Her vocal prowess makes her a beloved diva but besides the talent, Saovanit "Gob" Navapan actually groomed herself to be one of the country's leading female artists through voice training at Chulalongkorn University and the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
"I have to thank my uncle [Sukhum Navapan] for supporting my music education and career, and my father [Pob Navapan] for playing at being my PR manager,'' said Saovanit, whose first solo concert pays tribute to the two men behind her success.
Saovanit will have two performances today and tomorrow at Thailand Cultural Centre, with grand orchestral back up. "Living The Dream Concert & Bangkok Symphony Orchestra" portrays 16 years of her music career through classics by legendary artists such as The Carpenters, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.
The Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (BSO) will perform never-heard-before renditions of their greatest hits. Moreover the 60 musicians have never teamed up to play for a concert featuring entirely pop songs, let alone for a single artist.
The collaboration stems from Saovanit's strong ties with the orchestra. In the early days of her career, she was BSO's vocalist, such as in a project that promoted the appreciation of orchestral music among youths. "It will be a music phenomenon,'' the breezy songstress said of today's concert. "The venue provides excellent acoustics that brings out the best of the orchestral music in delivering the beautiful songs and positive energy to the audience.''
The set list includes The Way We Were, Close To You, I'll Be There and Touch Me In The Morning, as well as Saovanit's new single, Hark Mai Mee Proong Nee (If There Is No Tomorrow).
It's her first musical composition in writing both the melody and lyrics, and is about overcoming the ego in order to care for your loved one before it's too late since there might not be a tomorrow.
A CD of the song accompanies a pocket book of the same title, with the biography penned by Saovanit as well as her friends and leading figures in the music industry.
The single, pocket book and concert marks 16 years of her career. Even though coming from a well-off family, she was determined to be a professional singer, pursuing her dream from a young age.
At the age of 15, Saovanit competed in the Nissan Awards 1989 Thailand Singing Contest. Her powerful performance of Khue Poo Ying (This Is Woman) and One Thousand Million Smiles earned her the second runner-up title.
The diva now runs the Private Studio of Vocal Studies where she grooms wannabe singers to perform at their fullest potential.
"Gob Saovanit - Living The Dream Concert & Bangkok Symphony Orchestra" takes place tonight and tomorrow night from 8pm, at Main Hall, Thailand Cultural Centre, Ratchadaphisek Road. Tickets can be purchased from Thai Ticket Major. Visit www.thaiticketmajor.com or call 02-262-3456.
