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Thanh Thúy was a famous singer in the 1960s and 70s. (Source: Youtube) |
Shining brightly from a childhood filled with hardship.
When discussing modern Vietnamese music, Thanh Thúy's name is synonymous with one of the "pioneering" voices. One of the reasons for her unique voice is perhaps the blending of three cultural influences from the North, Central, and South of Vietnam throughout her life.
She was born on a December day in Thua Thien Hue. Her father was a Northerner who migrated to Hue, where he met and fell in love with the mother of the famous singer. Her family did not have a tradition in the arts. She did not receive formal music education from a young age. However, Thanh Thuy started singing quite early.
Around the time her family moved to the South, due to overwork, her mother fell seriously ill, and her father passed away prematurely. The family of six lived in great hardship. Therefore, she began her singing career at the Viet Long tea house in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) to earn extra income for the family. However, not long after, her mother also passed away at the age of 39. The pain of losing her mother never subsided in the heart of the renowned singer. She often sang at tea houses wearing a white dress and a black armband on her chest for three years to mourn her beloved mother.
Perhaps because she lost both her parents in such a short period of time, Thanh Thúy's singing voice is associated with a melancholic tone and a captivating husky quality. Soon after her debut, Thanh Thúy was loved by many audiences.
In 1958, at a tea house in Saigon, musician Trinh Cong Son came to enjoy music and happened to hear Thanh Thuy's singing. Her melancholic eyes and sorrowful voice, filled with unspoken emotions, moved him so much that he composed a song specifically for his "muse." After three weeks, Trinh Cong Son mustered the courage to send the meticulously written lyrics to Thanh Thuy, and the song was finally performed on stage. The moment Thanh Thuy sang "Wet Eyelashes" was a historic moment, bringing Trinh Cong Son's music to a wider audience for the first time and making the renowned singer Thanh Thuy more widely known.
Returning to "Tearful Eyes," Trịnh Công Sơn once recounted that he saw Thanh Thúy singing Đặng Thế Phong's "Autumn Raindrop" and she cried. At that time, Trịnh Công Sơn already knew that Thanh Thúy's mother had tuberculosis. Every night, her mother would sing "Autumn Raindrop," waiting for her daughter to return home. Those tears, for the musician, were like a gentle rain, falling upon his overly fragile and sensitive soul. He felt as if that gentle rain had transported him to a distant past, to some obscure realm, causing him to shed tears as well. From Thanh Thúy's tears of sorrow for her mother to his own "past life" tears, Trịnh Công Sơn felt a shared destiny between the two cries. He said they found each other, to form a beginning of entanglement, to become a unique spiritual asset of Trịnh Công Sơn. He also revealed: "Many songs were written before 'Tearful Eyes,' but 'Tearful Eyes' exists as a destiny of its own and mine. It seems the Japanese really like it because the Japanese symphony orchestra recorded this song..."
Later, he continued to compose the song "Loving Someone" as a special gift for the female singer. The renowned singer Thanh Thúy herself stated that, at the time, she had no idea that the late composer had written the two songs "Tearful Eyes" and "Loving Someone" specifically for her. The two songs were almost perfectly tailored to her melancholic and haunting voice.
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She was not only talented but also incredibly beautiful. (Source: Old Music Blog) |
In the 1960s, Thanh Thúy was a household name, a stage star. Every song she sang attracted large audiences. Even film actor and director Nguyễn Long made a film about Thanh Thúy, with the theme song composed by Y Vân and performed by singer Hùng Cường. Besides this film, Thanh Thúy's image also appeared on stage and television.
In the artistic community, her image has always been one of modesty, discretion, and grace. She herself is not a ostentatious or flashy person.
Despite lacking elaborate and glamorous styling, Thanh Thúy still won over fans with her singing voice and graceful, feminine appearance. In 1961, during a beauty pageant held at the Anh Vũ tea room, she was awarded the title of "the most beautiful woman." From then on, the public frequently referred to her as "Miss Artist." Her name became synonymous with talent and stunning beauty.
