Sinn Sisamouth: History Continues
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| Until 1972, however, he had sold songs to many production companies, and sources indicate that he sold thousands of songs. Before the fall of Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge in 1975, Samouth just finished recording about a thousand more songs. Only recently have those songs been released. | |
No one has collected enough data to ascertain the number
of songs Samouth sang. He recorded a huge number of songs - according to his
son Chaya, the number roughly corresponds to the number of days that he was
famous.
Kruorch Bunly, a publisher of song and music books, stated that from 1972 to
1973, he published a song book called "A Collection of Sentimental Songs" which
contained 500 songs exclusively sung by Sinn Sisamouth. This book contained only
songs Samouth sold to one particular production company.
While the volume of music that Sisamouth created is astounding, he would not
perform just any song with any musicians. He would only sing songs by select
writers and perform with certain bands and he absolutely refused to sing with
bands in which he did not have confidence.
It is not that he didn't have an interest in
in younger musicians - according to Seang Vanthy, Samouth delighted in those who
were considered the new generation of singers in his time. He always freely
gave them advice and reminded them to take care of their voices. For this
reason, Sisamouth was always loved and appreciated by his fellow musicians.
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| According to a close friend of Samouth’s, quite a few of his songs express the singer's own emotional reactions to events that occurred in his own life. The song "Oudom Dueng Chet", for instance, was an expression of the singer's deep feelings of regret during a period of time when his wife had temporarily left him. Other songs were written at friends’ requests, to commemorate occurrences in their lives. | ||
"Ohn Chea Tevy Duorng
Chet" is a song that tells of Samouth’s secret love for a woman who possessed a
higher social status than he. "Min
Baj Ray Rab Brab Teat Te" was an international song which Samouth modified to
express his feelings for a woman with whom he had once had a romantic
relationship. In the song, Samouth chastises the woman for her insincerity and
dishonesty. "Pael Reathrey" is a song written by the King of Cambodia,
recounting his visits to France and Hong Kong. Samouth sings this song with Keo
Setha.
"Cham Churb Reul Tgnai Lich" was written by
Voy Ho when he was in love with Dara Chourm Chann. Samouth personally plays the
mandolin in this song, which can be clearly heard before he begins singing the
first stanza. "Chamreang Et Preang Tuk" is a song written by Pov Sipho, a
friend of Samouth’s, to describe an incident where he serendipitously met a
woman at a restaurant. This song was performed in a movie of the same title
starring Chea Yutthorn, Vicharadany and Ros Sereysothea. The movie was produced
by Sinn Sisamouth himself and played at the Haem Chaet Theater.
Samouth himself brought back about twenty five songs from his travels abroad,
such as "Sdab Snour Teak Pleang", "Lea Hei Paris", "Antoniata", and "Reatrey Nov
Hong Kong." Regardless of whether he was in Cambodia or elsewhere, Samouth
always possessed the ability to immortalize his experiences in song.
| Sinn Sisamouth History Main | |||||
| Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | |