In a conversation with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, People's Artist Thu Hien emotionally recounted stories about President Ho Chi Minh, about the history of the nation and songs that have gone through the years.
During the days when the whole country is looking forward to celebrating the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, People's Artist Thu Hien performed many songs about Uncle Ho. Your biggest feeling when singing about Uncle Ho?
- I was lucky to sing songs that marked the historical milestone of the nation. As the major holidays approach, I am honored to sing loudly praising Uncle Ho, praising the Party, praising the noble sacrifice of the previous generation who fell for national peace. I always feel proud and moved.
The name of People's Artist Thu Hien is associated with works written about President Ho Chi Minh. After the country's liberation, how did your feelings when singing about her change?
- As time passed, I missed Uncle Ho even more, unable to bear to cling. April 30 is the day of victory and national reunification. The country is peaceful and changing, my emotions when singing are still not extinguished. I have to have emotions to be able to convey to the audience, about unforgettable historical years, thereby arousing pride in every Vietnamese person.
I live in a period of heroic history of the nation, perhaps that is why I always sing enthusiastically. I entered the battlefield very early and was unlucky to meet Uncle Ho. I wrote a poem about Uncle Ho on the day he passed away like this:
"The whole country is saddened to hear the news of Uncle Ho's passing
Can't believe it's true
Children stand still looking at Uncle Ho's photos
Uncle Ho!
Oh my eyes as vast as the sky
The beloved elderly father's leader
Taking a trip back to find the truth
A lifetime for the country
Uncle, Uncle...
The entire mountains and rivers of Vietnam are still there
What Uncle Ho told us to remember
The truth is out, why did you think Uncle Ho was still there?
Oh my god, it's just a dream!
The edge of the black ribbon has wrapped around the flag
I was stunned with tears
Uncle, Uncle...
31 million of us would like to tighten
Turning pain into miraculous power
Overcoming Truong Son, I continue to walk
For the South - half of the heart day and night that the Lover misses".
Each song written about Uncle Ho has a different melody, content, and emotion. I often perform songs with regional folk colors, so I have a good grasp of the culture of each place, understand each name and pronunciation to successfully express each work. I always sing with my whole heart.
At the age of 16, People's Artist Thu Hien sang on the banks of Hien Luong. In her twenties, she traveled along Truong Son and the fierce battlefields to sing for soldiers and people. Looking back at your youth, is there anything that you will always remember?
- 3 days ago, I returned to visit Hien Luong Bridge, Ben Hai River. When I took a boat across the 17th parallel, I met a group of children who were also going to visit. I told them the story I stood on the edge of the salary, urging the soldiers to go on the way to fight. After meeting my grandchildren, I went to the other side of the shore and met a veteran group. They called again: "Ms. Thu Hien, I sing a paragraph for us to hear." Meet each other happy to be sad, as if all the memories of the past were still intact in us.
In the past, singing on the edge of Hien Luong, I still remembered that I took the speaker to sing to the other side, I had to sing loudly, so heroic. I sang one song after another, sometimes singing without end. When singing for the army, I often sang "The plow is", "seeing him off" ... In the battlefield, just one guitar, sometimes only singing for a soldier, I still sang hard.
Artists who have gone through war and truly witnessed the cruelty of war will sing revolutionary music more deeply and emotionally. Is that the material that made People's Artist Thu Hien sing, causing her to cry with emotion after not singing many times?
- During the fierce war, I sang a lot for soldiers and war invalids. There are injured soldiers being treated without anesthetics. I sang to help them overcome their pain, even undergo surgery. Sometimes they are lucky enough to overcome, sometimes they lose on the battlefield. No matter how painful it is, their lips still smiling when they hear them sing. Many soldiers said that every time they saw the song, all the hardship and fatigue disappeared. In 1973, I worked in Quang Tri, then went to Cua Viet, and to the top of Mac Bay. Once, when I went, there were many soldiers, when I returned, there was none left, all were flat. At that time, I stood crying.
Then the army continued. That is an image I will never forget.
During the years of the resistance war against the US to save the country, People's Artist Thu Hien was a soldier in many battlefields and dia hinhes. Is that the reason why you always have strong, choking emotions when singing about the Revolution?
- Those songs are associated with history, and the artists are the ones who give wings to those songs. Then until today, when I listen to it again, every Vietnamese person has an indescribable feeling. Having gone through the war, now I am over 70 years old, singing for more than 60 years, I cannot fully express my honor at still standing on stage. In 1975, I stood at the Golden Eagle Palace singing to celebrate the victory. After 50 years, I am honored to still be able to sing The unified Song, the song I performed first.
When the revolutionary music is more interested and listened to by young audiences, many young singers also started to renew and perform these songs. According to People's Artist Thu Hien, what makes an artist able to convey emotions and sing revolutionary songs well?
- The younger generation is well educated and professional. The most important thing is that they must be serious about art, learn a lot about history, listen and learn from previous generations. If there is seriousness, they will understand, love and from there always have a rise when singing songs praising the homeland.
People's Artist Thu Hien and People's Artist Trung Duc are considered the most successful duets of the Revolutionary music genre. After more than 60 years on stage, can you share about what has connected you and your close co-star?
- Trung Duc was also a soldier who fought on the battlefield.Between the two soldiers, we have sympathy and connection.You always listen and study hard even though you have been singing after me for quite a while.We also worked at the same theater.I also shared many experiences with Trung Duc, and together built the image of a compatible duet.It must be admitted that Trung Duc's voice is very suitable for me, there is something very rustic, very typical of soldiers.Since then, we have been singing together and have been lucky to be loved and supported by the audience until now.
