Ksyrup
08-22-2003, 09:21 AM
Thai ban for 'Big Flabby Buttocks'
Friday, August 22, 2003 Posted: 6:05 AM EDT (1005 GMT)
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's culture ministry has issued a list of 18 love songs -- including "Big Flabby Buttocks" -- which it wants to ban as part of a campaign against music it says could encourage promiscuity or marital infidelity.
The list was compiled by the ministry's Culture Watch Center and includes songs which contain "improper" content or are offensive to "public decency," The Nation newspaper reported Friday.
Songs on the list include several by two of Thailand's best-known artists and one song that was released two decades ago but has only just come to the attention of the moral guardians, The Nation said.
Lyrics that have upset ministry officials include:
"I know you have a wife, I've got used to that and I don't care."
"Let them gossip, I don't care, I don't want to fight with her, you are married, yet so tempting."
And
"My blue-blooded sweetheart, you don't care about morals, always acting like Western stars do."
'Protecting society'
The ministry says it wants state-run radio and television to stop using all the songs on the list.
Announcing the list Thursday, MR Chakrarot Chitrabongs, permanent secretary to the culture ministry, said he did not think the ban was in any way an infringement of individual rights.
Instead, allowing such songs to be played on air could be construed as violating the rights of people who disliked them, The Nation quoted him as saying.
Rather than being overly conservative, he said the agency was simply doing its job preventing negative changes to Thai society.
Aside from "Big Flabby Buttocks" ("Tai Aon Yaon"), songs featured on the ministry's blacklist include such titles as "Secret Lover" ("Choo Tang Jai"), "One Woman, Two Men" ("Nueng Ying, Song Chai") and "I Know That, But I Still Love You" ("Tang Roo Koh Rak").
One of the artists named on the list, veteran crooner Suthep Wongkamhaeng, told The Nation he was surprised that his song "Pid Tang Rak" ("Wrong Way to Love") was under threat nearly 20 years after its release.
"I see nothing wrong with the lyrics. The song is about a man who falls in love with a woman, but it's a one-sided affair -- as if he's in a dream world," the paper quoted him as saying.
"There's nothing immoral or provocative," he added, saying he planned to explain his case to culture ministry officials.
Another Thai celebrity, singer-actress Sinjai Plengpanich, told The Nation the songs on the list merely reflected real society and would not actually encourage listeners to do indecent things.
"I agree that some songs are unsuitable for younger people," Sinjai, who sang the original version of "I Love Her Husband" ("Chan Rak Pua Khao"), told the paper.
But she added: "If the culture ministry is really serious about keeping order on the content of songs, they should set up a ratings system."
THE BLACKLIST IN FULL
1. "I Fear No Sins" ("Bo Yan Bab") by Yinglee Sreechumpol
2. "I Fear Sin" ("Ai Yan Bab") by Phaithoon Nhunchoke
3. "Big Flabby Buttocks" ("Tai Aon Yaon") by Phaithoon Nhunchoke
4. "Secret Lover" ("Choo Tang Jai") by Dhanin Indarathep
5. "Wrong Way To Love" ("Pid Tang Rak") by Suthep Wongkamhaeng
6. "Leftovers" ("Suan Kern") by Dowjai Paijit
7. "One Woman, Two Men" ("Nueng Ying, Song Chai") by Dowjai Paijit
8. "I Love Her Husband" ("Chan Rak Pua Khao") by Sinjai Plengpanich
9. "My Wife Had An Affair" ("Mia Pee Mee Choo") by Chai Muangsing
10. "Tears Of A Lieutenant's Wife" ("Num Ta Mia Nai Roi") by Jintara Poonlab
11. "Lover" ("Choo Rak") by Why Not Seven
12. "A Mistress' Ultimatum" ("Kham Khad Mia Noi") by Kanista Thaidachai
13. "A Step-Husband" ("Pua Boontham") by Samphan Seripab
14. "Lover" ("Choo") by Lhong Longlai
15. "Love In Mind" ("Rak Nai Jai") by Winai Panthurak
16. "The Door Crushes The Hand" ("Pratu Neeb Mue") by Paijit Aksornnarong
17. "I Know That, But I Still Love You" ("Tang Roo Koh Rak") by Charas Phuang-arom
18. "Is It Sinful For Us To Love?" ("Bab Nak Rue Ta Rao Ja Rak Kan") by Suthep Wongkamhaeng
Friday, August 22, 2003 Posted: 6:05 AM EDT (1005 GMT)
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's culture ministry has issued a list of 18 love songs -- including "Big Flabby Buttocks" -- which it wants to ban as part of a campaign against music it says could encourage promiscuity or marital infidelity.
