Cam Van: 'I once arbitrarily altered the lyrics of Trinh Cong Son's songs'

Singer Cam Van revealed that she once "dared" to change a word in a Trinh Cong Son song in front of the author, but he didn't get angry.

Recalling the musician on the 23rd anniversary of his death (April 1, 2001 - April 1, 2024), Cam Van said that during his lifetime, Trinh Cong Son was always meticulous about lyrics, especially for professional singers. He once told Cam Van that she could sing the melody incorrectly, but she shouldn't arbitrarily change the lyrics. Remembering his advice, she always studied the songs carefully.

On one occasion, Cam Van performed "Xin cho toi" (Please Let Me ), a famous song from Trinh Cong Son's collection of songs titled "Da Vang" (Yellow Skin). The opening line of the song is "Please let the clouds cover enough of human destiny." Before going on stage, Cam Van rehearsed many times but felt she couldn't sing the word "enough" well enough. "I took a risk and changed it to 'phu' (covering) to better suit my voice and vocal style. While singing, I nervously observed the musician's reaction sitting below. Luckily, he wasn't angry; he just smiled at me," Cam Van said.

Cam Van: I once arbitrarily altered the lyrics of Trinh Cong Son's songs. — Cam Van with musician Trinh Cong Son during the early days of her career. Photo: *Provided by the subject* .

The 65-year-old singer said that Trinh Cong Son's music holds a special place in her more than four-decade singing career. In 1984, while participating in a concert in Ho Chi Minh City, she was asked by composer Pham Trong Cau to sing a Trinh Cong Son song. Cam Van gently declined because "I don't know any of Mr. Son's songs." Trinh Cong Son – who was sitting in the audience at the time – offered to remind her. The singer then performed the song "Diem Xua ," while the composer stood beside her, occasionally prompting her with his slightly tipsy voice. That was Cam Van's first encounter with Trinh Cong Son's music, opening the door to a series of successful recordings she would later perform, such as "Song Ve Dau," "Ru Ta Ngam Ngui," and "Xin Mat Troi Ngu Yen ."

Cam Van last met him in 2001, at his 62nd birthday party at his home. At that time, his health had deteriorated after a serious illness; he was thin and frail. Despite this, upon seeing her and some friends, he managed to sit down in the guest chair with his usual polite demeanor. During the conversation, the musician suggested, "Van, sing for me." She refused because her voice was a little hoarse that day and there was no musical accompaniment, but he insisted. Cam Van then performed "Where Do the Waves Go? " – a song she had previously recorded that the musician cherished. They parted ways with a sense of regret.

The singer was shocked to learn that just over a month after their reunion, the musician had passed away. "When an acquaintance informed me by phone, I thought it was an April Fool's joke. After calling several other people to check, I finally accepted the truth that he was gone forever," the singer said.

Cam Van - MV — MV "Pilgrimage on the High Hill". Video : *YouTube Cam Van - Khac Trieu*

On the anniversary of Trinh Cong Son's death, Cam Van released the music video " Pilgrimage on the High Hills, " directed by Tung Phan . The video was filmed late last year during a visit to her father's hometown in Cao Bang . While exploring the majestic hills and waterfalls, she was reminded of Trinh Cong Son's lyrics: "A person walks alone, the hills slope down / A person walks alone, the abyss calls their name." She chose this song as both a memento of her visit to her ancestral homeland and a pilgrimage to the roots of Trinh Cong Son's music. The singer retained the arrangement by musician Bao Phuc from the album "Xin cho toi" (2004), featuring saxophone by Tran Manh Tuan.

Composer Trịnh Công Sơn was born in 1939 in Đăk Lăk and passed away on April 1, 2001. He left behind more than 600 songs, of which about 236 were widely popular. Trịnh's music is imbued with philosophical, humanistic, heartfelt, and passionate qualities, reflecting a great love for humanity, his homeland Vietnam, and a celebration of peace . Many famous names are associated with his music, such as Khánh Ly, Tuấn Ngọc, Hồng Nhung, Cẩm Vân, Hồng Hạnh, and Quang Dũng, with Khánh Ly being an iconic voice.