Hey, Joe

Published on December 19, 2007

Pause’s remaining members, with Bakery label-mate Thee Chaiyadej, closed out the tribute-to-Joe Pause with the hit ‘Thi Wang’.

Every once in a while, the pop and rock world gives birth to a singer with such a uniquely tuneful voice that it's impossible for any other vocalist to imitate them.

One such individual was Amarin "Joe" Luangboriboon, the singer of the now-defunct Pause, who died in February 2002 and to whom tribute was paid on Saturday in "Miracle of Voice … The Memories of Joe Pause", at Royal Paragon Hall.

"Driving back home from Bakery's concert at Impact Arena, my mother asked me who the singer with the sponge-like hairdo was, adding that he had the best voice that night," recalls Krissada Sukosol Clapp, aka Noi, frontman of the disbanded rock band Pru. For the tribute concert Noi covered "Aik Khrang" and "Chuay Bok Dai Mai" in his own inimitable style and had fans screaming with his agile dance moves.

"Nobody can imitate the very high pitch of Joe's voice, so the songs I'm singing tonight have been arranged for lower keys," said Nop Pornchamni, who brought back the memories with "Khor Khwam" and "Mee Phieng Rao".

"Joe had a voice like glass," defined Tuk Viyada, who sang Pause's "Dao". Pod, lead singer with Moderndog, didn't bother with a description, contenting himself with, "Joe's voice was great!"

Most of singers at the tribute concert admitted that it wasn't easy to imitate his high tone, but nevertheless they tried their best.

At 8.30pm, to a soundtrack of chirping crickets Joe's name was called out through the microphone. Light flickered briefly on the two screens on stage then three monitors used photos to take us through his life story from his childhood to his success as a singer, ending with his death at 29, victim of a gunshot in a lift at his apartment block.

The concert opened with Boy Trai singing in "Khwam Lub" which he wrote for Pause eight years ago. It was followed by "Mai Mee Wan Phae" and the introduction of saxophone.

Po Yokee Playboy was next on stage, covering three songs, with the audience joining in on the reprise of "Kod Morn".

"I'll always remember Joe's melodious singing," he said.

Pong Pathompong, frontman of rock outfit Stone Metal Fire, was a surprise guest, covering Pause's "Yue" then segueing into his own "Ya Yud Yang", which had once been covered by Joe. A great number, it opened with keyboards but sounded different with Olarn Phromjai's ear-grabbing guitar solo.

The other guest was Charas Fueangarom, who performed his own hit "Rak Eng Cham Eng" and covered Pause's "Sam Phan".

"Joe came to meet me at Tawana Ramada Hotel and asked if he could use one of my numbers for his covers album. There were copyright problems with the recording company so he couldn't have the one he wanted and chose this 'Rak Eng Cham Eng' instead. It became his favourite song," he recalls.

Pod covered "Bang Sing" and "Loke Thi Pen Nueng" while Radklao Amaradit took the microphone for the emotional hit "Rak Ther Thang Mod Khong Huajai".

The concert closed with the remaining members of Pause - Nor, Boss and A - gathering around the microphone for the band's biggest hit "Thi Wang", with the audience joining in to remember a fallen hero.

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

 The Nation