What began as a celebratory gesture has stirred significant online controversy following the September 18 release of “Nene, Nai Nae Mak” (Nene, You’re Truly Great). The track reunited veteran musical duo Aed Carabao and Pan Thanaporn—long recognized as “Num Bao Sao Pan”—to voice support for 16-year-old Nene Royal during her run on America’s Got Talent, prior to her historic championship victory on September 24.
Discussion intensified after an X (formerly Twitter) user shared a clip of the track, which rapidly amassed over 6.3 million views. While some commended the effort, many social media users heavily criticized the song’s tone and styling, describing it as uncomfortable and accusing the veteran artists of attempting to ride the teenager’s momentum.
Addressing the backlash, Aed Carabao issued a public statement clarifying the project’s inspiration and offering his perspective on the discourse. He noted that the public reaction was exceptionally strong and maintained that a healthy society should be capable of accepting and listening to different viewpoints.
Aed revealed that the initial draft was composed with a harmonica solo as a personal gesture for bandmate Thierry, hoping to encourage him to recover from illness and return to playing. While exercising one day, the idea evolved into a broader collaborative project reminiscent of his past collaborative works. Though he initially envisioned three distinct versions—including one with rock musician Sek Loso—scheduling constraints led to producing the released version with Pan Thanaporn alongside a broader ensemble rendition.
The veteran singer emphasized that his sole intention was to champion Nene’s extraordinary talent, praising her family’s dedication and stating that her artistic abilities surpass what veteran artists of his generation achieved. He noted that seeing young Thai talent succeed internationally brings pride and positive recognition to the country, adding that he intends to share his original demo recording in the future.
