Thongchai McIntyre

Thongchai McIntyre
Background information
Birth name Albert Thongchai McIntyre
Also known as Bird Thongchai McIntyre
Born (1958-12-08) December 8, 1958
Bangkok, Thailand
Genres Thai pop
Occupation(s) singer, actor
Years active 1986–present
Labels GMM Grammy

Thongchai "Bird" McIntyre (Thai: ธงไชย แมคอินไตย์, pronounced [tʰōŋ.tɕʰāj]) (born Albert Thongchai McIntyre, December 8, 1958) is a Thai pop singer who released his debut album in 1986. He is also sometimes known as Bird Thongchai, Phi Bird ("elder brother Bird") or simply Bird.

Considered to be Thailand's No.1 superstar,[1] he is one of the most successful singers in Thailand's history, having sold more than 25 million albums.[2] He is best known for his string (Thai pop) and luk thung music. He has also acted in numerous films, on television, musicals, and in commercials.

Early life

In 1958, Thongchai McIntyre was born in one of the slums inside Bangkok to parents James and Udom McIntyre. His birth-name was Albert McIntyre with the nickname of "Bird." Born as the 9th child of 9 siblings, his life in the slums did not give him much of a head start, thus his childhood was filled with struggle to supplement the income of his family. As a child, he sometimes taught English to other children in the slum in exchange for 5 to 10 baht. He got high diploma management major from Dhonburi Commercial College, Raised in a music-loving family. Bird loved to sing and dance, school stage was the first place that his talent shined. [3] His father died when Bird was still a child,[4][5] He then started working as a bank officer.

Career

While still working as a bank officer, he met the famous Thai TV producer "Kai Varayuth" who recognised Bird's talent. Bird débuted in his first TV series with the help of Kai. His most memorable role was that of Captain Kobori in the 1990 television series Khu Kam, a tragic love story about a Japanese soldier (Bird) and a local Thai girl during World War II. He reprised this role in the 1996 film adaptation, Sunset at Chaophraya.

He reached the height of his musical career in the early nineties. Among his best-known songs are Duay Rak Lae Pook Pan, Koo Gud, Sabai Sabai and Kob Jai Jing Jing. His popular singles released recently include luk thung singles Mah Tummai (with Jintara Poonlarp), Fan Ja (with Jintara and Jarin B. (Joey Boy), Nat Myria Benedetti, and Katreeya English), Lao Su Kan Fang, and Yak Tham Kor Tob and Mai Kang Ying Pae from his album "Volume One". In the mid-nineties, he became the first Thai artist to receive an International MTV Award for his performance in Sunset at Chaophraya.

He was featured on CNN and in Variety magazine. An award-winning documentary of his life entitled Crossing Borders, directed by Phanjanit Garnploog, can be seen at St. John's University in New York. In 2010, Bird made his first international tour in Los Angeles and the 50th Anniversary of Lincoln Center in New York.

In late 2007, he released another album entitled "Simply Bird", which features songs such as Chuay Rap Tee and Mee Tae Kid Tueng.

Discography

Bird in Concert

Albums and singles

Compilations

Bird Thongchai McIntyre

TV dramas

Awards

SiamDara Star awards 2012.

Covers by other artists

In 2012, the popular Japanese girl group Berryz Kobo released a song titled "Cha Cha Sing" as a single. The title track is a cover of the song "Row Mah Sing" by Bird Thongchai. The first coupling track "Loving You Too Much" is also a cover of a Bird Thongchai's song, "Too Much So Much Very Much". Both were translated into Japanese.[6] The single debuted at number 6 on the Japanese Oricon weekly singles chart.

References

  1. ↑ "เบิร์ดนักร้องยอดนิยม เป็นระดับแนวหน้าของเอเชีย จากการจัดระดับโดยนิตยสารเอ็นเตอร์เทนเมนต์วีกลี่".
  2. ↑ "นิตยสาร Forbes ปี 2009,นิตยสารธุรกิจและการเงินของสหรัฐอเมริกา,จัดอันดับศิลปินที่มียอดขายสูงสุด เบิร์ดติดอันดับ 2 ของเอเชียตลอดกาล".
  3. ↑ "ประวัติ ธงไชย แมคอินไตย์ (พี่เบิร์ด)".
  4. ↑ Bang pop!
  5. ↑ Thongchai McIntyre's Family Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ เบอร์รี่ซ์ โคโบ แถลงข่าวเปิดทัวร์คอนเสิร์ตเมืองไทย มี.ค.56 - ข่าวไทยรัฐออนไลน์. Thai Rath (in Thai). 2012-11-17. Retrieved 2012-12-08.


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