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| ស៊ីន ស៊ីសាមុត |
SIN Sisamuth
SIN Sisamuth was the most famous singer and
talent lyricist in Cambodia before Pol Pot Regime, titled “Akthireach Samleng
Meas”. His voice is soft and very sweet to listen. He sang different kind of
songs like traditional (Romvong, Lam Leav, Saravan…), Rock & Roll, Twist,
Jerk, Jazz, Cha Cha Cha, Ago Go, Madison, Hala Hala, Mambo, Ayai, Yikae,
Chapey, Bassac, emotional, etc. He was born on August 23, 1932 in Steung Treng
Province. On the day of his birth, there was the strange phenomenon that all
the chicken in the village shouted as the welcome for his birth in the year of
rooster. SIN Sisamuth had four siblings; two brothers and two sisters. He was
the youngest child in the family. His father, SIN Leang, was the prison guard
in Battambang Province and the former revolutionized soldier against the French
Colonial; later he died because of serious illness. SIN Sisamuth used to live
with his father some time in Battambang Province. His mother, SEB Bunlei, was a
Laotian-Chinese; after the death of his father, she remarried and gave birth to
another two children.
SIN Sisamuth was considered as serious and helpful. He was a quiet man and some days talked only a few words per
day; he usually locked the door of his room and concentrated on song writing.
In writing songs, he usually consulted with three different dictionaries (Khmer,
Pali, and Sanskrit) to choose the right words carefully. His house in 1970s was
near Tuol Tumpong Market (Russian Market) along the road 454 in Phnom Penh
today. His
favorite food is Laotian and Khmer food including Prohok and Pha Ork Trey; he
did not have alcoholic drinks, chili, pepper and cigarette since it affected
his voice. Additionally, one of his friend said that
while he and SIN Sisamuth was drinking coffee in the morning; SIN Sisamuth talked
and felt unconscious about the amount of sugar he had put into his coffee.
Therefore, it means that SIN Sisamuth did not take much sweet things that might
cause problems to his voice. It should be noticed that after finishing
performing, he usually ate porridge with his co-workers and SIV Sun was an
administrative person as secretary of SIN Sisamuth to arrange the documents
tidily and assist SIN Sisamuth in other administrative tasks. In his free
time, he likes playing soccer and flying kites. Besides, he likes watching
film, Khmer and French. He could speak Khmer, Lao,
Thai, French and English very well.
He attended the primary school in Steung Treng Town
when he was five years old. He was a smart and kind
boy reading books during his free time; everyone in the school liked him. He also
showed his interest in music when he was 6 years old, his school usually called
him to play guitar during the special ceremony. Furthermore, he usually visited
the nearby pagoda studying more from monks about Khmer Literature, Pali, Sanskrit,
and the articles on Buddhism. His hard working brought a success for higher
education. In 1951, he moved to Phnom Penh to pursue his higher degree in
Health Science staying with his uncle; he rarely went out and just stayed at
home after school. Being interested in singing and musical writing, he strived
very hard to learn by himself for both skills. His talent showed up in the
college being popular among students and professors. He was usually nominated
to sing and play musical instruments during the college ceremony. Simultaneously,
he created a band, Preah Chan Reaksmey, consisting of 9 members. In
early 1953, his band became so famous in Phnom Penh and was invited to join the
national radio band, Reach Sey. Then he sang in many occasions such as
wedding ceremony, radio program, etc. His parents were not happy about him
taking singing career, but he had to pursue what he likes from birth.
In 1953, he became a famous radio singer
singing and writing music using mandolin. Simultaneously, he graduated from
college in the major of Health Science and also worked for Preah Keto Mealea
Hospital besides singing career. After that, he married his cousin, KHAO Thorng
Gnut, as the arrangement of older people in the family and got four children
for the following years. He used to challenge in a singing contest in Phnom
Penh and got the second rank since he lacked of gesture while he was singing.
In fact, everyone believed that he had the greatest voice and would get the first
rank if he used gesture well. His fame had been quickly well-known and the
information was brought to Queen SISOWATH Kosomak Nearyrath Sereyvathana, the
mother of King NORODOM Shihanouk. She invited SIN Sisamuth to join the royal
band singing for the formal occasions of the Royal Palace.
