Not only did people’s lives flutter away after theCOVID-19 pandemic, but the severity of the crisis also shook livelihoods to their core. Investments disappeared, businesses could no longer continue, debts piled up. In some families, descendants became like beasts due to the rampant drug epidemic. The fragile lives of people spread widely. After 2019, a group of songs emerged that offered encouragement and reflected Thai society in a notably interesting way. These popular songs were not limited to the run-of-the-mill country and Isan songs that dominated the market and racked up millions of views on YouTube; they can be regarded as ‘new life-for-life songs,’ a form the author describes as distinct from traditional Phleng Puea Chiwit—or Karawan-Carabao—whose lineages in recent times are unclear about which life-for-life they serve.
What is more interesting than the lyrics and melodies is the voices that people leave in the comments. Whether true or not, those online messages reflect an emotional history of people etched in social media spaces worth recording and discussing. This is the origin of this article: ‘New Life-for-Life Songs’ have existed for more than six years since the pandemic shook the world like COVID-19. Tears did not flow much into the ocean of people’s emotions. The selected 25 songs have more than 40 million views on the YouTube platform as of April 8, 2568 BE (2025 CE), with all releases after 2019 (though songs addressing Isan context are a special case that the author thinks may need to be separated into another playlist with an additional set of explanations). If arranged by views, they are as follows: 1. Thongfa (Heaven) – PAPER (242 million views) 2. If We Meet Again (Until Then) – Tilly Birds (156.6 million views) 3. My Feelings – Manasvee (142.5 million views) 4. BOWKYLION – Drawn (Recall) (141.7 million views) 5. The World We Carry – Manasvee (108.7 million views) 6. The Heart Is the Master, The Body Is the Servant – Lek Rashmet (93.1 million views) 7. Hello Mama – TaitosmitH (81.8 million views) 8. Shards – Tinn (77 million views) 9. Wave – PRAE CHANAA (Prae Chana) (73.8 million views) 10. Breathe and Move On – LABANOON x NUM KALA (67 million views) 11. I Don’t Need You Right Now – LITTLE JOHN (66.7 million views) 12. Remember – Only Monday (59.9 million views) 13. Step Forward [Let’s go] – Num Mee Sa (55.6 million views) 14. Distorted – Manasvee (51.5 million views) 15. Thank You – WANYAi the Big Glasses (48.4 million views) 16. Do Everything Your Heart Desires – LITTLE JOHN (46.6 million views) 17. The Heart of a Fighter – Bawwee (40.2 million views) If we consider the elements of lyric, music video, and YouTube comments, plus other interesting points, the songs can be grouped into four categories: songs about a lover leaving this world, songs about facing life’s hardships, songs about giving encouragement, and songs about separation/divorce. Many music videos turn romantic songs into narratives about family relationships that tug at viewers’ emotions, not unlike a well-known life-insurance advertisement. Nevertheless, each song may not carry a single meaning; listeners’ feelings may differ. This grouping is intended to illustrate and explain more clearly. Songs about a lover leaving this world: the loss of a loved one is the most tangible form of loss. Beyond death from old age or accidents, the world has witnessed many separations caused by the pandemic, where some families could not even accompany their loved ones to the cremation.