Sinn Sisamouth

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Sinn Sisamouth


Img_capt = "King of Khmer music"
Img_size = 150
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = 1935
Stung Treng, Cambodia
Died = 1975
Cambodia
Origin =
Instrument =
Genre =
Occupation = Singer, composer, bandleader, producer
Years_active = 1950s–1975
Label =
Associated_acts = Ros Sereysothea, Pan Ron
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =Khmername
Khmer=ស៊ិន ស៊ីសាមុត
IPA= [sɨn siːsaːmot]
UNGEGN= Sĭn Sisamŏt
ALA-LC= s'in s'īsāmut

Sinn Sisamouth (ស៊ីន ស៊ីសាមុត)(1935–c.1975) was a famous and highly prolific Cambodian singer-songwriter in the 1950s to the 1970s.

Widely considered the "King of Khmer music", Samouth, along with Ros Sereysothea, Pan Ron, and other artists, was part of a thriving pop music scene in Phnom Penh that blended elements of Khmer traditional music with the sounds of rhythm and blues and rock and roll to make a Westernized sound akin to psychedelic or garage rock. Samouth is believed to have been killed under the Khmer Rouge regime in November 1975.

Biography

Early life

Sinn Sisamouth (alternative spellings: Sin Sisamouth, Sinn Sisamout/h, Sisamut/h or "Si" with spacing, e.g. Si Samouth) was born in 1935 in Stung Treng Province, the son of Sinn Leang and mother Seb Bunlei who was of Lao-Chinese descent.

He was the youngest of four siblings, with one brother and two sisters. His father was a prison warden in Battambang Province and was then a soldier during the Colonial Cambodia period. His father died of disease and his mother remarried, and the union resulted in two more children.

Samouth attended Central Province of Stung Treng Elementary School when he was five. At the age of six or seven, he started to show interest in the guitar, and he would be asked to perform at school functions. He was interested in Buddhist scripture, and he learned Pali from the Buddhist monks. He enjoyed reading books, playing soccer and flying kites.

In about 1951 he finished elementary school, and went to study medicine in Phnom Penh, where he lived with an uncle. Despite the rigorous demands of medical school, Sisamouth still managed to find time to learn how to sing and compose songs. Just as he had in elementary school, he became well known in his school for his musical skills and lyrical talent, and was asked to sing at school ceremonies.

By the time Cambodia was granted independence from France in 1953, Samouth's fine singing voice landed him a spot on national radio as a regular singer. He also continued his studies, working at Preah Ketomealea Hospital.

Music career

Early hits and musical talent

Samouth possessed a clear crooning voice which, combined with his own compositions about the pleasures and pains of romance, made him an idol. He sang many ballads, as well uptempo rock numbers that featured prominent, distortion-laden guitar, pumping organ and loud, driving drums. Other arrangements were more Latin jazz-sounding, featuring woodwinds, brass, and auxiliary percussion.

Samouth composed melodies on a mandolin. His songs were usually of a sentimental nature, reflecting on the longings, pains, and pleasures of romance. His lyrical talent was a result of hard work as well as natural ability. He was known to have used up to three different dictionaries in searching for just the right word in the Khmer, Sanskrit, or Pali languages.

In the early 1950s he became a protege of Queen Kossomak Nearyrath. He was selected to join the Vong Phleng Preah Reach Troap (classical ensemble of the Royal Treasury) where together with Sos Matt, he performed at royal receptions and state functions. A number of songs he wrote subsequently bore the unmistakable melancholic melodies of traditional Khmer music he performed in those formative years.

Sometime in the mid-1950s a romantic ballad "Violon Sneha", composed by violinist Hass Salan (or Hass Salorn), catapulted Samouth into stardom. Samouth's other hits of the same period include "Srey Sros Khmeng","Anussavry Phnom Kravanh", "(Chett Srey doch) Chong Srol", "Thngay Dob Pee Thnou", "Kakey (Srey Chett Cheuk)", "KangRey (kuor nass assor dal roub neang Kang Rey)", "Thngay Muoy Kakkda", "Somros Chhne Keb", "Stung Pursat", and "Prek Eng Oss Sangkhim". Three songs from this period were to be re-released much later in the early 1970s. These are "Oudom Duong Chett" available from a popular video site, "Prek Eng Oss Sangkhim" and "Chau Dork" (a clever musical duet with Ros Serey Sothea, showcasing Salan on violin and Samouth on mandolin). Interested readers should look for "Chong Srol" and "Somros Chhne Keb" on the internet. Dedicated fans should consider making more of these songs available on the web to future generations of Khmer listeners. They are priceless examples of Samouth's earliest vocal style and the poetry that pervades his art.

