Tun Eindra Bo

Is a surprise for me.  I saw her as a supporting actress for the first time on television.  I do not remember the show, movie? I just remember she was wearing this brownish traditional outfit, walking in the flower field and something --- vaguely remembering the scene.  I didn't like her as an actress then.  I opinionated her as Moh Moh Myint Aung wanna be.  Then, there was one of her famous video with Kyaw Hein, I think.  A lot of people like that show but not me.  I thought the scripts were sort of rude and a bit overacting of all the actors and actresses.  I noticed her make up became much better then.  I only remember she was crying and there was this ZWHtut's version of song Honey playing?? still only vaguely remember my feeling of annoyance because I couldn't understand what people are raving about this video.

Then, after a few year, a friend of mine gave me a cassette tape (yes, you read it right, it was a cassette tape, not audio CD or VCD or DVD).  The cover was a drawing of a girl with a big hat and a red rose?? something like that.  I took it home and listened --- wait! I think it was with Myo Kyaw Myaing?? Her vocal was not very strong back then, not very confident, out of tunes sometimes and I didn't think highly.  

After a long time, someone gave me some mp3 files of new Burmese new singers.  I liked a duet of her with MKM in that mixed mp3 folder.  It was copy of Taiwanese song by Amei's duet "the one who I love the most hurt me the most," something like that.  I said that she has improved but not quite good yet.  Then, a friend of mine gave me a VCD of best songs of HEDB.  He liked it so much and told me that HEDB is very famous in Burma now.  I heard she is totally confident with her vocal now.  There is nothing to blame about a lot of influence of Celine Dion because it was Celine Dion time.  I heard someone told me she was married to someone wealthy with gold and jewelry business.

Then, out of blue, I heard she was sending encouragement letters to student political prisoners.  I do not know anything about what could have motivated her to get involved in politics.  I thought it was strange.  It was the time when not many celebrities dare to do any political statements.  I kept it skeptical.  I saw her progressively involved in politics supporting Daw Aung Sun Su Kyii and such.  I am grateful for her support for the side that needed support at the time any kind of help is in need.  I am not a fan of HEDB for either acting or as singer.  She is fine at her entertainment just that her voice quality is not what I like, not clear.  I applaud for her support in shaping cournty's politic while a lot of other celebrities were taking advantage of whatever they can receive from the corruptions.

Note: Does she wear a lot of wigs?? I cannot be sure but I found it she is the most wig trend celebrity from Burma??

Thank you for supporting our best leader and people.
Her most famous song might be "Mine paung ka-day" but somehow that song made me feel bore, not because of her singing just that I do not like that song. I can only endure remix "Chit thu ye thi chin," although I liked Connie's version better.

Lover's Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfp5aGtsJqU

Yan Aung

It's been so long.  I wonder today if I have ever written about our famous actor, singer (what else he would be doing now? publisher?) Yan Aung aka Ko Yan Lay.  I remember those Ko Yan Lay leaves that we would stripped into sticky pieces with inter woven silky thread which we wear at times as ear rings for fun.  The flowers are white --- very much like an intricate white umbrella.  And that brought me back to Yan Aung who likes to wear white a lot.  He looks nice whatever he wears anyways.

I saw his picture in Movie Magazine long ago before he become famous.  I do not want to write about not so glorifying old stories and rumors.  I thought he had his first movie with Director Aung Myint Myat?? Well, it doesn't matter.  He wasn't even singing --- technically not having albums of his own at that time.  Kyaw Thu, Soe Thu, Yan Aung, Pyay Nyein --- came out at the same time.  Free pictures were everywhere --- giving away in front of the school gate.  We traded their pictures much like Yu-gi-oh game cards.

Yan Aung has a deep and very manly voice --- Burmese version of Mu-fa-sa?? He can sing the songs very beautifully almost there is no flaw.  Having no flaw is his flaw I would say --- just to pick on him for his perfection.  He can sing traditional old songs, as well as pop and rock songs.  He can dance.  He can model.  What else he cannot do?? ehhhh --- he reminded me of my favorite ever Win Oo San except Win Oo can write and direct also.  And Win Oo got 4 academy awards.  Yan Aung got how many academy awards?? I have lost count --- I just wish that I had business in making those trophies.  I might as well sell more than I have ever anticipated.  No matter, compared to those of less talent, Yan Aung deserve all his trophies of academy if we are grading on the curve for the time being.

