THE HIT MAKER : Nitipong Honark
Songwriter Nitipong Honark reveals the secrets
behind his Midas lyrical touch
By: YANAPON MUSIKET
Published: 28/01/2009 at 12:00 AM
Bangkok Post : Outlook
For most songwriters, their careers begin when
pop stars choose to sing those songs they have written and make them a hit.
Yes, that is the case for the less fortunate ones,
but for true professionals like Nitipong Honark,
singers are queuing up for his hit-making lyrics.
Known among friends and fans as Phi Dee,
Nitipong has earned his fame mostly from writing
heart-scratching lyrics and brilliant songs filled with catchy hooks.
Name any hit song off the top of your head
and chances are good it belongs to Nitipong.
Presently he has penned almost 350 songs
in his 25 years in the music industry.
His songs are behind the success of Thailand's top singers, from pop star
Thongchai "Byrd" McIntyre and dancing queen Christana Aguilar
to rock brothers Asanee and Wasant Chotikul.
To many, Nitipong and GMM Grammy seem to be inseparable.
However, there have been rumours that the man with the golden pen
has decided to walk away from
the company he has been working with for half his lifetime.
"It was only a rumour, really.
I am still a member of this company,
keeping the same title, but there has been
a slight change of my role recently,"
said Nitipong, the executive vice-president of GMM Grammy.
But what exactly has changed?
Nitipong explained that as a senior member of the board,
he is supposed to be in charge of the company,
both musically and commercially.
However, in the end, he realised that he had to choose between
using the left or right side of his brain.
"[The] Music business has encountered a crisis during
the last 10 years since the digital era emerged.
People hardly pay for music or, to be precise,
support the legal products.
To win this war, the company must come up with a tough strategy
and I don't see myself as a front-row warrior.
It is absolutely out of my control.
Finally, I decided to back off and let the professionals run the battle.
Now, I lessen my role in the business part and keep doing what I do best
... writing songs,"
said the 48-year-old songwriter with a trace of relief. In 1981,
while still completing
his degree in architecture at Chulalongkorn University,
Nitipong recalls that during his last years in college
he spent most of the time working
in the entertainment business,
from television programme producer to radio deejay.
The following year, Nitipong became a member of the famous
early-'80s pop band Chaliang, which was comprised
of his fellow architect students.
I think people recognise me from my days
in Chaliang," he said.
Nitipong began writing songs for his band
and the song Kao Chai (to understand)
was the first song he penned.
However, his first hit was actually a piece called
Dontri Nai Duang Chai (music in my heart),
on the soundtrack for the movie Wai Ra Reung.
A few years later, his life turned when his songwriting skills were
discovered by one of GMM Grammy's founders,
the legendary singer Rewat "Ter" Buddhinan.
"I believe I was the first songwriter in the country
who earned a monthly salary.
Back then, most songwriters got paid by piece.
Thanks to Phi Ter for trusting me enough
to add a 'songwriter'
position to the company,"
said Nitipong with a smile on his face.
While other names in the same career stay inside
the CD covers, unknown, Nitipong is one of the
very few songwriters to be remembered by listeners.
Over 20 years is indeed a long time. Some might say
that it's no surprise that he wrote some
hits while working for such
a long time. But how can he keep his lyrics fresh
and touching to listeners of all ages,
and at the same time smash the music charts?
"You must listen to all kinds of music.
That is the basic rule," he revealed.
"And also reading books of any kind is
definitely a must.
My favourite is dharma books, and don't get
me wrong, I am not trying to say
that I'm a very religious person,"
Nitipong urged spontaneously.
"I have my good and bad side just like others.
But those words in dharma books help me focus
after reading such practical ideas in life."
"It was the beautiful and simple language
I found impressive.
Some quotes, examples or metaphors
are perfect material for writing a good song,"
he remarked. And this is exactly what
his songs are most famous for - lyrics filled
with words of wisdom that are inspired by
very simple things in our daily life.
For the last two years his face has been a regular one in the media.
In 2007, GMM Grammy decided to throw a concert
for Nitipong's 25th anniversary,
a tribute to his legendary status as songwriter.
His concert was the talk-of-the-town event of the year.
The concert was even divided into two shows as
the selected 60 hit tracks couldn't fit into a one-day showcase.
It was quite awkward for me to be at that concert.
I don't like the 'me, myself and I' kind of feeling.
At first, I wasn't going to go but everyone insisted that they wanted me to,"
Nitipong said. And if you have seen the show, it is obvious he was nervous on stage.
The year 2008 was Nitipong's most exciting year ever.
Last March, Nitipong surprised Bangkok citizens when
he was announced publicly as Bangkok senate candidate number 29.
Nitipong wasn't elected to be a senator; however,
he gained over 200,000 votes as the first runner-up of the election.
The result marked a phenomenon in which a songwriter could
receive such great trust in the field of politics.
"I was just fed up to witness all the dirty business that keeps
going non-stop in our society.
So, one day I was reading a newspaper and I checked that
my background met the criteria to register as a candidate.
At that moment, I thought why sit at home
when I can go out and do something.
Finally, I decided to give it a go," Nitipong said of his experience.
"I walked around Bangkok meeting interesting
people, from street vendors to preppy businessmen.
It was tough running an election campaign
since it was a whole new chapter in my life.
But it was worth it. I am still so thankful
for every vote that I received. It was meaningful."
In this Year of the Ox, it may be out of superstition
or for no reson at all,
but Nitipong was invited by YoungDee,
a sub-section of Index Event Agency Co, Ltd,
to stage a concert entitled "Arom Dee" (Good Mood)
at Farm Chokechai, Nakhon Ratchasima,
where oxen and cows ran freely on the green grass.
"I told YoungDee's team to consider
this place, because it is really a beautiful location.
More importantly, unlike other concerts that
are sometimes held near a forest or national park,
this venue is a little less harmful to nature -
yet its uniqueness,
I believe, could offer a different kind of impression
to concert-goers,"
said Nitipong of his creative idea.
In a career that is often overshadowed by others
like a songwriter's, Nitipong's life has become
a role model for the new generation of songwriters
in the Thai music scene. Hearing him recount
his career, it seems that everything comes
easily for him. But is there anything more
in life that he would like to achieve?
"My life is pretty much settled now.
So all my dreams and hopes are
with my dear daughter.
I wish she will grow up as a good person.
And by 'good' I mean never taking advantage
of others.
As for me, I will try to make every day my very best."
‘Arom Dee’ will show on February 7,
with over 20 well-known guest singers
at Farm Chokechai,
Nakhon Ratchasima.
Tickets are 2,200 baht, available at
Thai Ticket Major counters. Call 02-262-3456
or visit www.thaiticketmajor.com/ or
www.iamyoungdee.com/."