1960s Cambodian music scene

Beginning in around 1963, Samouth started recording on the Vat Phnom label. His "Champa Batdambang" won immediate acclaim across the country. In a rare 1971 appearance on Khmer Republic television, Samouth's interviewer recalled that "Champa Batdambang" was the first opening song at the inauguration of the station in 1965. What captured Samouth's audience in this period was the use of a four-piece, rock and roll band instrumentation with guitars and percussion, a departure from an orchestral backing band of wind instruments, piano, violin and the odd accordion. He also experimented with Latin music - an infatuation that may have been started by Prince Norodom Sihanouk in compositions such as "Reatry Del Ban Chuop Pheak" and "Phnom Penh". If anything Samouth's ability to re-invent himself musically may well be his greatest attribute and could explain his appeal through different generations of Khmer listeners.

By the mid-sixties, Samouth's fame had reached its zenith and had him in great demand. One measure of his appeal is examplified in "Prey Prasith", Prince Norodom Sihanouk's second full length feature film, available on the Prince's website. Playing the piano and apparently shown singing the title song he composed, Prince Sihanouk was actually dubbed over by none other than Samouth.

Samouth's popularity nevertheless did not eclipse the work of other recording artists, notably those who sang at the National Radio such as Im Song Seum and Huoy Meas. Meas Hok Seng, a voice artist at the Phnom Penh University of Arts (popularly known as "Sala Rachna") also achieved celebrity status in 1966 with "Lolok Nhi Chmaul". Hits by these artists often came from the pen of lyricist Ma Lao Pi, a talented poet and broadcaster now living in California, whose masterpieces include "Day Samot Trapaing Roung" (originally performed by Keo Sokha, and in more recent times, by Touch Sonich) and "Lolok Nhi Chmaul". Im Song Seurm's career seems centred on vocal performance rather than musical composition. "Koh Tral" was recorded sometime in 1963, reminding Khmer listeners of the bitter loss of this island to South Vietnam. With Huoy Meas, Seurm often accompanied Prince Sihanouk in his regular provincial visits, performing popular ramvong songs to the masses that have come to greet Cambodia's head of state. Im Song Seurm died, reportedly of cancer in 1972, leaving a series of final songs (e.g. Khmao euy Khmao), borrowed from Thai movies, which he sang with Ros Sereysothea. On the other hand, despite occasional hits such as "Akassyean", Sos Matt appeared to have been unfairly sidelined in the commercialisation of music that took place with the arrival of recording productions such as Vat Phnom and later on, Chan Chaya. Sos Matt nevertheless retained a following among older fans who may have been less open to Samouth's later musical innovations. Also the popularity of the 45 rpm vinyl records forced commercially minded songwriters to work their compositions into 2.50 minute straigth jackets. By then, arguably, Samouth's penchant for putting poetry to music had become a thing of the past.

Parallel to mainstream khmer music carried by the National Radio, a number of lesser known artists also achieved recognition on the national scene. The band Dontrey Apsara with lead singer Sereyvuth burst on the scene with "Anny" and "Batt Aun". The latter piece featured an imaginative intro that mesmerized every budding Khmer guitarists of the day. Mol Kamach, another guitarist and composer with considerable but un-acknowledged talent, produced a series of songs including in the early sixties, "Noeuk Sranoss dol ti Kanleng..", and "Oh srey sross bang keng srawmaih..". His best loved song however still remains "Lea Neak Mean Kun" that quickly became a Khmer students' anthem in which he relates the homage he paid to his mother before leaving for a study trip ("Kaun saum oywn kay krab thvay bangkum.."). Having escaped the Khmer Rouge years and living in Paris ever since, he wrote one moving song beginning with the lyrics "Roseal neouv srok keh.." ("one afternoon in someone else's country.."), describing his profound sorrow at the loss of his family in the Pol Pot years.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Samouth sang the soundtrack songs to a number of popular Cambodian films, such as "Orn Euy Srey Orn", "Tep Sodachan", and "Thavory meas bong". In "Peou Chhouk Sar", a 1967 success directed by Tea Lim Kaing, Samouth captured the poignant breakup of lead actors Dy Saveth and Chea Yuthan with his "Neavea Chivit". In a beautiful series of shots choreographed to Samouth's soaring melody, Tea Lim Kaing showed Chea Yuthan leaving on a pirogue (touk) as his wife (played by Dy Saveth) followed on along the banks of the river.

