Irish singer lends a hand

Ronan Keating visited Phuket to show his support for the tsunami-hit island last weekend

Story by ALONGKORN PARIVUDHIPHONGS

Bangkok Post

The 27-year-old Irish singer on his humanitarian mission and tourism promoter in Phuket.

On Kata beach Ronan Keating performed a live acoustic version of `I Hope You Dance'.

Meeting with a heroine: The two-year-old baby elephant who saved two children after the tsunami hit.

Crooning on Kata beach in Phuket, before the sun set last Saturday were Irish popster Ronan Keating and his guitarist. Their acoustic performance of I Hope You Dance, a song about being positive during times of hardship, was a surprise for passers-by and the tourists who have begun to return to the resort island. "The scenes of devastation were heart-breaking but Phuket is rebuilding itself with hope, faith and optimism," said the 27-year-old singer who has been a frequent visitor to Bangkok and Chiang Rai over the past 10 years.

Keating recalled the "quiet Christmas" last year when he heard about the tsunami killer wave on the morning of December 26.

"Usually we have a crazy time [at Christmas] but after we saw the news on the television, we felt panic and sadness. I had a friend [a concert promoter in Thailand] down here and it got me worried when I couldn't contact him," recalled the singer.

Keating's appearance on the island is part of Thai Airways International's "Loving Phuket" campaign that aims to bring international artists together to promote Phuket's fast recovery in the aftermath of the tsunami tragedy.

Keating was here to record a video segment for a short music video that will be aired at the MTV Asia award ceremony in Bangkok tomorrow..

Besides Keating, many other artists, including Sting and Ricky Martin, have taped messages of support on recent visits to Thailand.

"Artists and people in the spotlight should give back to society. It's our duty to stand up and shout, and hope that people will listen," added Keating who was taking two days off his busy schedule in Dublin to work on this charitable cause for free.

He is also acting as an ambassador for Thai tourism. Another 22-minute video special featuring Keating visiting Phuket aims to win back the confidence of Western tourists, especially those from Europe, to return to the island. It will be broadcast later on MTV and other TV channels to audiences around the world.

"We should get what happened here out of our heads and come back, an make it the place it was before. It's a magical place to be. And I think people are coming together to make it a better place," said Keating on his first visit to Phuket.

Criticism of the government's priorities _ that place tourism over local problems _ was not his concern.

"It's all in the balance. Rebuilding lives is important. Do that too. But people here could not survive without tourism. And if the economy is working, people will have jobs," he said.

After a tiring 16-hour journey from Dublin to London before arriving in Phuket early on Saturday, the man of goodwill began to work non-stop. On the shoot, he met a Thai boxing teacher for a quick lesson.

"I'm not going to remove my top because I don't look like this," joked the singer in Thai boxing shorts, pointing to the bare-chested boxer's six-pack as he taught him the basics of the national martial art.

"We're not going to really fight, right? Go easy, okay?" said Keating trying to follow the instructions. "This Is When You Say Nothing At All," he joked with the title of his chart-topping hit.

He was told that Thai boxers don't use bouncing footwork, just moving their feet from point to point.

"Oh I did that before when I was with Boyzone," he said, laughing. Then he cheerfully started moving and kicking in the air, which he later claimed was "Irish boxing".

After a few sweaty minutes, he changed and the went to see a two-year- old elephant, called Ning Nong, who saved two children from the tsunami. The baby elephant sat down for him and also played a harmonica.

"I've got to figure out how she did that," he proclaimed with a surprise.

He briefly visited Cheung Thalay temple, a major tourist attraction in Phuket. Then he walked on Patong beach to talk with people who, he said, were showing great will power by standing their ground and keeping an optimistic outlook by getting on with their lives after the disaster.

"I met a jewellery shop owner who was penniless. But she was incredibly optimistic and trying to rebuild her life. It's just incredible, the fighting spirit," he said.

A meeting with an 18-year-old volunteer, Nathasha, and her friends at a camp helping 400 orphaned children also impressed him.

"It's incredible for me, at almost 28, to see an 18 year old doing that. It shows such a spirit of humanity. It really makes me feel alive. Very cool," he said, praising the volunteers.

But the most special moment for him, he said, was in the evening when 20 local children sang Do-Re-Me and dek doi jai dee for him to clap along to on Kata beach.

"Thai people always make me feel welcome. Everyone is so respectful and courteous.The rest of the world is kind of losing that. It's important to me. I love that," said the singer who plans to return in May or June with his family, wife Yvonne whom he married at the age of 21, five-year-old son Jack, and three-year-old daughter, Marie, named after his late mother who lost her battle with breast cancer at the height of his success in 1998. This inspired the singer to set up the Marie Keating Cancer Awareness Fund, to help increase cancer awareness in Ireland.

"My mum and I were very close. It's the hardest thing for me [to lose her] and I miss her terribly. But I grew up and moved on. That's what she wanted me to be," he said.

He added that, "My family likes it very private. I keep them out of the media. I don't turn up at a premier with the kids. As a parent, I believe that it's my duty to protect them until they can decide for themselves if they want to be seen in the media," said the family man.

The "good boy" image is something he hasn't been able to shed since he was 16 and kicking off his singing career with the boy band Boyzone, who broke up in 1999 when he left to pursue his solo career.

"I was sixteen or seventeen. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I knew where my hopes and dreams were _ writing songs and singing was all I cared about.

"I'm a human being just like everybody else. I go out and I get drunk. I have a good time and enjoy myself. I don't do drugs. I don't get messed up. I don't get into fights ... regularly." he added, laughing.

He went on to say that he wanted the music to be more important than the image. "We live in a time when image is a part of the music. The clothes that you wear, and the things that you say and the press are important. But for me it's got to be the music first."

Asked if they [Boyzone] are still close friends, he said : "I don't really speak to the guys much. We see each other a little. We had problems ... but not anymore. We're talking again, but we're not as close as we used to be. We drifted apart."

After a decade in showbiz, during which time he has released seven albums and 24 singles, he described it as "the first fantastic ten years in my career. I hope it's only the first ten years. This is all I know ... this is all I want to do."

So what's in the store for Ronan Keating?

"I started writing a new album. I need to kick start [something new] sometimes. Something fresh. A new head on my shoulders. But I am not going to make a very different album. I still write songs that my fans want."

He's built a small studio in his house in Dublin and is currently promoting two up-and-coming solo singers, as he did with boy band, Westlife. And now he is trying his hand at acting.

"I'm not saying anything until it happens or I'll look stupid," he initially said. But later he admitted that he'll appear in a gangster film, Guns, Money and Homecooking, starring ex-football hard man Vinnie Jones, later this year.

"It'll be funny. Nothing too serious. I'll give it a go just for the challenge. We'll see what will happen," he said.