Luk thung

Luk Thung, or Phleng Luk Thung (Thai: ลูกทุ่ง or เพลงลูกทุ่ง [pʰle:ŋ luk tʰuŋ], “Child of the Field song”), often known as Thai country music, is an acculturated song genre that emerged after World War II in the central region of Thailand. The genre was derived from Phleng Thai Sakon, and developed in the early 20th century. Suphan Buri in particular became the center of Luk Thung music, producing many major artists, including Suraphol Sombatcharoen, and Pumpuang Duangjan. Later, the genre was prominently popularized in the northeastern region.

Luk Thung songs consist of poetic form of lyrics that typically reflect the rural lifestyle, cultural traits and social patterns in Thailand, accompanied by singers’ distinctive country accent and common use of vibrato, harmonized with influential western instruments, mostly brass instruments and electronic instruments, along with Thai traditional instruments. Lyrically, records have dealt with a wide range of themes in addition to Thai rural life: including hardships of rural poverty, romantic love story, beauty of rural scenery, religious beliefs, traditional culture and political crisis.