A new gig

Mé comes through the controversy

By Suwitcha Chaiyong

One way to stay in the limelight is to regularly transform your image. Singer Jeeranan Kitprasan (Mé) has changed from the Avril Lavigne-inspired rock-princess look of her debut, Me�, to the sweet image of her second album, Black Me�.

For her latest release, Happening Me�, the 23-year-old�s appearance is sexy and sassy. Mé also managed to grab the public�s attention by inadvertently causing controversy with her single �Call Me Baby.�

The song came under fire from the director of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Culture, who claimed that the lyrics �yak sanook mai puukmud kun (wanna have fun without commitment)� were inappropriate. Amid the controversy, RS management decided to withdraw the song for a while.

Mé got back on track when her next single �Mai Yak Pen Kae Gig (Don�t Wanna Be the Second Lover)� became a popular hit.

Student Weekly caught up with Mé to get the low-down on the controversy, her sexy new image and her thoughts about gigs.

>> Student Weekly: Where did you have the most fun on tour?

<< Mé: My last concert in Chiang Mai was great. The weather was perfect and the crowd was huge.

I also met students from my old high school there, and they gave me great support.

>> Student Weekly: Why did you make the switch from rock to the dance style of your single �Call Me Baby�?

<< Mé: I�ve enjoyed dancing since I was young, but when I made my first album, we focused on the pop-rock genre.

I didn�t really think that dance and rock music could go together, but I asked my producer if we could include some dance music on my album, and he said we could.

>> Student Weekly: What do you think about the criticism that �Call Me Baby� received?

<< Mé: I was terrified. I never imagined that the song would get criticised, but I accept constructive criticism. Those lyrics were about relationships, which can mean friends or dating. It doesn�t have to be about sex.

>> Student Weekly: Do you think it�s a good idea to have a bureau to monitor lyrics, or do you think listeners should be allowed to judge for themselves?

<< Mé: I think it�s a good idea. If there�s nobody to criticise us, we may cross the line. Songs are created to entertain, but some contain rude lyrics.

>> Student Weekly: Why did you change your look and sound with Happening Me�?

<< Mé: Listeners might think that I�m a gloomy person because of my slow hit songs. I wanted to release a dance track and get a sassy look so that people could get to know my light-hearted side.

>> Student Weekly: If you�re not a gloomy person, where do you find the emotion to sing your sad songs?

<< Mé: I have many sides to my personality. I can be clam, crazy or sensitive.

When I�m in a sensitive mood, I cry easily. The melodies of my songs �Tian Khai (Candle)� and �Yak Pian Boer Tol (Wanna Change My Phone Number)� can bring tears to my eyes.

>> Student Weekly: Why did you go for the tanned look on the cover of Happening Me�?

<< Mé: My stylist told me to change my look, but I don�t normally like to have a tan.

>> Student Weekly: Did you have to lose weight?

<< Mé: No, not at all. I eat a lot, and I love sweet food, but I�m still skinny.

>> Student Weekly: What does your fan club think of your new image?

<< Mé: They think that it�s a positive change, and it makes them excited.

>> Student Weekly: In the video for �Don�t Wanna Be the Second Lover,� you and a friend pour water over a playboy�s head and slap him. Do you think that it�s too violent?

<< Mé: He treats girls like toys, which is much more violent. I just want to humiliate him because he intends to hurt me.

>> Student Weekly: What would you do if you found out you were a gig in real life?

<< Mé: I�d definitely walk away from the guy. If the guy is dishonest, you should end the relationship.

	limelight (n): the centre of public attention transform (v): to completely change the appearance and character of something inadvertently (adv): by accident; without intending to controversy (n): public discussion about something that many people strongly disagree about the low-down (n): the true facts about somebody or something switch (v): to change from one thing to another genre (n): a particular style or type of music, film etc. criticism (n): the act of expressing disapproval of something constructive (adj): having a useful and helpful effect bureau (n): a government department gloomy (adj): sad and without hope light-hearted (adj): cheerful and without problems sensitive (adj): aware and able to understand other people�s feelings humiliate (v): to make somebody feel stupid and ashamed IDIOM come under fire: to be criticised severely for something you have done cross the line: to go too far in a way that may cause offence