Farewell to musician Nguyen Vu, a broken star

On the afternoon of September 24, musician Nguyen Vu passed away after a stroke, saying goodbye to windy afternoons and the mournful sound of train whistles as they changed stations.

Musician Nguyen Vu - Photo: HAI DANG

Collector Phuong Chanh Hung shared: "A broken star. A broken star. Farewell to Mr. Nguyen Vu, author of Sad Hymn and many songs that touched people's hearts. He is a person who contributed a lot to Vietnamese music ."

A broken star

Collector Phuong Chanh Hung told Tuoi Tre that the day before he passed away, musician Nguyen Vu texted to ask about his illness and encourage Mr. Hung's health.

So when he heard the news of Nguyen Vu's death, Mr. Hung was shocked and his heart was pounding, unable to sleep all night. The next morning, he played " A Broken Star " - a famous song that few people know by Nguyen Vu - as a way to say goodbye to his great friend.

Phuong Chanh Hung ranked musician Nguyen Vu in the next generation of musicians after Pham Duy, Trinh Cong Son, Chau Ky, Lam Phuong, Truc Phuong…

"Although he did not write much, most of his songs were loved by the audience. There are timeless songs, especially the masterpiece Sad Hymn - a legend of modern Vietnamese music and every Christmas season, everyone listens to it.

A few years ago, someone offered Nguyen Vu $50,000 (more than 1 billion VND) to buy the song, but he refused. He said he would leave the song to his children," Phuong Chanh Hung said.

Musician Nguyen Vu (right) and collector Phuong Chanh Hung - Photo: Provided by Phuong Chanh Hung

Mr. Hung added that Nguyen Vu loved the sea very much. The musician's first song was A sea bird . Later, he had more songs such as Purple Sea, Winter Hasn't Come Yet, My Dear, Falling Stars on the Sea, Legend of a Rainy Afternoon ...

The two were close friends; whenever Mr. Hung had the opportunity to visit Ho Chi Minh City, he would often go to Nguyen Vu's house for breakfast, coffee, and conversation.

According to Phuong Chanh Hung, in the past, while other musicians only had one song on each side of the record, Nguyen Vu often had 4-5 songs. To avoid the dissatisfaction of others, he sometimes used the pen name Anh Thai - the name of a friend of his.

Last Words for You, Last Look at Each Other, Song for the Last Lover and Looking for Memories are the last four songs that Nguyen Vu wrote for a close friend who had just experienced sadness.

Two compositions about the sea by musician Nguyen Vu - Photo: PH.CH.HUNG

Nice person, write real

Phuc Ben - admin of the website dongnhacvang - was close to many old musicians, including Nguyen Vu. When he heard the news of musician Nguyen Vu's death, he had a hard time accepting the truth because he had just met him last week.

At the funeral of musician Y Vu two years ago, Nguyen Vu cried and said that his composing friends were gradually disappearing. Now he too has gone to a vast world.

Nguyen Vu doesn't drink much but is very cheerful, open and friendly. Every week he meets friends at the musician Bao Thu's club. To Phuc Ben, he is a trustworthy person, lives by principles, and Nguyen Vu always arrives on time for all appointments, no matter where or with whom.

"A Song for My Last Lover," an unreleased song by composer Nguyen Vu - PHOTO: PHUONG CHANH HUNG

Phuc Ben told Tuoi Tre newspaper , "Most of composer Nguyen Vu's music is love songs, but not overly melancholic or sorrowful; instead, it's bright and lovely."

Like in the song "Last Words for You ," though we are far apart, there is no resentment. If tomorrow we are separated, I vow to love you for eternity."

In Can Tho , musician Hoang Nhac Do - the son of the late musician Hoang Trong - was shocked to receive the news of Nguyen Vu's death.

"I know that everyone will eventually "fall", but losing my friends one by one makes me feel extremely lost" - Hoang Nhac Do commented "they are people who live honestly, truthfully, and write exactly according to their thoughts and feelings".

This was confirmed by collector Phuong Chanh Hung. He added that Nguyen Vu is a person who pays a lot of attention to lyrics. He does not like singers to sing his songs incorrectly. He once pointed out the mistakes in lyrics in the song Sad Hymn that even famous singers made. He often said "one mistake, a mile off".

Listen to "The Last Song for My Lover" by composer Nguyen Vu - Video : Phuong Chanh Hung

Musician Hoang Nhac Do told him that any musician whose songs are remixed and remixed, sung by many singers and have many "variations" in genres such as rock, rumba, slow... is called "popular". Nguyen Vu is a "popular" musician.

Hearing the news of the musician's death, artist Thanh Loc also remembered the time he sang the song "Sad Hymn" with two musicians Nguyen Vu and Duc Huy on the stage of Hoa Binh Theater on the night of December 23. Thanh Loc "prays that his soul will never be sad when it returns to God's feet, always joyful and peaceful in His light," he wrote on his personal page.

Musician Nguyen Vu (left) and singer Elvis Phuong - Photo: FB ELVIS PHUONG

Goodbye, "the cutest friend"

Singer Elvis Phương and composer Nguyễn Vũ have been friends for 60 years. Elvis Phương is also the singer whose voice is synonymous with the song " Bài thánh ca buồn " (Sad Hymn).

On his personal Facebook, Elvis Phuong said that the two had just met on September 20, and he planned to record 10 songs by Nguyen Vu: "So sad, Vu! Even though I know who passed away first, my cutest friend is no longer here. Rest in peace, I will always remember you," Elvis Phuong shared.

Composer Nguyen Vu passed away at 5:20 PM on September 24th at his home, at the age of 81. His remains are laid to rest at 36 Nghia Hung Street, Tan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the obituary, the embalming and funeral rites will take place at 11 PM on September 24th. September 25th will be a time for family and friends to pray.

At 5:00 AM on September 26th, the funeral procession and procession took place. Afterwards, the musician's remains were cremated at the Binh Hung Hoa crematorium.

The family announced that no condolences, including flowers, fruit, or incense, should be offered.

BEANS

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chia-tay-nhac-si-nguyen-vu-mot-vi-sao-da-vo-20250926075832674.htm