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

Sithu Lwin

I should have done more research on his work and life to write about him but time never favors for what I wanted to do. So, here it is. A very few things about Sithu Lwin.

A round face with cute puppy eyes, I met him when he was like 7 or 8 years old. He was drawing cartoons like his daddy and winning the competitions. Shall I scan and post his picture back then? Aww, if I have time --- to embarrass him or bring back the old nostalgic memories---.

Sithu Lwin's father is a very famous and successful cartoonist Ngway Kyi? ( spelling mistaken??). I never thought this cute puppy eye will become a famous rock/pop star. Life has their own mysterious destinies.

He can sing well --- with a good rhythm and tone and passionate style except that he has a high pitch and that is just not my favorite. In a way, because of his high pitch, 19:18 was a good combination with Alex and Saung Oo Hlaing who has a deep voice.

I don't remember which songs are the ones that bring Sithu Lwin to fame. I have never heard him in any concert. When he became famous, I don't end up going to much concerts, may be that's why I haven't seen him around. However, I have listened a lot of his song in 19:18 series.

I saw him sporting red head quite a few years back. I saw sign of aging which no one can escape a few year back. He is now married and have a baby?? (Sorry for the initial typos --- is someone from up above intentionally messing up with my blog?? or I just needed more sleep??) It is hard to compete with ever younger idols in terms of look in the world of celebrities. Hey, but the upside is for the vocalists, their voice never getting old. They still sound young.

Good luck with your marriage, baby, and career, STL!
With best wishes.

Listen STL songs here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsGnPl_9NNw&feature=fvst

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7GTy5exMu8

Pho Cho

Pho Cho is one of the big stars who sits very quietly. People know him without noticing his presence. If we, the audience, are the fishes, he means water to us. We built our memories and life around his songs so comfortably that we barely notice it was even there. Almost as if we were taking him and his songs presence for granted.

His song are simple and present the honesty. His voice or singing style is not extraordinary ---which in a way make us be able to connect to his songs effortlessly. His songs compliment our everyday lives without being too dramatic. It would be in easy listening category. Most of his songs are good mood songs --- fun and enjoyment of freedom of youth.

The list of Pho Cho's favorite songs would not end easily. The song collection of rememberance of Pho Cho concert is a very decent collection of Pho Cho songs. Of course, there are more good songs left out of this collection. We sang Pho Cho songs everyday --- every night in the moon light in those nostalgic time. "let me be a little red bag on your shoulder, --let me be a velvet slipper under your soft feet, ---" it was dreamy in the lyrcs of "Hnyoe Myet Won". He has a lot of memorable dormitory songs. (One night, we sang too loud that our guitar was confiscated while we were singing "Pine Soe Hmu A-kari" at our college hall). His song "Way Lwint Chin Ye Alwan Chay Yar" used in a short video "Hnin Si Wine" is one of the best used songs as a back ground song. The song made the movie still very memorable.

I am a huge mega fan of Pho Cho and loved most of his songs. I don't know much about him since he is one of the quite stars who always shy away from the spot light.

Listen Pho Cho songs here:
Remixes:
"Pine Soe Hmu A-kari": www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxKWD8mMCv4&feature=related
"Hnyoe Myet Won" : www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iijlf1i9hlY&feature=related
"Way Lwint chin yet Naut Sone Chay Yar" : www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK6RoEd6DXo&feature=related
"Tapin HtaeYin HtaeKa Nwe" : www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfWsTeF_RqY&feature=related

Ba Din

Regrettably short-lived brightest star or more like a comet? He came out so brightly shined --- and left us so soon (he is one of the best). The memory of Ba Din is almost like encounter of a brightly zooming comet --- a memory that imprints in our hearts forever.

