Ros Serey Sothea

Ros Serey Sothea (/ ; ) was a Cambodian singer. She was the first prominent female artist in the Cambodian rock scene during the First Kingdom of Cambodia and into the Khmer Republic period. She sang in a variety of genres; romantic ballads emerged as her most popular works. Despite a relatively brief career she is credited with singing hundreds of songs. She also ventured into acting, starring in a few films. She disappeared during the Khmer Rouge regime of the late 1970s but the circumstances of her fate remain a mystery. Norodom Sihanouk granted Sothea the honorary title "Queen with the Golden Voice." to Ros Bun and Nath Samien in Battambang province, French protectorate of Cambodia. Growing up relatively poor on a farm, Ros Sothea was the second youngest of seven children; two of her younger sisters, Ros Sareth and Ros Saroeun, both passed away in 1955 at very young ages. Her older sisters Ros Saboeut and Ros Saboeun became activists after the Khmer Rouge working with surviving artists to combat piracy.

Ros Saboeun recalls Sothea displaying vocal talent as early as three years old. Sothea grew up listening to early Cambodian pop singers like Mao Sareth and Chhoun Malay on the radio and traditional singers during weddings, imitating their voices by ear. Furthermore, as a child her mother used to lull her and her siblings with Lakhon Bassac songs to sleep, Sothea would record a rendition of her mother's lullaby with the composer Voy Ho titled "បំពេ [Lullaby]" later in her career. In 1954, Sothea’s father divorced her mother after being lured into an affair by a woman named Roeuth, but Sothea’s parents remarried shortly after. During the late 1950s, Sothea and her siblings created a four-piece folk band using homemade and traditional instruments. Sothea, who was on vocals, earned the moniker ‘mey rey’, by the village elders and the band was known enough to perform for a district clerk's housewarming party. In 1960, Sothea joined her school’s singing club. Along with this, she was involved in sports curricular such as running which would carry on as a hobby throughout her life. In 1964, Ma Laopi, after listening to Sothea’s voice, invited her along with Lomhea Yothea for an opportunity to sing for the National Radio in Phnom Penh.

Music career In Phnom Penh, she lived with her mother at Sala Pov Om—a boarding house and private school in Toul Kork—where other new artists such as Huoy Meas lived temporarily before they settled at their own places. Sothea combined her high and clear voice with backing provided by young rock musicians, characterized by prominent electric guitars, drums, and Farfisa organs. This resulted in a sound that is often described as psychedelic or garage rock, and Sothea became the leading female singer in the thriving Cambodian rock scene. Sothea was also one of many singers in that scene to cover popular western rock songs with Khmer lyrics, such as "ប្រុសៗយំស្រឡាញ់ [Cry Loving Me]" (based on "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival), "រាំចង្វាក់ [Dance to the Rhythm" (based on "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham), and songs by The Carpenters and many others. Her first film project was a minor role in Sun Bunly’s 1966 film “អាសូរប្រពន្ធផង [Please Have Sympathy For Your Wife]”. Her first song for a film soundtrack was a duet with Sinn Sisamouth in 1967 titled "ស្នេហាលក្សិណវង្សព្រាហ្មណ៍កេសរ [The Love of Leak Sinavong and Pream Kesor]" for the film "ព្រះលក្ខសិនវង្សនាងព្រាហ្មណ៍កេសរ [Leak Sinavong and Pream Kesor]". Her first major role was in Sinn Sisamouth’s 1973 film “ចម្រៀងឥតព្រាងទុក [The Unplanned Song]” where she played the role of a singer. Additionally, Sothea and Sisamouth had toured various cinemas to perform live before the movie screened. Sothea also continued to record music, including many of her most famous works around this time, as well as patriotic songs supporting the Republic's stance against the Khmer Rouge insurgents. Her last known public performance was in Pailin for a provincial celebration shortly before the Khmer Rouge.

Personal life

Ros Sereysothea's personality has been described as modest, gentle, and reserved. A popular belief is that Sothea grew up impoverished, illiterate, and sold boiled snails on the street. However, her sister Saboeun widely refutes these beliefs stating that an author named Seng Dara had popularized these claims in order to paint Sothea's life as a 'rags to riches' story. Sothea's popularity rebounded and she met Houy Siphan, the son of a prominent film and music producer Van Chan. This relationship led to marriage and the birth of a son named Sopanara. The exact number of songs Sothea created are unknown, but she stated in an interview that she created hundreds. Many of the reissued recordings contained overdubs of drum machines and keyboards, and were sometimes sped up.

Ros Serey Sothea is also profiled extensively in the 2015 documentary film Don't Think I've Forgotten, in which several interview subjects describe her as one of the most important singers in the history of Cambodian popular music.

