Why Tata is performing for free
Singer Tata Young's memories of the 2004 tsunami are behind her decision to sing free in the upcoming Love Aid Phuket fundraiser for Japan.
Friday 25 March 2011, 05:16AM
Thailand’s top pop singer, Tata Young, who will perform free on April 2 at the Love Aid Phuket concert, spoke yesterday to The Phuket News about her reasons for supporting the event. Love Aid Phuket is aimed at raising funds to support quake and tsunami victims in Japan.
A big part of Ms Young’s motivation for performing free is her own recollection of the 2004 Asian Tsunami, in which a close friend’s father died.
She is a frequent visitor to Phuket. “I was there a few months ago and I always love coming to Phuket and visiting my friends.” But at the time of the Asian Tsunami she was in Bangkok, she said.
“I travelled down to Phuket right after things hit. The main reason was that my best friend’s father was killed by the tsunami so I went down to help with funeral arrangements with the family.
“I found myself in disbelief at the human loss. After making the funeral arrangements, my friends and I went down to the local hospital and volunteered like everyone else to see what we could do to help. It was something I will never forget … at that moment, I was glad to be there.”
When she first saw footage of the Japanese disaster, she said, “I felt the same as anyone, shocked, scared, disbelieving and then sad for the people. It really took me back to my feelings in 2004. Compared with Japan, we had it much easier. I never thought it would be possible to say that…”
The decision to join the Love Aid Phuket event was easy to make, Ms Young said. “I guess the question I asked myself was, ‘Why would I not want to support it?’ It is the right thing to do – and think about the terrible pain in Japan.”
She sent a message to her many fans in Japan: “I think about you and pray [for you]. I will be there for you. Love you, Tata.”
Love Aid Phuket takes place on April 2 at the Kata Beach Resort. Tickets are B1,500, which includes drinks and gourmet food.