Over his long career, Samuth recorded many duets with female singing partners including, in the early 1960s, Mao Sareth, Keo Montha, Keo Settha, Chhunn Vanna, Huoy Meas, Ros Sereysothea, and Pan Ron. Mao Sareth could arguably be called the first female Khmer singer to have achieved nationwide acclaim, in the years following Cambodia's emerging political independence. Little is known of her early years. Folk lores have it that she was a humble street seller of lottery tickets before her talents were discovered. A valuable example of her art is "Sombot Krom Khneuy", an early 1960s song with a haunting melody which can be found on the internet. In 1969 her "Oay Own Oss Chett" reminded the nation now charmed by younger upstarts, of her still considerable talents. Chhunn Vanna made her name on national radio with "Koh Tonsay" and in numerous popular ramvong songs. She is also best remembered for the soulful performance of Lav Loeuk, a classical work that in the aftermath of the fall of Pol Pot, had its lyrics re-written as a lament for Phnom Penh, the ghost city. Pan Ron began recording with Samouth in 1966. Ros Sereysothea started her career around 1967 with the hit "Stung Khieu", available from a Khmer internet radio. From "Stung Khieu" to "Chnam Aun 16" she seemed to enjoy performing at ever higher pitch. Her high crisp voice is often said to nicely balance the deeper-toned voice of Sisamouth.

amouth in the 1970s

As his popularity increased, Samouth could no longer keep up the pace of writing his own material, so he started performing works by other songwriters. He initially picked songs written by Pov Sipho, Svay Som Eur, and Ma Laopi, but he would also occasionally sing songs composed by Mae Bunn, a close friend of his, and Has Salorn. Between 1970 and 1975, he almost exclusively sang songs written by Voy Ho, a long standing colleague. Regardless of who had written the songs, Samouth always managed to make them popular. Samouth also adapted a number of Thai songs into his repertoire, including "Chnam Mun" and "Snaeh Chlong Vaeha".

From 1972 to 1973 music publisher Kruoch Polin issued "A Collection of Sentimental Songs", which contained 500 of Sinn Sisamouth's songs. It is estimated that he wrote thousands of songs, possibly at least one for each day he was famous, his son Sinn Chaya has said.

Along with his original works, Samouth also introduced many Western pop tunes to Cambodia, simply writing new verses in Khmer language. Examples include "The House of the Rising Sun" as "I'm Still Waiting for You" (a particularly good showcase of his sustained phrasing and baritone voice), "Black Magic Woman" (influenced by the Santana version) under the title "I Love Petite Women", and "Quando My Love".

Personal life

Marriage and family

After finishing medical school, he wedded his cousin, Keo Thorng Gnut, in an arranged marriage. They had four children. After the Khmer Rouge, only one daughter and one son survived. His family life deteriorated as a consequence of the pressures of his career and the temptations that his voice attracted. With regard to his relationship with his wife, one of his sons, Sinn Chaya, commented that no woman could pay that price. At the age of thirty, his wife left him to become a Buddhist nun. Interested Khmer readers can view a recent interview she gave, posted on a popular video site. Now in her seventies, with most of her family devastated by the wars, the video also contains her appeal for financial support from Khmer fans of the late singer living overseas.

Friends and interests

Sinn Sisamouth had a reputation for being very serious about his work. In business affairs, according to publisher Kruoch Polin, he would always deliver what he promised. At home, he was a quiet man, and would sometimes not speak more than ten words in an entire day. When he was not performing, Samouth would lock himself in his room and dedicate his time to writing more songs. His failure to socialize contributed to a reputation for being elitist.

His friends at the beginning of his career were songwriters such as Mao Saret, Seang Dee, and Sous Mat. His very close friends were Mae Bunn and Siv Sunn, who was more or less Samouth's personal secretary.

Samouth was an avid fan of cock-fighting, and he raised fighting birds. In his spare time, he would bet with friends. He exercised regularly by lifting weights every morning. His other interests included reading books at the library and watching French films at the Luch or Prom Bayon cinemas. At night, after he finished performing, Samouth would meet with friends to eat rice porridge. He had contracts with three different restaurants in Phnom Penh in which he was paid 1,500 riels to sing two or three songs. A bowl of noodles cost 5 riel at the time. He usually sang at Kbal Thmor Bar, Neak Bagn Teak Bar, and a bar located next to the Interior Ministry.

