Phạm Duy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phạm Duy
Pham Duy in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Phạm Duy Cẩn
Also known as	Phạm Duy
Born	(1921-10-05)5 October 1921 Hanoi, French Indochina (now Hanoi, Vietnam)
Died	27 January 2013(2013-01-27) (aged 91) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Occupation(s)	songwriter, folk singer
Years active	1943-2013

Phạm Duy (born October 5, 1921 – died January 27, 2013) was a very famous songwriter from Vietnam. He wrote over one thousand songs during his long career. This career lasted more than 70 years! He lived through many big changes in Vietnamese history.

Many people think he was one of the three most important people in modern Vietnamese music. The other two were Văn Cao and Trịnh Công Sơn. Phạm Duy's music was special because it mixed old traditional sounds with new ideas. This made his songs sound both classic and fresh.

Because of his political views, his music was banned in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Later, it was banned in all of Vietnam for over 30 years. But in 2005, he returned to Vietnam. The government then started to allow some of his songs to be played again.

Life Story of Phạm Duy

Phạm Duy was born as Phạm Duy Cẩn in Hanoi on October 5, 1921. His father, Phạm Duy Tốn, was a journalist and writer. He was one of the first to write short stories in a European style in Vietnam. His father also helped start the Tonkin Free School movement.

Phạm Duy's father passed away when he was only two years old. His older brother, Phạm Duy Khiêm, mostly raised him. Phạm Duy described his brother as very strict. Later, his brother became a professor and an ambassador for South Vietnam in France. He also wrote books in French.

Early Education and Music

Phạm Duy went to Thang Long High School. One of his teachers there was Võ Nguyên Giáp, who later became a famous general. He also studied at the College of Arts. He learned music mostly by himself. In 1954-1955, he studied music in France.

He began his music career as a singer in 1943. He performed with a group called Duc Huy all over Vietnam. Later, he joined a music group for the Viet Minh. This group resisted the French rule. He became good friends with musician Văn Cao there. They worked together on some of their first songs.

After six years, he left the Viet Minh. He felt that they were censoring artists. He moved to French-controlled Hanoi, and then to Saigon. After he left, his music was banned in areas controlled by the communists.

Living Abroad and Coming Home

After the fall of Saigon in 1975, Phạm Duy and his family moved to the United States. They settled in Midway City, California. His music was banned in Vietnam from 1975 until 2005.

Even though it was banned, his music was still very popular. People inside and outside Vietnam continued to listen to and perform his songs. He traveled a lot, singing new songs about refugees and prisoners. He also sang songs based on poems by his friend Hoàng Cầm.

Phạm Duy first visited Vietnam again in 2000. In 2005, he announced that he and his son, the singer Duy Quang, would move back for good. Many people in Vietnam were excited about his return. The government then started to allow more of his songs to be played. Today, many of his songs are allowed in Vietnam again.

His Passing

Phạm Duy passed away on January 27, 2013, in Ho Chi Minh City. This was just one month after his oldest son, Duy Quang, died. His wife, Thai Hang, had died in 1999. Phạm Duy was 91 years old and had been sick with heart and liver problems.

Many people, including famous Vietnamese singers, were very sad to hear of his death. Thousands of fans and notable musicians came to his home to pay their respects. He was buried on February 3, 2013. At his funeral, people spontaneously sang some of his most famous songs.

Phạm Duy's Family

Phạm Duy's father was Phạm Duy Tốn, a well-known journalist and writer. His mother was Nguyễn Thị Hòa. He was the youngest of five children. His oldest brother, Phạm Duy Khiêm, became a writer.

Phạm Duy was seen as the head of a musical family. His wife, the singer Thái Hằng, was also a talented artist. She was the older sister of composer Phạm Đình Chương and singer Thái Thanh. Thái Thanh became very famous for singing many of Phạm Duy's songs.

