Ever since I started singing, I've been constantly asked by many audience members about what I like, in terms of my taste in music. I guess that's a natural curiosity for people to have about singers. I remember way back before I started singing professionally, I had the same curiosity about my favorite singers. I wanted to know who were their idols, what made them want to become singers, and what were their tastes like in music. In terms of some of my favorite Vietnamese singers, I've been blessed with having had the opportunities to ask some of them personally such questions. But when I had been asked that same question myself in the past, I often froze and really couldn't give an answer. My reasons for posting this today had to do with a few e-mails I've received from fans wanting to know just that along with recently watching an old television interview I had done way back on Little Saigon Television. I found it to be rather odd how I had shrugged when Quynh Trang had asked me about who were some of my favorite singers growing up. It was rather embarrassing now that I think about it. How could such a simple question be so difficult to answer?
This posting might seem like an extremely delayed response to that television interview I did 16 years ago. But like the saying goes, better late than never. I guess one of the reasons why I had hesitated to reveal who were my favorite Vietnamese singers was because by then I had become a Vietnamese singer myself and therefore, some of the singers I had idolized for so long all of a sudden had become my colleagues. I was worried about having to deal with the aftermath if I did reveal which singers I had preferred over the other. I could just imagine how I'd have to apologize to this person and that person why I chose him or her as my favorite singer. Believe me, that's very typical behavior in show business. And especially in the Vietnamese entertainment industry where ego definitely is in full existence. I've reached a point in my life now where I really don't care anymore, simply because I've realized there is absolutely nothing wrong with honesty.
There have been quite a few Vietnamese singers I consider as idols ever since I started listening to Vietnamese music. Among the female vocalists, it's no secret that Ngoc Lan has been a singer I've idolized. When I was a little kid, I remember listening repeatedly to a cassette of the great Thanh Lan singing popular French songs in both languages, French and Vietnamese. When I became a teenager, I was then living in the United States and Thanh Lan was still back in Vietnam. Like many other Vietnamese-Americans during that time, Ngoc Lan's voice initially served as a comforting and nostalgic reminder of the iconic Thanh Lan. There was a similarity in their voices. But the more I listened to Ngoc Lan, the more I became immersed with her voice. When I became friends with Ngoc Lan, she was everything I imagined she would be and more. I guess you can say, Ngoc Lan was one of those idols that upon meeting her exceeded my expectations. I do remember asking Ngoc Lan who was the singer she had idolized the most. She told me that it was a toss up between either Olivia Newton-John and Diana Ross. I can understand why she would say Olivia Newton-John. After all, she does sound a lot like her. Like in the case of many singers, they often end up with a similar singing style to that of their idol. That was the case with Ngoc Lan.
On the contrary, another female Vietnamese vocalist I had idolized alongside Ngoc Lan was Kieu Nga. I tremendously enjoyed the numerous duets that these two ladies had recorded and listened to them quite often during my teen years growing up. But when I got to know Kieu Nga personally, she was quite the opposite of what I had imagined her to be. I guess one of the things that we tend to do as fans of singers and other types of performance artists is that since we idolize them so much, before actually meeting anyone of them in person we already have this preconceived image of what they should be in our minds. And at times, that can only set ourselves up for disappointment. I did grow fond of Kieu Nga as a person. However, her gentle singing voice that I had gotten so used to listening to had given me this preconceived image of her being this meek, mild-mannered and soft-spoken person. Anyone who has ever met or gotten to know Kieu Nga on a personal basis will agree with me that she is anything but soft-spoken or mild mannered. I say that with the utmost affection for her. Although Kieu Nga might come off to be rather coarse when first meeting her as I had done so myself, after a short period time I would find her demeanor and straight-forwardness to be rather endearing. However, to this day I've yet to overcome the contrast between Kieu Nga's singing voice and her actual persona.
