Music can serve so much more than just entertainment to listeners. Music alone can affect emotions, it can be used as a medium to heal, encourage, allow people to share a message or bring awareness, where others can possibly connect with. The Covid-19 outbreak has inspired many local artists to create songs that aim to promote awareness of the virus, support and have empathy for the country's medical workers, and ease tensions through a historically stressful time.
Thee Chaiyadej. (Photo © LOVEiS, 12sumrecords)
A music video featuring despondent images of deserted streets in Bangkok popped up online recently, in which eight renowned singers banded together and sang a special song entitled Ja Mai Ting Gun (Never Leave Each Other) to show their solidarity and send a message of love to all the quarantined Thais.
"Although I didn't take it seriously at first, but last month when hearing more and more about the situation, it got worse in many countries around Asia and in Europe, I knew Thailand would follow the same fate. So, I decided to do something," said Boyd Kosiyabong, one of Thailand's leading songwriters and the main man behind the inspiring music project.
"Never Leave Each Other is a powerful rock ballad with parts that are fierce but hidden with encouragement. According to Boyd, he composed the song and wrote the lyrics within just two hours, then he rang his singer friends and invited them to help him lay down vocal tracks, which included Anchalee Jongkadeekij, Pod Moderndog, Nop Ponchamni, Ben Chalatit, Q Flure, Toon Bodyslam, Poo-Pongsit Khamphee and rapper Golf Fuckling Hero. As the lyrics say, "We don't know what will happen or when will it end. We know that from now we must share the same fate. So no matter what happens, you and I will never leave each other".
Sometimes a simple thank-you makes all the difference when someone is going the extra mile to help others. Never Leave Each Other also aims to pay tribute to the front-line medical staff and volunteers who are making sacrifices to help their community at the moment. "There are so many experienced doctors and nurses in the world and in Thailand right now helping us fight against the virus. But I am a musician, not a doctor. This is what I believe I can do best to help support these wonderful people," said Boyd.
Singer-songwriter Apiwat "Stamp" Ueathavornsuk is another artist who praised health personnel, with a parody version of the classic northern folk song Pi Sao Krub (Dear Sister) in Khun Mor Krub (Dear Doctor).
Boyd Kosiyabong.
"I wrote that song after I watched the news on TV last month about Mr Anutin Charnvirakul of the Public Health Ministry criticising medical staff who had been infected with the virus, accusing them of not taking good care of themselves," said Apiwat. "I thought this little funny song might be able to help cheer up the doctors and nurses, or perhaps put smiles on their faces a bit."
Prior to Dear Doctor, the singer also released another lovely track, called Krueng Bon (50%). It's a love song about a guy who's having a crush on a girl with a face mask on during the outbreak. With lyrics like "Although I wanted to be near her, but I still have to stay at least two metres apart", the song is said to be a good example of how to get important health information about Covid-19 out to the masses.
"Like myself, I'm sure there are many people right now spending too much time watching, reading or listening to news about the pandemic that causes you to feel anxious or distressed," said Apiwat.
"So, I didn't want to make people even more stressed about this with sad songs. There are way too many of them already."
Veteran singer-songwriter Thee Chaiyadej also believes that love and harmony are the only things that can help us get through this difficult time, which he expressed in his new acoustic pop song Pa Rak (Bring Love), urging people to stand together to get through it.
Bring Love was written and recorded on acoustic guitar by himself while practising social distancing at home in Bangkok, Thee then sending the demo track to each of his friends back and forth to record their additional instrumental tracks like bass, piano and strings to finish the song. He's also planned to do a live-streaming performance for music fans from his home studio sometime soon.
"I understand we're all living very fragile lives. Staying apart from friends and loved ones is hard. The outbreak also comes with a lot of rumours and misinformation that can cause anyone to feel worried and panic. It's so easy for one to get angry and try to blame it on some group of people or even the authorities," said Thee.
"But as of now, we're in it together. There's no use fighting or to keep blaming each other. Bring Love is the song about how we all need extra love, harmony and understanding. The best thing we all can do now is just stay at home, and pray this storm will soon pass."
Apiwat 'Stamp' Ueathavornsuk. (Photo © LOVEiS, 12sumrecords)
Artists joining the bandwagon
Here is a list of other music artists who also wrote songs related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The Rapper 2020 Civil War
Wen Raya (Space)
- Pongsit Khamphee
A New Day (Fight Covid-19)
- Aed Carabao
Ruam Jai Thai Kham Covid-19
(Thais Together Get Through Covid-19)
- Cocktail
Klai Jai (Close To A Heart)
- BNK48 and CGM48
Touch By Heart
- Wan Thanakrit
Wiklit-pedia
- Prom+
Together
- Getsunova
Tid Lue Young (Did I Catch It Yet?)