One of royal songs sung by SIN Sisamuth was “Romvong Ekareach” to alert all Cambodian residents to show their happiness
and solidarity for Khmer Independent. Also, he and his friend, SOS Mat was
appointed by Queen SISOWATH Kosomak as the permanent nurse in the Royal Palace,
too. Since then SIN Sisamuth gained more
respect and honor from the public and royal group; he was filmed in King Shihanouk’s
movies singing with SIENG Dy still remained until now. In the 1950s, he pursued
his singing career in public with other singers and lyricists like SIENG Dy,
MAO Sareth, KEO Setha, POV Sipho, SVAY Som Oeur, HASS Salorn, MA Laopi, SOS
Mat, MAE Bun, etc. In Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime, SIN Sisamut usually followed
King NORODOM Shihanouk to overseas singing. The King’s songs he sang were “Phnom
Penh”, “Reatrey Chuob Pheak” (with KEO Setha), Tassana Krong Phnom Penh (with
MAO Sareth), and so on. Other famous songs are Somros Chhnae Kep, Chong Srol,
Violin Snaeha, Anusavry Phnom Kravanh, Srey Sros Khmeng, Prek Eng Os Sangkheum,
Steung Pursat, etc. Unfortunately, his fame caused the family conflicts and his
wife went back to Steung Treng Province being a nun.
His voice became sweeter and sweeter. In
1963, he sang the song “Champa Battambang” quickly catching the attentions of
all Cambodian people; this song was broadcasted as the first song on Khmer TV
in 1965 according to his interview on TV in 1971. In this 1960s, his popularity
went to the peak of his fame. He started to sing with next generation singers
like SO Savoeurn, DY Saveth, PEN Rorn (1966), ROS Sereysothea (1967), HUY Meas,
IN Yeng, MEAS Samorn, HEM Sovan, etc. Singing not only in Khmer, he also sang in
English, French, and Thai. Therefore, he got an innovative idea to mix the
music of foreign and Khmer together creating very good songs. In 1967, he wrote
and sang the song “Champei Siem Reap” for his wife; they lived together again.
He continued to write more songs; his songs were more famous with his new
singing partner, ROS Sereysothea. Unfortunately, ROS Sereysothea returned to
Battambang Province because of the conflicts with her husband, SOS Math. Facing
such situation, he took action to recover by persuading ROS Sereysothea to come
back and protected her from the disturbance of SOS Math. One day, he stood to
prevent SOS Math disturb ROS Sereysothea while they were singing together the
song “Kort Bros Mok Khmol”. He said he was the one to take her there, so he
must the one to protect her. Then SOS Math left there quickly.
On
March 18, 1970 the coup d’état in Phnom Penh caused a change to the life of SIN
Sisamut. He was forced to sing the patriotic songs against King Shihanouk and
Khmer Rouge Army even though he paid respect and trust to King Shihanouk and Royal
Family. Those patriotic songs are “Lea Srey Tov Chbaing”, “Samrek Chheam Khmer”,
“Lea Pov Tov Bomreu Chiet”, “Bong Ba’Oun Bei Neak”, etc. In this regime, he did
not have enough time to write songs, so most of the songs he sang were written
exclusively by other lyricist VOY Hor. His voice still kept him the most famous
male singer in Cambodia from the early 1950s to the mid 1970s. In 1974, King of
Thailand called him to live in Thailand and be a singer for Thai nation instead
of Cambodia. Being wrong to think that way for SIN Sisamut, he would devote his
life to die in his homeland better than running away, so he refused to that
request.
On April
17, 1975, SIN Sisamut forced to leave Phnom Penh separately from his family for
Koh Thom district, Kandal Province. On the way, he met KONG Bunchhoeurn and
talked a while; a Khmer Rouge Officer came with the radio broadcasting his song
and asked him whether that is his voice (Nis Chea Samleng Mith Men Te?). One
month later in Koh Thom District, he was forced by Khmer Rouge officers to sing
the songs for Khmer Rouge Regime, but he failed to satisfy the Khmer Rouge
Officers. On May 18, 1976, he was killed; before he was killed, he asked the
Khmer Rouge Officers to sing a patriotic song as the last voice of his life. Somehow
when he finished, they killed him immediately. His wife and two children among
four children were alive after this black regime.
In
conclusion, life of SIN Sisamut (1932-1976), Cambodia’s Golden Voice, was a
real experience for all people to study and learn. Being so sad to lose such a
talent person from Cambodia; not only his talent in arts and medical skill, but
his strong supports on his nation was gone with his soul. He died with less
hope for the future of Cambodia; but his soul will see the development of
Cambodia today and keep smiling again for the future prosperity of Cambodia. “Even though there is the death in front,
believe and trust on own nation will never be forgotten!”
(Source:
Wikipedia on SIN Sisamuth in Khmer Version and other sources)
By: POK Panhavuth