Several other Vietnamese female vocalists are certainly on my list of favorites. Bach Yen was a singer whose music I hadn't been introduced to until much later on and have since grown to deeply admire. I've been very privileged to have met Bach Yen on several occasions. And from what I've gathered based upon our few encounters, she truly exemplifies what really is a true artist and a classy lady. Of course, I can't forget to mention Khanh Ha. She is an incredible talent and definitely is one of my idols. Like the similarities in Ngoc Lan and Thanh Lan's voices, I have also felt that way with Khanh Ha and Thanh Ha's voices, which is why I started to like listening to Thanh Ha when she first came onto the scene. By the way, it isn't much of any surprise that Thanh Ha has said that Khanh Ha is her idol. When I became a singer, I was introduced to Ngoc Huong's music by another fellow
singer by the name of Anh Tu. From the first time I heard one of her CDs, I was just floored with her tremendous voice. I idolized her so much that I had to personally invite her to be a guest vocalist on my album, Ngay Em Di.
Luu Hong is one Vietnamese female vocalist with a rather peculiar voice. Growing up I was always
surrounded by her music during the 1980s here in the United States. To be honest, I never paid much attention to her voice back then. It wasn't until after I entered the singing profession and had gotten to know her that I started to really listen to her music. How we became acquainted was rather odd. There had been a rumor floating around when I first started singing that Luu Hong was actually my mother. I think it was singer Cong Thanh that had introduced me to Luu Hong the first time we met at the old Majestic Nightclub in Huntington Beach, California. Since then, I've turned into an avid fan of her music. Well, what can I say except why shouldn't I idolize my own mother?
But there has always been one constant idol among Vietnamese female vocalists for me and that is Julie Quang. I've been a major fan of hers for as long as I can remember. Since I love singing in French, myself, one of the reasons why I idolize Julie so is because of how beautifully she sounds when she sings in French. I also love the way she sings in Vietnamese, in English, and even the few songs I've heard her record in Chinese. For me, listening to Julie Quang sing is as relaxing and enjoyable comparable to the feeling of a gentle cool breeze on a hot summer day. At times, I have to pinch myself for how fortunate I am to have Julie as a close friend in my life who also happens to be my idol. But would you believe that Julie has told me that her music idol is Janis Joplin? I found that a bit surprising since she doesn't sound anything like Janis Joplin at all.
As far as who my favorite American female vocalist is, that's easy. Hands down, it has always been Diana Ross. She's the only American diva in my book. There were a number of years that I had also idolized Whitney Houston quite a bit. But I've never been much into Mariah Carey or Celine Dion. I've never been a fan of singers who scream or wale. I just like singers who simply sing. That is why Francoise Hardy is my favorite French female vocalist. Another European female vocalist I really like is Dutch singer, Laura Fygi. In terms of Vietnamese female vocalists today, I've noticed how so many of them tend to sing as if they were screaming from the top of their lungs. I find that so annoying whenever I hear the likes of Siu Black and Phuong Thanh. It can be exhausting listening to these divas go overboard as they not only belt out but literally scream note after note. The only two Vietnamese female singers of today that I enjoy listening to are Ho Ngoc Ha and Le Quyen. I love Ho Ngoc Ha's interpretation of Noi Long. Her voice is extremely likable and pleasant. The same could be said for Le Quyen. But there are times I've found her to sound a bit too much like Luu Hong, which is not a bad thing. I just prefer singers who have an original sound.
Are there any male vocalists that I idolize? Of course, there are. In our Vietnamese culture, despite how female vocalists have traditionally always outnumbered male vocalists with a ratio of two to
one, there definitely isn't a deficiency of talented male vocalists. From when I first started listening to Vietnamese singers, the first two Vietnamese male vocalists whom I idolized were Elvis Phuong and Duy Quang. I don't listen to any old compact discs recorded by either of these two gentlemen
today for whatever reason. Perhaps it's because I've outgrown listening to them. When I became an adult, my favorite Vietnamese male vocalist for many years was Don Ho. There is something irresistibly charming about his voice. I've never been able to place my finger on it, but I'm just in a complete daze each time I hear a song recorded by Don Ho.