Remarkably, despite her beautiful appearance, brilliant career, and numerous connections within the artistic community, Thanh Thúy was never involved in any sensational or alluring romantic rumors like many of her colleagues at the time. She was often referred to as a muse, respected and admired by contemporary artists.
Live the life of a "star".
The poet Nguyên Sa once wrote the following about the famous female singer: "Thanh Thúy is the female singer most praised in literature and poetry. Poet Hoàng Trúc Ly, writer Mai Thảo, poet Viên Linh, writer Tuấn Huy,... Because Thanh Thúy is the dream lover of an entire generation, including writers and poets."
She is known for her songs in the golden age and pre-war music genres such as "Midnight on the Street," "Midnight Rain," "Sad Street," etc. She is a singer who has been given many nicknames by the audience, such as "The Enchanting Voice," "The Voice at Midnight," "The Late Night Voice," and has been dedicated to by several composers, such as "Thuy Has Gone," "I Heard You're Getting Married,"... and some have even written poems for her.
Unlike many lives marked by ups and downs, where talent is often accompanied by misfortune, the life of renowned singer Thanh Thúy has been very peaceful. She lives surrounded by her love of art, the affection of her colleagues, and the warm embrace of her family.
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The renowned female singer enjoys a peaceful and happy later life surrounded by her family. (Source: Old Music Blog) |
In the early 1960s, she shone on stage, becoming a powerful vocalist highly regarded by the public and her colleagues. In 1964, she married actor Wen Wen Cai, who had appeared in the film "Storm of Love" with actress Qiao Zheng.
The two met in Nha Trang, and actor On Van Tai was captivated by this talented and beautiful woman. He quickly began dating and married her. They had a happy and fulfilling marriage. After getting married, singer Thanh Thuy withdrew from public life for a few years to focus on her family in Da Nang . Thanks to the encouragement of friends and fans, she returned to the spotlight.
The voice of renowned singer Thanh Thúy remains beautiful, enchanting, and imbued with the profound and tranquil depth of a married woman. This melodic quality further captivates her audience. Her music career seems to have flourished and developed strongly after her marriage. In 1970, she won the award for most popular female singer with the song "Tình đời" (Life's Love), composed by the Lê Minh Bằng group. This song marked her return after a period of absence. In 1972, she won two awards: for the most beloved female singer of the year and the most popular television show of the year, a show she hosted. Famous in the field of music, singer Thanh Thúy also acted in several films such as "Tơ tình" (Silk Threads of Love), "Hai chuyến xe hoa" (Two Wedding Cars), and "Mưa trong bình minh" (Rain in the Dawn)...
She began singing in musician Ngoc Chanh's Shotguns band, and also formed the Thanh Thuy band, which she recorded and selected songs for herself. Her band was quite successful, releasing nearly 30 albums. Even after emigrating abroad in 1975, she remained actively involved in the arts, releasing many albums to serve Vietnamese people overseas. She quietly used a portion of her earnings to support former colleagues who were facing difficulties.
Her life in old age revolves around family and art. She still lives with her actor husband, with whom she has been together since 1964. None of the children of the famous singer Thanh Thúy and her husband followed in their parents' footsteps as singers or actors; instead, they have all pursued their own paths.
The musician Trịnh Công Sơn once shared his thoughts about the renowned singer Thanh Thúy: “Those tears were like a gentle rain on my fragile soul, making me retreat even further to a realm even more distant than the one that had once made me shed tears.” On another occasion, remembering Thanh Thúy in her traditional áo dài dress, rushing home to her mother after a concert, Trịnh Công Sơn wrote a song for her titled “Loving Someone”: “I love her smile and her flowing hair / Autumn fading on her lips / Every night she walks through the dark alley…”
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/cuoc-doi-ven-toan-cua-giong-ca-uot-mi-post551107.html
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