Phuong Thanh
Encyclopedia
Phương Thanh is a Vietnamese
contemporary singer. She is one of the most renowned singers from Vietnam
. Thanh is known for her very diverse styles, especially while performing on stage. She also possesses a unique, unusual singing voice, gaining her recognition throughout the Vietnamese community as well as the music
business. Thanh's native language, and 'lingua carta' is exclusively Vietnamese
; she does not sing in English
.
, the second youngest of seven siblings in an underprivileged family.
When Thanh was six years old, her family moved to Ho Chi Minh City
, formerly known as Saigon. Her father died when she was thirteen. The Bui family went through financial problems following her father's death because he was the supporter of the family.
Thanh attended Le Quy Don High School. There, Thanh turned her focus to acting
, fashion
and music
, to her mother's initial disapproval. She took part in every contest to do with show business
, to be awarded and earn money
to support her family.
Until the end of 1991, Thanh lived in obscurity. Her luck changed when a friend invited her to work for the youth movement and join the Labor Theatre House, a Vietnamese club for young singers. Thanh had a strong desire to sing. Her performing was excellent and her voice was so gorgeous that she soon found herself singing at wedding
parties and restaurants all around Vietnam
. She was not yet a star, but her family's economic situation improved greatly.
Thanh knew little that she would ultimately become one of the most renowned Vietnamese
female singers.
and performance
techniques as well as fashion
classes. Thanh was so enthusiastic that she decided to follow a professional career in music, and ultimately started a solo career.
She was well received by her audiences. The beauty of her voice won even the most critical of listeners. With songs like "Gia tu di vang" (Farewell to the past), "Trong vang" (Emptiness), "Tinh co" (Unexpected), "Xin lam nguoi hat rong", one of Phuong Thanh's more emotional ballads, "Con mai mua dong" and "Khi giac mo ve" (When dreams come) started airing on Vietnam
ese radio, listeners started to adore Phuong Thanh and she was gained wide acclaim, soon performing live in many venues.
Thanh once confessed to a reporter: "...Truly speaking, I often shock the listeners whenever i show up on stage, especially the young ones" (translated from Vietnamese).
Sometimes Thanh surprises the audience by a storm debut, and other times she is calm, dressed as an ordinary girl with faded jeans
and provocative T-shirts.
Her eyes often sparkle with tears, carrying her heart through all the words in the lyrics. When performing on stage, she seems to "forget who she is". As well as this, many are attracted to Thanh because of her unusual appearance and voice.
She is one of very few young singers who won the audience's approval for being so honest.
Phuong Thanh is a simple and sincere woman who is never afraid to open her heart to her listeners through her music. Many strongly believe that her energy comes from her life experiences, as she had to struggle to support her family throughout her adolescent years.
Despite of her rather unsophisticated outfits on stage, Phuong Thanh has made a name for herself in the music business and the Vietnamese
community alike.
and injustice
on homosexual people in her community. In 2003, she and many other Vietnamese singers, most of whom being friends of Thanh, agreed to sign a petition
against unfair treatment of homosexuals and disadvantaged people such as prostitutes. Thanh has spoken about her experience with this issue on many occasions: "One day, I sang the song “Khi Giac Mo Ve” (When dreams come) at a lounge; there was this prostitute who gave me flowers and cried. She told me how my song really touched her. Because of the flowers and the way she commented me, it changed my thoughts about her. They also have souls, and the need to be loved and protected."
Many in the Vietnamese
community admire Phuong Thanh not just for her singing, but for her bravery in often risking her reputation to speak her mind about important social
issues.
.
In 2005, she gave birth to a baby girl, named Hà Nghi Phương.
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
contemporary singer. She is one of the most renowned singers from Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Thanh is known for her very diverse styles, especially while performing on stage. She also possesses a unique, unusual singing voice, gaining her recognition throughout the Vietnamese community as well as the music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
business. Thanh's native language, and 'lingua carta' is exclusively Vietnamese
Vietnamese language
Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of 86% of Vietnam's population, and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by many ethnic minorities of Vietnam...
; she does not sing in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Biography
Thanh was born in a rural part of the Thanh Hoa province, VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, the second youngest of seven siblings in an underprivileged family.
When Thanh was six years old, her family moved to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, formerly known as Saigon. Her father died when she was thirteen. The Bui family went through financial problems following her father's death because he was the supporter of the family.
Thanh attended Le Quy Don High School. There, Thanh turned her focus to acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
, fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, to her mother's initial disapproval. She took part in every contest to do with show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
, to be awarded and earn money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
to support her family.