Sometime in the late 1990s, I can't remember the exact year but, I had been given a CD of a new male artist in Vietnam by the name of Lam Truong. I remembered how I had instantly taken a liking to his voice after hearing the CD for the first time. That was probably around the same time that I started hearing comments from others that I sounded a lot like him with certain songs. The first person that told me that was the late legendary music arranger, Tung Giang. I was really taken aback when he said that to me during one of my recording sessions at his studio because I had never thought that I had sounded like anyone else before. Now that I think about it, I should be flattered to be compared to someone of Lam Truong's caliber. However, my fascination with Lam Truong would only be a short-lived one after I had gone to Vietnam and attended one of his live performances. It was not that he sounded bad at his live show, because in fact he does have a very nice voice. I even found him to be rather cordial with a pleasant personality when we spoke briefly after we were introduced by a mutual friend on the night of his performance. I just couldn't get into his performance wholeheartedly since, for whatever reason, he had decided that night to perform a great deal in his set of songs in a language he apparently did not have even the slightest grip on. I'm referring to the English language, of course. Throughout the concert, I had to sit there and listen to this talented vocalist butcher the English language in one American song after another. I have no idea why so many Vietnamese singers in Vietnam have this voracious obsession to sing in English, yet apparently don't make the conscious effort to practice enough so that they will sound at least coherent. From that night at his live show on, it all just ruined it for me with Lam Truong.
Among Vietnamese male vocalists of today, my favorite would be my good friend and former colleague, Nguyen Khang. I really do like his voice. It's rare that I would idolize someone who is among my peers, but in Nguyen Khang's case I'd have to make an exception. Nguyen Khang and I have known each other for many years long before either one of us had gotten established as
Vietnamese singers. Although they say that fame changes people, I haven't seen that with Nguyen Khang. Despite how we don't keep in touch much these days, every time he and I do run into each other we still address one another as "may" and "tao", which is how Vietnamese close friends informally address one another in conversation. To me, he is still the same old guy I've known from way back. I've just never told him how much I now idolize him as an artist. By the way, who do you think Nguyen Khang's idol is? Tuan Ngoc. I know. What a shocker! Surprise! Surprise!
Just like in the case of my favorite Vietnamese female vocalists, there has also been one constant idol for me with Vietnamese male vocalists. That would have to be none other than the one and only, Mr. Tuan Ngoc. There is no other Vietnamese male singer like him. His voice, in my opinion, is the most soothing and warmest I've ever heard. I do believe that he is probably the only Vietnamese male vocalist out there who is qualified to take on the genre of jazz music. This was probably the main reason why I had chosen not to reveal who my favorite Vietnamese male vocalist was when I was interviewed on Little Saigon Television back in 1998 since at the time I was very close to his brother, Anh Tu. I could only imagine the sibling rivalry I would cause if I had disclosed on television how his older brother was my idol.
Anh Tu and I had one thing in common which was we both idolized Elton John deeply. I've loved Elton John's music ever since I was a kid. In recent years, I've found myself listening to several other American male singers such as Marc Anthony, Jason Mraz, and most recently, a new artist by the name of Spencer Day. I can't deny it, but I'll admit that I do sound a lot like Spencer Day. Many people have told me so and I'm not even bothered by that the least bit. If I had to choose who my favorite French male singer is, I'd say that it would either be Herve Vilarde or Enrico Macias. Even though I do cover a lot of Christophe's famous songs, I've never really been much of a fan of his singing voice. Perhaps that is why I don't even remotely sound like him.
Now that I think about it, perhaps it was rather wise on my part not to have answered this question when I was being interviewed by Quynh Trang on Little Saigon Television back then. It was only a half-hour program. There just wasn't enough time for me since I would give such a long and detailed answer. I'm sure if Quynh Trang was reading this post now she would be relieved that I didn't go ahead with giving her an answer during the interview. As you can see, I always have a lot to say.