The list was compiled by the ministry's Culture Watch Center and includes songs which contain "improper" content or are offensive to "public decency," The Nation newspaper reported Friday.
Songs on the list include several by two of Thailand's best-known artists and one song that was released two decades ago but has only just come to the attention of the moral guardians, The Nation said.
Lyrics that have upset ministry officials include:
"I know you have a wife, I've got used to that and I don't care."
"Let them gossip, I don't care, I don't want to fight with her, you are married, yet so tempting."
And
"My blue-blooded sweetheart, you don't care about morals, always acting like Western stars do."
'Protecting society'
The ministry says it wants state-run radio and television to stop using all the songs on the list.
Announcing the list Thursday, MR Chakrarot Chitrabongs, permanent secretary to the culture ministry, said he did not think the ban was in any way an infringement of individual rights.
Instead, allowing such songs to be played on air could be construed as violating the rights of people who disliked them, The Nation quoted him as saying.
Rather than being overly conservative, he said the agency was simply doing its job preventing negative changes to Thai society.
Aside from "Big Flabby Buttocks" ("Tai Aon Yaon"), songs featured on the ministry's blacklist include such titles as "Secret Lover" ("Choo Tang Jai"), "One Woman, Two Men" ("Nueng Ying, Song Chai") and "I Know That, But I Still Love You" ("Tang Roo Koh Rak").
One of the artists named on the list, veteran crooner Suthep Wongkamhaeng, told The Nation he was surprised that his song "Pid Tang Rak" ("Wrong Way to Love") was under threat nearly 20 years after its release.
"I see nothing wrong with the lyrics. The song is about a man who falls in love with a woman, but it's a one-sided affair -- as if he's in a dream world," the paper quoted him as saying.
"There's nothing immoral or provocative," he added, saying he planned to explain his case to culture ministry officials.
Another Thai celebrity, singer-actress Sinjai Plengpanich, told The Nation the songs on the list merely reflected real society and would not actually encourage listeners to do indecent things.
"I agree that some songs are unsuitable for younger people," Sinjai, who sang the original version of "I Love Her Husband" ("Chan Rak Pua Khao"), told the paper.
But she added: "If the culture ministry is really serious about keeping order on the content of songs, they should set up a ratings system."
THE BLACKLIST IN FULL
1. "I Fear No Sins" ("Bo Yan Bab") by Yinglee Sreechumpol
2. "I Fear Sin" ("Ai Yan Bab") by Phaithoon Nhunchoke
3. "Big Flabby Buttocks" ("Tai Aon Yaon") by Phaithoon Nhunchoke
4. "Secret Lover" ("Choo Tang Jai") by Dhanin Indarathep
5. "Wrong Way To Love" ("Pid Tang Rak") by Suthep Wongkamhaeng
6. "Leftovers" ("Suan Kern") by Dowjai Paijit
7. "One Woman, Two Men" ("Nueng Ying, Song Chai") by Dowjai Paijit
8. "I Love Her Husband" ("Chan Rak Pua Khao") by Sinjai Plengpanich
9. "My Wife Had An Affair" ("Mia Pee Mee Choo") by Chai Muangsing
10. "Tears Of A Lieutenant's Wife" ("Num Ta Mia Nai Roi") by Jintara Poonlab
11. "Lover" ("Choo Rak") by Why Not Seven
12. "A Mistress' Ultimatum" ("Kham Khad Mia Noi") by Kanista Thaidachai
13. "A Step-Husband" ("Pua Boontham") by Samphan Seripab
14. "Lover" ("Choo") by Lhong Longlai
15. "Love In Mind" ("Rak Nai Jai") by Winai Panthurak
16. "The Door Crushes The Hand" ("Pratu Neeb Mue") by Paijit Aksornnarong
17. "I Know That, But I Still Love You" ("Tang Roo Koh Rak") by Charas Phuang-arom
18. "Is It Sinful For Us To Love?" ("Bab Nak Rue Ta Rao Ja Rak Kan") by Suthep Wongkamhaeng