Music and Thailand Political Movement in 2004-2014

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study particularity of musical formation used in Thailand political movement during 2004-2014, which can be divided into 3 main groups in the mentioned period include: 1) People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) 2) National United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and 3) People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). Researcher has chosen two symbolic songs from each group, analyzed musical composition and the relationship of music as thought media approaches. From these approaches, the researcher studied lyrics, melody, composition style, and concept and ideal of each political group from document, researches and other evidences found relating to the groups and the songs in the political activities. The song compositions are analyzed to observe particularities of the songs. The analysis is presented in descriptive analysis approach.
Research results revealed that characteristic of songs composed for each political movement are mostly identical. Lyrics are concise and precise, related to political ideal and struggling. Melodies are harmonized with the lyrics. Rhythms are Cha cha cha, March and contemporary. The only differentiation is the meaning of the lyrics that changes accordingly to each political group’s ideal and struggling.