Ngoc Khue’s Ben Bo Ao Nha Minh is creeping up on me and her charismatic voice – childlike on the surface but deep down matured – is magnetizing me. I still have the record on heavy rotation both at work and in my car. I can’t wait for her second volume to drop. If you haven’t pick up Ben Bo Ao Nha Minh yet, you’re missing out on the goodies.

Lan Song Xanh is a fantastic concert filled with young and energetic performances, but Thu Minh catches my attention the most. She is blazing in a white suit showing off her cleavage. That girl has a killer body: tall and fully blossomed. I like the way she moves and her sense of style. She is both classy and sexy. I am rooting for her: hottest singer of the year.

Musician Le Minh Son needs your help with Thanh Lam’s new album, Mot Chang Duong. He would like to know what songs fans would like to hear Lam performs. The new CD will feature twenty tracks, so this is your chance to request your favorite songs. Drop him an email at Lmsonlatin[at]yahoo.com

Any song Thanh Lam performs will be good, and I trust Le Minh Son musical talent to make the album sounds fresh. Although I don’t have any request, I would love to hear from you.

Another day, an additional age. Ain’t nothin’ move but the number.

Hurra Torpedo’s version of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” is heavy, hard, and hectic. Beating up kitchen’s appliances, the drummer created some of the deftest sounds for the song. The video is mad cool, but that backup dude needs to pull up his pants.

That vivid scene I still remember,
How can I forget, very heart-rending, my friend!
Under the fresh yellow light of a morning sun,
I stole the life of a little bird.

A parrot on a branch finds fruits,
Looks happy, slips, dances, and slides around,
Targeted by my gun, blows up “pop,”
Bird tumbles and falls down to the ground.
Blood streaming, bird looks at me wanting to ask:
“Who are you? Why do you come here?
All your life, I never come to disturb,
But you have the heart to rob my youthful life.

Sky, river, mountain, grass, flower may
Belong to nature for all living creatures to enjoy.
Blissful life, I live in the fresh air.
You still have the whole earth to take pleasure.

Now I die, my heart won’t resent,
Only pity for the cruel humanity;
Only cry in silence for those savages,
Taking away the lives of those innocent.”

Translated from Tran Gia Thoai’s “Con Ket Bi Thuong”

Does anyone have any info on Ngoc Dai’s Nhat Thuc (Eclipse 2) album? I had two people in Viet Nam looking for it and neither of them could find it. I came across “Co Trang” (White Stork) performed by Khanh Linh and Tung Duong, and I can’t wait to listen to the whole joint. The unusual fusion of rock and folk sounded so beautifully weird and exciting.

Spring Fever: A flowerful artwork complementing a picturesque poem, and both dedicated to Ngoc Lan. Thanks sister Ngoc and AngelNgocLan!

While we’re at it, Joshua Ink has a pretty fresh garden too.

Gotta love the girls and the nature on Huidi Lauhoff. Very elegant style indeed!

Great type treatment at Mario da Antonio Franck’s Book Online. Nice transition and beautiful artworks.

Vietnamese proverb: ep dau ep mo ai no ep duyen: Oil and fat may be forced out (of seeds and greaves), but no one has the heart to force a marriage (on a girl). Source: Vietnamese Dictionary.

Thu Minh and her producer have shaken Duc Huy’s “Va Con Tim Da Vui Tro Lai” (And The Heart is Happy Once Again) out of its routines. In this techno version, the heart is way too happy. In fact, the heart is more like on crack once again, and Thu Minh’s crack-voice mentra is nonetheless evident. I am just kidding. It is still a hot remix for the club.

Tuan Hung gives a rock up performance on Thanh Tung’s “Giot Suong Tren Mi Mat.” Although it sounds pretty hard, I still prefer my girl Hong Nhung version.

Caged bird brags proudly:
Sleeping place, I don’t need to worry.
Food includes pork and beef,
Each day eat and sleep.

Field bird gets offended,
Chitchats in her ear:
You’re losing your freedom,
Bragging without shame,

Tall peaks I enjoy,
Wide fields I play in.
Fly high in the sky,
Without a feather getting trapped.

Caged bird listened and thought,
New, but reasonable.
Since then no more pride,
Living in the cage, strained.

Translated from Tran Gia Thoai’s “Chim Long”