He was not a picky eater. He generally preferred to eat Lao food. When he ate Khmer food, he liked to eat "pror-huk" and "phork tpul trey". He never drink wine or soft drinks, ate chili peppers, or smoked cigarettes, all of which would harm his voice.

He always freely gave up-and-coming singers advice and reminded them to take care of their voices. His affable, caring attitude thus won him favor among his contemporaries.

The Killing Fields

In the aftermath of the "coup d'état" by the Lon Nol government on March 18 1970, which saw the overthrow of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Samouth started to sing propaganda songs in support of the fledgling Khmer Republic. In that rare live 1971 television show mentionned earlier, Samouth appeared in a military fatigue, wearing an officer's cap to hide his slightly balding forehead, and performed a number of pro republican songs. One such songs that became an enduring classic was "Mae Owy Ao Yoann", telling the story of a mother giving a mantra-covered magic vest to her soldier son on his way to battle. Referring to Viet Cong troop movements inside Cambodian territory during the Vietnam War, a verse in the same song claimed that the deposed monarch had sold out Cambodia to the Vietnamese communists. Such criticism of the royal family, while understandable at a time of huge political and social changes, was nevertheless unprecedented in Samouth's career, especially as he had been a protege of Queen Kossomak Nearyrath, mother of Prince Sihanouk. By this time however, and save a few memorable songs, many have questioned the quality of Samouth's final years' output. It was claimed his art was becoming formulaic and repetitive. How much he understood the extent of the hellish tragedy that was consuming Khmer society may never be known, but it was clear that by the mid 70's he appeared to have distanced himself entirely from politics and from anything that could be misconstrued as taking sides. The Khmer Rouge takeover of Phnom Penh on April 17 1975 saw Samouth forced to leave the city, along with millions of other residents.

By this time he had remarried, to a dancer in the royal ballet, who was pregnant with the couple's second child.

The circumstances of his death in the Killing Fields are unknown, but he had connections with the old government, was highly educated, and was an artist — all trappings of a society that Pol Pot sought to eradicate. One apocryphal story is that before he was to be executed, Samouth asked he be allowed to sing a song for the cadre, but the cold-hearted communist soldiers were unmoved and after he finished singing, killed him anyway. One recent interview of Samouth's former wife is available on a popular internet video site. Besides an appeal for financial support for the humble remnants of Samouth's impoverished family, Samouth's widow relate souvenirs of her famed husband.

Legacy

Because his influence on Cambodian music was so great, he is still a household name in Cambodia. His surviving son, Sinn Chaya, became a singer for the Cambodian Radio, though he himself has admitted he cannot be compared to his father.

Although all the master tapes of his studio recordings are thought to have been destroyed by the Khmer Rouge, his work lives on in recordings created from cassettes and LPs that have subsequently been transferred to CD, and his songs are often heard on Cambodian radio stations.

Now and then some of Samouth's 1950s and early 1960s hits are brought back to life. One such hit, "Srey Sros Khmeng", re-emerged from oblivion with Suong Chantha's 2002 faithful rendition. In recent years his 1950s hit song "Violon Sneha" has been re-issued by a large number of performers, including Song Seng Horn, of Sayonara productions Rhode Island, Mol Kamach (a singer and guitarist of the 1960s who escaped from the Khmer Rouge rule and is now living in France), Nay Sieng (a Khmer based in France), Noy Vanneth and Him Sivonn (a female vocalist from Phnom Penh). Nevertheless, many of Samouth's taped recordings from the 50's and early 60's apparently did not survive and are feared to be lost forever.

Samouth, his frequent duet partner Ros Sereysothea, and other Cambodian singers of the era, including Meas Samoun, Chan Chaya, Choun Malai, and Pan Ron, are featured on the soundtrack to Matt Dillon's film "City of Ghosts". Tracks by Samouth are "Mou Pei Na" and "Ne Te Fache Pas".

