Classic Productions by Surin Phaksiri 2: Molam Gems from the 1960s-80s Front Cover

Lyric

Lam Phloen Open-air Cinema

Chabaphrai Namwai

Announcer:

Hello, one, two, three. Hello, one, two, three, four, five

Ladies and gentlemen

It is now time for the movie to start. And now for the final song!

Verse 1:

Ladies and gentlemen

Come on in

I've come to this village to ask for your support

I'm going to be honest with you, but please don't be offended

I'm a film dubbing artist

I go from village to village to make ends meet

Living in the day-to-day, there is a lot of hard work to be done to live

When it rains, the old men scold us

I can't stand it, I can't stand it

I quit my job as a dubbing artist because it was too much to bear

So you say, this is life

There are so many old people here today that it would bring down the wrath of the gods

The screening has been canceled due to a downpour of rain that seems to have come from Varuna (*)

A life full of doubts is troubling

Mom, I was bullied in one village

Dad, I persevere

When I don't have enough to eat, I ask for help

Don't harass me and poke me with a stick

Sometimes I'm exploited (Repeat)

How can you say, "It's not a movie theater, it should be free" (Repeat)

Conversation:

Man: Hey, you, the ticket seller. There's 10 of us, can we get in with 3 tickets?

Chabaphrai: Please don't do this, brother. We don't have many customers and we've come a long way and we don't make any money. So please. Today's movie is a recent one

Man: Okay, I get it. Then give me tickets for everyone. We'll watch it

Bridge 1:

Have mercy on us (Repeat)

We rented this movie so don't give us free admission, please

Uncle, please

Please have mercy on us

Consider it your virtue to accumulate (Repeat)

Outdoor movies will be served soon

Hook 1:

The Thai people have a strong sense of unity (Repeat)

Thanks to the support and cheers of our fans, our name will spread

If they come in large numbers

No matter how expensive the movie is, we'll rent it

We'll announce it on our big speakers

We'll have to make do even if it's not very loud

We're afraid they'll get mad at us later

"Don't show a boring movie"

Everyone's feelings are different

Some people pay, many people don't

You don't want to be talking about the past

Because there are so many people who love it and hate it

Verse 2:

We'll do our best

We'll continue our wanderings with open-air movies

There are villages that love it (Repeat)

There are villages that we would lose a lot of money when we showed it

There are nights when we rent a generator but don't make any money

Sometimes we get hungry and have trouble (Repeat)

It would be great if some compassionate guests would bring us some food

Hook 2:

Hey guys and girls, why don't you come on over?

It's an action movie today. Why don't you watch it with your girlfriend?

I'd like to invite you to the movie tonight

Or if you'd rather listen to lam phloen

I'll let you know

I'd like to invite you all to the film festival

Speakers, turn up the volume (Repeat)

It's a beautiful sound

There's a wave of people coming in

Buy your tickets and get a comfortable place

Where you can hang out (Repeat)

Let's build a good relationship

For you tonight (Repeat)

* Footnotes:

Varuṇa is an ancient Indian god. In Buddhism, Varuṇa is one of the Twelve Heavens and the guardian of the West

  • Lyricist

    Surin Phaksiri

  • Composer

    Surin Phaksiri

Classic Productions by Surin Phaksiri 2: Molam Gems from the 1960s-80s Front Cover

Listen to Lam Phloen Open-air Cinema by Chabaphrai Namwai

Streaming / Download

  • 1

    Lam Phloen Handsome Guy

    Lumyai Sungkamani

  • 2

    Lam Phloen Call Me Please

    Chomsawai Saentawisok

  • 3

    Lam Phloen Putting a Girl in Her Place

    Thongmi Malai

  • 4

    Keawta Lam Phloen

    Keawta Prayalae

  • 5

    Lam Phloen Please Get Along with Me

    Chamnian Mitpracha

  • 6

    Lam Phloen No Appease No Love

    Chabaphrai Namwai

  • 7

    Lam Phloen Thinking about Sa-U

    Chabaphrai Namwai

  • 8

    Lam Phloen Friend and Friend (Instrumental)

    Sonthaya Kalasin

  • 9

    Lam Phloen Young Widower

    Homhuan Saksakul

  • 10

    Lam Phoen Let's Go to Kathina Festival

    Phairin Phonphibun

  • 11

    Lam Tangwai Phairin

    Phairin Phonphibun

  • 12

    Lam Phloen Sakhon Na Khon

    Banyen Siwongsa

  • 13

    Lam Tangwai Gigolette

    Sonthaya Kalasin

  • 14

    Lam Phloen Folk Song

    Somthin Charoenchai

  • ⚫︎

    Lam Phloen Open-air Cinema

    Chabaphrai Namwai

  • 16

    Lam Phloen Nakhon Phanom

    Banyen Siwongsa

  • 17

    Lam Phloen Before Farewell

    Sukchai Petch-ubon

  • 18

    Lam Toei Ram Wong Romance

    Kampun Foongsuk

  • 19

    Lam Phloen The Story of Walking in the Forest

    Chamnian Mitpracha

  • 20

    Lam Phloen Let's Fall in Love

    Naree Rungruang

  • 21

    Lam Toei A Promise of Isan Girl

    Kampun Foongsuk

EM Records again shines the spotlight on legendary Thai producer Surin Phaksiri in this second edition of his classic productions from the 1960s-80s. The first edition, released in 2019, focused on his innovative productions in the luk thung style. This 2022 release features his stellar, glowing molam gems from the 60s-80s, drawn mainly from his golden era in the late 70s and early 80s. Surin Phaksiri is a highly esteemed figure in Thai music, rooted deeply in his native region of Isan in northeast Thailand, a producer with a deep respect for the traditional artistry of his culture, yet always moving forward, looking outward, listening ahead. The molam style of Thai music showcases the voice; indeed, the genre's name means "expert singer", and Thailand is blessed with an abundance of experts, singers with amazing control, grace, vitality and finesse. This collection of 22 songs features 15 singers, ranging from venerated legends to unjustly unheralded masters of the art. These songs were recorded and released after the era of the 7-inch single; with the advent of the cassette boom in Thai music, most producers adopted a quantity-over-quality conveyer belt production style, churning out soundalike material to fill the expanded length of cassette tape. Phaksiri resisted these tides and continued to work with a single-song mindset, tailoring each production's instrumentation and arrangement to precisely fit each singer and song. This care and integrity can be clearly heard in this sweetly groovy collection. These gems, originally released on 7-inch vinyl, are all first-time official reissues, a project years in the making. Compiled by Soi48, who also provide liner notes.

Artist Profile

  • Chabaphrai Namwai

EM Records

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