Thanh Lan

Last updated
Thanh Lan
Singer Thanh Lan.png
Singer Thanh Lan on THVN's show
Born
Phạm Thái Thanh Lan

(1948-03-01)March 1, 1948
Vinh, Nghệ An, Vietnam
Citizenship
Occupation(s)Singer, actor, producer, presenter
Years active1960s–present
Spouse1 (divorced)
Children1 daughter
AwardsNational Award of Literature and Arts (1970)
Website www.youtube.com/c/ThanhLanTL

Thanh Lan (born 1 March 1948) is a popular Vietnamese American singer and actress. She was unable to leave Vietnam at the Fall of Saigon in 1975. In 1994 during a sponsored series of concerts in the United States, Vietnamese protesters accused her of colluding with the Hanoi government and being a communist sympathizer. [1] Although she had been a beloved singer during the 1970s, in the US she became the subject of forceful protests and even death threats. [2] She canceled all but one of her concerts, gave interviews pleading her case, and finally prevailed in her quest for asylum. [3]

Contents

Biography

Phạm Thái Thanh Lan was born on 1 March 1948 in Vinh town, Nghệ An, a province of the State of Vietnam (now Vinh city, Nghệ An province, Vietnam). Her saint's name is Catherine (which she would later use when registering for her first visa in the United States), but she is known by her stage name, Thanh Lan. Although both of Lan's parents were from Nghệ An, known as a "throat-clear voice area" (the equivalent of received pronunciation in Britain or "standard" Italian or French), she lived in a Northern community in her childhood. This gave her a distinctive singing voice, and her Vietnamese accent is between that of Hanoi (nasal) and Saigon (tongue). [4]

1956–1969: Early life and education

As a high school student, Lan attended the prestigious Lycée Marie Curie. [5] She studied piano at Saint Paul's school, run by the Sisters of Christian Charity, and she remains Roman Catholic. She later studied with Trần Anh Đào (composer Thẩm Oánh's wife), and musician Nghiêm Phú Phi. She majored in French literature at Saigon University, and from childhood she spoke French, Vietnamese, and English. She audited classes in tranh, traditional, and reformed music at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

While in her school years she joined a Vietnamese children's band (ban Việt Nhi) in order to perform in the VTVN and Vũ-đức-Duy drama bands (ban kịch Vũ Đức Duy) on the Vietnam Television Network. She also sang with the Seagull band (ban Hải Âu), and the Life Source band (ca đoàn Nguồn Sống).

1970–1975: Career and fame

In the early 1970s, Lan took part in the Young Music Festival. [6] She became known for her interpretations of French popular music. [7] She also translated English-language songs into Vietnamese. Such music in its original language, especially French, was considered highbrow, and more for world travelers and academics than common people. Part of her goal in translating into Vietnamese was to make both the words and music and their specific cultural meanings accessible to a much wider audience. [8]

In 1970, Lan starred as a main character in the coming-of-age movie Students Singing. It was produced by Alpha Films, owned by her maternal uncle Thái Thúc Nha. He was a famous filmmaker in Asia during the 1960-70s, and also president of Vietnam Cinema Society (Tổng-trưởng Hiệp-hội Điện-ảnh Việtnam), which launched and hosted the Vietnam Film Day. [9] "Students Singing" included a nude scene that generated controversy in the Southern press, with several tabloids calling Lan a "sexy bomb," or using the highly euphemistic term "princess of gifted arts." [10] Film critics were more positive, however, and she received the Promising Actress prize at National Award of Literature and Arts ceremony. [11] She often collaborated with Nhật Trường.

In 1974, Japanese director Norio Osada [12] traveled to Saigon to make the film Number Ten Blues with stars from both Japan and Vietnam. Lan suggested that Osada add a main female character and cast her, because she had been well-known in Tokyo since 1971. She had become even more famous throughout Japan after 1973, when she performed at the Yamaha Music Festival. The film was completed in March 1975 even as the political situation in South Vietnam deteriorated around them. At the Fall of Saigon in April, Lan became stranded during the panic and confusion that concluded the Vietnam War, and she was unable to escape. [13]

The Japanese filmmakers worried when Lan went missing, and even wondered if she had died. They left the film unreleased when the studio disbanded. Later, however, the director was able to release it with the title Goodbye Saigon, to memorialize that historic event.

1976–1993: Censorship and emigration

During a "campaign to proscribe corrupt cultural products" under the new regime, Lan was censored for ten years. The censors particularly blocked her the film Students Singing, about South Vietnamese soldiers, but also for pretty much all of her discography. Her name disappeared from official mentions in Vietnamese literature and the arts during these years.