Partial discography

Some of the songs (from the hundreds and possibly thousands) that Sinn Sinsamouth composed and sang himself, or with Ros Sereysothea or Pan Ron, include:

olo performances

A

*"Ae Na Tiw Than Suor?" (Where Is Heaven? ឯណាទៅឋានសួគ៌?)
*"Annie..."​(អានី)
*"Anicha"
*"Anuksavary Phnom Sompov" (Memories of Sompov mountain) អានុស្សារីយ៍ភ្នំសំពៅ

B

*"Ba Oun Ban Bang" (If you have me) បើ អូន បាន បង
*"Baksa Slab Deik" បក្សា​ស្លាប​ដែក
*"Battambang Bandol Jet" (Battambang Sweetheart)
*"Bong Som Pdum Srey Orn*"
*"Bopha Chiang Mai" (Flower/Girl of Chiang Mai) បុប្ផា​ឈៀងម៉ៃ
*"Bopha dei krong" (Flower/Girl of the city) បុប្ផា​ដី​ក្រុង
*"Bopha Koah Kong" (Flower/Girl from Koah Kong Island)បុប្ផា​កោះកុង
*"Bopha tae mouy" (Just One Flower (or Girl))បុប្ផា​តែ​មួយ

C

*"Chang Trim Tae Khuñ" (Just Want to See)ចង់ ត្រឹមតែឃើញ
*"Chab Yom Brab Sne Chas" ចាបយំប្រាប់សេហ៌្នចាស់
*"Cheim Krohom Kmao" ឈាមក្រហាមខ្មៅ
*"Chmous Oun Diuc Doung Dara" ឈ្នោះអូនដូចដួងតារា
*"Chit niw tae prathna" ចិតនៅតែប្រថ្នា
*"Chit Phit Kbat" (Treacherous Lying Heart) ចិត្តផិតក្បត់
*"Cut Saog Dai Aike"* កាត់សក់ដៃឯក

D

*"Devi*"
*"Dorng steung Porthisat"
*"Dorng steung Sangker"
*"Dourng netra"

G

*"Gaing Thov"*

J

*"Jevit Sach Loch"
*" Jevit khyum somrab nerk" (My heart is for you) *guy saying to a girl

K

*"Kandal dourng Chet"
*"Keng Youl Angrung" (Sleeping, Rocking the Hammock)
*"Kheung Pruos Sralanh" (I Am Angry Because I Love)
*"Khoss Pruos Knhom
*"Klen Euy Kro Obe" (Smell So Good)
*"Kolap Batdambong" (Rose of Battambong)
*"Kolap Khmer Ahkas"
*"Kolap Mouy Tong" (The One Rose)
*"Kolap Pailin" (Pailin Rose)

L

*"Lmorm heuy na srey" (Enough Already)

M

*"Mae Ouy Owe Youn"*
*"Maloub dorng steung por bak khaing"
*"Marina"
*"Meas Teuk Prambei" (Impure Gold) a.k.a. "Smaan Tae Niw Gramom" (Thought (She) Was Still a Maiden)
*"Meul Teuk Samotr" (Looking at the Water of the Ocean)
*"Msel Menh" (Yesterday)

N

*"Neary chnam 72" (1972 Girl)
*"Neuk Oun Jearnich" (I will always miss you)
*"Nevei Jevit"
*"Nisay Sne Srey Krob Leak"

O

*"Oh oh yeh yeh" — song by Sinn Sisamouth containing a chorus in English
*"On srey On" (On, the Woman, On)*
*"Oun mok pee na?" (Honey, When Did You Come?)

P

*"Pailin Soben Snae" (Pailin Dream of Love)
*"Pél dèl trov yom
*"Pkai Proeuk" (Morning Star)
*"Phap Samnarng"
*"Pleng Machareach"

R

*"Ream Kham Sror Mai"
*"Roomdourl dorng steung Sangker" (Flower of the River Sangker)
*"Roomdourl Pothisat" (Flower of Pursat)
*"Roomdourl Kok Kong"
*"Roomdourl Kratier" (Flower of Kratier)
*"Roomdourl Sorin"
*"Roseal Kong Phnom"

*"Samotr ream"
*"Sangkhim Cheanich" (Hoping Forever)
*"Snae ney yoeung" (Our love)
*"Sopheap boroh
*"Soriya reap lich"
*"Stoeung Sangker Kom Praeh jet tmey" (River Sangker, Don't Change Your Mind)

T

*"Tep Thida Khnong Soben"(Goddess in a dream)
*"Tgnai Neas Min Jole Pteas" (Won't Go Home Today)
*"Thavory meas Bang" (Thavory, my Love)*
*"Touh yarg nar"
*"Troap Koap Chenda"
*"Tumnuñ Kita Meas"
*"teuk pnete derm chnom"

V

*"Vil Veñ Oun" (Come Back, Dear)
*"Vil Veñ Tam Sanya"
*"Voasa Dal Haouy" (Winter Is Here Already)

