--- title: Google Doodle: Prayoon Yomyiam Revived Thai Folk Music description: Google Doodle celebrates the 85th birthday of Prayoon Yomyiam, a renowned guardian of traditional Thai folk music canonical: https://time.com/5382420/google-doodle-thailand-prayoon-yomyiam/ author: Casey Quackenbush article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-08-30T05:59:26.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:54:36.119Z og:title: What to Know About Thai Folk Singer Prayoon Yomyiam og:description: She breathed new life into Thailand's traditional Lam Tad musical style og:url: https://time.com/5382420/google-doodle-thailand-prayoon-yomyiam/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt84373026bfeb5d5d/69893906929fadbe87bf1733/screen-shot-2018-08-30-at-10-42-15-am.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1237 og:image:height: 696 og:image:alt: Screen Shot 2018-08-30 at 10.42.15 AM og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What to Know About Thai Folk Singer Prayoon Yomyiam twitter:description: She breathed new life into Thailand's traditional Lam Tad musical style twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt84373026bfeb5d5d/69893906929fadbe87bf1733/screen-shot-2018-08-30-at-10-42-15-am.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What to Know About Thai Folk Musician Prayoon Yomyiam > Sponsored content. 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It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters. #### How do I sign up for The Brief? The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it. #### Is The Brief free? Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes The Brief? The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. by [Casey Quackenbush](https://time.com/author/casey-quackenbush/) ## Casey Quackenbush Aug 30, 2018 5:59 AM UTC  Google Doodle celebrates Prayoon Yomyiam’s 85th Birthday on Aug. 30, 2018. Google Doodle celebrates Prayoon Yomyiam’s 85th Birthday on Aug. 30, 2018. Google Doodle by [Casey Quackenbush](https://time.com/author/casey-quackenbush/) ## Casey Quackenbush Aug 30, 2018 5:59 AM UTC Beneath a row of palm trees, Prayoon Yomyiam and her singing partner take turns belting out the playful lyrics of a classic Thai tune in a new Google Doodle [honoring the icon](https://www.google.com/doodles/prayoon-yomyiams-85th-birthday) of central Thailand’s traditional _Lam Tad_ folk music genre. Also known in Thailand as _Mae Prayoon_ or “Mother Prayoon,” she is a celebrated guardian of this unique musical tradition who would have been 85 years old today. Here’s what to know about the masterful musician. ## Who is Prayoon Yomyiam? Mae Prayoon is a renowned Thai artist widely regarded as the icon who revived a style of Thai folk music known as [_Lam Tad_](https://www.accu.or.jp/ich/en/arts/A%5FTHA5.html). Born on Aug. 30, 1933, Prayoon began singing _Lam Tad_ when she was just 15 years old, and she rose to popularity over the years as her cassette recordings circulated throughout the kingdom of smiles. In 1994, Thailand recognized Prayoon as a National Artist of Thailand, a distinction for notable artists essential to the country’s cultural traditions. ## What is Lam Tad? Originating from central Thailand, _Lam Tad_ is an antiphonal style, meaning two people alternate singing, often improvised with humor and typically to the beat of a drum known as a _Klong Ramana_. _Lam Tad_ was under threat of extinction until Prayoon breathed new life into the art. Remembered for her clever lyrics with double-entendres — called _song ngae song ngam_ in Thai — Prayoon reinvigorated the genre both domestically and internationally. She captivated audiences at home, and helped spread the style of music far and wide through Thailand’s state-sponsored tourism campaign. 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