During the Renovation period, Lan performed some songs which the censorship offices accepted. She returned as one of the golden voices on the HTV channel. Though she only starred in a few films, for example, Cards on the Table (with Nguyễn Chánh Tín) and Behind a Fate (with Trần Quang), most were extremely popular. Northern young audiences particularly admired her character Thùy Dung in Cards on the Table. [10] However, her principal work was as a voice actor and vocalist. During the 1980s her Northern sound became quite popular on Vietnamese television and in movies. Her talent was even praised by some Soviet filmmakers.

From 1991 to 1993, Lan focused on the development of her music. She cooperated with many studios for recordings, and she organized two live shows: Thanh Lan's Singing (1991) and Thanh Lan's Music Night (1992).

1994–Controversy

In 1993, Thanh Lan planned a tour across the United States. Because she had been unable to leave Vietnam at the fall of Saigon in 1975, this later drew the suspicion of some of her fans that she might be cooperating with the state. During a Congressionally-sponsored series of concerts in the United States in 1994 on a three-month visa, she initially planned a tour, and she registered at the USCIS office as "Catherine Pham," her saint's name at birth (加大肋納•范). However, she soon became the target of protestors who claimed she was a tool of the Hanoi government. [14] [15] Lan's only scheduled performance after the cancellations was in San Jose, and protesters turned out in force. "We are against the Hanoi propaganda scheme. Thanh Lan is only a tool. She would be welcomed back if she shows remorse for what she did and cancels the concert." [16] During radio interviews in San Jose pleading her case, her goal was convince the protestors that she was not an agent of the communist party. [17] She attempted to describe how much she had suffered, but she allegedly made a misstep in the eyes of many former fans when she said that Vietnam paid her well. Despite the controversy, however, she was successful in her quest for asylum, and this calmed much of the rage. [18] Protestors were later re-angered in part by President Bill Clinton's decision to end the trade embargo with Vietnam, but these demonstrations were quieter, and Lan was no longer a target because of her asylum status. [19] Composer Trúc Hồ from Asia Entertainment offered her a contract, and she remained in the United States permanently.

1994-2013: Life in the United States

Initially, Lan collaborated with singer Ngọc Lan and some French-speaking amateur vocalists to perform French songs. After Ngọc Lan's death there was also a decline in interest surrounding pop française, so she collaborated again with Trần Thiện Thanh, focusing on songs of soldiers.

2014 to present

Scene of the soldiers coming to combat about March 1975 what makes me always thrilled although I watched the movie oftentimes. They [were] real warriors and also really into the battle, but nowadays no ones can answer that how was their fates after the fall...

— Thanh Lan

About 2012, an old Number Ten Blues tape was found and restored by NHK's experts. After looking for more information from Vietnamese people who lived in Japan, NHK sent staff to California. They showed Lan the restored version's DVD and invited her to attend the 2013 Fukuoka International Film Festival. In this event, she received the Audience Award for Number Ten Blues and Goodbye Saigon.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lan often could not fly to shows. However, she did return to Saigon to guest star on the Vietnamese TV show "Happy Memories, Season 2," a program on channel VTV3. [20]

Personal life

Lan entered a brief marriage at 19. Her husband - Mr. Dũng - was a man from the Long Biên district of Hanoi whose family had settled in Dalat after Operation Passage to Freedom. After an amicable divorce, Thanh Lan and her ex-husband remain close friends.

