Asanee-Wasan
Encyclopedia
Asanee-Wasan is a Thai rock
band fronted by brothers Asanee "Pom" and Wasan "Toe" Chotikul. Among the band's hits is a 1989 song that puts into verse the lengthy ceremonial name for Bangkok
, "Krung Thep Mahanakhon" ("กรุงเทพมหานคร"). The elder brother, Asanee, is known for his guitar solos and his wild, "rock star" persona. His way of singing ballads is often described as broken-heart jiggo (jiggo is a Thai slang for bad boy, parody from Gigolo in English
and Italian
). The bespectacled Wasan is known for his sensitive songs and softer, gentler style. Their songs often include a hook
chorus sung by female backing vocalists.
in Northeast Thailand
(Asanee: April 9, 1955, Wasan: March 25, 1957) and moved to Bangkok
to study. They started out in 1970s as a folk
-rock
combo called Isn't. The band name is derived from Isan
, their home region in Thailand
. The band participated in a folk song competition and won the award in 1974. After that they released several albums, including Sao ngam ta (Beautiful Girl) and Siam Square. Asanee, wanting to go in a more rock direction left the band, while Wasan continued for a time with Isn't. Asanee joined The Oriental Funk band of Rewat Buddhinan
and later Butterfly.
The brothers released their first album as Asanee-Wasan in 1986, Bah horb fang (Carry a lot of Things) with Nite Spot. They were signed to Grammy Entertainment (now GMM Grammy
) and released another album, Puk-chee roy nah (Sufficiency Makeover) , which included the hits "Nung Mit Chid Klai" ("A Close Friend") and "Kor Keui Sanya" ("Used to Promise").
In concerts they frequently throw autographed guitar pick
s into the crowd as souvenirs. They are glued on to their guitar or microphone stand ready to be handed out. When they released their sixth album, Rung gin narm (Rainbow), they decided not to have any concerts to support the album. Therefore, a guitar pick was included in each copy of Rung gin narm (though not in subsequent production runs of the album).
Besides his work with his brother, Asanee Chotikul has been an influential producer for such bands as Micro and Tanate Waragulnukrao. When Thai rocker Sek Loso
wanted to land a record deal, he mailed a demo tape to Asanee, who then released it on his own label, More Music, a subsidiary of GMM Grammy
.
Asanee-Wasan celebrated with a 20th anniversary concert on May 12–14, 2006 at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani. Originally, just one show had been planned, but when tickets quickly sold out, two more were added, which also sold out. The pair also played shows in Nakhon Ratchasima
and in Phuket
. They were backed by Fahrenheit.
Thai rock
Thai rock is a genre of rock music from Thailand. The music genre of rock emerged in the 1980s in Thailand and became widely popular in the 1990s. The sub-genre of string and pop rock began to flourish in the 1980s with bands like Asanee-Wasan and Micro...
band fronted by brothers Asanee "Pom" and Wasan "Toe" Chotikul. Among the band's hits is a 1989 song that puts into verse the lengthy ceremonial name for Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, "Krung Thep Mahanakhon" ("กรุงเทพมหานคร"). The elder brother, Asanee, is known for his guitar solos and his wild, "rock star" persona. His way of singing ballads is often described as broken-heart jiggo (jiggo is a Thai slang for bad boy, parody from Gigolo in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
). The bespectacled Wasan is known for his sensitive songs and softer, gentler style. Their songs often include a hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
chorus sung by female backing vocalists.
History
The Chotikul brothers were born in Loei ProvinceLoei Province
Loei is one of the most sparsely populated provinces of Thailand, located in the North-East. Neighboring provinces are Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Nongbua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok...
in Northeast Thailand
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
(Asanee: April 9, 1955, Wasan: March 25, 1957) and moved to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
to study. They started out in 1970s as a folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
-rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
combo called Isn't. The band name is derived from Isan
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
, their home region in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. The band participated in a folk song competition and won the award in 1974. After that they released several albums, including Sao ngam ta (Beautiful Girl) and Siam Square. Asanee, wanting to go in a more rock direction left the band, while Wasan continued for a time with Isn't. Asanee joined The Oriental Funk band of Rewat Buddhinan
Rewat Buddhinan
Rewat 'Ter' Buddhinan was a pioneer in the Thai pop music industry. An ex-singer with The Impossibles band, he used the Thai language in rock music during the 1970s....
and later Butterfly.
