Trinh Cong Son's music - Happiness is to love and to be loved

14 years have passed since Trinh Cong Son passed away but we can still listen to his music from old records and his emotional performances on TV shows. Old singers who fall in love with his songs sing them at concerts throughout Vietnam. Young singers still sing his songs. People from all walks of life learn the lyrics of his songs by heart.

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Singer Duc Tuan and children perform Trinh Cong Son’s song
Photo: 24h.com.vn

Vietnamese have inherited more than 600 songs that he left. His smooth melody and beautiful lyrics had touched the hearts of millions.

The familiar topics in Trinh Cong Son’s songs are the sadness of war, the important role of love in our lives, their fate and patriotic songs. His music penetrated our lives directly and touches our soul.

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Trinh Cong Son
Photo: nhaccuatui.com

Love songs account for a large proportion in the work of Trinh Cong Son, “Tearing lashes,” (Uot mi) “Remembering the sea,” (Bien nho) “Diễm of the Past” (Diem xua) and “Sad Love” (Tinh sau). Vietnamese want to know the identity of the girl who inspired the songs.

Trinh Cong Son’s songs reflect his philosophy on Buddhism. His songs are absorbed in Buddhism philosophy. They are a reflection of the Buddhist notion of impermanence (vo thuong) or Dukkha (kho de) – ­a Buddhist term commonly translated as “suffering”, “anxiety”. Son’s songs are reflected by Buddhism such as Evanescent bloom (Doa hoa vo thuong), Withering (Phoi pha), Lullaby for you (Ru em)…

The rhetorical context of lyric: unusual grammar, fresh diction and metaphors are in harmony with each other. It is difficult to separate music and poetry in Son’s songs. “Diễm of the Past” (Diem xua) is typical song.

“The rain still falls on the old temple

Your long arms, your pale eyes

Autumn leaves fall, the sound of soft steps

I look in the distance, straining to see”

(Mua van mua bay tren tang thap co

Dai tay em may thou mat xanh xao

Nghe la thu mua reo mon got nho

Duong dai hun hut cho mat them sau)

View more: Trinh Cong Son's music

Using stylistic devices makes his songs simple, familiar and unique, philosophical and emotional.

Singer Khánh Ly played an important role in populating Trinh Cong Son’s songs. Sơn met Khánh Ly in 1964 when he visited in Da Lat. In 1967 Khánh Ly and Sơn performed together at a place called Literature Club (Quan van) in Saigon. Many Vietnamese believe Trinh Cong Son wrote the song “Do You Still Remember or Have You Forgotten?” for Khanh Ly when she moved to American. Khanh Ly performed Son’s songs in the tea houses and made a cassette. Khanh Ly is famous for Son’songs such as Scent of the ephemeral bloom (Quynh Huong), Eternal lullaby (Ru em tung ngon xuan hong), Like a flying crane (Nhu canh vac bay), A place for leaving and returning (Mot coi di ve).

Singer Khanh Ly
Photo: thanhnien.com.vn

We can find ourselves in Trinh Cong Son’s songs. His melody shares with us the sadness, makes us love life much more. It makes Trinh Cong Son music last forever.

Diễm of the Past!

The rain still falls on the old temple
Your long arms, your pale eyes
Autumn leaves fall, the sound of soft steps
I look in the distance, straining to see

The rain still falls on small leaves
In the afternoon rain I sit waiting
In your footsteps leaves quietly fall
Coldness suddenly pervades my soul

This afternoon rain still falls why don't you come
Memories in the midst of pain
How can we be with each other marks of pain appear
I beg you to return soon

The rain still falls, life's like a sea storm
How do you know a gravestone feels no pain
Please let the rain pass over this region
In the future even stones will need each other

The rain still falls, life's like a sea storm
How do you remember traces of migrating birds
Please let the rain pass over this region
Let the wanderer forget he's wandering .