Crooning

There is a style of pop music in Thailand sung by men that shoots for a kind of aural heartbreak. Whispery verses and weepy drawn-out choruses. And men, all over the place, sing along to it loudly and in public. It surprises me every time. Picture this, Americans. You're at Stop n Shop. A Kenny G song comes over the loudspeaker. And then your bagger, some local tough, is belting out the saxophone solo in perfect time. He's still bagging but with his eyes closed. On the high note he scrunches up his face and when it's over he breathes out slowly. Then it's done. He's back to doing what he does and he's still cool. He probably doesn't even realize what just happened. Sure it sounds out of place in the US but I'm surrounded by these crooners all the time here. It just takes a Rain or a Labaa Nuun song and they're off. At a gas station, at a restaurant, in line for the movies. It's liberating.