Good show at Copa Show Bar

[loke]

I have seen quite a few shows both in Bangkok and Pattaya so I didn't expect much when I visited Copa Show Bar a few nights ago .

But I was suprised , the show is called World Tour , Songs from around the World.
And it was outstanding , that night I could see maybe 50 customers inside so it was pacled.

So many good dancers and of course the cabaret shows that you would expect in a place like this, but it was all well coreographed and in a very good way with the music and the great costumes from around the world . And some of the acts was also very funny , the Titanic scene was just hilarious.

One of the dancers I really enjoyed watching , unfortunately I did not get his name.


http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3361/4v80.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/4v80.jpg/)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8245/yjff.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/yjff.jpg/)

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/5076/wq3l.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/wq3l.jpg/)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6355/6cc5.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/443/6cc5.jpg/)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/1784/8wqu.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/844/8wqu.jpg/)

[newyorkgeorge]

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3361/4v80.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/4v80.jpg/)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8245/yjff.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/yjff.jpg/)

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/5076/wq3l.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/wq3l.jpg/)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6355/6cc5.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/443/6cc5.jpg/)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/1784/8wqu.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/844/8wqu.jpg/).

The boy in your photo is called Tar, I believe he is quite new there, certainly didn't see him on my last visit in April, but I agree, what a cutie!

I was also there that night, and being a regular, the place was truly packed, but I think there was at least 100 or more people there, it is quite a big club.

I agree, it was a fantastic show!

[bucknaway]

Was it a new show or and old well practiced performance from doing the same shows over and over?

[anonone]

It was a "special" show...which for the Copa means some type of theme...not a sex show.

This one was "songs around the world" or something like that. They also do some good Lady Gaga theme shows, Halloween show, etc.

Some of the same numbers (the Titanic bit has been around a long time, but is funny) mixed in with some new routines and costumes.

BF likes the ladyboy singers. I really enjoy going to the Copa for the dancers...very good and friendly. One of my favorites is now there (not Tar) and I get a smile on my face every time I see him dance.

Great to have special friends.... :evil4:

[bucknaway]

I miss the old Throbb shows. The Copa has too much glamor drag for my taste. I use to be there every night for a while but one day it just all seemed so old to me. On my trip last year, I decided to just my visits down to once a week during my 2 week stay and on both of my visits not one of their shows were new. Maybe because it was October and not yet "High Season."

On a side note, I have never known the Copa or old Throbb to ever put on a sex show beyond the guys pulling off their rip-away pants.

[Nirish guy]

I went through a patch of being totally bored with the shows but this trip I really started to enjoy them again, mind you that was probably as I was seeing one of the dancers this time round who was lovely both on stage and off it :-)

The Ladyboy who does the Whitney Houston tribute songs is just incredible, I could have gone to see a show of her just doing Whitney and nothing else all night, almost as close as the real thing - actually no, come to think of it I went to see Whitney in Wembley years ago and the ladyboy act probably put on a better show !

[Up2U]

Oh boy, Whitney Houston, that's original!

I will only start going to these shows when they have an Elvis impersonator.....

An all time first for Pattaya. :-)

[Oliver]

There's no doubt that the Copa shows are well-presented and that the performers work hard. But wouldn't it be nice if there were an occasional Thai item? Traditional dance, costumes? or even Thai pop? And I agree that perhaps the drag component needs to be diminished.

[newyorkgeorge]

I miss the old Throbb shows. The Copa has too much glamor drag for my taste. I use to be there every night for a while but one day it just all seemed so old to me. On my trip last year, I decided to just my visits down to once a week during my 2 week stay and on both of my visits not one of their shows were new. Maybe because it was October and not yet "High Season."

On a side note, I have never known the Copa or old Throbb to ever put on a sex show beyond the guys pulling off their rip-away pants.
Just to clarify for you, as far as i can remember, it hasn't been Throb for at least 5 or 6 years! i used to go then, and sure, the shows were fun, but i think if you put that show on now it would look very old, and tacky! i think they have moved with the times, which is why they still do well, and others do not! i'm not sure which is the most frightening, having the labrador doggy thrusting his crutch in your face, or being dragged into a cardboard boat "titanic" and having to fondle rose's elasticated cock!

[Nirish guy]

i'm not sure which is the most frightening ........being dragged into a cardboard boat "titanic" and having to fondle rose's elasticated cock!

Well you know what they say.....with every rose there'll always be at a prick :-)

[anonone]

There's no doubt that the Copa shows are well-presented and that the performers work hard. But wouldn't it be nice if there were an occasional Thai item? Traditional dance, costumes? or even Thai pop? And I agree that perhaps the drag component needs to be diminished.

I seem to recall some Thai numbers at Copa, including Thai costumes...but it was a pretty long time ago. And come to think of it, not entirely sure it was "Thai"...but something Eastern anyway. WWB did it occasionally as well, back when their show was something worthwhile. Something very alluring about the dancers in the Thai garb. Sexy !

