all the push you could yet you lost.
But while youre gone, I mean:
Everythings gonna be all right!
Everythings gonna be all right!
I said, everythings gonna be all right-a!
Everythings gonna be all right!
Everythings gonna be all right, now!

So, Samak, no cry;
No - no, stubborn - man, no cry.
Old fart, guilty, dont shed no tears;
No, Samak, no cry.

New iPod Nano launches today

Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs unveiled a new iPod nano today that lets users shuffle songs by shaking the device in a so-called “shake to shuffle” feature. The upgraded iPod nano, is the thinnest music player Apple has produced.




(Photo credit: Reuters)

Steve Jobs also boasted that the nano is the cleanest iPod Apple has ever made, calling it “highly recyclable,” “mercury free” and “toxic free.”

The 8-gigabyte model costs $149 and the 16-gigabyte version costs $199.

Wonder what the Thai price is going to be.

Yodrak Salakjai, Thai Luk Thung legend dies from liver cancer

Yodrak Salakjai, Thailand's legendary luk thung (Thai: ลูกทุ่ง) or rural country-folk song singer died from liver cancer on August 9, 2008, at the age of 52. He passed away at the early hours of Saturday at Rama 9 hospital, where he has been under treatment for cancer, since July 10. Yodrak was also known as the 'King of Luk Thung'.



Yodrak Salakjai (Thai: ยอดรัก สลักใจ) is the stage name of Niphon Phraiwan. He was born on February 6, 1956, in Phichit. Yodrak was a man of many talents as he has also starred in numerous movies and TV dramas, most of them with a musical theme. The singing legend is survived by his wife Ladda and their only son Kriangkrai, 32. His funeral rites will be held at Wat Rai Khing temple in Nakhon Pathom province for 100 days.



In the late 1970s, 'Yodrak fever' swept radio stations throughout Thailand. During his 30 years in the luk thung industry, Yodrak launched over 500 albums, with more than 4,000 songs. His best-known songs included 'Chakrayan khon jon' about a poor person's bicycle, 'Samsib yang Jaew' about a man admiring a 30-year-old woman who's still beautiful, and 'Kamnan kamnai' in which the singer is a headman promising a young woman special privilege is she agrees to marry him.

Kozo the Hippo Thong Song is really funny

Check out this really funny Hippo Thong YouTube video by "KOZO the Summo Hippo". Kozo, a fat purple hippo wears a thong and dances to the song "Thong Song" originally recorded in 2000 by Sisqó of Dru Hill for the Def Soul label. Watch the hippo's cool dance moves!

Saksit Vejsupaporn TOR+ wins favorite Thai artist at MTV Asia Awards 2008

Thai musician Saksith Vejsupaporn 'Tor' (ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ เวชสุภาพร) wins the favorite artist of Thailand at the 2008 MTV Asia Awards held in Malaysia.



Tor will meet the press to give a press conference as soon as he returns to Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport at around 6pm on Sunday.

The young and talented pianist will also reveal his new single that he co-writes with Boyd Kosiyabongse. The single is in the "Piano and Me" album which will be marketed throughout Asia.

"Living in C Major" is his second solo album in which he not only plays the piano but also sings the songs. He has been working with this album for a entire year.




Here is a list of all the winners in the MTV Asia Awards 2008 Malaysia:

Favorite Music Artist Awards from Asia:

Favorite Artist of China: Lee Yu Chun
Favorite Artist of Hong Kong: Leo Ku
Favorite Artist of Indonesia: Yovie & Nuno
Favorite Artist of Korea: Super Junior
Favorite Artist of Malaysia: Nicholas Teo
Favorite Artist of Philippines: Chicosci
Favorite Artist of Singapore: Stefanie Sun
Favorite Artist of Taiwan: Show Lo
Favorite Artist of Thailand: TOR+ Saksit

International Music Awards:

Favorite International Artist of Asia: Linkin Park
Best Hook-up: Timbaland feat. One Republic - “Apologize”
The Innovation Award: Radio Head
Breakthrough Artist: Leona Lewis
Video Star: 30 Seconds to Mars - “A Beautiful Lie”
Bring Da House Down: Muse – Muse Asia Tour
edc Style Award: Panic at the Disco
Knockout Award: The Click Five
Inspiration Award: Karen Mok


The winners of the 2008 MTV Asia Awards walked away with the Golden M Bar trophies.

