1. Drakkar (also known… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least five bands named Drakkar.
1. Drakkar (also known as Drakka Band or Thra Kha Band in some Romanized sources) was a Cambodian hard rock band active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their music has been noted as an important late-stage development in Cambodian rock of the 1960s and 70s, a thriving music scene that was abruptly crushed by the Khmer Rouge communists in 1975. Some members of the band did not survive the ensuing Cambodian genocide. The band has gone through multiple lineups, with singer/guitarist Touch Seang Tana the only consistent member.
Drakkar formed in 1967, amid the flourishing Phnom Penh music scene, to perform rock music inspired by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as well as early Cambodian guitar bands like Baksey Cham Krong and Apsara. As with many of their contemporaries like Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea, and Pen Ran, Drakkar was influenced by pop records imported from France and Latin America that had become popular among musicians in the capital.
The band initially comprised singer/rhythm guitarist Touch Seang Tana, singer/lead guitarist Touch Chhatha, singer/bassist Mam Molivan, and singer Tan Phanareth, and changing temporary drummers. This first line-up did not record any original music, and the members, all in their teens or early twenties, disbanded and took military or government jobs.
In 1971, Tana assembled a new lineup with lead guitarist Som Sareth, drummer Ouk Sam Art, and bassist Oer Sam Ol. By this time, the Cambodian music scene was further influenced by Western rock and roll and soul music via U.S. armed forces radio that had been broadcast to troops stationed nearby during the Vietnam War. Drakkar toured U.S. military bases in South Vietnam that year, after which original lead guitarist Touch Chhatha rejoined. This version of the band was heavily influenced by the hard rock sounds of bands like Deep Purple and Grand Funk Railroad, and regularly performed covers of songs by those and other bands. Their sound at the time has been compared to Led Zeppelin, Santana and Jimi Hendrix.
The band's hippie attire and long hair were noted as symbolic of changing times and American influences in early-1970s Cambodia. Guitarists Touch Chhatha and Touch Seang Tana attracted attention, not all of it good, for their unusually aggressive guitar playing, while drummer Ouk Sam Art caused minor scandals by playing shirtless. Tana noted in the documentary film Don't Think I've Forgotten that Cambodia was not yet ready for western-style hard rock at the time.
Drakkar became popular in Phnom Penh during the later stages of the Cambodian Civil War, when the city was under threat from both American bombing campaigns and attacks by Khmer Rouge insurgents. Due to wartime curfews, the band had to play in clubs during the day and often heard nearby gunfire and explosions during their performances. The band recorded a self-titled album with primitive technology in 1972-1973, and released it in early 1974. The album, which was rereleased decades later as Drakkar '74, sold over 20,000 copies, making it the highest-selling full-length album in Cambodian history up to that point.
Plans to further promote the album were halted in April 1975, when the Khmer Rouge defeated the Khmer Republic army and gained control of the country. The members of Drakkar are assumed to be among the two million residents of Phnom Penh who were forced to leave the city and become farm workers to fulfill the Khmer Rouge's visions of agrarian socialism and the eradication of all foreign influences (including music) from Cambodian society. Group members Oer Sam Ol and Som Sareth disappeared during the ensuing Cambodian genocide and their exact fates are unknown. Singer/guitarist Touch Seang Tana was imprisoned in a work camp, and claims that he survived the genocide by singing Santana songs to Khmer Rouge soldiers on demand while passing himself off as a common peasant.
After the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, drummer Ouk Sam Art and guitarist Touch Chhatha returned to music work for Cambodia's National Radio station, while Tana became an accomplished manager of fisheries and environmental conservation for the post-Khmer Rouge Cambodian government. Conservation work continued to be a theme in Tana's life. As of 2013 he was the Chairman of the Cambodian Government’s Commission for Dolphin Conservation and Development of the Mekong Dolphin Ecotourism Zone (the "Dolphin Commission").
Information about many Cambodian musicians of the 1960s and 1970s, and many of their recordings, were lost during the Khmer Rouge regime. Interest in that scene's musicians was revived, especially among western rock fans, in the late 1990s with the release of compilation albums like Cambodian Rocks (1996). Filmmaker John Pirozzi was introduced to the music while making City of Ghosts, and subsequently featured Drakkar and several of their contemporaries in the 2015 documentary Don't Think I've Forgotten (2015). The Drakkar song "Crazy Loving You" has appeared on several compilations, including the Don't Think I've Forgotten soundtrack in 2015, and the song "Do You No Wrong Again" (credited to Thra Kha Band) has appeared on compilations like the 2011 CD Cambodia Rock Spectacular! from Lion Productions.
Surviving members of Drakkar first regrouped for a reunion concert in Singapore in 2011. They also performed in 2014 and 2015 to commemorate the release of Don't Think I've Forgotten and announced plans to record a new album. The 2014 performance featured a guest appearance by Chhom Nimol of the Cambodian/American band Dengue Fever. Nimol, whose band was inspired by and frequently covers late-60s and early-70s Khmer pop music, proclaimed "I never dreamed I would play with those musicians. They are like my teachers, my masters." A new version of the band led by Touch Seang Tana began performing regularly under the name Drakka Band in 2015.
