Phuket : Christy and Jonas , luk thung superstars visit

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Christy and Jonas: luk thung superstars visit Phuket
Claire Connell
Thursday 3 January 2013

PHUKET: Foreign-born luk thung superstars Christy Gibson and Jonas Anderson performed at the Patong Carnival in Phuket on December 20, attracting a large crowd.



The two are well known in Thailand for singing traditional Thai folk music, and both grew up in Thailand after their families moved to Nakhon Ratchasima, in Isarn, when they were young.

The two grew up as family friends, being two of only a handful of foreign children in the city back then. Jonas now lives in Bangkok, and Christy lives in Patum Thani.

Sweden-born Jonas, 40, has released five solo albums, plus three duet albums with Christy. For her part, Christy, who is half English and half Dutch, has also released five albums of her own.

“There was no thought in either of our minds that we would ever be luk thung singers – it’s not something that we were aspiring to be,” Christy said.

“In fact, I never thought I would even be a singer at all. I loved music and signing but it was much more of a hobby. I took classes and had an Australian singing coach, because it was something I loved to do.

“In a way it came naturally, even though it doesn’t seem natural for a foreigner to be singing [luk thung]. I’ve been hearing it ever since I was young. I just picked it up. It’s really colourful and the whole culture of it is very fun – the singers, the dancers and the lights.

“We have done performances abroad and the non-Thais who have come to our shows, a lot of them have never been to Thailand before. But they will come in, they can’t understand a word, but are dancing and having a great time,” Christy said.

Jonas also says he never planned to be a luk thung star, despite his keen interest in performing. “But it’s been 12 years now and I’m still singing luk thung,” he says with a laugh.

“At first we just tried it out, and just even the rather feeble attempt at doing it got a very good response. For both of us, it sparked more of an interested and appreciation for luk thung, and we wanted to know more about it. At that point it was very much just trying it out, but one thing led to another,” Jonas said.

“No matter what the demographic of the audience is, you can’t play the songs without people trying to rock along.”

And what did their friends and family think when they first started?

“They were thinking this is weird, this is cool. All kinds of reactions. It was kind of a surreal feeling,” Jonas said.

Christy agreed. “Thais are known already for being very warm, welcoming and friendly, and I think every foreigner experiences this: Try to speak a little bit of Thai and they just love you.

“It’s something special about Thailand. I think they think it’s really cool.”

Prior to their performance on December 20, Christy said Phuket was a place they loved to visit.

“It’s very fun to perform here because there are so many nationalities. Even the Thai people who live here are from all around the country, it’s a real mixed melting pot.”

thephuketnews.com

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[Marmite the Dog]

At first we just tried it out, and just even the rather feeble attempt at doing it got a very good response

Says it all really.

[xanax]

At first we just tried it out, and just even the rather feeble attempt at doing it got a very good response

Says it all really.

Never the less she at least developed into a fine singer, but I never really liked Jonas's rather nasal sound. One or two versions of old songs on his first album though are very good such as khon jai dam. They have also had quite a bit of advertising work over the years and really do a lot of charity work, only last Sunday they were at a kids home in Pakret. If only a small percentage of foreigners living here put as much back into this country as these two! She has won a few awards including services to Thai culture last year (fm 95). They are being a bit modest as they also sing morlam and other styles, including ram wong which is from the 40's- 50's. Lovely people both of them.

[withnallstoke]

and really do a lot of charity work, only last Sunday they were at a kids home in Pakret.