Playboy Than Naing

Than Naing is one of the pioneers of rock trend in Burma. His band name is "Playboy". His wife Pearl sang most duets with him, and boy, is he lucky??? Because Pearl is one of the female singers whom I adore. Not only she is smart and pretty, but she also has a beautiful voice and a unique singing style. When Than Naing came back and rebuilt his playboy band, on the list of the band members, Pearl's name is gone missing and I have a wishful thinking that her name was there. To me, TN and P are the couple of 'sun and moon; gold and emerald' as in Burmese saying. They are close relatives and are also closely related to the famous singer Sein Lwin. I am not "playboy band" die hard fan, but I remember repeatedly listening to their songs for a long long time. "Nya-mway-pann" is one of the songs that any group of guitar players anywhere in Burma play every night. Almost all of his songs are copies but he has got a taste and I should thank him for his contribution in introducing international or western rock taste to us. Than Naing has a very unique voice: soft and has some element of surprising vibrations and turns in his singing style. I have been to their concerts, I mean the old playboy band, for a couple of times. I have seen him jumping and running wildly on stage. I wasn't too impressed, partly because back then we were not too exposed to western culture and flow of music industry trends. There are so many significant songs such as "Strawberry lover", "Main-ma" (I guess that's the name of title, but not too sure), Suu, oh --- so many to list. He has a very successful time when he sang duets with L. Kun Yee. The most memorable moment relating Than Naing in my life is meeting him unexpectedly at a small convenient store on Boundary Road. It was a late evening, but it has been raining heavily so it was really dark. I run into the store to get some snack and I met Than Naing there in the store purchasing something. I still regret that I didn't go to him and tell him that I like listening his songs. I came back out of the store and I noticed Pearl in one of the cars parking in front of the store. Boy! Isn't she lovely???? I have never seen any celebrity with such a smooth and vibrant skin tone outside ever. She should have been shooting those soap or lotion commercials. Anyhow, I thought that they are the most matching couple. Now, I have heard Than Naing singing again with his newly reformed band. He sings okay although it is not as the same scale as he used to sing. With his busy life and passage of time, it is forgivable. He looks healthy, happy, and enjoying his life. Oh, my favorite Than Naing's song is "Kaung-laung-lay-twe-myee-ne-pyee". Enjoy his songs! (I am so awefully sorry --- that is Aung Ko Latt's song which he worte. Aung Ko Latt and Than Naing were in the same era and boy!! either I must have been too sleepy while writing about him or still thinking about Pearl.)

Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYtkXBw_4r8
Remix Duet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ado8J6abYcs

Zaw Win Htut

Zaw Win Htut (aka Nyi Htut) is one of the most influential artists in Burmese music industry. At a time, he was known to be the artist with the highest pay for the concerts. As far as to the best of my knowledge, ZWH has a very unique story of success and life. One of the biggest factors of his success is his band "Emperor" which consists of a very dedicated musicians and his song writers: Thukhamain Hlaing, Minn Chit Thu, Win Min Htwe, and Saw Khu Sae. ZWH has a very special tie with his band, that fact of which is a very differentiating factor from other Burmese artists at that time. To be honest, I listen lots of ZWH songs frequently for a long time, but I was never a fan of ZWH. I cannot find any dislike towards his personal life or artist life, it just doesn't click. In fact, I have a lot of respect for his hard work, persistence to find his own style and passion, dedication towards his family. Out of all his songs, I love "Than-tha-yar-sann-yay" the most. It is one of the songs that has unusal and rare approach in lyric subject. I still vividly remember that, at the first emperor concert that I went to, ZWH sang my favorite song, and during the half way of the song, he went to the side of the stage and pick up his daughter on his shoulder and finish the song. It was very touching and very memorable to me. The most played and well known song that he came out with might be "Law-ka-hin-lin-pyin". There are so many lists of songs that are well known if I have to make a list.

