W♥M (Archive)

Freedom for Viet Khang

photo courtesy of nguoi-viet.com Read More Việt Khang In Vietnam, Việt Khang wrote and recorded two protest songs, “Việt Nam Tôi Đâu?” (Where is My Vietnam?) and “Anh Là Ai?” (Who Are You?) …

There’s a happy update on the Viet Khang story.

Khang was arrested in 2011 for writing and recording songs, “Anh La Ai” and “Viet Nam Toi Dau”. Despite the international attention from the world, the songwriter was trial and sentenced to four years in prison with two years of probation in October 2012. His friend, Tran Vu Anh Binh, was sentenced to 6 years and 2 years probation in the same trial for “Propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”.

After serving his time, Khang was brought to the U.S. on February 8, 2018, thanks to the Vietnamese community and help from the government (particularly Senator John McCain and lawyer Shu Ming).

Most of this struggle is well documented by Vietnamese-language television SBTN.

Now that Khang is in the United States, Khang can breathe a sigh of relief. There’s no fear of imprisonment for singing or writing songs. This is a small victory, but we have to remember that some countries, like China, can imprison writers, who criticize the government. For example, poet and critic Liu Xiaobo, who was arrested in 2008 and died in prison in 2017.

So, welcome Viet Khang to America.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Good Morning, Vietnam

VIETNAM
vietnamtheband.com

VietNam is a rock/blues band from Brooklyn, very confusing because the 80s band of the same name are still around. Funny enough none of those bands are actually from Vietnam, kind of like of Montreal are actually not from Montreal or any of those Barcelona bands not actually from Barcelona…

Anyway, VietNam are returning with a new album, an A.Merican D.ream, coming out February 26th, 2013, on Mexican Summer.

Michael Gerner is back for the first time in five years with a new six-piece lineup, which I am assuming you can witness yourself on their upcoming national tour.

Vietnam tour dates:

02-28 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge 03-07 Baltimore, MD - The Metro Gallery 03-08 Charleston, SC - The Royal American 03-09 Savannah, GA - Savannah Stopover 03-11 New Orleans, LA - Siberia 03-12 - 03-16 Austin, TX - SXSW 03-17 Dallas, TX - Spillover Showcase 03-18 Springfield, MO - Black Box Revue 03-19 Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups 04-19 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel 04-20 Asheville, NC - Double Crown 04-21 Atlanta, GA - The Earl 04-23 Nashville, TN - The Stone Fox 04-25 Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's Downstairs 04-26 Austin, TX - Austin Psyche Festival

04-27 El Paso, TX - Lowbrow Palace 04-30 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar 05-01 Los Angeles, CA - The Satellite 05-02 Visalia, CA - The Cellar Door 05-03 San Francisco, CA - The Independent 05-04 Portland, OR - Dante's 05-05 Seattle, WA - Chope Suey 05-07 Boise, ID - Neuroplux 05-08 Salt Lake City, UT - 1133 Richards St 05-09 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge 05-10 Omaha, NE - Slowdown 05-11 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue 05-12 Fargo, ND - The Aquarium 05-13 Iowa City, IA - The Mill 05-15 Chicago, IL @ Schuba's Tavern

MINH minhmusic.com Minh, Vietnam-born, currently based in Las Vegas, is releasing a new single "I Think We've Peaked" on March 5th, 2013. You can get a sneak peek at the song with his music video. His music is said to blend John Legend and Michael Buble.

VIET KHANG wikipedia.org If you were wondering about whatever happened to Viet Khang - the singer/songwriter who was jailed for writing and performing two protest songs. Since the last report, he had his day in court at The People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City on October 30th, 2012. He was sentenced to four years in prison with an additional two years house arrest/probation, despite the White House rally and worldwide interest in the case.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

ASIA 69: Tác Giả Tác Phẩm

I know many of you have been asking about Việt Khang, as of this writing, he is in jail indefinitely. As long as his freedom is taken from him, the Vietnamese people will continue to sing and pay tributes to Việt Khang (and ultimately spreading the message of freedom of speech and assembly).

These things are happening all around the USA, at Vietnamese organized event. I suspect next New Year (in February 2013), that you'll hear more about Viet Khang at all Vietnamese events. It's a big deal.

One of the best, and most professional, music that come across my eyes is Asia Entertainment #69 "Tác Giả Tác Phẩm". The 2-disc DVD and Bluray just recently came out in late April, early May. Track 11 is the "Free Viet Khang" tribute, with covers of his two songs, "Việt Nam Tôi Đâu" and "Anh Là Ai", as sung by Đan Nguyên, Lê Quốc Tuấn, Hợp Ca Asia and featuring five-year old drummer Ngo Minh Ky.

Like the Paris by Night series, these Asia releases are produced and recorded live with a live event director and video switcher and live editor. It's incredible, especially considering that as soon as the show is done - the video is put directly on DVD (and recently Bluray). I don't know of another organization with the speed and flexibility of this company.

Anyway, the next Asia Entertainment show is #70 and will be taking place at Turning Stone Casino in Syracuse, New York on June 17th, 2012.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Phong Lê - Lấy Tiền Cho Gái (Money for Girls)

 

Phong Le - Lay Tien Cho Gai

Phong Le

I don't know if you knew, but we have three girls from Vietnam here at the house. To celebrate the new Chinese year (Tết), I took them to Target to spend some of their lì xì money. Lì xì is money you get in red envelopes from your elders. So the girls have never bought and paid for anything, so getting them to buy something was painful. And the checkout event ? Well it was pretty much uneventful, despite me making them do all the calculation for the 6% tax on their purchases.

Well, at home, we have been enjoying watching this video by Phong Lê lately called "Lấy Tiền Cho Gái". This is a pretty funny song about asking for money from God, so he can get some lovin'. The song consists of, what I believe was taken from traditional Vietnamese opera called Cải lương (about the man who climbed a ladder to ask "ông trời" for money), combined with some humorous and original rap.

Since many of you probably won't understand the song, I'll break it down for you:

The first date: The singer "accidentally" runs into some girl he thought he knew. He invites her on a date for lunch. The situation worsens when she another bowl of phở when she disapproved of her first phở đặc biệt - and he only has $20 (not enough to cover tip).

The second date: This part cleverly plays off màu (blood) and cháo (soup rice), as her two bloodsucker ugly girlfriends comes along on the date. They eat up a storm and, once again, drains his wallet.

The third date: We basically see our hero taking out his savings and Li Xi money to take her out one more time... and the punchline is that she has a boyfriend.

I suppose it would be really funny if you understood Vietnamese.

PhongLe - Lay Tien Cho Gai (vietrap video)

Well if you're curious about Phong Le, he seems to be part of a crew called 1o2 with fellow Vietnamese rappers and singers Khanh Nho, Tan Phuc, and Minh Duong, out of the Portland, Oregon, area. He also posts videos on his youtube account.

 01/27/2009 10:03:06 ♥ vu () ♥ myspace.com/102vietrap ♥ youtube.com/user/phongleee