Thien Phu
This posting might seem like an extremely delayed response to that television interview I did 16 years ago. But like the saying goes, better late than never. I guess one of the reasons why I had hesitated to reveal who were my favorite Vietnamese singers was because by then I had become a Vietnamese singer myself and therefore, some of the singers I had idolized for so long all of a sudden had become my colleagues. I was worried about having to deal with the aftermath if I did reveal which singers I had preferred over the other. I could just imagine how I'd have to apologize to this person and that person why I chose him or her as my favorite singer. Believe me, that's very typical behavior in show business. And especially in the Vietnamese entertainment industry where ego definitely is in full existence. I've reached a point in my life now where I really don't care anymore, simply because I've realized there is absolutely nothing wrong with honesty.
There have been quite a few Vietnamese singers I consider as idols ever since I started listening to Vietnamese music. Among the female vocalists, it's no secret that Ngoc Lan has been a singer I've idolized. When I was a little kid, I remember listening repeatedly to a cassette of the great Thanh Lan singing popular French songs in both languages, French and Vietnamese. When I became a teenager, I was then living in the United States and Thanh Lan was still back in Vietnam. Like many other Vietnamese-Americans during that time, Ngoc Lan's voice initially served as a comforting and nostalgic reminder of the iconic Thanh Lan. There was a similarity in their voices. But the more I listened to Ngoc Lan, the more I became immersed with her voice. When I became friends with Ngoc Lan, she was everything I imagined she would be and more. I guess you can say, Ngoc Lan was one of those idols that upon meeting her exceeded my expectations. I do remember asking Ngoc Lan who was the singer she had idolized the most. She told me that it was a toss up between either Olivia Newton-John and Diana Ross. I can understand why she would say Olivia Newton-John. After all, she does sound a lot like her. Like in the case of many singers, they often end up with a similar singing style to that of their idol. That was the case with Ngoc Lan.
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| Ngoc Lan and Kieu Nga were two of my favorite singers growing up during my teen years. |
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| Khanh Ha |
singer by the name of Anh Tu. From the first time I heard one of her CDs, I was just floored with her tremendous voice. I idolized her so much that I had to personally invite her to be a guest vocalist on my album, Ngay Em Di.
Luu Hong is one Vietnamese female vocalist with a rather peculiar voice. Growing up I was always
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| Luu Hong, My "Mother" |
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| My Constant Idol, Julie Quang |
But there has always been one constant idol among Vietnamese female vocalists for me and that is Julie Quang. I've been a major fan of hers for as long as I can remember. Since I love singing in French, myself, one of the reasons why I idolize Julie so is because of how beautifully she sounds when she sings in French. I also love the way she sings in Vietnamese, in English, and even the few songs I've heard her record in Chinese. For me, listening to Julie Quang sing is as relaxing and enjoyable comparable to the feeling of a gentle cool breeze on a hot summer day. At times, I have to pinch myself for how fortunate I am to have Julie as a close friend in my life who also happens to be my idol. But would you believe that Julie has told me that her music idol is Janis Joplin? I found that a bit surprising since she doesn't sound anything like Janis Joplin at all.
As far as who my favorite American female vocalist is, that's easy. Hands down, it has always been Diana Ross. She's the only American diva in my book. There were a number of years that I had also idolized Whitney Houston quite a bit. But I've never been much into Mariah Carey or Celine Dion. I've never been a fan of singers who scream or wale. I just like singers who simply sing. That is why Francoise Hardy is my favorite French female vocalist. Another European female vocalist I really like is Dutch singer, Laura Fygi. In terms of Vietnamese female vocalists today, I've noticed how so many of them tend to sing as if they were screaming from the top of their lungs. I find that so annoying whenever I hear the likes of Siu Black and Phuong Thanh. It can be exhausting listening to these divas go overboard as they not only belt out but literally scream note after note. The only two Vietnamese female singers of today that I enjoy listening to are Ho Ngoc Ha and Le Quyen. I love Ho Ngoc Ha's interpretation of Noi Long. Her voice is extremely likable and pleasant. The same could be said for Le Quyen. But there are times I've found her to sound a bit too much like Luu Hong, which is not a bad thing. I just prefer singers who have an original sound.