A lot of my friends are ZWH die hard fans. As for me, in a sense, I am more of Emperor band's fan. May be I am more of Zaw Myo Htut's fan, one of the best lead guitar players, who is ZWH's brother. Anyway, I guess everybody knows how ZWH didn't break through with his early records and when he was well known, his first hit was actually "The Best of Zaw Win Htut". It was hard for the older audience to accept their sort of goth and rock long hair black appearance. ZWH's mother is a famous folk song singer of her time, known as Htar. ZWH's life story and his success is very inspiring. It almost reminds me of the resemblance to the "Osbournes", who has a more dramatic version and has more extreme turns. Basically, they started from the bottom to the hall of fame while their marriage life is still intact. They also establish the rebellious turn of the music industry, sort of Gothic and rock (ZWH is more famous for introducing heavy metal style). I don't know if he has been singing policy songs or not since I have been loosing track listening his songs. For the famous and influential artist, they have to bound to give in to the certain request if they want to keep their success intact. Nevertheless, I hope that ZWH will find a way to built or re track the own tune originality age in Burmese music industry as everyone is hoping to see, as he has been dreaming and working hard to leave his legend.

Listen Here:

Law-ka-hin-lin-pyin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oknJEFWrQxw

Than-tha-yar-sann-yay: #13 song http://www.myanmarmp3.net/album.aspx?AlbumID=334

Myo Kyawt Myaing

I have been debating to post MKM. Since he is the first who introduced rap and hip-hop to our age, I thought I should post him. I heard him sing before I know him as MKM. Through friend of friend of friend, I got a chance to listen to a mysterious tape which is self made but was recorded in May studio (I am not sure, but that's what I remember). Back then, I didn't know who sang the songs --- it was not even a full tape. I liked the songs and the singing (although the voice was not too great), so I made a copy (I am so sorry for un-authorized duplication but I didn't use it for profit.) and sang those songs with my guitar. Out of those songs, (btw, I gave the titles by myself since the tape came to me with nothing written on it) I liked "Hlaing-htait-htar-khin" the best. That is my one of my all time favorite songs untill now. I don't know why MKM is not using that song yet or possibly I didn't know the fact that he already has sang that song in his records. I liked the first song which he used the sound effect of air plane taking off --- something about missing the love one and cannot wait to come back and see her. "Mistaken with Ma-Dee", known as "Kar-yan-lay" is one of the songs that I liked, and I have heard he's been singing that song lots of time and is well liked. "May 31st" is a good one too. I guess he sang that one in one of his records, again not too sure. Out of all MKM songs, I love "Hlain-htait-htar-khin" the most.

"The Car Accident" is his first record which is very different from what is out there in music industry at that time. Heavy metal was so hot back then that not many people pay much attention to "The Car Accident". After this record came out, I found out that my mysterious tape owner is MKM. I bought that one and loved it very much. I listen to it and sleep with it. I thought I was going to become a MKM fan. I liked all the songs in that record. Now that I do not have that tape anymore and I wish to get it back sometimes. Nothing followed after "The Car Accident" and when he come back and become famous, surprisingly, I find myself that I am not a MKM fan. I have a great respect for his talent in good taste and good instinct in music, however, we must have grown up into different perspectives of what life has given us. I very much like his experimenting remixes. I can listen and understand what he wants to deliver. It just doesn't blow my mind. I saw him picked a really good Chinese songs and sang copies a while back there. For some reason, I felt like he has more originality in "The Car Accident." Now that I have been out of touch with Burmese music industry and it wouldn't be fair to comment on. I always give credit to MKM as the first hip-hop carrier of Burma (I am sorry if there is someone earlier than MKM has done the job, but this is as far as my knowledge can stretch.) Oh, that ugly personal incident, --- with a famous actress singer, I think people just went too far by exposing a very private personal issues. Aside from that, I recognize that MKM is one of those artists who use their real name as an artist name. I wish to get my original "The Car Accident" tape back and I wish to listen MKM sing "Hlaing-htait-htar-khin" one day.

