The D2B Phenomenon

[Suthee]

The D2B phenomenon

With a new album, a movie and an upcoming concert, the boy-band trio are busy indeed

Bangkok Post, 7th May 2003
Story by PENCHAN PHOBORISUT

It's hard not to notice D2B, currently at the top of the local boy band heap. The pretty-faced trio are on television, on posters in front of convenience stores, on billboards, their voices on radio. Wherever they appear, they are greeted by throngs of adoring fans, especially young girls yelling out their names _ Beam, Big, Dan _ and hoping to get their attention.

With their newly released album D2B Type II and their debut movie Sanghorn (Phenomenon) and an upcoming concert, a dizzy media blitz was inevitable. They've been working the television shows, and even going out separately to work the different media outlets.

Beam came to our interview with sweat on his face, exhausted from traffic and long working hours. ``Sometimes it gets to be too much,'' he said, munching on a snack that he called the first meal of his day _ it was 6:30pm.

``We once worked almost two months without a single day off. This month we've been working every day nonstop,'' Big said.

Their story started three years ago, when Apichet ``Big'' Kittikorncharoen, Kawee ``Beam'' Tanjararak, and Warawech ``Dan'' Danuwong, unknown to each other, entered a singing competition called Star Challenge Award.

``I was nervous,'' said Dan. ``I wondered if there would be a lot of people in the audience that day _ I like crowds.''

He got what he wanted.

The three made it to the final round, and RS Promotions signed each of them individually. They got to know each other later through voice training sessions with Mam Patcharida.

Then D2B _ from the ``D'' in Dan and the two ``Bs'' in Big and Beam _ was formed, parlaying their good looks and catchy pop tunes into mega-sales. Their self-titled debut album made D2B a buzzword at the end of 2001. It generated hits like Tor Na Chan Thur Tam Yangnan Dai Yangrai, Sa, Khon Jai On.

D2B appeared at the right time: The local music scene was experiencing a void as far as boy bands were concerned.

RS Promotions has been a pioneer in grooming boy bands and has many successful stories to be proud of. The music label introduced the ``Boy Scouts'', who went on to be the first ``boy band'' here a decade ago. The teenage trio caught the attention of pre-teen fans. Then came U4, the duo of Lift & Oil, and more. Arch-rival GMM Grammy followed with UHT and Dragon Five.

Over the past six years, the music industry shifted to pop rock and groomed artists with individual styles rather than looks.

After their hit debut, D2B rushed to release two more albums, D2B Summer and a soundtrack compilation. Now comes D2B Type II. The new album contains strong RS pop elements.

Big said the album offered various ``angles'' on love and reflects more of the band's growing experience. ``For example,'' he said, ``the idea for the song Tee Du Wa Pom Ying, Tee Jing Na Pom Ai was derived from our personalities. We are actually shy and sometimes don't know how to act when we meet people off-stage. We are often quiet and reserved, and people might think that we are stuck up because we don't really talk that much.''

Beam added that the band had made suggestions on the content of the songs and had shared their thoughts on lyrics with the songwriters.

On this album, he said he liked the song Hueng (Jealous). ``I'm not really that much of a jealous person,'' he said with a grin. ``I actually liked the lyrics and the music of this one.''

Dan said he wanted this album to sound like D2B, and not be a completely new ball game. ``The producers were the same and we knew each other really well. They were very perceptive as to what we would like.''

Apart from singing songs that the label produced, Big revealed that the band had greater say over the concept and look of this album. ``The label allowed us to choose our own clothing, design the CD cover and comment on the music videos. I came up with the idea for the posters that are in front of 7-11,'' Big said.

The cover and design of the CD sleeve also stemmed from Big's idea that the band members go shopping at three different places. ``Dan went to Chinatown to shop for amulets. Beam went for fashionable things at Centre Point. And I went to see movies and shop for CDs at the World Trade Center.''

Dan wrote some songs while travelling in a van with the other two members.

``Those songs were mostly for fun. I played acoustic guitar and came up with some funny stuff, but I didn't think they were good enough to be put on an album,'' he said.

He added that he did not have proper training in music. ``I'm not from a wealthy family that could afford music lessons. Most of the time, I learned by myself or from friends. I played some guitar and keyboards and still have a lot to learn.''

The band has ventured into the film arena, starring in Sanghorn (Phenomenon), directed by Oxide and Danny Pang. The script has the three playing close friends. The movie might not become a phenomenal hit this summer ``due to Sars'', Big said. ``Nonetheless, it was a good experience because what I studied at school as a film major was totally differently from the real world, so it was great to learn from a real production.''

Dan thought every scene was daunting, from beginning to end. ``It takes a lot of effort to play someone else.''

For Beam, the toughest part was being crushed by a crane. ``I had make-up for wounds. It was a pretty interesting experience. It was torture in the scene where people dash to rescue me while I'm lying on the ground _ they threw a cloud of white dust over me. I had to hold my breath for a long time.''

For Big, the most difficult scenes were ones involving deep emotion. ``It took a lot of concentration [to do] the hospital scene,'' he said. ``When Beam was on the bed, Dan and I were talking and I needed to express anger through my voice. That was hard. It took us two hours to film that part, but you only see a minute of that in the movie.''