Are there any male vocalists that I idolize? Of course, there are. In our Vietnamese culture, despite how female vocalists have traditionally always outnumbered male vocalists with a ratio of two to
 |
| Tuan Ngoc |
 |
| Don Ho |
Sometime in the late 1990s, I can't remember the exact year but, I had been given a CD of a new male artist in Vietnam by the name of Lam Truong. I remembered how I had instantly taken a liking to his voice after hearing the CD for the first time. That was probably around the same time that I started hearing comments from others that I sounded a lot like him with certain songs. The first person that told me that was the late legendary music arranger, Tung Giang. I was really taken aback when he said that to me during one of my recording sessions at his studio because I had never thought that I had sounded like anyone else before. Now that I think about it, I should be flattered to be compared to someone of Lam Truong's caliber. However, my fascination with Lam Truong would only be a short-lived one after I had gone to Vietnam and attended one of his live performances. It was not that he sounded bad at his live show, because in fact he does have a very nice voice. I even found him to be rather cordial with a pleasant personality when we spoke briefly after we were introduced by a mutual friend on the night of his performance. I just couldn't get into his performance wholeheartedly since, for whatever reason, he had decided that night to perform a great deal in his set of songs in a language he apparently did not have even the slightest grip on. I'm referring to the English language, of course. Throughout the concert, I had to sit there and listen to this talented vocalist butcher the English language in one American song after another. I have no idea why so many Vietnamese singers in Vietnam have this voracious obsession to sing in English, yet apparently don't make the conscious effort to practice enough so that they will sound at least coherent. From that night at his live show on, it all just ruined it for me with Lam Truong.
 |
| Nguyen Khang |
Vietnamese singers. Although they say that fame changes people, I haven't seen that with Nguyen Khang. Despite how we don't keep in touch much these days, every time he and I do run into each other we still address one another as "may" and "tao", which is how Vietnamese close friends informally address one another in conversation. To me, he is still the same old guy I've known from way back. I've just never told him how much I now idolize him as an artist. By the way, who do you think Nguyen Khang's idol is? Tuan Ngoc. I know. What a shocker! Surprise! Surprise!
Just like in the case of my favorite Vietnamese female vocalists, there has also been one constant idol for me with Vietnamese male vocalists. That would have to be none other than the one and only, Mr. Tuan Ngoc. There is no other Vietnamese male singer like him. His voice, in my opinion, is the most soothing and warmest I've ever heard. I do believe that he is probably the only Vietnamese male vocalist out there who is qualified to take on the genre of jazz music. This was probably the main reason why I had chosen not to reveal who my favorite Vietnamese male vocalist was when I was interviewed on Little Saigon Television back in 1998 since at the time I was very close to his brother, Anh Tu. I could only imagine the sibling rivalry I would cause if I had disclosed on television how his older brother was my idol.
Anh Tu and I had one thing in common which was we both idolized Elton John deeply. I've loved Elton John's music ever since I was a kid. In recent years, I've found myself listening to several other American male singers such as Marc Anthony, Jason Mraz, and most recently, a new artist by the name of Spencer Day. I can't deny it, but I'll admit that I do sound a lot like Spencer Day. Many people have told me so and I'm not even bothered by that the least bit. If I had to choose who my favorite French male singer is, I'd say that it would either be Herve Vilarde or Enrico Macias. Even though I do cover a lot of Christophe's famous songs, I've never really been much of a fan of his singing voice. Perhaps that is why I don't even remotely sound like him.
Now that I think about it, perhaps it was rather wise on my part not to have answered this question when I was being interviewed by Quynh Trang on Little Saigon Television back then. It was only a half-hour program. There just wasn't enough time for me since I would give such a long and detailed answer. I'm sure if Quynh Trang was reading this post now she would be relieved that I didn't go ahead with giving her an answer during the interview. As you can see, I always have a lot to say.
Thien Phu
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