| Pumpuang Duangjan (พุ่มพวง ดวงจันทร์) | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rampheung Chithan |
| Born | August 4, 1961 Suphanburi, Thailand |
| Genres | Pop, dance, luk thung |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1980–1992 |
| Labels | Diamond Studio |
| Website | [6] |
Pumpuang 'Peung' Duangjan (Thai พุ่มพวง ดวงจันทร์), or 'Poompuang Moon' as she was referred to in Thailand, was the professional name of a Thai megastar [1] singer, actress who pioneered electronic Luk Thung. She is considered one of the most important Luk Thung vocalists in Thailand. The child of poor farmers, she came to attention as a teenager in the late '70s. Although she was illiterate, her lyrics were powerful and compelling stories of Thailand's rural poor. She adapted pleng luk thung (Thai country music) into a dance-ready form known as electronic luk thung. Her death in 1992, at the age of 31, led many to believe that her music form would die out. However, it has continued and in 1997 the first all luk thung radio station was opened.
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Before Pumpuang, 'Luk Thung' (Thai Country Music) was very tame. However, Pumpuang's songwriter, composer and producer - 'Kru Lop Burirat'. An accomplished musician who played both Western and Thai music, Lop Burirat mixed them both together for a new style. In 1985 they produced the album 'Aue Hue Lor Jang' ( Oh, he's so cute!), which became a phenomenal success.
'Peung' and Kru Lop quickly released a succession of record-breaking albums including 'Hang Noi Thoi Nid', 'Noo Mai Roo' and 'Noo Mai Ao'. While there is no doubt that Look Thung owes Kru Lop a great much, it was 'Peung' who was in charge of her own self-promotion. She performed on stage in a variety of flesh revealing costumes giving her an outrageously sexy look which often brought a severe backlash from music critics and the older generation. Loved, but also loathed, she was criticized for trying to 'copy' Western popstar Madonna and lambasted for her Un-Thai sense of dress and flirtation.
Being undisturbed and completely ignoring her detractors, 'Peung' continued performing in the way she saw fit. Her audiences just loved it. Thailand had never seen anyone like it before! Pumpuang face graced the bigscreen as well, as she starred in various Thai films in career. On September 12, 1989 Pummpuang was given an award by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. HRH Sirindhorn awarded her in the field of outstanding singing for the song "Land of Smiles" composed by teacher 'Rat Buri' in the second half century pastoral sector.
In recent times, a new generation of Look Thung artists such as Yui Yartyuth, Arphaphorn Nakhorn Sawan and Dau Mayuree all pointed to 'Peung' as their inspiration. Til this day she will always be remembered as 'the girl who put the spice into Luk Thung'. [2]
Pumpuang's journey is a 'rags to riches story' of an illiterate peasant girl who achieved legendary status as the 'Queen of Look Thung' is of almost mythical proportion. Though born in kamphaeng Phet, central Thailand, she was brought up in Suphanburi province just north of Bangkok. As her family was so poor, 'Peung' was forced to drop out of school after just one year to help her parents in their sugar-cane fields.
Being unable to read did not deter Peung from picking up a microphone and learning by heart a collection of almost 100 songs by the age of twelve. Growing up and wanting to hit the big time, 'Peung' entered the notorious world of 'Cafe and Temple Fair' concerts as a dancer and singer. It was 'on this circuit' where she met her first husband.
The marriage was a rocky one and her husband later ran off with another girl. Adding injury to insult, he returned after the affair and eloped with Peung's younger sister - they married later. The man who married first Peung before her younger sister, was known to the public as an 'alcoholic womanizer' who did nothing but 'live off women'. Family feuds erupted and Peung's brother was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he had killed Peung's former husband in a fit of anger. Another of her brothers, brokenhearted at the rejection of a singer he wished to married, picked up a shotgun one day - placed it at his head and pulled the trigger.
Shortly after shooting to fame, Peung married again and had a baby son. More family quarrels erupted after Peung's mother blamed her new husband for taking advantage of Peung's illiteracy and having her unknowingly, sign over to him - her financial documents and earnings. The marriage did not last long and the couple separated over his supposed womanizing and extortionate spending (of her money)
Over time, Peung's health just went from bad to worse and she was hospitalized several times. In 1992, though still sick, Peung travelled to Chiang Mai to see her son. Before returning to Bangkok - Peung, close family and friends stopped off to pay their respects at one of Thailand's most revered Buddha Images located at Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok province. "She had wanted to pray for her son's well-being" Before even leaving the temple gates - Peung collapsed.
Just as quickly as she had arrived on the stage, she was lost to us. Peung died of kidney failure at Phra Phutthachinnarat hospital in Phitsanulok. She was just 31 years of age.
Pumpuang's importance for Thai music and life is unmatched. She is the 'American Dream' in a Thai version, the girl who, with nothing other than her talent, came from Suphanburi in the Central rice fields (5th child of a 12 children family) to become by far Thailand's most famous and loved singer. She could convincingly sound like a young schoolgirl in love as well as a mature woman looking back on her life. Her voice and songs remain outstanding and the frequency with which her songs are still played, two decades after her death, suggest that she will be remembered far beyond any foreseeable future.[3]
Her success in her musical career was not matched in her private life and public opinion has been tough on her two husbands.
Official records say that she died from Lupus, a non-contagious auto-immune disease. Hundreds of thousands of people came to her funeral, arguably more than for anyone else in recent Thai history. Her funeral was held at Wat Tapkradan in Suphanburi province, an estimated 200,000 people turned up to pay their last respects. Even the Thai king himself, Bhumibol Adulyadej came to pay his respects; for a peasant-born woman this was unheard of and has not been repeated.
Over the years several Thai artists have done their own covers of her songs. In 2005 Mai Charoenpura, popular Thai singer and actress dedicated her 4th album to Pumpuang. She recorded a cover of the luk thung classic "Nak Rong Baan Nok," the video is a tribute to Pumpuang's early rise to fame.[4] A statue was also been created in her honor and memory in Suphanburi, Thailand. Fans and Tourists can still be seen today making homage to site.[5]