I met Yan Aung for the first time at Yangon international airport.  He was there to go to Singapore to shoot that movie with Wah Wah Win Shwe.  I was not even a big fan of Yan Aung.  I don't know about Wah Wah Win Shwe, but I saw Yan Aung in that crowd shining brightly with an aura around him, taller than most men, with a blue jean shirt and jean pants?  I forgot the color, white? dark blue jean?  He was remarkable.  Not a lot of celebrity has impressed me outside personally other than Yan Aung and Pearl.  They both have exquisite skin tone.  

I saw him singing at the wedding or being Bait-theit Sayar at a few wedding --- and I remember he sang mostly during New Year Festivals.  He looks super nice with our traditional men wear.  He was chosen to make the continuation of Hmone-shwe-yee, Khine-mar-lar-hnin-si movie.  It is actually an honor and I think he fits the best to the role.  And the OST becomes his signature song.  I have nothing to oppose anything about Yan Aung, I like pretty much about everything, but I don't know why I didn't become his great fan.  It's a wonder.

Even greater wonder is when I had a daughter in this far away land, my daughter loves Yan Aung.  She falls in love with him at 2 years old.  I got a VCD back then, as a present --- Yan Aung and his lovers (the first concert).  I watched that VCD once and my daughter was hooked on it.  She watched everyday that it made me sick.  I had to make copies to play on the car during our vacations long road trips.  It made me crazy for almost 3 years to hear that VCD everyday.  Yesterday, my daughter asked me about what happened to that Burmese VCD and that made me worried.  Is she going to repeat that Yan Aung nightmare?  Sometimes, I wonder if I should ask Yan Aung an autograph for my daughter.  

I haven't listen to any of Burmese songs for so long recently.  My daughter is listening to One Direction these days while she occasionally remembering and still asking me that one Yan Aung's VCD, which by the way, I am hiding it at a very secure place where she cannot come across.

Listen Here:
Yan Aung ( Min Bae A Narr Hmar Nay) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOdXxlmUgS4
Khine-marlar-hnin-si: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJgAvOK62J8

Jet Mya Thaung

Didn't know much about him.  Didn't listen to any of his full albums --- may be one of them.  But still remember one of my friends' brothers who love Jet Mya Thaung so much that they played his album constantly on their own hollow guitars as well as on the stereo cassette.  It made me feel so old and makes me wonder those days --- awww yeah! that was me who glue to the cassette and rewind the songs crazy.  The mix tapes, and double cassette was a magical creation to copy the songs.  Wait --- but no one ever bother us about copying songs back then on our video recorders or on tapes.  What am I bubbling about ? --- anyway --- I did copied one of Jet Mya Thaung songs from the brothers.  (I am sorry for stealing back then --- now that I have been convinced of the copy rights =) --- I do apologize  ---please forgive me since I was young, naive, and pretty much broke back then with 1 Kyatt a day allowance.)

That song was "Da-kae-pyaw-dar-bar" (Really).  Don't know why we played that song almost every night.  "Ma kyarr yet lo bar lay" is another song that we played a lot ( I think that is also Jet Mya Thaung's song --may be not? but I think it is.) Then, I remember "Dar-lay-myar" which people played a lot but I think that song was made famous by the actress singer Khine Khin Oo.  I liked Jet Mya Thaung's voice a lot for its quality.  It is calm, manly, and soothing.  He can carry the songs effortlessly on top of the tune.  He also has a personal touch on the songs that he sing which is one of the rare qualities of the vocalists.  It always seems that the tune follows his singing than the other way around.  He enjoys singing rather than wanting people to enjoy his singing.  That's how I interpret listening to him.  

Recently, I found "Pyan lo chin dae" (Want it back) song which is remixed by Htoo Ein Thin in much later years.  Both versions are equally pleasant in different ways but it would be a lie if I do not admit that I liked Jet Mya Thaung's version tinsy bit better.  I think I saw him singing one time at the concert but hardly remember the event.  I am planning to re listen to all his song, that is --- if time permit.

Listen his song here:
Pyan lo chin Dae: (Want it back) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEdojnS7faE

Aung Yin

We call him Ba Ba for one of our nieces call him that (when she was 2 years old) since he looks like one of our family members. It was just in time because Aung Yin was singing all those golden age Ba Ba songs by that time and I have lost my interest in finding his original style. Although I have lost my interest, believe it or not, he was one of my favorites when his first album hit came out. Min Ma Shi Tae Naut (Since you've been gone??).

So much memories attached to this song. This album was the center of vivid memories of naive and arrogant days??? No matter what, I am grateful for the songs and the memories attached to it. Aung Yin was young and regal on the newly opened bridge connecting Thuwunna and Tharkayta in this album ad. I liked almost all of the songs in this album. One of the best ever --- most of them that I like are written by my favorite of all time Htoo Ein Thin, of course.