I was depressed so I went to a far away canteen tea shop rather than the one we used to sit and hang out with friends. I choose the one that is particularly empty so that I can sober as much as I would like to. Everything looked so boring and empty. Then, I heard Ba Din first album Nay Yar (The Place) in that empty tea shop --- for the very first time. The songs grab my attention --- I had never heard of him yet --- so I called up a little waiter and inquire the album and the singer artist. He told me "Ba Din". It was rather a strange name. No one pay attention to his album at that time --- or did I heard pre recording ??? Most likely not but who knows.

The next day, I was up beat --- happy to be myself again and was hanging out with friends, informing them of Ba Din, but no one paid attention or interest to it until --- before we knew it --- I think it was the Lotto ticket sellers on the bike --- started playing Ba Din's album everywhere around the town --- and then it just took off ---. It was phenomenon. The whole Rangoon is playing Nay Yar where ever you go. There is no escape to it. And to be honest, I like them all --- never tired of listening to his songs.

I am a huge Ba Din fan --- yes, I noticed his vocal quality is not super duper --- but it doesn't matter. He sang it very passionately --- like he means every bit of all the lyrics. His songs are simple but very memorable. Each song is very simple but very unique in different ways.

I think he had 3 albums ( I could be wrong) --- I am acquainted to only the first one. I like "Theit chit Tar Bae" (Love you much) the best. I also like Nay Yar 2 song too. The most covered song must be the song about the black sheep --- which remind me of one of our friends ( You know your nickname my friend --- I hope you are having a happy and successful life).

I will always be Ba Din's fan --- forever. I have never seen him on any concert, nor even on his album cover. I have never seen any of his pictures or interviews in the magazine back then (again, I don't read much of magazines then anyway.) Basically, I have no idea how he is like or how he looks like. (I couldn't find any of his picture). Still, I am a supporting fan.

Listen Ba Din's songs here:

Thait Chit Tar Bae (Love You Much): www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLEEPymxr70&feature=related
Nay Yar 2 (The Place 2): www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqE-cs6p-bs&feature=related
Thoe Mae Twae AhKyaung (About Black Sheep): www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP4MWameaIU&feature=related
Tite Tite Saing Saing (Coincidentally): www.youtube.com/watch?v=54Fr1wXNkb8&feature=related

Khin Maung Htoo

Bobbing head dolls always make me to instantly remember Khin Maung Htoo. That is how he sing. Technically, his style in singing is shaking his head from side to side rather than up and down as in bobbing head dolls.

He became a singer for the passion of singing since his original career is far from entertainment. He has a nice clear voice (except it could be nasal at some points which bothers me). His voice quality is good, notes are perfect, but he sang a bit too lightly --- in a way which reminds me of Aung Yin at times. Their singing style is very similar.

He achieved public attention through "Khin Maung Htoo: Best Songs" album in 80s, golden years for KMH? A lot of his songs are well-liked and accepted by public. He had made a lot of duets well known with different female vocalists as oppose to most others. "Kabar a pyin phat" with Hay mar nay win, "Ah Phaw Mon" with May Sweet, "Strawberry cherry lover" with Sein Moe Moe --- and others?? I bought his Best songs album and listened a lot. "The first Day (Pahtama Nae)" is my favorite forever although that song is not too well recognized. "Chit Ayu Khan" was the most famous in that album. Most of his song titled on a name of a girl--- strangely. "Missing Inya" was one of my good mood songs. Dad loves "Hmaw Daw Yaung" and made me play on guitar and sang that song countless times. "Maung SayKyaung Thu" is the song brings me of the past memories.

I was surprised that he is still actively singing --- good for him. Could that be his passion? I am not a Khin Maung Htoo fan but I can listen his songs tirelessly. And due to the Burmese tea shops culture, when one singer got famous, one must bound to listen to their songs --- like it or not --- after a while, one got sort of brain washed either giving in to the songs or hatred towards the songs has grown bigger inside the heart. Most of the time, we just getting used to the songs that we had not liked because those songs became part of our life events and unforgettable memories.

