Copy thachin: History and Key Facts

Copy thachin, (Burmese: ကော်ပီသီချင်း, kawpithăchin: IPA: [kɔ̀pìθət͡ɕʰɪ́ɴ]; Burmese for "copy song"), also known as "copy song" or "copy music" in English, 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.

Source and attribution

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