I am not going to beat around the bush. This blog post is all about music but I hope it will be a new fresh wind to you. Today we talk about Vietnamese music, which is also known as V-pop. Yes! V-I-E-T-N-A-M-E-S-E. I have never mentioned V-pop (if any, then it is very rare) in my blog before. Vietnamese music is good and on its way to develop. It is not that I am against my country music industry but I do not listen to it very often. Hence, it is pretty hard for me to choose my Top 3 Vietnamese songs I like, if you my dear readers have better recommendations, please write them down in the comment fields and I will give it a try.
It’s time to show your support to the nation’s music industry *waving Vietnamese flag*
#1. Trua Vang – My Linh (Empty Afternoon)
My Linh rose to public prominence as one of 4 divas in Vietnam (besides Hong Nhung, Tran Thu Ha and Thanh Lam) so there is nothing we doubt about her technique skills. What I like the most about this Hanoian singer is her effortless balance between singing technique and ability to deliver the song’s sentiment. When she goes high note, it does not sound so stretched. It is apparently proven in her music works and you can see it in Trua Vang – which was featured in her album Toc Ngan (2000). I do not know if it is because My Linh has built her image as top diva, I see unmistakable classiness in her singing, which somehow sets her apart from mainstream singers.
Leave alone My Linh’s golden vocal, the success of Trua Vang lies in the song itself. My Linh’s hit is composed by Huy Tuan and its lyrics is written by Duong Thu- two respectful figures in Vietnamese music industry, a music work of high quality in terms of melody and meaning is expected consequently. Huy Tuan is close to My Linh and her husband – composer Anh Quan. Knowing his friend’s vocal range, he created music tailoring for her. We are Vietnamese, we understand that Trua Vang has sad lyrics about a break up couple: He fails to fulfill his promise to her and walks away. She chooses to wait for the one she loves but when she looks at the beach they would spend time together in every afternoon, it is a bitter fact that it is not the same anymore without him. But with all ingredients created the song, I feel like having “faith” and so much relief inside of me. I guess that 10 years later, this song is still able to captivate me.
I know that most women do not like to tell their age but I have no hesitation in revealing mine. I was born in 1991 and that means that I will turn 30 years old 4 years later (*cry*). But I never feel happy enough that I was born in a generation when there was no interfere of technology, when people paid more focus on music quality rather than MV visual effect. That all results in my decision to put My Linh’s original Trua Vang MV here. It contains so many beautiful memories of my childhood. But if you want, you can youtube her new acoustic version of it released last year.
#2. Chan Tinh – Le Quyen (True Love)
Chan Tinh and Trua Vang share one similarity and one difference. The former is that I listened to both songs when I was a kid and the latter is I never liked Chan Tinh back then – really HATED. This song was first recorded by Van Truong but back in 2000s, there was a trend that many singers had the same name “Truong”, notably we had Lam Truong and Dan Truong. It ultimately led to me thinking it was just another version of these two top singers, I refused to hear more songs from any singers named “Truong”. That’s why Chan Tinh never got my attention at first.
It was until my mother introduced me Le Quyen’s version that I gave this song a place it deserved. The song is composed by Tran Le Quynh, a music composer that not too many people know. As a former graduate of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, the 1978 liner composer undoubtedly has a great language skill and his word usage in Chan Tinh made it an unforgettable power ballad song. I even appreciate Chan Tinh’s lyrics more than Trua Vang’s one. In Vietnamese music industry, we do not feel strange when a music composer uses a poem for lyrics of his song and Chan Tinh never needs to base on any poems to have poetic lyrics nevertheless. You my loyal readers all know even when I am not quite patriotic, this song made me so proud of my mother language. I have to be a Vietnamese to understand what the song wants to say. Let take the name as an example: Chan Tinh is roughly translated into English as “True Love”, but when we take True Love to Google translate in reverse, we have “Tinh Yeu Chan That”, not something elegant like “Chan Tinh”. Similarly, we are able to easily find in Tran Le Quynh’s work impressive words, e.g. “trong ngan mat em” (your innocent eyes) and “hoang tan lang quen” (forgotten ruins),etc.
Le Quyen is known for a special voice full of emotion. With this typical 90’s ballad song, along with instrument, Le Quyen has brought to us a beautiful piece of music – emotional, classy yet not cheesy.
Bonus my favourite line in Chan Tinh:
“…Nhung con duong anh di roi cung dua anh ve ben em”
“Every path I take eventually leads me to you”
-You are my guiding star when I am lost.
#3. Can Gac Trong – Lil Knight (Empty Rooftop)
Can Gac Trong is Ung Hoang Phuc’s official come back single after his long time vanishing out of the music industry for his injury. Lil Knight composes this song but it is his version that makes me insanely in love with the song.
People in Vietnamese underground music call Lil Knight “god of rap”. As one of first people who created foundation base for Vietnamese rap genre, the Hanoian rapper has brought to public purely high quality music and contributed to success of many singers. Can Gac Trong’s Ung Hoang Phuc version is a dance one while Lil Knight’s is a slow RnB. Actually Lil Knight has a nice and warm voice, making it so fit with RnB slow jams.
A sad vocal, depressing lyrics and slow melody, Can Gac Trong is definitely not a song for a sad raining day as it can kill your mood instantly. It is no secret that memories hurt us and sweet ones do it faster. Imagine we are alone in a room full with sweet memories with the one we used to love but now they are nowhere to be seen. That makes our heart bleed.
I am not good at translating but I might give partly it a try to Can Gac Trong’ lyrics.
“…Anh khong muon thay mot ngay mai
Tung trang giay trang da xoa nhoa mot niem tin
Anh biet se mai chi la mot giac mo
Ton tai song song ben can phong
Cung thoi gian mai buong troi…”
“…I do not want to see a future
When my faith gradually fades away
I know that is just a dream
Existing in this empty room
As time goes by…”
What is your favourite among 3 songs? Please comment
Thank you for reading *bow head*