The brothers released their first album as Asanee-Wasan in 1986, Bah horb fang (Carry a lot of Things) with Nite Spot. They were signed to Grammy Entertainment (now GMM Grammy
GMM Grammy
GMM Grammy Public Company Limited is the largest media conglomerate entertainment company in Thailand. It claims a 70% share of the Thai entertainment industry. Artists on Grammy include Bird McIntyre and Loso...
) and released another album, Puk-chee roy nah (Sufficiency Makeover) , which included the hits "Nung Mit Chid Klai" ("A Close Friend") and "Kor Keui Sanya" ("Used to Promise").
In concerts they frequently throw autographed guitar pick
Guitar pick
A guitar pick is a plectrum used for guitars. A pick is generally made of one uniform material; examples include plastic, nylon, rubber, felt, tortoiseshell, wood, metal, glass, and stone...
s into the crowd as souvenirs. They are glued on to their guitar or microphone stand ready to be handed out. When they released their sixth album, Rung gin narm (Rainbow), they decided not to have any concerts to support the album. Therefore, a guitar pick was included in each copy of Rung gin narm (though not in subsequent production runs of the album).
Besides his work with his brother, Asanee Chotikul has been an influential producer for such bands as Micro and Tanate Waragulnukrao. When Thai rocker Sek Loso
Loso
Loso is a Thai rock band fronted by singer–guitarist–composer Seksan Sukpimai . The band was formed in the mid-1990s in Bangkok, Thailand. Its name is derived from a play on hi-so, Thai slang for socialites and the upper class , and is meant to reflect the group's humble origins...
wanted to land a record deal, he mailed a demo tape to Asanee, who then released it on his own label, More Music, a subsidiary of GMM Grammy
GMM Grammy
GMM Grammy Public Company Limited is the largest media conglomerate entertainment company in Thailand. It claims a 70% share of the Thai entertainment industry. Artists on Grammy include Bird McIntyre and Loso...
.
Asanee-Wasan celebrated with a 20th anniversary concert on May 12–14, 2006 at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani. Originally, just one show had been planned, but when tickets quickly sold out, two more were added, which also sold out. The pair also played shows in Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima or is a city in the north-east of Thailand and gateway to Isan. It is the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Nakhon Ratchasima district...
and in Phuket
Phuket Province
Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
. They were backed by Fahrenheit.
Wasan solo works
In an Asanee-Wasan album, Wasan usually sings lead on only one or two songs. In the remaining songs, he would play guitar alongside his brother and sing backing harmonies. Nevertheless, the song Khong Derm (Still the Same), one of the duo's hits is sung by Wasan. Another hit song Nueng Mit Chit Klai was Wasan's work from his Isn't days and was rearranged for Asanee-Wasan. Wasan has some albums of his own with Isn't. Even after becoming Asanee-Wasan, he released two more solo albums, Guitar Toe in 1988 with Isn't, and Khuen Toe in 1992.Discography
- Bah horb fang (Carry a lot of Things), 1986
- Puk-chee roy nah (Sufficiency Makeover), 1987
- Kra-dee dai narm (As Happy As a Lark), 1988
- Fuk tong (The Pumpkin), 1989
- Sup-pa-rod (Pineapple), 1990
- Rung gin narm (Rainbow), 1993
- Bang Or (Ah!), 1997
- Jin ta na karn (Imagination), 2002
- Sen Yai (DVD–VCD of concert "Sen Yai" on 2 February 2003, also on cassette, two versions), 2003
- Asanee & Wasan (boxed set of first eight albums), 2006
- Dek Lieng Gae (The Shepherd Boy), 2006
- Concert 20th Year (DVD–VCD), 2006
- Pug Ron (Vacation), 2007