PM Prayut, the prolific song-writer

When he’s not putting down members of the press with witty retorts or summoning detractors to the NCPO HQ for ‘attitude adjustment’, dear leader Prayut is putting pen to paper to write patriotic uplifting songs.

His first song, “Khuen Kwam Suk Hai Pra Thed Thai” or “Returning Happiness to Thailand”, is considered the biggest hit so far and has been played throughout almost four years of the junta’s rule and has been popular in running gags mocking the junta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g7D-HCg7JM

While a previous single “Jai Petch” or “Diamond Heart” hit a record number of 45,000 thumbs down dislikes on YouTube, PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday released yet another single called “Su Pheu Phan Din” or “Fight for the Land”.

The song made its debut at Government House, where Prayut presided over a merit-making ceremony for the upcoming Songkran Festival. It is a sixth single so far by Prayut since he became premier in 2014. Prayut is known to share his habit of writing songs and poetry with fellow Cabinet members, civil servants and the general public. His songs have been repeatedly played on junta-owned broadcasting programs.

For Su Pheu Phan Din, Prayut said that the song means a call for people to fight and do good deeds for the country, including himself.

“I’ve been here for almost four years I’ve seen some criticisms but I can bear it,” Prayut said at his weekly press briefing.

“I still don’t have all things finished yet. I wish politicians would adopt a mindset like mine,” he said.

“My thoughts may be wrong as well but I wish they would propose some better, more rounded solutions.”

Much like Prayut’s explanation, the song’s lyrics mostly convey messages about attempts to do good deeds for the country with no criticisms to obstruct the deeds “carried on by honest hearts for better tomorrow”.

Unlike his previous songs, which mostly adopt 80s-style beat and rhythm, the latest song features Thai musical instruments, much like “BuppeSanNivas”, a soundtrack from the current hit TV series of the same name. This comes as no surprise to the song’s composer, Wichien Tantipimonphan, who also composed BuppeSanNivas. Prayut also admitted that the song styling was intentional to catch the popularity of ancient Thai trends.

“This is also in line with our Thai Niyom scheme,” Prayut said.