Hundreds of country music fans turned out to celebrate the life and music of luk thung star Sayan Sanya at his funeral on Dec 19, at Wat Pa Lay Lie in Suphan Buri. The singer _ one of Thailand's most respected and popular _ had passed away on Sept 11 aged 60 and had lain at rest in Chonburi at Wat Rai King for a mourning period of 100 days.
A wax effigy of Sayan in front of his funeral pyre.
VIPs and a roster of some of the genre's biggest stars, including national artists Waipod Petsupan, Kwanjit Sriprachan and Lop Burirat, were in attendance along with molam producer Theppabutr Satirochompu, veteran luk thung DJ Den Buriram and movie stars like Mum Jok Mok.
The scene at the temple was part funeral, part temple fair _ there was a beautiful wooden pyre, flanked by a mock ferris wheel, stalls, some selling Sayan's T-shirts, photos, badges and music, and a stage for singers and their bands. There was an air of both reverence _ everyone was dressed in black _ and celebration, which seemed to me particularly fitting for a singer of Sayan's popularity.
Jenpope Jobkrabuanwan.
A funeral service was held on the first floor of the main temple hall, with a eulogy on Sayan's extraordinary life, which saw him rise from washing cars to becoming the biggest star in the luk thung world, by senior monk Phra Prombandit of Wat Prayannawas Temple. Sayan's family _ wife Wannaporn, daughters Saowamanee, Siriprapa and Pattaraganya and his son Weisarat _ then paid their final respects as the body was prepared for the funeral procession to the golden funeral pyre erected in the temple grounds. Sanya's son led the procession down to the pyre and after several circuits many fans joined in, too.
At the side of the pyre, a microphone was set up for speeches, poems and recollections on Sayan's life. His youngest daughter Pattaraganya made a moving tribute to her father, followed by a stirring reading from luk thung historian Jenpope Jobkrabuanwan. Some of his most famous and popular songs were played and light-hearted banter was led by wise-cracking DJ Den Buriram.
After the body had been placed on the pyre and prayers chanted, former prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa led the offerings. Fans came forward and along with their lotus buds and incense, gave their condolences and sometimes money to members of the family in some of the most touching scenes I've seen at the funeral.
Sayan's band emerged, along with members of the original hang kreuang (chorus line) for photo ops, while there was a media scrum to interview the stars. Veteran singer Sodsai Rungphothong gave his explanation of Sayan's music to a TV celebrity and launched into a rendition of one of Sayan's songs. Seemed to work, too.
I went off to talk to some of the fans, many of whom were sporting their favourite Sayan T-shirts. Many women were there and I got an almost unanimous opinion from them as to why he was so loved by his fans: his voice ("sweet as honey", one lady said). Waipod Petsupan told me the same thing: Sayan Sanya had an extraordinary voice, unique in luk thung music. They could have mentioned his success as a movie star or his band during the heyday of the genre in the 1970s, but no, they came to pay respects and to celebrate a great singer. And, as they say where I come from, "they gave him a right good send-off".
National Artist Waipod Petsupan.
A Sayan fan.
Sodsai Rungphothong’s impromptu song gets the thumbs up.