One of the highlights of the MTV Asia Awards 2008 will be the design of the Golden M Bar trophy, which transcends the conventional template of other award trophies. The MTV Asia Awards trophy embodies the “breaking rule” philosophy of the brand, providing viewers, fans and artists alike with off-the-wall creativity and inspiration. This year, MTV will be presenting the winners with a heavyweight item to mark the return of a glamorous M - a gold bar in the shape of an ‘M’. The trophy is plated in 24K gold by Risis, MTV’s official partner for the trophy. Each trophy comes in a customized velvet case and envelope.

“M is back and what more to make a statement than with a gold bar in a Casino resort, Genting – The City of Entertainment? It is extravagant, lavish and over-the-top, the ultimate Blink! Other than putting the M back into music, we’re also bringing the Mojo back into the most authoritative International Music Awards Show in Asia,” said Silvia Goh, Vice President, Multiplatform Content.

“All that glitter may be gold after all!” added Silvia Goh.

Below is a photo of the Golden M Bar trophy





Some pictures of the winners:

Linkin Park


Nicholas Teo


Leona Lewis


Radio Head


Timbaland feat. One Republic


Muse


30 Seconds to Mars

Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon

Just stumbled upon this video called Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon in YouTube. Watch out for the hairy faced guy in the video.



Also found another rare song by the same artist called Roll With the Punches - Warren Zevon. This song was featured on an episode of Tales from the Crypt known as "King of the Road".



Just found out that Warren William Zevon was a Grammy Award-winning American rock singer-songwriter and musician. He was noted for his offbeat, sardonic view of life which was reflected in his dark, sometimes humorous songs, which often incorporated political or historical themes. Warren Zevon died on September 7, 2003, aged 56, from mesothelioma (a form of cancer associated with exposure to asbestos, and also the same cancer that killed Steve McQueen). His last album released was The Wind, which included guest appearances by close friends including Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Jackson Browne, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh, David Lindley, Billy Bob Thornton, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, and others.

Top Thai lakorn on YouTube is dubbed in Khmer!

One of the most popular Thai lakorn (TV series) videos on YouTube right now (2008) is Ptay Snaeh and the interesting part is that it is dubbed in Khmer! Watching this Thai lakorn in Khmer language was really amusing. I can't understand a word it says, except for the title song at the beginning which is in Thai. This TV series is titled Ptay Snaeh in Khmer and was originally broadcast on Thai TV Channel 3 from October 22 to December 2, 2006 with the Thai title เทใจรัก นักวางแผน (Tae Jai Rak Nuck Wang Phan).

With the current border dispute at the Preah Vihear temple area that led to a military face-off between Thailand and Cambodia, I wonder if this is in any way going to affect the popularity of Thai lakorns in Cambodia.

The picture below is the Thai poster of the lakorn



Click below to watch the YouTube video of the Khmer dubbed version



Click below to watch the same YouTube video but in the original Thai version



There are lots of other episodes in both languages on YouTube if you'd like to watch them.

Blogspot's back alright!

I earlier mentioned here that Blogspot was blocked in Thailand, but after checking out with other bloggers in Thailand, it appears that only True ISP users were affected. As of today True has fixed the problem already and Blogspot is back.

Blogspot's back alright! reminds me of the song Everybody (Backstreet's Back) by the Backstreet Boys, where the lyrics go like this:

Everybody, yeah
Rock your body, yeah
Everybody
Rock your body right
Backstreet's (Blogspot's) back, alright

Hey, yeah
Oh my God, we're back again
Brothers, sisters, everybody sing
Gonna bring the flavor, show you how
Gotta question for you better answer now, yeah

Am I original?
Yeah
Am I the only one?
Yeah
Am I sexual?
Yeah
Am I everything you need?
You better rock your body now

Everybody, yeah
Rock your body, yeah
Everybody
Rock your body right
Backstreet's (Blogspot's) back, alright
Alright

5th Bangkok Jazz Festival 2007

The 5th Bangkok Jazz Festival 2007 was held on December 8, 9 & 10 at Sanam Ror 1 Pan 1 Ror Or, 1st Battalion Regiment King's Own Bodyguard, Wiphawadi Rangsit Road.

http://www.bangkokjazzfestival.com

There were lots of Heineken Beer & Heineken Green Space as always



Many great artists performed some great jazz such as:

Blood Sweat & Tears
Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project
Kitaro
Laura Fygi
Matt Bianco
Music Music Music
Nils Landgren
Shakatak
Eugene Pao & Ted Lo Group
Jack Lee Special Project & Miss Annekei
Jaja

Here are some pictures from Day 3:

Jaja:

Eugene Pao & Ted Lo Group:





Jack Lee Special Project & Miss Annekei from Denmark:

Hey there Khalilah

Hey there delilah is a pretty popular song, but you should check out Hey there Khalilah, its a really funny song!