"Ah Khar Lwon Daw Moe" (Belated Rain??) is my favorite of all. I like the whole album --- all the songs especially the title song with back up singing part was my favorite. I used to sing only the back up part when I play this song with friends. Songs are the best keepers of memories and that is why I love them so much. Songs are like a tiny memory flowers that are threaded on the long chain of my life events.

We talked non stop about "Mi Moe" song which is dedicated to I forgot her name --- who? Yu Nandar Myint's sister?? I think, according to the rumors. And then, they got married until the famous dancing queen came?? due to the event of revival of plays on stage or due to the events of entertainment shows to the far stretch areas of the country? Rumors, rumors, so much about celebrity are always floating around the air which serves as an entertainment for general public, sadly to say.

As sad as I could get, still remember Aung Yin with "Tait-pone and different colors of yaw on television", which I like a lot as a trend back then. It was classic. Gersing on Youtube sounds very much like Aung Yin --- just a side track. I hope he sings the whole "Min Ma Shi Dae Naut" album --- just the greed to replenish my memories. He sort of looks like Aung Yin too, puffy eyes?? I don't know.

Aung Yin had so much potential, so much charisma, and so much likable in terms of presentation wise, fashion, and singing style. Stars fade away because of the cloud sometimes. Aung Yin's sound quality is very strong and has his own freedom in style, the only thing is that it could be nasal at times which could be forgivable and even it made his trademark. His first album is my life --- and that was it. There were some songs here and there --- some are really good but doesn't have the same impact as the first one.

"When you are gone, I don't want to living on --- I have died yesterday already on the thought of you leaving me ---living is vain---meaningless without you ---all alone by myself---" Why do I love all those heart broken songs??? Because HET wrote them? or because Aung Yin sang them? or because I wanted my heart to be broken. Aung Yin had broken my heart after all. =)

Listen Aung Yin's songs here:
Chit San Ein: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dp1j0ykXqo
Cruel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjTaSe1yJ0o&feature=related

Min Ma Shi Dae Naut (cover by Gersing): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXd9ZNrPxOA&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLE9F99589C761633B

Min Aung

He is the one who can miss/yarn his love one just like an adorable prince. His songs were the hit --- all over the country in that stereo era. I could sing the whole album of the prince's lovesick. "Yaway --- yaway ho Myaing saung Hmar la --- u daung tway twon than twon than kyarr yin ---" that was so awesome back then. Everyone loves it. I sang them on my bicycle --- while I was practicing "No hands, no hands, Mom! thing". I ended up learning the whole lyrics of the album and learned how to ride a bike without using hands on the handles. Now that I am so old like a dinosaur, I cannot remember those lyrics anymore --- and the bike??? I don't know. I dare not try.

He has a very long side parted hair style. He plays guitar and remember seeing him in white strip collar shirt and traditional hand woven long gyis often time. He does look royal with those outfits.

He has a significant strong voice (somewhat nasal sometimes) and nice tone that stick to the notes like a glue no matter how it goes high or low. His songs are fabulous songs with exquisite meanings. The only draw back was the excessive use of synthesizer which sort of kill my mood sometimes wishing there is a better arrangement. That was the time when Burmese songs were exploring into stereo and originality. It was a good old time --- or I am just getting too old so that I am starting to say things like "It was a good old time."

Just for me, his hit album was the 'it'. There was quite a few album came out much later but honestly I don't remember much anymore. Only his first album was very memorable to me.

(someone did comment on Youtube that he passed away at a younger age?? I don't know anything about this though.)

Listen his songs here:
"Hay Won Nann" : www.youtube.com/watch?v=myjEmpDplI8

Thein Tan (Myanmar Pyi)

Is it going to be Thein Dan or Thein Tan? I didn't want to look back in the dictionary. Not to be confused, yes --- this is about Thein Tan (Myanmar Pyi) because he meant to be taking over the fame on all over Burma not merely the province of Tuwn Tay. Aww --- just kidding. =) because their names always made me to smile about.

First of all, it is the voice. The voice of power and cleanliness and melody and manly voice with a sharpness in it. His voice is one of the most perfect voices that can be. It is very significant and a very prominent voice that can staple as his own. He has huge fan group, which eventually made his daughter Po-darli Thein Tan made successful much later.

Second of all, it is the songs. Most of his songs have their significant meaning and story, which is sort of like a modern country songs category. It is such a good mix of old school and new school. It blends so well that they made their own style and flavor.

