Determined to tour | Bangkok Post: learning

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"Da Endorphine", or Thanida Thamwimon, is not going to let a little thing like vocal-chord surgery stop her from touring

Last Sunday, our Sunday magazine Brunch carried an interesting story on "Da Endorphine", Thanida Thamwimon. I think you’ll enjoy the full story (http://bit.ly/ojq5lW) fun today. Meanwhile, here is an excerpt to get you started.

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Determined to tour

by Nuttaporn Srisirirungsimakul

''Live shows are what cuts it for me. When you are on stage, it's not just about singing, but also about how you interact with fans, how you entertain them, how you deal with unexpected situations. I want to be a singer who sounds great on CD, but even better live.

''Touring has been a great experience for me. All sorts of things happen during tours. There're die-hard fans who can sing along to every song. But there're also those who walk out during the concert. Sometimes I get booed or a fight breaks out while I'm singing,'' says Da. ''But all together it's an awesome real-life lesson that has toughened me up and made me grow more as a person and an artist.''

But the constant country trotting has taken its toll on her voice.

''I overexerted my voice and it became raspy. For the last few years, I've visited the hospital every three months to have my vocal cords checked. I was hoping that by taking pills and getting some rest, my condition would get better. It didn't. But I tried to persevere because I didn't want to cancel the gigs,'' she says. ''Things got so bad that at one gig, my voice became so hoarse that I could barely get a word out. The host had to ask me to stop singing mid-song. I was so upset and disappointed with myself. It was a nightmare.''

A doctor told her that for her to be able to perform again, Da needed surgery, after which she would have to stay absolutely silent for two months to aid recovery. Not a single sound could escape her lips – a tough ask for the bubbly Da.

''It was a miserable period. I had to distract myself so I wouldn't think about it. Luckily during that time, I was redecorating my house so I spent most of my time hunting down furniture.

''The surgery was like a wake-up call that I needed to slow down and I couldn't take my voice for granted any more. My vocal cords are my instrument and if they're broken they can't be replaced like guitar strings,'' says Da.

Now the singer requests two days off a week, and if her schedule is not too tight, she heads home to cook. ''Believe it or not, I am a good cook.”

Is there anything else she'd care to reveal?

''My real nickname is Tarn. I love eating. I have two dogs. I'm addicted to coffee. I love second-handed clothing. I have many tattoos. I was born in the year of the tiger so now I'm getting a tiger tattoo on my back. I could go on and on,'' says Da, giggling. ''What else do you want to know?

''But really, I like the fact that everyone remembers me as a small, short-haired girl with a big voice. I'm a singer. It's great to have people remember you by your voice.''

determined – wanting to do something very much and not letting anyone or any difficulties stop you ตั้งใจจริง, ซึ่งมุ่งมั่น
cut it – to be satisfying; to be effective  ทำให้พึงพอใจ
interact with – communicate with or react to มีปฏิกิริยากับ
live – happening now, i.e., not recorded earlier ถ่ายทอดสด
die-hard – very loyal; hard core จงรักภักดี
booed – given expressions of strong disapproval or disagreement  คำอุทานแสดงการเหยียดหยามการไม่เห็นด้วย, โห่ฮิ้ว
awesome – extremely good ดีเยี่ยม
toughen – to make somebody stronger and more able to deal with difficult situations ทำให้แข็งแรง
constant – continuous; all the time ต่อเนื่อง
trot – to move forward at a speed that is faster than a walk, to run or walk fast, taking short quick steps วิ่งเหยาะๆ
take its toll – to have a bad effect on somebody/something ได้รับผลสะท้อนกลับ
overexert – to exercise too much or to be involved in too much activity ออกกำลังเกิน
raspy – having a rough sound, as if the person has a sore throat เสียงแหบ
vocal cords – the thin strips of tissue in the throat that are moved by the flow of air to produce the voice เส้นเสียง
persevere – to continue trying to do or achieve something despite difficulties  พยายาม
gig - a single performance by a musician or group of musicians, especially playing modern or pop music งานชั่วคราว
hoarse – sounding rough and unpleasant, especially because of a sore throat  (เสียง) แหบห้าว
host – a person who introduces guests and performers, especially on television or radio พิธีกร, ผู้จัดรายการ
upset – to cause to be very worried, angry or sad about something   ทำให้วิตกกังวล ทำให้หงุดหงิด
disappointed – unhappy because someone or something was not as good as you hoped or expected, or because something did not happen ผิดหวัง
nightmare – an extremely unpleasant event or experience or possible event or experience; a very upsetting or frightening dream ฝันร้าย
surgery – medical treatment in which a doctor cuts open someone’s body การผ่าตัด
absolutely – completely โดยสิ้นเชิง, อย่างแน่นอน, อย่างแท้จริง
silent – very quiet; without sound เงียบ
recovery – the process of becoming normal and healthy again ฟื้นฟูสภาพ
miserable – very unhappy, unpleasant and causing unhappiness เดือดร้อน, เป็นทุกข์
distract – to take your attention away from something  ทำให้ไขว้เขว เสียสมาธิ
redecorate – to put new paint and/or paper on the walls of a room or house ตกแต่งใหม่
take for granted – to be so used to somebody/something that you do not recognise their true value anymore and do not show that you are grateful
replace – to get rid of something and to put something new in its place  เลิกใช้และนำสิ่งใหม่มาใช้แทน
schedule – a list showing the times at which particular events will happen  ตารางเวลา
reveal – to let something become known เปิดเผย
nickname – an informal name for someone or something, especially a name which you are called by your friends or family, usually based on your proper name or your character ชื่อเล่น
addicted – unable to stop using or doing something ซึ่งติดนิสัยในบางอย่าง
tattoo – a permanent image, pattern or word on the skin which is created by using needles to put colours under the skin รอยสัก
giggle – to laugh in a silly way because you are amused, embarrassed or nervous  หัวเราะคิกคัก, หัวเราะต่อกระซิก

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