Feature

Family ties

The artists from �The Family� work hard to stay close with the ones they love

Story by Nuttaya Muneerat, Photographs courtesy of Grammy Grand and Giraffe Records

Did you Know? The TV show Family Ties starred Michael J. Fox and aired from 1982-1989.

Family this. Family that. Anywhere you go around this country its hard not to notice the importance of the family in Thai society.

But what about the family�s role in music? Is there a place for it? That�s what the people at Grammy are banking on with the release of the special album The Family. No, this isn�t some 21st century version of the Partridges, or a Thai version of the Kellys.

What Grammy has done is recruit 13 multi-generational singers, from 8-year-old Theeratcha Riwa to 52-year-old Piboonkiet Khiewkeaw (Pun), to record 10 songs about the current state of Thai families.

The songs range from stories about fathers with no time for their kids to songs celebrating the love between an aunt and her niece.

With National Family Day set for April 14, three of the album�s stars � 16-year-old Natcha Sawasdirakkiet (Ploy), 36-year-old Rahat Rachakham (Kob) and Pun � recently talked about what family means to them and the dangers that Thai families are facing.

Finding time

Being in the entertainment business, each of the singers said that finding time for their real family is hampered by working on projects like The Family.

Between work and studying, Ploy said she really only gets to see her family on weekends. �But whenever we are together, we try to do an activity,� she said.

Pun agreed that people in the entertainment business face an extra tough time finding time to spend with their families.

�We have no weekends or holidays, so we have to find free time to spend with our families,� he said.

Kob, a big star with Taxi, said he is often busy recording or touring around the country. But he said he always tries to find time to keep in contact with those he loves. �I call my parents almost every day,� he explained. �And when I have free time I try to make it back home, or I will have my parents travel with me.�

Ploy said that she has a very good relationship with her parents and she is thankful that they have taken such good care of her over the years. �I like the way the treat us,� she said. �They live with their children as if we are their friends.�

Even though he is older now and doesn�t live with his parents, Kob said he still counts on them for their support. �My mother always calls me to wish me good luck, and my father gives me blessings to be strong,� Kob explained. �Their wishes give me the energy to keep on working.�

Pun has a family of his own, so he is in the role of parent. He said he always tries to do what�s best for his family. The biggest reward he gets is seeing his daughter grow up and become a good person. �When my child listens to me and obeys me, that is the greatest thing I can ask for,� Pun said.

All three singers agree that Thailand�s families are currently facing growing changes and crises. �Times are changing and both mothers and fathers are working outside the home, so families have less time to see each other, � Kob said. �I am one of those people, too. We all must not forget to care for the people we love. We have to do whatever we can to show each other we are still close.�

Maybe everyone can gather around and listen to the album together.

Vocabulary

bank on (phrasal v): to rely on somebody/something
multi-generational (adj): from more than one generation
hamper (v): to prevent somebody from easily doing or achieving something
blessing (n) a prayer or wish asking for help or protection
crises (n): plural of crisis: a time of great danger, difficulty or uncertainty when problems must be solved or important decisions must be made