Until the end of 1991, Thanh lived in obscurity. Her luck changed when a friend invited her to work for the youth movement and join the Labor Theatre House, a Vietnamese club for young singers. Thanh had a strong desire to sing. Her performing was excellent and her voice was so gorgeous that she soon found herself singing at wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
parties and restaurants all around Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. She was not yet a star, but her family's economic situation improved greatly.
Thanh knew little that she would ultimately become one of the most renowned Vietnamese
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
female singers.
Tam ca Sao Dem (The Night Star Trio)
Even though Thanh was doing very well, critics said her style needed improvement. In 1993 she joined the singing group "Tam ca Sao Dem" (The Night Star Trio) and had the opportunity to be heard by songwriter Bao Phuc. From that time, Thanh received guidance from Bao Phuc, who trained her to be a successful singer - teaching musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
techniques as well as fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
classes. Thanh was so enthusiastic that she decided to follow a professional career in music, and ultimately started a solo career.
Solo career
Shortly after, Phuong Thanh found her own unique style: rock combined with a formidable and whole-hearted voice.She was well received by her audiences. The beauty of her voice won even the most critical of listeners. With songs like "Gia tu di vang" (Farewell to the past), "Trong vang" (Emptiness), "Tinh co" (Unexpected), "Xin lam nguoi hat rong", one of Phuong Thanh's more emotional ballads, "Con mai mua dong" and "Khi giac mo ve" (When dreams come) started airing on Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese radio, listeners started to adore Phuong Thanh and she was gained wide acclaim, soon performing live in many venues.
Unique styles
Nothing of what Phuong Thanh does follows a pattern. In one way or another she succeeds in surprising her audience with her strong, eccentric "rebel" personality.Thanh once confessed to a reporter: "...Truly speaking, I often shock the listeners whenever i show up on stage, especially the young ones" (translated from Vietnamese).
Sometimes Thanh surprises the audience by a storm debut, and other times she is calm, dressed as an ordinary girl with faded jeans
Jeans
Jeans are trousers made from denim. Some of the earliest American blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis, Calvin Rogers, and Levi Strauss in 1873. Starting in the 1950s, jeans, originally designed for cowboys, became popular among teenagers. Historic brands include Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler...
and provocative T-shirts.
Performing talent
Often, it is seen by many of Thanh's critics that as soon as she starts performing, "it is like she is not herself anymore".Her eyes often sparkle with tears, carrying her heart through all the words in the lyrics. When performing on stage, she seems to "forget who she is". As well as this, many are attracted to Thanh because of her unusual appearance and voice.
She is one of very few young singers who won the audience's approval for being so honest.
Phuong Thanh is a simple and sincere woman who is never afraid to open her heart to her listeners through her music. Many strongly believe that her energy comes from her life experiences, as she had to struggle to support her family throughout her adolescent years.
Despite of her rather unsophisticated outfits on stage, Phuong Thanh has made a name for herself in the music business and the Vietnamese
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
community alike.
Views on injustice
Phuong Thanh has also spoken out against prejudicePrejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
and injustice
Injustice
Injustice is the lack of or opposition to justice, either in reference to a particular event or act, or as a larger status quo. The term generally refers to misuse, abuse, neglect, or malfeasance that is uncorrected or else sanctioned by a legal system. Misuse and abuse with regard to a particular...
on homosexual people in her community. In 2003, she and many other Vietnamese singers, most of whom being friends of Thanh, agreed to sign a petition
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
against unfair treatment of homosexuals and disadvantaged people such as prostitutes. Thanh has spoken about her experience with this issue on many occasions: "One day, I sang the song “Khi Giac Mo Ve” (When dreams come) at a lounge; there was this prostitute who gave me flowers and cried. She told me how my song really touched her. Because of the flowers and the way she commented me, it changed my thoughts about her. They also have souls, and the need to be loved and protected."
Many in the Vietnamese
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
community admire Phuong Thanh not just for her singing, but for her bravery in often risking her reputation to speak her mind about important social
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
issues.
Present life
Phuong Thanh is currently living in Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
.
In 2005, she gave birth to a baby girl, named Hà Nghi Phương.
External links
- Phuong Thanh's Facebook fanpage
- Vox Phuong Thanh - A site entirely devoted to Phuong Thanh and her music by Voxpt
- Chanh Online Grew from phuongthanh.tinhyeu.net. Regularly updated with mainly Phuong Thanh news. Most of her songs can be listened online here.
- FanClub of Phuong Thanh Grew from chanhonline.com. Regularly updated with news about Phuong Thanh.
- Inner Sanctum Interview with Phuong Thanh
- Vietnamese music site featuring Phuong Thanh
- Page of Phuong Thanh in site of Contemporary Singers From Vietnam
- Vietnamese singers gallery
- News on the latest Saigon singers