Partial discography

Rock

"Chnam Oun Dap Pram Muoy" (I'm 16) "Bong Rau Roub Khnyom" (My love, embrace me) "Glass of Wine" "Cry Loving Me" "Kom Kung Twer Evey" (Don't Be Mad) "Hair Cut, Hair Cut" "Have You Seen My Love" "I'm So Shy" "Phey! Phey!" (Scared! Scared!) "Since When You Knew Me" "Wait Ten Months" (Jam 10 Kai Theit / "Wait 10 Months More") "Wicked Husband" "Mdech Ka Dar tam Khnhom?" (Why Do You Follow Me?) "Khlin Joep Nersa" (The Fragrant That Lasts With Me) "Rom Woolly Bully" "Bong Srolanh Oun Ponman Dae" (Tell Me How Much You Love Me) "Po Preuk Po Lngeach" "Penh Chet Tae Bong Muoy" (A Go Go) "Komlos Sey Chaom" (Love God) Jas Bong Ju Am Penh Chet Tae Bong Mouy (I Love Only You)

Romvong

"Kaduk Dol Heuy" "Komping Puoy" "Rolum Saen Kraw" "Sarika Keo Kauch" "Tha Cho Chok" "Or! Champey Euy" "Leour So Skol Thoun" "Kae Rognea Heuy Me" "Pkah Lmeath" "Chong Ban Chea Kou Veasna"

Saravann "Sra Muy Keo" (One Shot)

Slow

"Kaun Komsott" "Bopha Akasajal" "Jomno Pailin" "Kom Plich Oun Na" "New Year's Eve" "Pink Night" "Pga Reige Leu Maik" "Pruos Reing Awej?" "Lort sene duong chan" "Chross O'yadao" "Somnerng Bopha prey phnom" (Songs of the jungle girl) "Sralmall sene khyum" (Shadow of my love) "Chmreing sene khyum" (Story of my love) "Alay bong cher net" (Always misses you) "Teurk hoe teu" (River flow) "Bong ban sonyah" (You've promise) "Soum ros khbere bong" "Oun soum angvor" (I beg of you) "Oun neul tharl rong jum" (I will still wait) "Bomplej men ban" (Can't forget) "Oun smak bong smoss" "Oun sralnane bong nas" (I love you so much) "San nuk alay" "Men guor sralane bong" (I shouldn't love you) "Chup sralane men ban" (Can't stop loving you) "Jum neu tharl jum" "Oun jum bong cher neth" "Phnom Kong'rei" (Phnom Kong Rei) "Pros bondoll chiet" "Kum keng oun na bong" "Rom cha cha cha" "Jum loss sone" "Bong tver oy oun yum" (You made me cry) "Yume samrap thngay nis" "Sall anosaovary" "Leng knhom tv" (Let me go) "Bondam stung keiv" "Reastrei buth sene" (Missing lover of the night) "Pkah orchid" "Auh! seneha khnom" "Verjah boross" (The word of men) "Popol gomah" "Prot svamei" "Oun soum phneu chheung" "San klotpsa" "Chhba mon reing khyum" "Norok lokei" (The sin of man) "Ahso kasalmerlerr" "Rolok songka therm svamei" "Thmnorng leakina" "Thgnay lett oun sralnoss" (When the sun sets, I miss you) "Tropeang Peay" "San chok chem" "Pathchere sralnoss" "Konseng nisei" "Machass sne oun" "Jomreang avasan" Konsaeng Krohom" (Red Scarf) Bros Del K'bot Chet" (Man who betrays) Veal Srae Sronos"

Duets with Sinn Sisamouth

"Ae Na Promajarey" "Bong Ban Khernh Sre" "Bos Choong" "Chom Chait Pesaey" "Chao Luoch Jet" "Have a Caramel" "Jang ban pka avey?" (What flower do you want?) "Kay Tha Knyom Jass" "Kamnap snaeha" (Love poem) "Komnoch veyo" "Pneik Kamhuoch" "Niw Tae Srolanh" "Oh! snaeha euy!" (Oh! Love...) "Oun Rom Som Te?" "Sranah Ou chrow" "Soniya 3 Tngai" (A Promise for 3 Days) "Tehsepheap Prolim" "Tiev Euy Srey Tiev" "Tmor Kol Sromol Snae" "Tok Bong Om Skat" "Yaop Yun Thun Trojeak" "Yerng Kom Plich Khnea"

Duets with Other Artists

"Khmao Euy Khmao" (with Im Song Soeum-1972) "Kamlos Kromum Heu Ha" (with Im Song Soeum-1972) "Kamlos Kramom Srok Srae" "Hann Pnal Da Ey" (with Eng Nary) "Soll Tae Card" "Pka Sarai" "Srolanh Sok Krong (with Chea Savoeun)