And while I don't disagree about the drag component, it is a big draw for some. BF loves to watch them...
I am OK with them as long as they have the backup dancers for me to watch.

[anonone]

Found a short video I took in January of this year. I think this was one of their special show nights...all Lady Gaga....
Sorry for the audio quality toward the end...taken with an old iPhone.

http://youtu.be/e2j5Oq0l4VQ

**Had to post a link as I still can't figure out how to embed a youtube video player into a post here. Can someone help? Is it even possible?

[loke]

Yes its picture number 2 that I posted , so the boys name is Tar?

He was a very good dancer and seems to have a great personality too.
I will look for him again next time.

[Oliver]

Anone is correct.
About eight years ago, Throb had an Isaan dance item that was performed by a few of the go go boys, rather than the show guys. I found it charming.
And yes, WWB also had regular Thai dances.
I think it a pity when cultures as ancient and resplendent as those of Thailand, from Lanna and Isaan to Sonkhla, are excluded entirely from shows. And to be blunt, much of the music that is at present employed cannot even be considered third-class. The ubiquity of American trash-culture in the tourist areas of Thailand is regrettable. I wonder what percentage of visitors actually enjoy it? After all, many of us travel thousands of miles to experience something rather different to what we have where we live.

[Nirish guy]

Totally agree about the sad lack of (good) Thai music in bars Oliver - mind you as always the bloody Thai's are equally at fault as I was in a small bar ( in Pattaya granted) where they were blasting out western style music, it was late at night and there were only a few customers and we were all shouting up requests as they came to us, I asked the DJ to play "Gun Lae Gan" ( the theme music from Love of Siam movie) which I know he had as I'd noticed it earlier in his playlists, only to be told "cannot" and on asking why was told that they had paid the police for a licence to play western Music and if they were "caught" playing Thai songs that would incur a further payment being required to the police ! So not exactly helping to promote their own culture there eh :-(

I can only guess that this may have been a copyright style licensing issue they were talking about in that they didn't have a license to play (Thai) copyright music, but western music the police perhaps just didn't care about - can anyone confirm that perhaps ? But there's something very wrong when you come all the way to Thailand and can't hear a Thai song played in a Thai bar but are forced to listen to yet another rendition of "Country roads" or The Eagles !

[anonone]

NIrish, you heard correctly. It is a license issue.

Thai music is either a separate license...or an add-on license....not sure exactly how it works. But I asked my friends at Crazy Pub about it earlier this year. I was really in the mood for some Thai music, but not possible.

My guess is all the bars choose the license for the Western music as it is what the majority of their customers would prefer (are they correct...who knows?)
Or perhaps the license for the Thai music is more expensive? Not sure on that one.

I recall that some bars have an "Isan night" occasionally. I wonder if they have a special 1 day license for that...or if they just take a chance on not getting fined.
I will try to ask about it when I am back in a couple of weeks.

[Nirish guy]

Jesus - How crazy is that from a tourism point of view that you need a license to play your Country's own music in your bar to tourists - that is SO Thailand ! :-(

I was going to give them some leeway by saying well I guess we have th performing rights society here who enforce the copyright end of things music wise and the local councils who enforce the overall licensing of bar premises but to add a supplement or require a second license just to play a different style of music and ESPECIALLY when it's your own Country's music is just crap :-(

[joe552]

shame you didn't have your Daniel O'Donnell CD with you, NIrish - could have had some culture at least (btw I quite like the Eagles). :occasion9:

[newyorkgeorge]

Actually, i have seen many Thai songs at Copa, i guess it's just a question of what night you go? and i agree, they look very cute in their traditional costumes.

[anonone]

Well, I guess I am just hitting the wrong nights then. It has been a long time since I have seen one at Copa. I usually hit several shows there each trip...bad luck I guess.

I came across a video clip I took at Wild West Boys. This was from several years ago. Shows have since gone downhill...so much that I don't bother to stop in there at all anymore. My friend moved over to Copa, thankfully.

A rather lengthy "Eastern" performance. If I remember correctly, BF said it was not really Thai...if I am thinking of the same show. Damn Gin and Tonic sometimes messes with my memory.

[youtube:3axc87x8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUhAQksERQE[/youtube:3axc87x8]

Again, sorry for the audio quality. Taken with older iPhone.

[Oliver]

Thai songs at Copa? sorry to missed them....but I went for ten nights in January ( my average attendance until my boyfriend told me he was fed-up with it) and recall a funny item when a guy is lusted after by two girls only to reveal that he's wearing a bra. There is often a charming Malayasian song in traditional dress and a number of Indian ones....but I can't recall any songs in Thai dress unless they have been recently -added. Admittedly I only went on a couple of occasions on my last visit.