After the passing of His Majesty the King, several pop singers have released songs reflecting their grief. From rap to rock and ballads, we take a look at some of the most memorable
Father Bhumibol
By Yuenyong "Add" Ophakul
Yuenyong "Add" Ophakul, frontman and main songwriter of the band Carabao, has written several songs based on the country's situation throughout the years. His pen has transformed Thai historical events -- from Black May 1992, the Southern insurgency, the great flood in 2011 and even the death of reverend monk Luang Por Koon Paritsuttho -- into poetic lyrics.
The national artist's latest work is a song called Por Bhumibol (Father Bhumibol), a tribute to the late King. It is accompanied simply by two instruments: acoustic guitar and harmonica. Nothing grandiose, just a reflection in the King's beliefs and teaching of sufficiency, perhaps. The emotional ballad was written, arranged and performed all by Yuenyong himself.
"No matter how tiring, he never thinks to complain.
The people must live comfortably.
He gave all his might to rule this land with fairness,
October 13, the sky fell dark.
Father slept away and left us. Our tears have flooded the ground of Thailand,
as we mourn gravely our father Bhumibol."
The song ends with a vow, promising to follow in the footsteps of the enlightened and revered King. Por Bhumibol is now trending on YouTube, and has garnered over 3.5 million views since its release last week.
Yuenyong "Add" Ophakul
-- Melalin Mahavongtrakul
The Day Our Father Isn't Here
By The Wan Brothers feat. Jugg Chawin.
Only four days after His Majesty the King's passing, three unexpected musicians came together and uploaded a tear-jerking ballad. Unlike other tribute songs where they sing of the King's achievements, this song reflects full well the nation's shock, sense of loss and worry now he is gone.
"The condition of time makes us have to be far apart,
but we aren't able to accept the truth that our father isn't here."
So the song begins, accompanied with a slow and serene four-note melody on the piano.
"With the cold fog of the rainy season,
I wonder how father is.
Heaven is pleasant, right? I can't help but worry."
The Day Our Father Isn't Here was written and produced by the True Academy Fantasia competitors Akira "Wahncai" Wongseng and Thanakrit "Wan" Panichwid. Both known for their skills in writing and producing songs, the two came together for this occasion, calling themselves the Wan Brothers (due to their shared nickname), and featuring old school musician Chawin "Jugg" Jitsomboon in the piece, as well.
The music video features the song's lyrics and drawings of sweet moments between a daughter and her father. The heart-wrenching melody is accompanied by even more heart-wrenching lyrics as the song progresses.
"A billion words of love are floating up into the sky. Can you hear us, father? We miss you."
Wan Brothers ft. Jugg Chawin.
-- Apipar Norapoompipat
I Was Born In The Ninth Reign
By Sek Loso
Talented and controversial, rocker Sek Loso is a spontaneous lyricist, and he released the tribute song just two days after the King's passing. The earlier version is a YouTube video of the black-clad singer strumming his guitar in a casual recording, with the image of His Majesty above him and with no other musical instruments.
A few days later, Sek released a studio version with cleaned-up sound. The song begins, perhaps a little too dramatically, with a screeching electric guitar solo, then Sek's signature manly, barroom-rousing voice sings the verses full of expressionist narrative about Thailand, the guiding sun and the tears that overflow the land.
"I was born in the Ninth Reign, I was born in the land of Thais,
Living under the grace of the King, the Father who cares about his people."
He also mentions the date Oct 13 -- as with many artists who have chosen to mark that fateful date -- and how all hearts are broken. The chorus is an open-heart tribute:
"This song is for Father, I wish you could hear it.
Though we've cried and the land is submerged in tears
I want to sing for you that I love you."
Last year after the bombing at Erawan Shrine, Sek put out a song called Jai Slai Tee Ratchaprasong (Heart Broken At Ratchaprasong), a piano ballad aimed at soothing the terror that struck Bangkok.
-- Kong Rithdee
13 October, 7pm
By Thanes Warakulnukroh
Progressive rocker Thanes Warakulnukroh, a respected singer/songwriter in the late 1990s, shows his class here. 13 Tula Nueng Tum Trong (13 October, 7pm) begins with the terrifying sound of a clock ticking. The piano enters, and Thanes sings like a messenger struck by the cold:
"Seven o'clock sharp, I sat down in front of the TV,
Seven o'clock sharp, I was waiting for the news,
It was October 13, the day the sky turns dark."
The lyrics then recall the morning of that day and slowly trace the mounting fear and tension that preceded the announcement of the King's death. A cello line adds to the graceful sorrow and the chorus gives depth to the vocal as Thanes sings of hearts aflutter and the futility of mental preparation ahead of the saddest news.
All of this is likely to make you well up. But the YouTube video, which has racked up nearly 800,000 views after its release last Wednesday, is designed for maximum goosebumps, with black-and-white footage of mourners and fictional scenes of men at their gloomiest. Still, this is one of the better songs that have come out in the past week.
Thanes Warakulnukroh.
-- Kong Rithdee
Power Of The Sunlight
By Fukking Hero feat. Q of Flure
'Dark night, there's light but our eyes are covered with tears till we can't see the way,
The heart still beats but all is broken"
Rapper Fukking Hero storms through the verses with steady drumming in the background. He continues:
"When I see the sun, I think of His Majesty's grandeur,
Which has lightened up the way for Thai people for 70 years."
In tribute song Power Of The Sunlight, released less than a week after the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, rap star Fukking Hero has come up with a burst of monologue with a hook by singer Suvira Boonrawd, better known as Q from Flure band. "The Sun" is, obviously, a metaphor for the King and in the song he raps that even though His Majesty is up in heaven now, he loves us anyway just like the sunlight in the morning, which will continue to keep us warm.
He then pledges to be led by His Majesty's teachings so that we can get through the long dark nights. Then Q joins in with powerful voice, "There's still faith in our hearts. There's still hope, we are not wavering, because the King has taught us not to give up on anything".
In the second verse, Fukking Hero continues to evoke the image of the King, saying that he worked hard just like the Sun, enlightening us about the philosophy of the sustainable economy and giving warmth to the people.
-- Kaona Pongpipat
Music Of The Father
Produced by Burin Boonvisut
'Every time I hear the King's songs and see him play music, I'm filled with happiness. No matter how faraway he is, our heart is still beating with his music. No matter where he is, I always feel like he's around."
So begins Bot Pleng Kong Por (Music Of The Father), a ballad produced and arranged by Burin Boonvisut. The lyric was composed by Trai "Boy" Bhumirat.
The official version of the song, which gathered more than 20 other singers from various record labels, including Anchalee "Pu" Chongkadeekij, Tachaya "Keng" Prathumwan, Pibulkiet "Pun" Kiewkaew and Tul Waitoonkiat, is a tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol. A demo version sang solely by Burin was also released a few days after the King's passing.
As the King was a virtuoso, he inspired many singers and musicians. The song focuses on how the King's songs remind them of His Majesty and what would they, as singers, do if they got to sing for the King.
"If I have a chance to sing for the King, I couldn't find suitable words to describe things he had done," sings Anchalee.
"If I have a chance to sing for the King, I would sing to express that I love him wholeheartedly," continues another singer.
The music video shows each singer taking turns in singing different verses. The singers seem to be very touched as the song goes by. Then comes photos of the King playing musical instruments with the sound of a trumpet solo.
"Let's sing to express our immense love. Let's make every rhyme and lyric emit from the love of all Thais' hearts," they sing harmoniously.
Music Of The Father
-- Pattramon Sukprasert
