Super Star Live in Bangkok.

Jakkawal09@gmail.com (Jakkawal) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 02:36:00 +0000

By Manta Klangboonkrong
DAILY XPRESS

Rod Stewart’s rusty vocal chords first tore into the UK music scene in the late’60s and have been busy ever since.
With his superstar lifestyle and rasping sound, he’s racked up almost 30 best-selling studio albums, a bunch of live recordings and some of the most infuriatingly catchy song know to man. Look away now if you don’t want one in your head on all day: “Do you think I’m sexy? “Maggie May” , “Sailing”, “This old Heart of Mine”, “I don’t want to talk About it” “Have I Told You Lately ( That I Love you)”

This Wednesday, the superstar model-loving, soccer-mad crooner is back in Bangkok for another live concert. We called him up in London for a little chat about the show.

When were you last in town?
I think it was the late’80s. I remember it was extremely hot. I had a nice hotel suite but I didn’t get out much because I had food poisoning not from Bangkok though. I’m looking forward to having a good look around this time.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just started on new album. It’s going to be retro, versions of great ‘60s Soul songs. I’m also working on my body, actually. I still play football.

What’s the concert going to be like this time round?
Well, it’s going to be a two hour show of song from the 70s all the way through to today. It’ll be lively, spectacular, glamorous-something for everyone.

Which of your songs is your favourite?
They are all special, you know. They’re like children and they’re very personal to you. They make their way out into the world and you sort of lose them and they belong to everybody else.

Who’s on your mind When you sing “Have I Told You Lately ( That I Love you)”?
I’m actually more concert with the response from the audience than thinking about my wife or my children. It be comes impersonal really.

Do you sing in the shower?
Never.

Veteran Star

Jakkawal09@gmail.com (Jakkawal) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:15:00 +0000

Heroine with a THAI HEART
After featuring in Obama’s campaign,
Ladda Tammy Duckworth has been
Nominated to office.

DAILY XPRESS
Ladda Tammy Duckworth may not be a well known name her but the Thai-American war veteran and politician’s profile is rising in the US. President Barack Obama last week nominated Tammy as assistant secretary of veterans’ affairs in his new administration.

Fear that she’s just another luck khrueng who has lost touch with Thailand in the same way as superstar golfer Tiger Woods can be dismissed straightaway. Born in Bangkok to the Thai mother ,Tammy Duckworth bears the Thai name Ladda and speaks fluent Thai.

Ladda’s lift story reads like a Hollywood drama. In 2006, She was honoured as one of the Women of the year by Glamour magazine. This came two years after this she lost lower part of both legs while serving in Iraq. The injuries wear sustained when the black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rock-propelled grenade.

The following is taken from The Nation’s interview with Ladda Tammy Duckworth during her last trip to Bangkok, In June ,2007.

Do you identify yourself with Thailand?
Well, I definitely identify with Thai culture. I spoke Thai before I spoke English. My dad used to call me a “khao pad America”( laughs). At home by myself, I’ll eat rice rather than hamburgers.

This is your first visit in 22 years. Has Thailand changed much?
I got lost in Bangkok because I don’t know the street anyone-nothing looks the same. This could be the capital of any develop nation and I’m very impressed with that. More people can go to universities, more people speak English, more people are every international.

How did the injury change your life?
I feel like I was given a new life. Life isn’t about buying more thing, getting more stuff. You know,you don’t need tree cars, you don’t need five televisions. My life now is much more about doing thing that rally matter.

Do you have any massage for Thais?
I would encourage This to participate in the country’s democracy. If you don’t like your laws, Then do something about it. You can’t just wait for someone else to do thing for you, you need to speak up and participate.

Above:Duckworth speaks to
disabled students at chiang
Mai'sSri Sanwal School during
her trip to Thailand in 2007.

Top:US President Barack Obama
with Duckworth in Novenber 2008.