His eight children also became successful in music. They were part of a band called The Dreamers and performed worldwide. His oldest son, Duy Quang, was a singer. Another son, Duy Cường, is a musician. His daughters, Thái Hiền and Thái Thảo, are also singers. Thái Thảo's husband is the famous singer Tuấn Ngọc. His nieces and nephews include singers Ý Lan and Mai Hương.

His Musical Legacy

Professor Vu Duc Vuong said that Phạm Duy was the most important musician in Vietnam in the 20th century. He compared him to other great Vietnamese artists. Phạm Duy is known for being one of the most creative and diverse musicians in modern Vietnamese music. He helped shape Vietnamese music from its early days.

Generations of Vietnamese people grew up knowing his songs by heart. Many singers became famous by performing his works. His sister-in-law, Thái Thanh, was one of the most notable.

Jason Gibbs, an expert in music history, said that Phạm Duy wrote with great feeling. He believed Phạm Duy's songs would be remembered for hundreds of years. His lyrics were direct, honest, and full of deep emotion. This was especially true during a time when many artists had to be careful with what they expressed.

In his later years, Phạm Duy tried to get all his songs allowed in Vietnam again. He wanted all his works, except those the government found "inappropriate," to be freely available. Many famous people supported him. They wanted his song cycles Con đường cái quan (The Mandarin Road) and Mẹ Việt Nam (Mother Vietnam) to be allowed.

These two song cycles are considered masterpieces. They talk about a united Vietnam, showing its geography, culture, history, and soul. The last song in Mother Vietnam, "Việt Nam Việt Nam," was like an unofficial national anthem in South Vietnam. Before he died, Phạm Duy wished for this song to be allowed in his home country.

Some people thought that younger generations had forgotten Phạm Duy's music. But after his death, many people shared their feelings on social media. This showed that his name and music were still very much remembered.

Different Opinions About Phạm Duy

Phạm Duy's decision to move back to Ho Chi Minh City in 2005 caused some discussion. Some Vietnamese people living outside Vietnam felt he was being unfair. They thought he was showing support for the communist government, even though some of his songs were about resistance and refugees.

On the other hand, some musicians in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi, felt that the praise he received was not right. They saw him as someone who had made choices they disagreed with in the past.

In 2006, his first concert in Vietnam after 1975 was well-received by many. However, a composer named Nguyễn Lưu wrote an article criticizing Phạm Duy's songs. He said some lyrics were against communist ideas. Many readers disagreed with this article, calling the criticism too simple.

In 2009, musician Phạm Tuyên said that to judge Phạm Duy, one must look at both his good contributions and his past choices. He felt that the media should not only focus on Phạm Duy's great music. He thought they should also remember his past actions. This was to be fair to musicians who had supported the Revolution their whole lives.

Another musician, Trọng Bằng, said Phạm Duy had a "past that was not good." Musician Hồng Đăng said that an artist's true value comes from their love for their country. He also said that only some of Phạm Duy's songs were truly popular.

After Phạm Duy died, Phạm Tuyên said that his generation was still influenced by Phạm Duy's music. He said Phạm Duy's songs about homeland left a lasting impression. He was happy when Phạm Duy returned to Vietnam. However, no one from the Vietnam Musicians Association attended his funeral. It was also reported that the media was asked not to make a big deal about his death.

Phạm Duy's Works

Phạm Duy organized his music career into different periods. Each period had a special focus:

• Folk Songs (Dân Ca): These songs showed the lives of Vietnamese people during their fight for independence. This period included his "Song Cycles" (Truong Ca). These cycles combined folk tunes to celebrate the Vietnamese people. His 1968 album, Folk Songs of Vietnam, was released on Folkways Records.
• Heart' Songs (Tâm Ca): These songs aimed to make people think about kindness and to protest against violence.
• Spiritual Songs (Đạo Ca): These songs had a calm, thoughtful feel, like Zen philosophy. They aimed to search for truth.
• Profane Songs (Tục Ca): These songs directly challenged people who were fake or acted better than they were.
• Children's Songs (Nhạc thiếu nhi), Young Women's Songs (Nữ Ca), and Peace Songs (Bình Ca): These were songs full of joy and happiness.
• Resistance Songs: Songs written to support the homeland.
• Refugees Songs: Songs about life in exile for those who had to leave their homes.

