There is a popular stereotype about gay men: they are close to their mothers. In the case of Thongchai McIntyre, this may have been true. Widely believed to be gay, Thongchai, who records under the stage-name Bird, has long been one of Thailand's top pop stars.

Unlike most "super star" moms, his mother, Mrs Udom, attended all his concerts, the Bangkok Post reported. And unlike most super stars, Thongchai would introduce her to the audience every time.

Mrs Udom died last week, of kidney failure, at the age of 84. During a weeklong funeral ceremony, funerary rites were held last Tuesday, and HRH Princess Soamsawali, a loyal royal fan, presided, the Post noted.

In Thailand, where family relationships are held in very high esteem, and the relatives of celebrities are often interviewed on television, the passing of this particular mother has attracted more media attention than usual.

Coverage of Bird's grief and the funeral has been extensive. This might be because of the visibly warm relationship between mother and son at Bird's shows, and the persona - described by the Post as "cuddly" - that she projected.