Ayai singer Prum ManhBy Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French
Several government officials urged the population, as well as professionals in the song industry to stop distributing songs with pornographic innuendo lyrics.
Through an announcement distributed on 13 March, Him Chhem, the minister of Culture, tried to put to an end the broadcasting of all songs containing pornographic innuendos or vulgar language. To the minister, these lyrics seriously attack the costume, tradition, and social values in the country. He asked “sellers, actors, singers, comedians, musicians, as well as those who rent out musical instruments for private parties, not to sell, sing, produce or reproduce unacceptable songs. Legal measures will be taken against those who do not respect this decision.”
Sim Sarak, the general director of the Administration and Finance, called on the public “not to buy, sing, broadcast these songs during weddings or other occasions.”
Some of the songs that did not please the officials from the ministry of Culture are: “Krapeu min toan thom” (the crocodile that has not grown yet) which, when inverted in Khmer also means “coming of age but no sexual relations yet;” or the song titled “Khloy Ta Chean” (Grandpa Chean’s flute) which is inverted to mean “thirst for sexual relation”. Another song that has already been banned by the ministry is titled “Som chhbab mé khum to bok srov” (asking permission from the commune chief to unhusk rice.” This song talks about the dialog between a man and a woman regarding sexual subjects. In fact, this song was interpreted by Prum Manh, a well known Ayai singer.
Seu Sophal, a 67-year old retired man, approves these measures: “It is kind of late to do it, but it is still a good thing,” he claimed while proposing that the government fights them before things get worse.
A seller at Tuol Tum Poung market noted that CDs and DVDs with vulgar songs sell well, in particular among the young audience from rural areas. The majority of the banned lyrics were written by Khmer people living in Thailand, or Khmer Surin.
Through an announcement distributed on 13 March, Him Chhem, the minister of Culture, tried to put to an end the broadcasting of all songs containing pornographic innuendos or vulgar language. To the minister, these lyrics seriously attack the costume, tradition, and social values in the country. He asked “sellers, actors, singers, comedians, musicians, as well as those who rent out musical instruments for private parties, not to sell, sing, produce or reproduce unacceptable songs. Legal measures will be taken against those who do not respect this decision.”
Sim Sarak, the general director of the Administration and Finance, called on the public “not to buy, sing, broadcast these songs during weddings or other occasions.”
Some of the songs that did not please the officials from the ministry of Culture are: “Krapeu min toan thom” (the crocodile that has not grown yet) which, when inverted in Khmer also means “coming of age but no sexual relations yet;” or the song titled “Khloy Ta Chean” (Grandpa Chean’s flute) which is inverted to mean “thirst for sexual relation”. Another song that has already been banned by the ministry is titled “Som chhbab mé khum to bok srov” (asking permission from the commune chief to unhusk rice.” This song talks about the dialog between a man and a woman regarding sexual subjects. In fact, this song was interpreted by Prum Manh, a well known Ayai singer.
Seu Sophal, a 67-year old retired man, approves these measures: “It is kind of late to do it, but it is still a good thing,” he claimed while proposing that the government fights them before things get worse.
A seller at Tuol Tum Poung market noted that CDs and DVDs with vulgar songs sell well, in particular among the young audience from rural areas. The majority of the banned lyrics were written by Khmer people living in Thailand, or Khmer Surin.
