The Day I Met Her Voice
“Saigon 1952” – which is Van Cao’s “Thien Thai” – is the song that brought me to Hong Nhung. When I first heard it while watching The Quiet American, her dramatic vocals along with the intensity of Craig Armstrong’s musical score strike me. The experience was breathtaking and I could not wait to find out who the performer was. Once the name Hong Nhung came up and got my hand on Thuo Bong La Nguoi, the rest is history. Recently, Pat sent me a version of “Thien Thai” recorded by a Vietnamese arranger. The experience is less dramatic, but the vocal is no less significant. Speaking of Pat, make sure to bookmark this page and enjoy the songs he has translated.