Y

*"Youp 12 koert" (Unforgettable Night of the 12th Increasing Moon)"

Duets with Ros Sereysothea

*"Ae Na Prommajarey"
*"Atneja Kai Gnognit"
*"Akura Lohet"*
*"Bombai Tep Sodachan"*
*"Boh Choong"
*"Chhom Chet Pesey"
*"Chop Jeur Huey Bros"
*"Jang ban pka avey?" (What Flower Do You Want?)
*"Jomno Throjeak" (A Cold Wind)
*"Jun Kasey"
*"Koch Madum Na?" (How Am I "bad"?)
*"Kolarb snaeha" (Love Poem)
*"Komloss Phnom Penh Kromom Battambang"
*"Konoch veyo"
*"Kromom Khmer Ler"*
*"Lea Huey Kolap Battambang"
*"Oh! snaeha euy!" (Oh! Love!)
*"Snaiha Phenovong"*
*"Yerng chreing lann pinek"*
*"Chiet et la-eng"*
*"Bong smoss luoksei"*
*"Keopanchapor"*
*"Seneha Preas Leksinnavong"*
*"Seneha Preas Thuong Neang Nag"*
*"Thyronagum Neang Nag"*
*"Pkah Angkearboss"*
*"Duong preas chanthrere"*
*"Guo prane nisei sene"*(Soul mate)
*"Norn laorng pruom teu!"*
*"Bopha thansorkear"*(Heavenly flower)
*"Than soben sene"*
*"Sene peth thar la-eng"*
*"Chan reas kandol thngay throng"*
*"Yerng kom bomplete khnere"*
*"Phekdei seneha"*(Phekdei Love)
*"Preas Chinavong Bothumsoryah"*
*"Preas Channavong Kasalbopha"*
*"Athetsovann Chankasal*
*"Cheit moi thleam moi"
*"Seneha Champa Meas"*
*"Kuom kurht bong euy"*(Don't stop me)
*"Jumroke sene"*(The roof of love)
*"Moi kamplerng anosaovari"
*"Sene bong neng oun"*
*"Soben than sene"*
*"Sovann Thanann"*
*"Sdath Domrei Sal"*(The white Elephant king)
*"Soryonn Gomah"*
*"Prasna buon kall"*(The four riddell)
*"Preas Neng Champ Thuong"*
*"Chan reas khnong reastrei"*(Full moon at midnight)
*"Abulkesem"*
*"Thansor nei yerng"*(Ours Heaven)
*"Sophear meas bong"*
*"Akynjah mate mee sraltuom*
*"Akareth Mayura"*
*"Avuoth men ous men slapp"*
*"Buthamavei seneha Chrisna Devi"*
*"Pralong gonkear lane"*(Water festival)
*"Thansor sene yerng"*
*"Ros sene aldom"*
*"Somlane sene thmei"
*"Joss mork praleng"*(Come down my love)
*"Yerng prote knere heuy"*
*"Sralmai geu sene"*
*"Klein pkah prei phnom"*(Scent of mountain flower)
*"Chuok Roth meas bong"*
*"Jomroke phekdei"*(The Shelter of trust)
*"Rorm sene loksei"*
*"Reing sene yerng"*
*"Thavary meas bong"*
*"Jeur Joss ! Jeur Joss !* (believeth)
*"Phuom khmer phuom thmei*
*"Sene neu thae sene*(always will love)
*"Yokvyjonn samei thmei"*(The youths of New era)
*"Sralane bong joss"*
*"Thanak psane cheit psane"*(Status are different from love)
*"Meas sene pralnei bong"*
*"Kmern avei thom jern seneha"*(Nothing bigger than love)
*"Derm trane yull"*(waving of the tallgrass)
*"Gonsan bonjum cheit"*(The lover scarf)
*"Tyda seneha bong"*
*"Tep Tyda Kandal sal"*(The King of the White Mouse)
*"Praland seneha"*
*"Seneha jumlerth"*(The weirdness of love)
*"Tonsai sdei chanthere'*
*"Promdane cheit"*(Boarder of love)
*"Chan jak math kere"*
*"Seneha Laver Jathe"*
*"Chmreing Tuom Tao"*
*"Pka reth pkah roi"*
*"Rothanakvong Neang Sokuntheros"*
*"Somross Neang Baksai"*(The beauty of the bird princess)
*"Thngay jurp seneha"*
*"Mate eoi joi pong"*
*"Prane nisei seneha"*
*"Klain sal klain khmao"*(The white hawk & black hawk)
*"Seneha pratana "*
