Thai Rock & Pop Music

The 1930s in Thailand saw much importation of Western music. For a while jazz was extremely popular and dominated all popular music. Then arived Cliff Richard and the Shadows and from this emerged the first Thai pop music, which was simply called 'String'.
In the 1970s a band called Caravan emerged at the forefront of a movement for democracy in Thailand. The ruling military brutally attacked students demonstrating at Thammasat University in Bangkok. To escape the bloodshed, Caravan, along with others, fled for the hills. There, Caravan continued playing for local farmers, and composed what is now their most famous song, ‘Khon Gap Kwaii’ (people and buffaloes). Known as songs for life, the distinct music that emerged at that time (strong lyrics combined with a rock and blues feel) helped to unite people against military oppression.
Thai music has borrowed much from western music, most particularly its instruments and there is a growing preference among Thais for a blend of Thai and international styles. The best example of this is Thailand’s famous rock band, Carabao who have crafted an exciting fusion of classical Thai music with heavy metal. Recording and performing for over 20 years now, it is by far the most popular music group in Thailand. Their massive success is due to the fearless personality of Ad Carabao, Thailland's number one rock star. He has become a true legend of modern Thai rock. He wields considerable political power through his music. The rock band Loso, playing love and rock songs, is also very famous in Thailand. Guitarist Sek Loso has now gone to live in England and has started writing songs in English. He has been compared to Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain.
At the other end of the scale and firmly anchored in the world of PR and hype, is the gilded youth of T-pop. Perhaps the biggest example of this manufactured success is Tata Young. Eurasian Young is the biggest music phenomenon to hit Thailand in recent times. Tata Young is the first Thai female artist to launch an international album, and is famous throughout Asia.