Carabao : Sawasdee Prathed Thai  

Track List

Last updated: April 3, 2023

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Customer Reviews

Carabao, The Santana of Thailand
Reviewer : Ann Norman
From : Pittsburgh, PA USA

The 28th Carabao album �Sawatdee Prathet Thai� works the same old formula for success: originality

and relentless positivity. The title track is infectious pop. If I�ve done this right, the refrain translates:

Hello Thailand. Are you well?
We are luckier than other to have been born Thai.
[We] have a land that is abundant
[We] have people rich in kindness
Work hard and we can live happy, living the Thai way
[I�m] doing well, Thailand.

The next verse looks forward to greater democracy and asks the citizens to hold fast to peacefulness

while they wait for the picture to change.

As usual, the album encompasses a range of musical styles, including rock, country, reggae, Pacific

Island, and sam cha.

But seems most energized by that jam session about a year ago with Santana, the band�s biggest

influence. For myself, I will never forgive Carlos Santana for mispronouncing �Carabao� at the end of

that concert. ("CariBOO!" ARGGHH!!) Aed Carabao, usually so talkative and in charge was, by his

own admission, completely starstruck that night and �could only say two words.� He later noted that it

would have been nice if the two bands could have discussed beforehand what they might play together.

(UH, Yeah!) But it seems that P�Aed not only survived, but is grateful for this strange experience. This

album is infused with the sound of Santana, including the trumpets.

In opening bars of the 10th song, what sounds like a Santana riff is joined by a sam cha beat. The

signature sounds of Santana and Carabao meld PERFECTLY for the rest of the song, which is actually

titled �Santana Carabao�! The lyrics tell the story of how Santana led to Carawan and Carabao!

Another remarkable song is the one sung by Thierry Mekwattana. It is sweetly beautiful, of course, but

you will also have fun trying to guess what sort of stringed instruments they might be playing. A

mandolin? A Thai violin? The mixture is delightfully different.

I am also intriqued by �Sia Muay Pra Gaan Mueang,� a song about Manny Pacquiao and boxers in

China [???]

It�s a wonderful 28th album for the band. And, yes: TWENTY EIGHT!