*"Sonyah 3 thngay"*( the 3 days promise)
*"Pkah reth khnong sorn"*(Blossom flower in the garden)
*"khbone sene kakai"*
*"Lere heuy songsa khyum"*(Gooodbye my love)
*"Buthamavei seneha"*
*"Golap Indonesei"*
*"Krap klenn Chanthuo"*
*"Somboth muok jadei sene"*(Promises before the grave of love)
*"Sene khmean Thngay plett"*
*"Sne Chlong Veha" (ស្នេហ៍ឆ្លងវេហា)
*"Jerng Phnom Samphov
*"Rom thet thheu (dance again)
*"Joui chhrooth shreu(caltivate rice)
*"Sralnoss O'chruo
*"Kralmom lerk kloun*
*"Phchoo mork darl heuy(Moonsoon is here)
*"Thnom euy thnom*
*"Gonthret torng vong
*"Sralane oun tharl thae ban
*"Oun geurt chnom euy?
*"Jass heuy louk tha!
*"Mi mai gall srey
*"Bong suom sla srey
*"Malop derm sralao
*"Enjurn teu nah?(where are you going)
*"Puot euy srey puot
*"Chmreing sene yerng(song of our love)
*"Oun jong yurm phhlae ghoi
*"Chravak sene (chained love)
*"Stung anosa
*"Jung thale khum hath
*"Suert reu yume ( laugh or cry?)
*"Tout chiet nas
*"Bors nag
*"Lerr srey khmao theu journ ongum
*"Aknicha san sdei
*"Japp pok euy
*"Sralane bong teu!
*"Chmreing seneha
*"Pka euy euy pka
*"Stung songkaer sene phekdei
*"Roi chnom gall jum darle
*"Yerng chreing pei nerk
*"Chiet sene terng neu
*"Sralane oun rom
*"Joll darle aoi mai
*"Chnom kroi kae neng
*"Sralane srey yupp
*"Goe sene khbere stung gumsorth
*"Som sla srey
*"Anosaovary bei kat
*"Trom darle pout gum
*"Pralet being srey
*"Tout euy srey tout
*"Kralmom pem kralsorm
*"Pailin doung chiet
*"Cheu nas oun
*"Om tork joll prate
*"Oun rep gah joss
*"Mam eng!
*"Math kear Phnom Penh dara battambang
*"Thmall goll sralmall sene
*"Sath japp yume jep
*"Jang sdap plain
*"Slek doung slek jak
*"Romvong chnom thmei
*"Hello bong ! hello oun!
*"Khdam sralgnay
*"Lork guon kralmom
*"Srey ngo ngok
*"Cingom moi teu
*"Penicilline sinn teu
*"Sum khjaye goe rom
*"Jumnov traljerk*(the cold breeze)
*"Phey mless oun*
*"Nerk na sene jerng nerk nah?*(whose love is greater?)
*"Chiet klart chiet*
*"Sralmall nerk nah?*(Whoses shadow?)
*"Kralmom arenn
*"Kum plete bopha angkor
*"Prome derm men prome chong
*"Chao dok
*"Go bong snan moi(One horn bull)
*"Nerk kroe kralmom
*"Nerk kroe pathe euy
*"Neary samei
*"Gondop bok srel
*"Svay moi mathe
*"Pka kravann
*"Mork pei nere thlerk ey
*"Tharl oun ayok punman
*"Phnom tout phnom thom
*"Reing peth roboss oun(My true story)
*"Pnete kouth
*"Pka avey?
*"Klart tharl koss
*"Stung songkae komprere chiet thmei
*"Bopha doung tao
*"Oun rean English
*"Enjung gall keng darle
*"Neh! oun srey
*"Oun prome heuye bong*
*"Sene khmern preall
*"Khmern loi moi reil tay
*"Pros samei apollo
*"Mong punman heuy?(what time is it)
*"Chert kroi som geurt cher...
*"Therm sene cheva
*"Smak therm pralpeini
*"Oun sonyah eouy bong jum
*"Bong jurp consigner
*"The pleing thet deth
*"Chan jak math
*"Kum lane morl pleu
*"Shate rom thall pleu
*"Gann dai mon gah
*"Teu nah teu pong
*"Rei meas shok shkom
*"Sorn sene aldom*
*"Kamloss mongkolborei srey sereysophaon
*"Srey sross pros sathe
*"Battambang mern avey chheung?
*"Mahop pisess

