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Jintara Poonlarp

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Jintara Poonlarp is a highly prolific and popular Thai singer.

She is a master of several musical genres. These include mor lam, which is Thai country music. She also performs luk thung, a style of pop-country. Additionally, she sings string music, which is Thai pop. Because of her unique singing voice, she is often called sao siang pin. This means "lute-voiced girl." She is also recognized for her signature short hair with bangs.

Her musical career involves a wide variety of recording formats. She has released 50 original albums and 47 singles. She has also produced many compilation albums. Jintara records roughly equal amounts of mor lam and luk thung. Her early albums focused only on luk thung. Later, she began combining luk thung, mor lam, and string music. She has released series of recordings for Master Tape. These are titled Luk tung sa on and Mor lam sa on. The term "sa on" comes from the Isan language. It means something is enjoyable.

Jintara's songs often explore deep and relatable human emotions. Her famous song "Sao Isan Plat Tin" is a great example. This song translates to "Isan girl separated from her home." It uses common Thai country themes. These themes include poverty, homesickness, and unfaithful lovers. She also addressed major world events through her music. Her song "Arlai World Trade" discussed the September 11 attacks. This song caused discussion in the English-language press in Thailand.

Her career includes significant commercial success and longevity. She has performed on stage for 33 years. In 2018, she experienced a major resurgence in popularity. Her song "Tao Ngoi" became a massive hit. It reached number one on the Thai music charts. By September 2019, the song had earned 123 million views on YouTube.

This demonstrates her lasting influence on the Thai music industry.

Jintara was born in the Isan region of Thailand.

Specifically, she was born in the Kaset Wisai district of Roi Et province. Her birth year is listed as 1969 on her Facebook page. Her birth name was Tongbai Janlueang. This changed to Tongbai Poonlarp after her parents registered their marriage. She began her performing career during her early teens. While some sources suggest a different birth date, her ID card lists March 6.

Beyond music, Jintara has explored the world of acting. In 2001, she took her first television role. She appeared in the series Nai Hoy Tamin. This show depicted the lives of rural people in Isan during historical times. She also acted in a 2006 action film called Chai Lai. In this movie, she played a member of a top-secret female crimefighting team.

Jintara has also pursued higher education and public service interests. In 2004, she began studying at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. She studied in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She was due to graduate in 2006. Roi Et Rajabhat University awarded her an honorary degree in October 2004. There were also newspaper reports regarding her political interests. These reports suggested she might stand as an MP for the Chart Thai party. However, she did not run in the 2005 election.

Her work connects traditional regional sounds with modern pop. By blending mor lam with string music, she reaches diverse audiences. She has collaborated with famous artists like Thongchai McIntyre. Their hits include the songs "Ma Tammai" and "Faen Ja." This ability to cross genres defines her unique identity in Thailand.

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