Hong Hanh presents true Vietnamese ‘soul' in Japan

Romantic: Singer Hong Hanh will perform popular songs of the late renowned composer Trinh Cong Son tonight in Wakayama, Japan. — VNS File Photo

In a production remixed by composer Duc Thinh, Hanh will perform a series of Son's songs that led her to fame in the 1990s.

She will sing famous songs such as Hoa Vang May Do (Yellow Flowers in a Moment), Roi Le Ru Nguoi (Singing You to Sleep) and Mua Mua Ha (Summer Rain).

She will move to Tokyo tomorrow to sing Son's music in a show with the support of her younger colleague Thai Hoa.

On her latest album Diem Xua – Utsukushii Mukashi, Hanh invited Hoa to perform with her to sing Son's romantic ballads in both Vietnamese and Japanese.

The album includes Son's popular works, such as Diem Xua (Old Flame Diem) , Mot Coi Di Ve (A Place to Go Back To) and Ru Tinh (Lullaby to Love).

Working together with talented artists Thinh and Hoa, Hanh believes her shows will be a special experience.

"I love Son's music and I always sing his songs with deep feeling," said Hanh in a recent interview with HCM City-based newspaper Nguoi Lao Dong (Labourer).

"Trinh Cong Son was one of the country's most famous contemporary songwriters. His songs are still in our soul even though he has left us," she said.

Born in Hue in 1939, Son became popular in 1957 with his first song, Uot Mi (Crying Eyes).

He went on to become southern Viet Nam's most famous songwriter and author of several anti-war collections including Ca Khuc Da Vang (Yellow-skinned People's Songs) and Ta Phai Thay Mat Troi (We Must See The Sunlight).

Radio Sai Gon played Noi Vong Tay Lon (Joining Hands for Solidarity), one of his more famous songs, on April 30, 1975, the liberation day of South Viet Nam.

His albums of love songs like Ru Tinh (Lullaby To Love) are still popular among millions of Vietnamese and foreign fans, particularly Japanese.

The songwriter died in HCM City in 2001 after a prolonged illness.

Hanh, who began her singing career in HCM City, was one of the country's most popular singers in 1990s. She later found fame in Japan as well by singing Son's music.

Hanh will also perform on February 28 in Ha Noi to celebrate the anniversary of the songwriter's birthday.