He was hugely successful in the time where Burmese music industry called them stereo singers. Aww --- that term is so nostalgic. He had his own band --- what was their group name?? Eeeee--- just on the tip of tongue!! L.P.J!! That is "Love Peace and Joy" but I had a friend who would say "La-par-jar"--- no offense --- I thought it was just funny remembering it. It was a good band, seriously. Back then, couples are the leads in the group. His wife (the one of the two famous daughters) is a good vocalist too. She is pretty and has a nice voice too. I remember their family singing together a family song on the Burmese television. Life has it's own mysterious ways.

I saw Thein Tan perfoming on stage a couple of times. I saw him performing on national television numerous times. I liked his voice, his songs, his band, and all that --- but just was not my flavor. Vanilla is good but I just like more of a Caribbean Passion flavor. I listen his songs countless times --- know most of them by heart but I devote myself more for SHS or HAT. I just don't know why.

When I met him again, we were out of country. He still looks the same --- I felt I am the one getting so old, haaaaa!!! I shall never compare a celebrity. He now has a new family with a new 'loving' wife. I don't know the details of the family love triangles or squares or pentagons or hexagons. Well, we just moved on. I got his autograph for sure this time and kept it safe. No matter what, he is one of the legends among the famous ones. I heard him sing after so many years, it brings me chill --- the same as in old days. It carried me back into the past in an instant--- how songs can cherish our memories?? --- almost like a transport in the star-track. Bwa-ha-ha --- I wanted to cry remembering the old golden days.

His most famous song is " Sanay daunt pan hlu mae" "Shwe Myaing hmar pe nay daw mae" "Shwe yoat kalay kaut ya thu" and "Myit-tar-yay-hlaing" etc. "Thaw-ka-taung-tan" is my favorite song back then.

Listen his songs here:
Thaw-ka-taung-tan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veelVZKHopc&feature=related

Alex

I should have introduced Alex sooner but I do not know what was pulling me back. Probably it was like an unknown force such as "lack of proper knowledge." Well, I am lacking in proper knowledge in all of those artists anyway --- so here it is the impact of Alex in part of my world.

First time I saw him, it was on television. He was playing piano and a white dove came out of the cage??? Something like that. I was like who is this? Someone recently came back from Japan? I think that is "Thi chin Chit thu" ad, the first album of Alex if I am not mistaken. It's original is a Japanese song "Saigo No Iiwake" by Hideaki Tokunaga. All time favorite song in Asia. I have heard this song in so many different languages : Vietnamese, Thai, Tagalog, Chinese??--- so why not Burmese? Alex's version is pretty good remix compared to the original except that the original is a bit more soulful. I like both in different ways. There are songs with the melodies very special in the way that it can be tested against time or across the barriers of spoken language. It only exist as a musical international language. This song is one of those special songs.

I listen that song again in "Alex's Best Songs" album in much later year. I like that best song album a lot and listen to it quite often. Then, I heard him again in 19:18. I would say Alex is the strongest in 19:18, probably because his voice is the middle pitch which bringing in both STL and SOH's voices together. That is just my personal opinion. (side note: Alex has a puppy eye just like STL in a differnt version =) ). I have known quite a few friends who like to listen to Alex although those friends are not a frequent listeners of Burmese song. I like Alex voice quality, his style of singing, and passion, and coolness of low maintenance appearance with just a little touch of effort to show the respect.

I saw him in a magazine with his family --- seems like a happy family --- good for him --- I am happy for him. He was being interviewed about something like "eating out" --- It is kind of a cheesy title to do an interview. May be he needed some PR appearances. Then I saw him crossing to hip-hop mixes which are still very listenable. Except that, not only Alex almost all Burmese hip-hop are very predictable. One catchy repeating verse with a good vocalist and the other parts of rapping in the same kind of tone and style. No criticism, it is all good. It's all good --- we just need to crawl quite a while before we can run I guess. The time will come when we will have a bubble of light bulbs like "Ding!!", and start composing fabulous songs. I am all positive.

Anyway, let's get back to Alex. Yes, Alex is one of the singers that I support. I cannot find much fault with him in his singing. It is in the range of my likability. Did he re-made "Wut-hmone" too?? I think he did but I prefer Moon Aung, may be I am just bias.

What would Alex be doing now? Rock? Pop? Hip-hop? Or cross over everything? Managing idol groups? That's awful lots of guesses, one of them should bound to be true.

Listen Alex songs here:
Tha Chin Chit Thu: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDWm4zo3dPc

About the missing days: www.youtube.com/watch?v=46x0UCjva9c&feature=related