Book

Albums

Records
Paris By Night
NBSongWithProgramYear
1Tình (Văn Phụng)soloParis By Night 271994
2Yêu Thầm (Lam Phương)Paris By Night 28
3Dấu Vết Tình Yêu (Ngô Thụy Miên)Paris By Night 29
4T'aimerFranck Olivier
5LK Hai Sắc Hoa Ti-gônThái ChâuParis By Night 321995
6Con Quỳ Lạy Chúa Trên Trời (Phạm Duy, Nhất Tuấn)soloParis By Night 34
7Giàn thiên lý đã xa (LV: Phạm Duy)Paris By Night 361996
8LK Trả Lại Em Yêu, Kỷ Vật Cho Em (Phạm Duy)Joseph HiếuParis By Night 37
9Ru Đêm (Thanh Lan)soloParis By Night 401997
10Điệu Buồn Dang Dở (Hoàng Thi Thơ)Paris By Night 41
11Chiếc Bóng Bên Đường (Phạm Duy)Paris By Night 431998
12LK Nhạc Pháp: Histoire D'un Amour, Et Pourtant, J'entends Siffler Le Train (500 Miles), Je Sais, Mal, Si L'amour Existe Encore, Main Dans La MainElvis PhươngParis By Night 501999
Asia
NBSongWithProgramYear
1Tình Trong Phút Giây (Ngọc Trọng)soloASIA 41994
2Một Ngày Vui Mùa Đông (Lê Uyên Phương)ASIA 6
3Huế Xưa (Anh Bằng)ASIA 101995
4Có Những Niềm Riêng (Lê Tín Hương)ASIA 111996
5LK Nhạc PhápJo Marcel, JulieASIA 12
6Chiều Winnipeg (Trần Chí Phúc)soloASIA 141997
7Nếu Vắng Anh (Anh Bằng)ASIA 15
8Đêm Khuya Trên Đường Canita (Trần Văn Trạch)ASIA 181998
9Thu Vàng (Cung Tiến)ASIA 20
10Người Ở Lại Charlie (Trần Thiện Thanh)Duy QuangASIA 21
11Que Sera SerasoloASIA 22
12Ngày Xưa Hoàng Thị (Phạm Duy)ASIA 23
13Bài Luân Vũ Mùa Mưa (LV:Trường Kỳ)Elvis PhươngASIA 261999
14Hoa Soan Bên Thềm Cũ (Tuấn Khanh)soloASIA 27
15Tưởng Như Còn Người Yêu (Phạm Duy)ASIA 292000
16Biệt Khúc Cho Tình Nhân (Trầm Tử Thiêng)ASIA 30
17Hội Trùng Dương (Phạm Đình Chương)Thanh Tuyền, Hoàng OanhASIA 31
18Nhân ChứngsoloASIA 322001
19Trầu Cau (Phan Huỳnh Điểu)ASIA 33
20Hòn Vọng Phu (Lê Thương)Hoàng Oanh, Duy QuangASIA 34
21Vắng Bóng Người Yêu (LV: Phạm Duy)soloASIA 35
22Hai Hàng Cây So Đũa (Nguyên Huy, Trọng Minh)ASIA 362002
23LK Tình Yêu Và Tuổi TrẻDuy QuangASIA 37
24Mẹ Việt Nam Ơi! Chúng Con Vẫn Còn Đây (Việt Dzũng, Nguyệt Ánh)Lê UyênASIA 38
25Mưa Ngâu (Thanh Tùng)Dạ Nhật YếnASIA 482005
26Anh Không Chết Đâu Anh (Trần Thiện Thanh)soloASIA 502006
27LK Em Đi Rồi, Cho Em Quên Tuổi Ngọc (Lam Phương)Diễm LiênASIA 51
28LK Đêm Nguyện Cầu, Nó, Một Ông Già (Lê Minh Bằng)Trung Chỉnh, Chế LinhASIA 52
29LK Mộng Sầu, Hối Tiếc (Trầm Tử Thiêng)Anh KhoaASIA 542007
30LK Tình Yêu Ôi Tình Yêu, Búp bê không tình yêuDoanh DoanhASIA 55
31LK Thôi, Ảo Ảnh (Y Vân)Tuấn VũASIA 56
32Người Chết Trở Về (Trần Thiện Thanh)Nhật TrườngASIA 582008
33LK Delilah, Je Sais, Mùa Tình Yêu, Một Thời Để YêuPaoloASIA 59
34Khúc Hát Thanh Xuân (LV: Phạm Duy)Ngọc HạASIA 60
35Bà Mẹ Trị Thiên (Trần Thiện Thanh)Vũ KhanhASIA 612009
36LK Trả Lại Em Yêu, Em Hiền Như Masour (Phạm Duy)ASIA 652010
37Kỷ Vật Cho Em (Phạm Duy)ASIA 66
38Nụ Tầm Xuân (Phạm Duy)ASIA 67
39Con Đường Tình Ta Đi (Phạm Duy)ASIA 682011
40LK Nhạc Pháp: Maman (LV: Thanh Lan), La Vie, C'est Une Histoire D'Amour (LV: Lê Hựu Hà), Elle (LV: Duy Quang)Sỹ Đan, Vũ Tuấn ĐứcASIA 712012
41Lòng mẹ (Y Vân)Lê Anh QuânASIA 722013
42LK Nghẹn Ngào (Lam Phương), Anh Biết Em Đi Chẳng Trở Về (Anh Bằng, Thái Can)Anh KhoaASIA 772015
43Tuổi Biết Buồn (Phạm Duy, Ngọc Chánh)soloASIA 782016
44Xóm Đêm (Phạm Đình Chương)ASIA 822018
45Giáng Sinh Phận Người (Lê Đức Long)Loan ChâuASIA Christmas Special 20202020