Master tapes for Drakkar's 1974 album were unearthed during this period, and in 2014 it was released as Drakkar '74 by Metal Postcard Records. Personnel at the label had been inspired by Cambodian Rocks and Don't Think I've Forgotten to track down the master tapes and remaster them for the digital market. Upon its release, one music historian noted the album's historical importance and hailed it as "The Holy Grail of Cambodian Psych."
2. Drakkar is a Belgian Speed/Power metal band that released 1 album: "X-Rated".
3. Drakkar is a Portuguese heavy/power metal band with three demos released so far.
4. Drakkar is an Italian Power Metal band from Milan, Italy, with 5 full-length albums, 1 EP and 2 Demos
5. Drakkar is a German R.A.C. cult band
Southern Cross
Drakkar Lyrics
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I am reminded how far I have come
Left my home in the far, deep north
To seek my fortune on foreign shores
Many times I have heard in my dreams
The sound of violins, the smell of the trees
As I woke up and they were gone
Now I know that the future is bright
That one day I'll return
To that place that will always be home
To the heart of a sailor once bold
Through the days and nights alone
I've often wondered is this what I want?
I'd have given up everything
For just a glimpse of my island of green
I'll be back as a wealthy man but no riches compare
To the smiles of the people I left
And the beautiful sights of my land
From the north to the south of the world
The trip was long and the stay even more
I've been working my ass off for years
To see my country again through the tears
I am ready to sail my own ship
I'm wise and older and it's time to leave
My farewell to the Southern Cross
The things you taught we will never be lost
I'll be back as a wealthy man but no riches compare
To the smiles of the people I left
And the beautiful sights of my land
The song Southern Cross by Drakkar is a heartfelt reflection of a sailor who left his home in the far north to seek his fortune on foreign shores. The shining Southern Cross serves as a reminder of how far he has come and the memories of home that he carries with him. The sound of violins and the smell of the trees have haunted him in his dreams and serve as a reminder of what he left behind. As he looks towards the future, he knows that one day he will return to his home and the heart of a sailor once bold.
Throughout his travels, the sailor has often wondered if this is what he truly wants. He has sacrificed everything for the chance to see his island of green once again. Now, as he prepares to sail his own ship, he knows that no riches can compare to the smiles of the people he left behind and the beautiful sights of his land. The Southern Cross, a constellation that can only be seen in the southern hemisphere, has taught him valuable lessons that will never be lost.
The lyrics of Southern Cross capture the longing and homesickness of someone who has left their home to chase their dreams. They speak to anyone who has ever felt the pull of their roots and the desire to return to the place they call home. The use of vivid imagery and poetic language creates a powerful emotional resonance that is difficult to forget.
Line by Line Meaning
By the shining Southern Cross
The Southern Cross constellation reminds me of my journey
I am reminded how far I have come
Reflecting on the past, I realize how much I have progressed
Left my home in the far, deep north
I departed from my hometown in the remote northern region
To seek my fortune on foreign shores
I traveled to foreign lands in search of prosperity
Many times I have heard in my dreams
Frequent dreams of my past life haunt me
The sound of violins, the smell of the trees
I reminisce hearing violins and smelling the trees
As I woke up and they were gone
The memories of my dreams quickly faded away
I felt the sting of the memories of home
Longing for home, nostalgia hit me hard
Now I know that the future is bright
I am confident that my future is promising
That one day I'll return
I will eventually return to my homeland
To that place that will always be home
My hometown will always be where I belong
To the heart of a sailor once bold
My heart, once full of boldness, remains in my hometown
Through the days and nights alone
Solitary times have made me think deeply
I've often wondered is this what I want?
I have questioned if this journey was worth it
I'd have given up everything
I would sacrifice anything to see my homeland again
For just a glimpse of my island of green
A brief view of my lush homeland would mean everything to me
I'll be back as a wealthy man but no riches compare
Although I will return as a wealthy man, nothing is more valuable than my homeland
To the smiles of the people I left
The warm welcome and happy faces of the people I miss
And the beautiful sights of my land
The scenic beauty of my homeland is unforgettable
From the north to the south of the world
My journey took me from the northernmost regions to the southernmost regions of the world
The trip was long and the stay even more
My travels were lengthy and my stays were even longer
I've been working my ass off for years
I have been tirelessly working for years to achieve my goals
To see my country again through the tears
I want to see my beloved country again, even if it means shedding tears
I am ready to sail my own ship
I am prepared to take control of my life
I'm wise and older and it's time to leave
I am wiser and older now, and it's time for me to move on
My farewell to the Southern Cross
I say goodbye to the Southern Cross that had taught me so much
The things you taught we will never be lost
I will never forget the valuable lessons taught by the Southern Cross
Contributed by Henry H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.