Copy thachin
Copy thachin, or simply "copy music" is a genre of music in Myanmar that originates from the early 1980s. It merges the melody and instrumentals of international songs with Burmese vocals. Proponents of copy thachin argue that the style is separate from cover songs due to it having unique vocal arrangements and lyrics.
A small portion of copy thachin songs are direct translations of their foreign counterparts, while the vast majority often have different meanings. Additionally, copy thachin is known to change locations from Western landmarks to local Burmese locations. Thukamein Hlaing, Min Chit Thu, Maung Thit Min, and Win Min Htway were known to use clever wordplay and innuendos to refer to deemed "explicit" or banned content such as gang violence or premarital activities.
As of 2023, fewer than 140 vocalists recorded the more than 3,000 songs that make up the copy thachin repertoire. According to available data, just 22 bands accompanied half of all these songs. Notably, the band Iron Cross worked on a total of 660 songs.
Origins
During the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma period, the ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party heavily blocked the importation of foreign media and restricted VISAs for foreigners, which caused the large absence of Western music for a long period. However, officials such as diplomats and scholars were allowed to bring Western instruments, songbooks, and cassette tapes into the country, which were often slowly spread through small circles, often through teenagers.Copy thachin takes much inspiration from the heavily psychedelic "stereo music" genre popularized by artists such as Naang Naang and Sai Htee Saing. Playboy Than Naing's Shwe Thachin Myar or "Golden Songs" is considered to be the first copy thachin album. Released in 1975, the album had versions of songs by Western artists such as The Beatles and The Doors along with that of Indonesian artist Vivi Sumanti.