Waving flag and Vietnam

One of my good friends, Phuong Vy , the first Vietnam Idol ( Vietnam Idol models American idol ) , sang Waving flag with Somali-Canadian artist K’Naan under Coca- cola campaign for World cup 2010. She has a strong, emotional voice , I sure that in few years later , she will become a new Vietnamese diva due to her hard working, serious thinking about her career .She has strong music backgrounds, not only she love music, but also her parents, younger sisters , brothers and her siblings love music so much. This is a big music family. I never forgot that at Lunar New year 2009, I came to her house, her family, her friends and I made a really live show. Singing all days, living with music made us very happy.
Waving flag was chosen as one of official songs in FIFA World Cup 2010. I think the reason is that this song contains so much African rhythms which are a good way to spread Africa culture to over the world.
The lyrics are very positive, funny and free. It encourages freedom and engagement in football game of human beings.
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag
So wave your flag, now wave your flag, now wave your flag
Oooohhh, Oooooooooh wooooohh, Oooooooooh wooooohh

To be honest, this song did not really impress me at the first time. However, at that time, when World Cup begins, this song always let me shake my hands, move my body and sings very loudly.

Listen waving flag ( K' Naan ft. Phuong Vy ) in this link
http://mp3.zing.vn/mp3/nghe-bai-hat/Waving-flag-remix-Kanas-ft-Phuong-Vy.IW6AUUOE.html


Let guess with me – Agrentina vs Germany - two opposite powers will fight together. Agrentina will win - go for it Agrentina -Maradona , Messi . Let watch it ! Whoaaa World Cup 2010 is so great !

Toi ru em ngu ( Trinh Cong Son )

A Work of Art

While in DC, I was blessed to sample my first ever soft-shell crab, a seasonal delicacy famous in this area. It is often prepared as shown in the photo, and one eats it in a sandwich. This could very well be the most beautiful image I laid my eyes on while at the nation's capital, but you can be the judge of that. If you are interested in other impressions from my trip, you are welcome to visit http://picasaweb.google.com/tesstran/WashingtonDC#.

East (Coast) Meets West

Last Sunday, I was in Washington, DC and had the lovely opportunity to meet with the children of Tran Thi Nga and their spouses. Chi Ha took me to see "Little Saigon" a.k.a. Eden Center in Falls Church, Virginia, and afterwards we had a delicious dinner at Minh's Restaurant. It was delightful to spend the time connecting with family, and I truly hope that this is just a small preview of a larger family reunion to take place some time in the near future.

SONG HUONG –THE RIVER OF MEMORABLE SONGS

I wanted to share with you about my feeling of previous visit to Hue

I remembered that six year ago, when I and my family came to Hue, I did feel peaceful as this is an original family’s homeland which is connected closely with my ancestors’ lives. Sensation of peacefulness is because of slow pace of life, hospital face of my Hue’s cousins and especially poetic nature of Song Huong (Perfume River) or Nui Ngu Binh (Mount Royal Screen).
Here in Huong River, at the fist time, I had a chance to listen songs of Hue from a small sampan of a fishing family. Unlike a big boat with a lot of noise and colorful limelight, in a small and warm environment, we could hear sweet and leisure hò mái nhì‘s beats which combined perfectly with waves flapping against the side of a boat. An unforgettable feelings rose when I was enjoying dedicate words of a beautiful Hue’s singer rising amidst the tranquil night with fresh air and bright moon. Her sweet voice really attracted all listeners when she sang one of Hue’s well - known, lyrical and subtle poetry:

Chiều chiều trước bến Văn Lâu
Ai ngồi ai câu
Ai sầu ai thảm
Ai thương ai cảm
Ai nhớ ai mong
Thuyền ai thấp thoáng bên sông
Buông câu mái nhị chạnh lòng nước non

(Evening, before the King’s pavilion:
People are singing, fishing, sad and grieving, loving,
in love, remembering , waiting, watching,
Whose boat piles the river mists?
-offerings so many rowing songs
that move these mountains and rivers, our Nation.
Translation by John Balaban , in “ Vietnamese Folk Poetry” )

The time seems to pause for a while when the songs began and the love of river and rowing songs appeared to blend with mute love of patriotism of every participant. At that time, through their meditative expression, I knew that my family and cousins was recalling their past childhood memories.
Sadly, Hueans with gentleness and gracefulness in their characteristics have often experienced miserable lives which are greatly affected by unstable weather. Maybe patience and determination could help them to go through many hardships and vicissitudes of lives. On September 2009, Typhoon Ketsana swept through the central region (Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai etc.) causing many fatalities and mental & material damages. Many victims endured starvation, sense of homelessness and losing close relatives. At this time, every Vietnamese, regardless of different regions, religions and social class should follow the spirits of known – by heart folk poetry:

Nhiễu điều phủ lấy giá gương
Người trong một nước phải thương nhau cùng.
(As the piece of red crepe covers the mirror,
So fellow countrymen must love one another)

Hinh gia dinh & anh Ty - Colorado ( 27/03/2010)

Hinh Anh Chi Le & Bao ( 12/05/2010)