Big liked the scene where all of them are together fighting. ``We rarely fight in real life. That's why it was fun. We never fight over personal matters. Beam is a great brother, and he's easy-going. Dan is the most serious one in the band. But we get along well.''

Dan likes comedies and wants to play the role of a gangster. ``I find it hard to smile, so if I play a gangster, I think it would be easier for me. If an opportunity comes along, I think I'd like to try a romantic comedy as well.''

Being D2B means being watched constantly. Big said being in the spotlight had ``matured'' him. ``It's true. My friends often call and ask me for advice, and I explain to them why things are the way they are.''

Dan's big lesson from show business? ``Gratitude. I feel grateful for those who have helped us. There are times when I was stressed out but I got a lot of support from my family and fans. I don't think I miss out on my teenage life. I still hang out with my friends.''

Tabloid news reports sometimes bother Dan. ``If the reports are true, I wouldn't care. But if they're not, I feel a bit offended.''

Beam agreed, and said the rumour that bugged him the most was he was gay. ``I don't know how it got started. But if I went out for a dinner with a female friend, the media would say she was my date.''

Their future endeavours include more than the music business. Beam hopes to master English and study for a master's degree abroad at some point in the near future. Big wants to finish his B.A. in Communication Arts, and Dan plans to pursue his music studies at Rangsit University.

Sanghorn has not yet been the big hit that was expected, despite heavy promotion. The trio said the sparseness of fans at movie theatres was probably due to the outbreak of Sars.

Regardless of the outcome, Beam has another film project, Sexphone, in which he will take a solo lead. The movie will hit theatres next month.

Meanwhile, the trio is getting ready for their big ``D2B Miracle Concert'', to be staged on May 18 at the Indoor Stadium Hua Mark.

They'll be busy for a long time to come.

- The ``D2B Miracle Concert'' will be held May 18 at Indoor Stadium Hua Mark. Tickets are priced at 1,000, 800, 500 and 300 baht and are available via Thai Ticketmaster counters or call 02-204-9999 or see www.thaiticketmaster.com. For more information, contact R.S. Promotions on 02-511-0555. D2B, from top: Big, Dan, Beam.

[Anna]

MAN AND I'M NOT IN THAILAND FOR ALL OF THIS?!? Watch when I go back to Thailand, I have to go watch D2B's concert LIVE in the FRONT row. New movies eh? Interesting...Sexphone?!? Holy crap D2B getting naughty over there in Thailand LOL. Do you know what the movie Sexphone is about? Sounds like...wait nevermind don't think it's appropriate. Hmm....BIG IS HOT! But...Dan is kind of getting my attention

[Sawatdee]

See them and ‘feel’ them

Hot on the release of their second album, “D2B Type II,” the trio D2B hope to produce some magic tomorrow when they stage their “Miracle” concert at Indoor Stadium Hua Mark.

The country’s hottest boy band is promising fans its best and most complete performance ever. Kicking off at 6pm, the trio’s full-scale concert will feature a surprise performance (well, not so surprising now&#33 by Worrawech “Dan” Danuwong, Apichet “Big” Kittigorncharoen and Kawee “Beam” Tanjararak.

“We’re so excited about tomorrow’s concert because for a long time we haven’t staged a big show like this. We hope the fans will be happy and have a lot of fun,” says Beam.

Throughout the two-hour concert, audience members will be able to “touch” the young heartthrobs through 3D effects while they sing and dance.

“All techniques used in the concert are guaranteed to be new and special, as the concert staff has worked with experienced producers who worked the show for the defunct Japanese quintet Lucifer in Thailand on January 19,” says a public relation representative of RS Promotion, which is holding the concert.

The band is expected to play all the hits from both their albums, including Hueng (“Possessive”), Yak Hai Ther Kad (“Want Her To Bite”) and Ja Ko Hok Kan Pai Thung Nhai (“How Long You Will Lie To Me?”).

Tickets cost Bt1,000, Bt800, Bt500 and Bt300 and are available by logging on to www.thaiticketmaster.com or calling (02) 204 9999.

The threesome made their debut album in December 2001 and have been climbing in popularity ever since. They were also cast in the movie Sanghorn, “Omen”, which was released in April and directed by the brothers Oxide and Danny Pang.

The Nation

[khan]

Hey just wondering, but did anybody seen the move
Sex Phone starrring Beam from D2B?

http://www.geocities.com/amethyst_songsite/BigD2B2.htm

[Anna]

*gasp*... Beam is in that movie?!.. I didn't know that.. I heard it was a good movie though... I will surely get it now!!!!!! Awww they have the midi of "heung".. how cute!!!

[khan]

I personally like the movie. It's a little bit of a different twist.

[Anna]

At first when I saw the title.. I was like WOAH now you know LOL hahhahha Sexphone.. *cough cough* *ahem*... LOL hahhaha!!

[khan]

Same here, but it's nothing about sex.

[Anna]

Then why with the that specific title.. I don't get it!

[khan]

hahahah, You'll have to see the movie to understand it. me and my sister was is woah too. But when we saw the movie, it's understandable.


Go here http://www.ethaicd.com/show.ph....3eb19b1
It well give you an idea of what the movie is about