P.S. "Hlaing-htait-htar-khin" is the all time most requested song to play from my friends.

Listen Here:
Kar-yan-lay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px0sEsRIOSs

Pho Cho

One of the most influential artists in my life. For some reason, I have never get a chance to see him or hear him at the concert. He is famous but never been so popular, may be until he passed away. It seems to me that people recognize more of his songs when a Pho Cho memorial concert is held. "Paing-soe-mhu-a-ka-yee" is the first song that I played on guitar because it was catchy, because the notes are simple and easy, because it is dreamy to sing. I don't know much about him, surprisingly, although I listened and played a lot of his songs. He is one of the low maintenance artists who only care to sing. His voice is not super but one can hear his honesty and love of music in his singing. He doesn't hide his flaws --- his style is simple, pure, open and unyielding. A true original singer whom I do respect a lot. "Way Lwin Chin Ye Nout Sone Chay Yar" is my favorite and this song is best used in the romantic comedy video "Hnin-si Wine". There are so many good songs in Pho Cho's collection that the list would be pretty long if I have to pick his songs. "The Best of Pho Cho" is a very satisfying collection although I wished there were "The Best of Pho Cho 2" at that time. He was a star, a passionate star, who loves to sing for the music rather than a spot light.

Note: the sample songs are remixes done by different artists.

Listen Here:

Way Lwin Chin Ye Nout Sone Chay Yar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAD3GJrQp1g

A Saung Ta Ye: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVa8J7IU_k

Paing Soe Mhu A Ka Yee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVa8J7IU_k

Myaing Nann San Pann Ta Pwint: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQdB41fuGHk

Listen mp3s Here:

Pho Cho A Mhat Ta Ya: http://www.myanmarmp3.net/album.aspx?AlbumID=381

Kaiser

Kaiser is very well known as well as well liked by general public in Burma, but it is very sad to watch the downward spiral of his career and ethical and moral question of certain conduct in his personal life. There was a time when everyone, especially children, sing the tune of " when it rains, we will take a shower in the rain; when mommy is back, we will have our milk; when daddy is back, we are going to eat a fresh coconut fruit." Then, there was his world just built for two together with May Sweet. But somehow, that little world for two has shattered and we saw a new improved world of Kaiser with May Khalar saying "Is falling in love guilty?" I don't know whom he really wanted to ask that question to, but that was a fun song to listen. Personally, the song that I like the best out of all his song was "The night that brings the memory of Yankin". To me, that song sounds genuine, cute, and lovable. He can compose well in terms of choosing a catchy topics or words. I still remember what he has said at his Kaiser one man show right after his escape from America. He said that "he is very grateful for the Burmese audience group who came to his concert, because those people are the reason that he can still take a place in Burmese Music Industry." There are times that I wonder if he is still grateful for the people, lots of them, who had listened and sang and supported his songs? Or may be his gratitude to the people has been "Go, Went, and Gone" as in one of his songs?

Listen here:

Luu Twae Thi Lay Po Kaung Lay and Ah Nann Pann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mFgnDLY1Xk&feature=related

Thee Lay Thee

It's been a hit. I have seen only short clips on YouTube, and read their literature on blogs. I am very much supportive of what they are doing. I respect their courage, wit and dedication towards entertaining. However, I wonder sometimes why Burmese Authority would let them express the comedy in a mass crowd. Don't they always psycho about their image?? Haven't they arrested/banned and censored all kinds of art (books, journals, songs, paintings, etc) that effect their image in a very tedious way??? Here is my conspiracy, as far as I can come up with. Burmese government let a specific group of comedian to joke around their policies and personal lives because everyday event of life in Burma (Daily life of a Burmese) is like a rough dark drama. The audience, Burmese people, need a comical relief. Even though the jokes effect their image, the sacrifice is tradable for it can somewhat relieve the emotional tension of the people. Well, may be, may be not. Who knows??? but the conspiracy couldn't reduce the bravery of those comedians, one of a kind.

image is from: www.irrawaddy.org