250 Heel Lickers
Government House Bangkok (Photo: Supannee_Hickman / Shutterstock.com)
Just before the elections, Rap Against Dictatorship released a new song. The rappers became famous overnight with their previous song “Pràthêet koe: mie” ('This is my country'). This time too they kick the military junta with the song '1 Sǒh-phloh' (250 สอพลอ): 250 sycophants.
Those who follow the political news a bit know that General Prayut's NCPO has had the senate composed itself. Who is in the senate is still largely secret, we only know that the heads of the various armed forces (army, air force, navy, police, military high command) are in it. The rest of the senate are his other professionals and sane people. That the NCPO has chosen friends who can manage the country in the coming years in the way the militaries like to see may be clear. The rappers express their frustration with this not exactly democratic state of affairs in this latest issue.
Again, the boys use a lot of flat language with words such as กู (cow:) and มึง (mung). กู is a flat, intimate word for "I, me, mine," a word that is best used only with your partner or closest friends. มึง is just as flat word for 'you, your'. That is not easy to translate into Dutch, so I usually just have it as ik en you translated, and occasionally added some coarser words if that was necessary in order not to lose the emotion too much.
Below my Dutch translation:
(250 สอพลอ / 250 heel licker)
Rights we should have, but don't have thanks to those sycophants (4x)
Lickers… lickers… That goddamn constitution, lickers!
Slickers… Slickers… They only appoint and choose people who will lick (their) heels.
Lickers… lickers… The Electoral Council are also lickers!
Slickers… Slickers… You bloody bunch of Slickers!
Slickers… Slickers… Moods in the goddamn NCPO full of Slickers.
Slickers… Slickers… I don't want to say too much or I'll get a sore throat*… Slickers (*they make a joke here that if they say too much they will be hanged).
Slickers… Slickers… [soh-ploh] starts with "S" and ends with "Oh" (the sound when you are kicked or hit).
Slickers… Slickers… 250 Slickers!
(Rapper Dif Kids):
They wave the tricolor, and raise their hands three times in a [wai].
We are the very best people on this earth.
Even after four years it is not as they say.
There is a limit to the number of sincere people we can seat.
Some people happily swallow the indoctrination.
Some people are against cannabis, say it makes you hallucinate.
Just be honest, we don't ask for gifts.
What's the point of campaigning if we still have the 'night of the howling dogs'? (refers to the night before the election and vote buying)
The elections are a joke if there are (certain) people who help appoint the prime minister.
The ballot box is disrespected when they play tricks like Usopp. (a cartoon character)
Their divinely magical words speak to people's mouths, day in and day out.
With pen in hand, do we freely choose a person or do we have to choose from a family tree?
Be (just) evil every day, (we) do not wish for a good person [khon die] every now and then.
You don't just watch from the stands. If this country goes to hell, who will step into the breach?
(Rapper K. Aglet):
The heel licking is no surprise.
You're just looking for friends.
What you bastards eat is not good.
You measure your authority and worth by your uniform.
What you bastards say is "not fair."
I don't heed it, provoke, I really don't care.
You know who I am.
Stop protesting and whining. I'll show you a trick now.
You folks have a plan, but it's useless.
Have ideals and power but no voice.
My power overflows. I don't tolerate any noise.
Do you understand me? Then you have to choose me boy!
Fake tears that almost form a stream of water.
When the orders have been issued, the serf may no longer criticize.
50 million people now no longer have a voice.
Because they're worth less than 250.
Rights we should have, but don't have thanks to those sycophants (4x)
(Rapper G-Bear):
Don't fool yourself any longer. Don't beat around the bush.
Give a finger and they'll take your hand. Don't be so selfish!
You defend your position like a dog defends his bone. You do not love the land!
I'm fucking dissatisfied, I want you to know.
You are unfit. You should realize that.
I want to shut your mouth, but I'm afraid
I have to keep my feelings in check. I don't want to go crazy.
When you show respect to the wrong person, such as when you stand at attention while singing the national anthem.
(Rapper HOCK HACKER):
As for those heel lickers.
Among them is a secret clan commanders.
The rest of the people are chosen
Out of a group. (have been)
Allow favoritism and vote for each other.
And everything comes to a conclusion with the selection.
You allow the election of representatives but still control their goddamn fate.
You wish the people not to take sides.
Fuck you, people who love to lick heels!!
And I don't use the letter woh-waen*. (*The W of [waen] (ring), a reference to Vice Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and his scandal involving an expensive ring and watches, although there are other names that start with the letter W…)
Because I don't want to end up in a police station.
With your dictatorial plans.
This time, the people choose their representatives.
Wishes for power, sycophants, come together
with orders to meet in the spa* to guard the power
(*Spa sounds almost the same as Parliament in Thai)
Then 250 sycophants guard the land!
Rights we should have, but don't have thanks to those sycophants (4x)
—
Resources and more:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GSdVFOD5U8
- https://www.thailandblog.nl/achtergrond/dit-is-mijn-land/
- https://www.thailandblog.nl/politiek/verkiezingen-thailand-24-maart-hoe-werkt-het-systeem/
- https://www.facebook.com/notes/ann-norman/unofficial-translation-of-rap-against-dicatorships-250-%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%AD-which-is-250-bootli/10157265424378586/
Rob, thank you for the translation. I think those guys are very brave!
The group did well with their previous song “Pràthêet koe: mie” ('This is my country').
How will you react now?
Prior to the "election circus", Prayuth clearly issued a statement.
Also in 1932, the Siames revolution, the heads of 4 army units were used: army, air force, navy and police to form a government.
Hopefully China and Japan can exert political pressure behind the scenes so as not to jeopardize investments.
Another fun pun: they sing about 'soh-ploh' , which rhymes with 'soh-woh' (ส.ว.). That's the abbreviation for 'senator'. That sentence about not daring to use or refer to ว (W) can also be interpreted as 'we don't dare to use the word senator, that's why we sing about sycophants'. Yes, unfortunately a lot is lost in translation.
At a time in Thai history where the hope for more say from the masses of ordinary people, through the direct election of “a house of commons” (in the English language it is clear that these are the political representatives of the ordinary people) ), is being fueled, by the Junta itself, that hope is dashed immediately after the polls.
That is certainly inconsistent with regard to the subjects. It generates frustration and arouses resistance, not coincidentally strongly among the young people who are even more dynamic, less settled in their “lot in life”.
Songs like this give expression to that frustration in a contemporary way, both in content and form.
This beautiful country does not need "good people" (could he) it needs "wise leaders" more than ever.