Duets with Pan Ron

*"Ah run rah"
*"Chearng Maik Por Svay"*
*"Sene reth douth pkah"
*"Teuk Chross thlek leu thmall"
*"Pkah chuok rohong
*"Sess peye teu"( As the horse gallop)
*"Jurp Phek"
*"Chmreing bompei"
*"Jomroke sene"
*"Seneha Neang Champa"
*"Lere heuy Romdoll lonvath"
*"Som sene Preas Perepath"
*"Torng Neang Vong"
*"Gampoll boross muok pei(The heroes with 2 faces)
*"Kathsongva meas bong"
*"Seneha Eyna Bossaba"
*"Gall na pkah reth?
*"Kdei sene yerng
*"Veryoke Traljerke"(Coldness of the breeze)
*"Sene douch jerng make"
*"Sene douch bomnong"
*"Pka reik mort samoth"(Flower blossom in front of the ocean)
*"Machoof meas"(The Golden Coffin)
*"Oun plet reing derm"
*"Menjess yoll chet"
*"Bondam Keo Samonthere"
*"Gomsan gonkear"
*"Niss geu gum oun"( This is my misfortune)
*"Chmreing thnom bompei"
*"Sranlane khnere nas"
*"Montha meas bong"
*"Khum hous songkum
*"Den mork ! den mork!
*"Traljerke chet
*"Gumagall pysess
*"Geur gum thae oun
*"Merr gonn mdong
*"Khang baick teu heuy(flat tires)
*"Som thot roup mui
*"Juoy ronn lane(help push car)
*"Gonya rom sess (horse style dance)
*"Bong som reann rom
*"khmass ynerth
*"Rom cha cha cha
*"Teptydah gonya sork vain
*"Prasad sene*(the castle of love)
*"Joll chrok sinn nerng
*"Teu...kum teu aren
*"Ruop oun l-all jerng gay
*"Soben lorth sene
*"Golap Phuom gopnymeth
*"gumlane men lork tha
*"Thnom thpall oun pong
*"Chiet sene borisoth
*"Rom enjern rom
*"Guon gath bey sass
*"Oun sboth! sboth!
*"Bopha slakat
*"Gamloss honda Ganya peises
*"Snam kram jurp thpall
*"Nerk berk trakteu kvass sene
*"Sathe sorm
*"Poss mai heu hah
*"Jall lort thae thall?
*"Lanong tharl cha cha cha
*"Chnei khsath koss kong
*"Trom darl pout gum
*"Rom ban thae
*"Somross thmei
*"Om tork khnong being
*"Smak bong darl reu
*"Somross khmer pthem
*"Khmao oun khmao khmer
*"Men sene bong thae*
*"Jall lort bessduong*
*"Sralnoss gain toll khnong
*"Enjerng rom leng
*"Ruop pei cheveth mui
*"Sene yerng
*"klein klorn malis rorth
*"Srey tout tralmere
*"Avey heu tha seneha?

Notes

Song titles were in Khmer but have been transliterated into the Latin alphabet. Translations of song title pronunciations to English may not be accurate, may have been modified to be understandable in English, and under other circumstances should not be considered error-free. An asterisk (*) beside a song title means the song is known to be a soundtrack to a Khmer film at the time.

# "Khoeung Pruos Sralanh" is also known as "Bonaich jet snae"
# 'Oun' is a Khmer pronoun used by a male to refer to a female lover or by the female to refer to herself when speaking to her lover. It can also be a female name or nickname.
# "Chmous Oun Doch Dourng Dara" is also known as "Chom Chet Pisey"

References

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20060206055542/http://gokhmer.net/Miscellaneous/Biography/Samouth/index.php A Brief Biography of Sinn Sisamouth] (retrieved from archive.org on December 22 2006).

ources

External links

* [http://camweb.org/songpage1.phtml Camweb: Sinn Sisamouth Songs] — some songs by Sisamouth in Real Audio format
* [http://www.khmerrocks.com/ Sinn Sisamouth song downloads] — at Khmer Rocks
* [http://dontthinkiveforgotten.com/ Don't Think I've Forgotten] — a documentary about the Khmer rock and roll scene.
* [http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2006/04/memories-from-khmer-rouge-era-murder.html "Memories from the Khmer Rouge era: The murder of famous singer Sin Sisamouth"] . — a blog entry.