Bagan Charity Single Released

By Yu Mon Kyaw 30 November 2016

RANGOON — One of Burma’s most celebrated rock stars, Lay Phyu, will release a single in the first week of December to fund the renovation of quake-hit temples in the country’s famous ancient city of Bagan.

“Bagan: First Myanmar Empire” will be sold online at Myanmar Music Store early next month.

The song is about both the grandeur of Burma’s first kingdom from 11th to the 13th century and the recent damages to Bagan’s temples hit by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake on Aug 24.

All the proceeds will be donated to the archaeology department in Bagan, UNESCO, and the Bagan Heritage Trust, which has been lobbying to enlist the ancient city as a World Heritage Site, according to Myo Swe Than, the lyricist of the song who also designs the rock star’s album covers.

“We have also allowed [the organizations] to use the song as they want,” he said.

Situated in central Burma, Bagan’s temples date back to between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Kingdom of Bagan ruled over much of lower Burma. They are considered Burma’s biggest tourist attraction.

Myo Swe Than wrote of the inspiration behind the song on his Facebook:

“Bagan has been damaged in the past. No matter how it was damaged, Bagan survived. There was Bagan before our existence and it will be there without us. It will be there as proof of our culture, race and country as long as the world exists. We don’t want you guys to cry for Bagan, but to be united,” lyricist Myo Swe Than wrote on his Facebook page, explaining the inspiration behind the song.

The single will be sold for 300 kyats online and will be followed by music video and documentary releases in January.