Stage

  • Những người không chịu chết
  • Mắc lưới
  • Chiếc độc bình Khang Hy
  • Người viễn khách thứ mười
  • Chuyến tàu mang tên dục vọng (A Streetcar Named Desire)
  • Đội lốt Việt kiều
  • Tình nghệ sĩ
  • Lá sầu riêng
  • Lôi vũ
  • Lồng đèn đỏ
  • Đoạn tuyệt
  • Sân khấu về khuya
  • Phù Dung tự
  • Công tử Bạc Liêu

Filmography

Voiceover

See also

Notes and references

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Dương Triệu Vũ</span> Vietnamese singer (1984– )

    Dương Triệu Vũ is the stage name of Tuấn Linh, a singer on the popular Vietnamese diaspora music show Paris By Night.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Lâm Nhật Tiến</span> Musical artist

    Lâm Nhật Tiến is a Vietnamese American singer associated with the music label Asia Entertainment Inc. from 1994 to 2016. Lam is known for his appearances in Asia Entertainment's videos and is one of Vietnam's most prominent male pop stars.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Phạm Duy</span> Musical artist

    Phạm Duy was one of Vietnam's most prolific songwriters with a musical career that spanned more than seven decades through some of the most turbulent periods of Vietnamese history and with more than one thousand songs to his credit, he is widely considered one of the three most salient and influential figures of modern Vietnamese music, along with Văn Cao and Trịnh Công Sơn. His music is noted for combining elements of traditional music with new methods, creating melodies that are both modern and traditional. A politically polarizing figure, his entire body of work was banned in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War and subsequently in unified Vietnam for more than 30 years until the government began to ease restrictions on some of his work upon his repatriation in 2005.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Khánh Ly</span> Vietnamese singer

    Khánh Ly is a Vietnamese-American singer. She performed many songs written by Vietnamese composer Trịnh Công Sơn and rose to fame in the 1960s. She married South Vietnam journalist Nguyễn Hoàng Đoan in 1975.

    Trần Thị Minh Tuyết better known as Minh Tuyết, is a Vietnamese-American pop singer, currently performing on Thúy Nga's Paris by Night. Her sisters are Cẩm Ly and Hà Phương who perform with her as part of the cast of Paris by Night. She is known in the Vietnamese American culture as the Vietnamese Pop Princess. Her real name is Trần Thị Minh Tuyết, which in English literally means "Morning Snow."

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hồ Ngọc Hà</span> Vietnamese singer, actress (1984- )

    Hồ Ngọc Hà is a Vietnamese singer, model, and actress.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris by Night 92</span> Episode of Paris by Night

    Paris By Night 92: Nhạc Yêu Cầu was filmed on May 10, 2008 and May 11, 2008 at Knott's Berry Farm, California. In an attempt to make the programs more diverse, Thúy Nga had encouraged the fans to send in their requests in the format of video clips. The requested songs can be done by an individual or a group of people.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris by Night 91</span> Episode of Paris by Night

    Paris By Night 91: Huế, Sài Gòn, Hà Nội is a Paris By Night program produced by Thúy Nga that was filmed at the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on January 12, 2008 and January 13, 2008.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris by Night 78</span> Episode of Paris by Night

    Paris By Night 78: Đường Xưa is a Paris By Night program produced by Thúy Nga that was filmed at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre Studio #40 in Toronto, Canada on June 11, 2005. The MC's were Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn and Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên. Seats are limited to a studio audience and is considered a private event.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hương Thủy (singer)</span>

    Nguyễn Thị Hương Thủy, commonly known by her stage name Hương Thủy, is a Vietnamese-language singer from southern Vietnam known for ca dao and cải lương singing. She appears on the long running Vietnamese diaspora variety show Paris by Night, making her debut in Paris By Night 72: Tiếng Hát Từ Nhịp Tim. She also acts in their plays and musicals.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris by Night 96</span> Episode of Paris by Night

    Paris By Night 96 - Nhạc Yêu Cầu 2 is a Paris By Night program produced by Thúy Nga that was filmed at the Knott's Berry Farm on April 18, 2009 and April 19, 2009 and release DVD from June 25, 2009. The show was MC'ed by Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn and Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris by Night 98</span> Episode of Paris by Night

