Nene Royal wows government’s hi-so dinner guests

From wowing headbangers in Singapore to livening up a dinner for the planet’s financial elite, it’s been another eventful week for Nene Royal, the young Phuket rocker and winner of this year’s “America’s Got Talent” grand prize.

Nene, who opened for the US metal band Avenged Sevenfold before 10,000 people in Singapore on Monday night, had an audience of 400 to entertain on Wednesday night, all of them dressed to the nines and seated in a gilded government ballroom.

The occasion was the welcome dinner for international financial leaders attending the IMF-World Bank Group annual meetings that are taking place in Bangkok this week.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was the host for the event, held at the Santi Maitri Building at Government House.

He had invited Nene — the 16-year-old high-schooler also known as Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy — as a special guest performer to showcase the talent of young Thai artists and promote the country’s soft power to an international audience. (Story continues below)

The welcome dinner also featured a range of traditional Thai cultural performances, including appearances by National Artists, musical performances by the Sorkrao Symphony Orchestra, and a traditional Joe Louis small puppet theatre show.

Nene Royal performed her signature song, the rock anthem Zombie by The Cranberries, which first brought her to the attention of an international audience when she auditioned for America’s Got Talent. She also performed Som Sarn, a hit by the Thai rock band Loso.

Prime Minister Anutin hailed her as a representative of Thai youth power, showcasing the country’s potential and creativity to the world.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and guests applaud as Thai rock singer Nene Royal showcases her talent. (Photo: Tourism Authority of Thailand)