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LIFE! 1 - Jul 03 - THAILAND - BEATLES:
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LIFE! 1 -   JUL 03 - THAILAND - BEATLES
LIFE! 1 STORY: 725
BEATLES
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
RECENT
MUSIC WITH ENGLISH AND THAI SPEECH
DURATlON:3.19
SOURCE; REUTERS
TV PND WEB RESTRICTIONS:   NONE
FIRST RUN:   LI
INTRO:    In Thailand, the Beatles represented a major British
cultural influence and made its impact on modern Thai history
back in the 60s.
Today, a qroup of local veteran musicians who call
themselves   "THE BETTER",   are making sure that the Fah Four’s
music is kept alive and well in Thailand.
SHOWS: CHIANG MAI, THAILAND (RECENT - JUNE 20, 2000) (REUTERS
ACCESS ALL)
1.   VARIOUS OF “THE BETTER” SINGING ON STAGE / AUDIENCE
2. (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BEATLE FAN SAYING: "The difference of
“THE BETTER” ( from The Beatles ) is their height, and they sing
very   well   as   a Thai band. Their music skill is very
professional."
3.   VARIOUS OF “THE BETTER” GOING BACK ON STAGE/ AUDIENCE/ BAND
SINGING
4. (SOUNDBTE) ( English )   LEAD GUITAR AND VOCALIST, AISOON
THIVAVARVONG    SAYING:   “I think ‘THE BETTER’   - its meaning is
good and rather close to the word   Beatles.   I don’t think
( we’re better than the original Beatles ) we just imitate
them. Our idea is to make it in conservative way, because we
think that the Beatles’ songs is a kind of history.
5. POSTER Of "THE BETTER" MEMBERS
6. (SOUNDBITE) ( English ) AISOON THIVAVARVONG SAYING:   "I think
the   Beatles is a history,   the transition betweer the old and
the new style of the present pop songs.   Before The Beatles,   I
don’t think that you could hear pop music like we hear
nowadays".
7.   VARIOUS OF “THE BETTER” SINGING ON STAGE
    STORY:   They don’t quite look like John, Paul, Ringo and
George but they do sound like the Beatles .
They only started playing late last year, but "THE BETTER"
-   Thailand’s version of the Beatles - is packing out this club
in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Made up of four veteran musicians, whose age ranges from
44 to 52, 'THE BETTER'   is fast becoming a favourite among the
nightspots in Chiang Mai.
The band members include an engineer, two professional
musicians, and a shipping company owner.
And the thing that’s brought them together is their love
for the British band.
Fans who watch their shows don’t seem to mind that the
band playing is not exactly the original.
As one fan said ,   "The difference of 'THE BETTER’ (from
The Beatles) is their height and they sing very well as a
Thai band. Their music skill is very professional."
Forty - four-year-oId AISOON THIVAVARVONG, who formed the
band last November, explained why they imitate the Beatles.
I think ‘THE BETTER’ - its meaning is good and rather
close to the word Beatles. I don’t think ( we’re better than
the original Beatles ), we just imitate them. Our idea is to
make it in conservative way, because we think that the
Beatles’ songs is a kind of history."
Although the band does not perform regularly at any
particular club, they organise a few shows a year along with
exhibitions of The Beatles around Thailand.
“I think the Beatles is a history of transition from the
old to the new style of current pop songs. Before The Beatles,
I don’t think you could hear pop music like we are hearing
nowadays," said Aisoon Thivavarnvong.
High tip on the agenda for the band is to copy all Beatles
characters, costumes and series of music developments during
the Beatles years.
(lh/db)