    Paris by Night 98: Fly With Us to Las Vegas is a Paris by Night program produced by Thúy Nga that was filmed at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on September 18 and 19, 2009 and had a DVD release on December 10, 2009. The show was hosted by Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn and Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris by Night 100</span> Episode of Paris by Night

    Paris By Night 100: Ghi Nhớ Một Chặng Đường is a Paris By Night program produced by Thúy Nga Productions that was filmed at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino from July 3–4, 2010 and released DVD on October 7, 2010. The show was hosted by emcees Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn and Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris by Night 99</span> Episode of Paris by Night

    Paris By Night 99 – Tôi Là Người Việt Nam is a Paris By Night program produced by Thúy Nga Productions that was filmed at Knott's Berry Farm on 16 and 17 January 2010 and released DVD from 9 April 2010. The show was hosted by Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn, Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên and Trịnh Hội.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuấn Ngọc</span> Vietnamese singer

    Lữ Anh Tuấn stage name Tuấn Ngọc is a Vietnamese singer. His first album appeared in 1990 and over the following 20 years, he has released 20 more albums, becoming one of the most recognised singers on Vietnamese TV.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Vietnam Television Network</span> Television channel

    Vietnam Television, sometimes also unofficially known as the National Television, Saigon Television or Channel 9, was one of two national television broadcasters in South Vietnam from February 7, 1966, until just before the Fall of Saigon on April 29, 1975. It was the first television broadcaster in Vietnam.

    Nguyễn Đình Ánh, known professionally as Nguyễn Ánh 9, was a Vietnamese songwriter and pianist.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Lệ Quyên</span> Musical artist

    Vũ Lệ Quyên, known by her stage name Lệ Quyên, is a Vietnamese singer. In 2004, she began her professional singing career with her debut album named Giấc mơ có thật. She is known for her series of musical activities, composed of ballad music, old music, pre-war music since the very beginning of her career in the 2000s.

    References

    1. Do, Hien Duc (1999). The Vietnamese Americans. Los Angeles, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 113. ISBN   9780313033568.
    2. Tepper, Steven J. (2011). Not Here, Not Now, Not That! Protest Over Art and Culture in America. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. p. 203. ISBN   9780226792873.
    3. Valverde, Kieu-Linh Caroline (2012). Transnationalizing Viet Nam: Community, Culture, and Politics in the Diaspora. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press. p. 14.
    4. "Women of Vietnam". Vietnam Magazine. 4–5: 7. 1971.
    5. Arnold, Michael (October 2019). "Coming Home Again". Oi. In 1974 Thanh Lan was at the height of her career in Saigon, now 45 years later she returns to the city to relive her glory days.
    6. "Thanh Lan: Biography". Last.fm. Last.fm Ltd.
    7. "Thanh Lan: Discover music on NTS". NTS Radio.
    8. "The 1960s Pop Music Icon and Actress Chose Pho 90 for the New Book Release". The Vintage Saigon.
    9. His son Thái Thúc Hoàng Điệp also became a film director, known for Green Age, about the hippie lifestyles of South Vietnam.
    10. 1 2 Songstress Thanh Lan and her secret fate
    11. "Performer Thanh Lan". nguoinoitieng.tv.
    12. Norio Osada - Wikidata
    13. Brennan, Nick (9 April 2014). "Film Fest Celebrates Vietnamese Cinema".
    14. "Vietnamese Singer Cancels Show," The Associated Press, 30 January 1994.
    15. Do, Hien Duc (1999). The Vietnamese Americans. Los Angeles, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 113. ISBN   9780313033568.
    16. Vietnam Insight, 1994, page 6.
    17. "Vietnamese Singer Cancels Show After Protest," The Associated Press, 31 January 1994
    18. Valverde, Kieu-Linh Caroline (2012). Transnationalizing Viet Nam: Community, Culture, and Politics in the Diaspora. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press. p. 14.
    19. Martinez, Gebe; Le, Thuan (5 February 1994). "Little Saigon Protests Muted by Inner Feuds: Embargo: Support For Clinton's Decision By Some O.C. Vietnamese Muffles Anti-Communist Hard-Liners' Voice". The Los Angeles Times.
    20. Danh ca Thanh Lan bất ngờ tái xuất
    21. Đọc hồi ký Thanh Lan – ‘Bão Tố Cuộc Đời’

    Further reading

    Bibliography