Lao people have taken to Facebook to voice their displeasure after the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism banned two popular country, songs “Khee Mo” (boastful song) and “Pa khor yai” (Big snakhead fish). “Khee mo” is the debut single from a new album by two popular Lao country singers, Pink Ladsamy and Ki Daophet, while “Pa khor yai” is sung by Xiengsavanh. When the songs were released a year ago, they were popular among Lao people and were played on high-rotation at parties and social events. Fans are now confused why the authorities didn’t ban the songs before they were released and became famous.
According to a statement issued by the concerned department of the ministry, the two songs were recorded without ministry approval. “Khee mo” includes content that could affect relations between Laos and Korea. For example, the woman singer says she will go to Korea to ask for a debt to build a hydropower on Leephee water fall. In “Pakhor Yai”, Xiengsavanh edited another composer’s song without asking for his permission. In the original song, the lyrics are “please/ endure to eat taro/ before the new rice season comes/ if rice come/ then you throw baskets of taro away.” This was changed to “please/ endure to feed this sick buffalo/ if the disease comes then feed the buffalo to it.” The authorities said this edition showed disrespect to the original composer as well as damaged one of the country’s poems. The two songs will be temporarily banned from playing at pubs and entertainment venues, and screened on electronic media until the singers improve the content of the songs, before sending them to the concerned department for oversight.
One listener who has a CD of “Khee mo” said the content was not a real story, but was composed for entertainment and not politically motivated. He said authorities should explain their reasoning, rather than just ordering a ban. However, he will continue listening to it at home anyway. According to CD producers, unofficial statistics shows “Khee mo” was a best seller in Laos, with more than 200,000 copies sold. Many comments on Facebook said it was too late for the authorities to ban the two songs, as they’re so well known that most people in the cities have memorised them. A few commentators agreed with the measure, saying that the ban will help composers or singers realise they need approval before they release songs. Other comments said the two songs encourage party-goers to have fun and dance-and audience members commonly request bands to play the songs live.
The song can still be found online through YouTube searches.
Vientiane Times,
27 July