Listen Khin Maung Htoo songs here:

Hmaw taw Yaung:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=anZbOnk6ooA&feature=related
Missing Inya:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q5MpxSaOx0&playnext=1&list=PL497B8C6C8C5D09AE

Aung Naing

Never seen him on any concert. Never met him personally. I think I saw him on television one time --- I don't remember which song --- possibly one of my three favorite songs of Aung Naing.

I do not know much about him or not very interested except that I have acquainted with his songs a lot of time. "Min Maie Hmar Soe" album was the one that I listened full album for a long time. I loved that title song lyrics ending " --- when someone else ever approach you for your love, just letting him know that you have me in your heart and turn him down". It sounds demanding but the song is about the distant love relationship where insecurity can kick in time to time.

Out of all Aung Naing's songs, "Pann Khinn Htae Hmar" is my favorite song where chorus was fun to sing along and the breaks are fun to play on the guitar. "Mg Thriri May" is another favorite song which can bring back beautiful memories of innocent and clueless days. In the still of the summer nights, we played guitar with fun and passion and not one night passed without one Aung Naing's song.

I saw him on the stage (I mean on DVD) concert for 25 years old songs??? something like that. Anyways --- I like his singing style --- casual, simple and plain, durable over time -- almost like plain old jeans.

awww---"Thein Htar Hmar Larr" was the song we played the most since the chords are super easy. I think that one is Aung Naing's song too.

Listen Aung Naing's songs here:
Pann Khinn Htae Hmar: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T_8KG1VcIQ&feature=related
Mg Thiri May: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dYabQoXitE&feature=related
Thein Htar Hmar Larr: (remix by Pho Karr: style is sort of different and some lyrics varied) www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UfJ_34kunY&feature=related

Nay Myo Say

I have never known much about him. I heard that his mom is well known in the movie industry. I also heard when he opened Mr. Guitar, I was like --- aww! he stole my dream and really envious of him on account of doing everything that I would like to do. Now that he is doing painting as his profession, I have died with jealousy and barely made it back to life. Some guys have all the luck --- as they say. Well, but he is The Nay Myo Say and I am just a little critter ---sort of like a cricket? Well, enough of self not-so-dignifying confessions. Let's focus on just him.

I used to teasingly named him "a shorty", nothing personal --- just life had nothing better to do and giving people nicknames when the telephone lines are not working or the summer is just too hot to go out to a tea shop or any shop to hang out with friends. There were no cell phones, no Internet, no mp3 players except Walkmans that is if anyone can still recall what the Walkman is. There were only a good old tape recorders and limited access to VCR for variety entertainment. I cannot focus on Nay Myo Say because thinking about him is making me relive funny old days and clueless and naive cold nights. Again, let's focus on just him.

I thought "Pyay Pyay" sang " Kyae Kyawe Nya Tine Su Taung Mae (Wishing upon every star falling nights)" --- not sure --- may be not, it is just his own song ---( but I liked that song instantaneously on the first hearing because of the dreamy lyrics. It is a bit cheesy but I needed cheese and it was perfect. That was how I hear his name --- the person who wrote the song. Not many people know him back then.

Then, he came out onto public television with his solo record --- I forgot the title of the album, "Little Lane"?? (But is that Ko Hmoe?). I always got confuse between two of them on who did sang which song. I remember seeing him on TV frequently singing 4 or 5 of his songs. They were okay, not too memorable but were simple and entertaining. I cannot remember the songs much anymore but I also don't remember the negative feelings about them. It was good, simple, and easily forgettable. He sang " Every star falling night" on television --- and I can still recite all the lyrics of that song until now --- the only unforgettable NMS song to me.

Nay Myo Say voice quality is average, not super clear, but has his own distinct style and features. Since he is more experience in song writing, of course he knows how to hit his notes very well. I met him uncountable times as the wedding singer. Other than that, that was all in my memory or so far I can recall.

Listen to his song here:
"Fallen Star Night": www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ruUJXRlsRw
"Lann Kalay" (yes, that was his song not Ko Hmoe) www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVV7DgRi0VQ