He also wrote many love songs. These songs have been sung and loved by three generations of Vietnamese people for over forty years.

Famous Songs by Phạm Duy

Phạm Duy wrote around 1000 songs. Here are some of his well-known works:

• 1954-1975 - A song about two big movements of people in Vietnam during the 20th century. These were the Operation Passage to Freedom and the Fall of Saigon.
• Áo Anh Sứt Chỉ Đường Tà
• Bên Cầu Biên Giới
• Bến Xuân (written with Văn Cao)
• Cây Đàn Bỏ Quên
• Chỉ Chừng Đó Thôi
• Chuyện Tình Buồn (Năm Năm Rồi Không Gặp)
• Cô Bắc Kỳ Nho Nhỏ
• Cô Hái Mơ
• Con Đường Tình Ta Đi
• Còn Chút Gì Để Nhớ (1972)
• Đưa Em Tìm Động Hoa Vàng
• Ðường Chiều Lá Rụng
• Em Hiền Như Masoeur
• Giết Người Trong Mộng
• Giọt Mưa Trên Lá
• Hoa Rụng Ven Sông
• Hoa Xuân
• Kiếp Nào Có Yêu Nhau
• Kỷ Niệm
• Kỷ Vật Cho Em
• Minh Họa Kiều - A song version of The Tale of Kieu.
• Mùa Thu Chết
• Ngày Xưa Hoàng Thị
• Nghìn Trùng Xa Cách
• Nha Trang Ngày Về
• Ngậm Ngùi (Poem by Huy Cận)
• Nhớ Người Thương Binh
• Nước Mắt Mùa Thu
• Nước Non Ngàn Dặm Ra Đi
• Phố Buồn
• Quê Nghèo
• Tâm Sự Gửi Về Đâu
• Thà Như Giọt Mưa
• Thuyền Viễn Xứ (1970)
• Tình Ca (1953) - This song is about loving one's country. When it was allowed in Vietnam again in 2005, a company bought the rights to the first 10 notes for a lot of money!
• Tình Hoài Hương (1952)
• Tình Hờ
• Tiễn Em
• Tóc Mai Sợi Vắn Sợi Dài
• Tôi Còn Yêu Tôi Cứ Yêu
• Tôi Đang Mơ Giấc Mộng Dài
• Tổ khúc Bầy Chim Bỏ Xứ
• Trả Lại Em Yêu
• Tuổi Ngọc
• Tuổi Thần Tiên
• Trường ca Con Đường Cái Quan [The Mandarin Road] - A cycle of 19 songs about a trip from northern to southern Vietnam. He wrote these songs to show that Vietnam was culturally united. These songs are still not allowed in Vietnam.
• Trường ca Mẹ Việt Nam [Mother Vietnam] - A cycle of many songs that describe Vietnam as a mother. These songs are also still not allowed in Vietnam.
  • Việt Nam Việt Nam - The last song in the Mother Vietnam cycle. It was like an unofficial national anthem in South Vietnam. Before he died, he hoped this song would be allowed in his home country.
• Vết Thù Trên Lưng Ngựa Hoang (written with Ngọc Chánh)
• Vợ Chồng Quê
• Yêu Em Vào Cõi Chết

Phạm Duy also wrote Vietnamese lyrics for many foreign songs. This helped bring them to Vietnamese listeners. Some examples include:

• Chuyện Tình Yêu
• Dòng Sông Xanh
• Khi Xưa Ta Bé (Bang Bang)
• Ngày Tân Hôn
• Que Sera Sera
• Trở Về Mái Nhà Xưa

Books by Phạm Duy

• Phạm Duy wrote an autobiography (Hồi Ký Phạm Duy) which has 4 books.
• Phạm-Duy Musics of Vietnam translated by Dale R. Whiteside - 1975

Images for kids

• 

  Phạm Duy performing in Saigon

See also

In Spanish: Phạm Duy para niños