Musician Lu Nhat Vu passed away, but lives on forever: The Saigon Girl Who Carried Ammunition, Song of the Southern Land

Musician Lu Nhat Vu - Photo: NGUYEN A

In the book Life and Music, musician Lu Nhat Vu once said that his artistic journey went through many stages.

In his twenties, he had about 20 songs broadcast on Voice of Vietnam Radio, which helped him hone his skills and accumulate life experience.

The 30s are a fertile period for creativity.

This was the period when he released many works: The Saigon Girl Carrying Ammunition , two musical scenes The Sound of Gongs Crossing the Waterfall and Hon Khoai , the songs Song of the Reclamation People , By the Statue of Uncle Ho , Lullaby After the Storm , Love of Cu Chi Land, Song of the Southern Land ...

At the age of seventy-five, he and his wife (poet Le Giang) completed another epic poem on the Saigon River titled The River Tells Stories .

"Looking back at the work I have done, contributing to the country's music career, I still feel somewhat satisfied. There are still ups and downs that I have to strive to overcome," he confided.

Afternoon on Meo village

When he was still alive, writer Van Le, a close brother of the musician, said that the first song of Lu Nhat Vu that he knew was Afternoon on Ban Meo . The song is clear, both lyrical and imbued with the nuances of Mong ethnic folk music.

Afternoon on the Cat Village - Photo: D.DUNG

The song haunted Van Le. In 1967, Van Le brought the song to the Southern battlefield, singing it silently in sad moments and even after battles.

According to Van Le, musician Lu Nhat Vu from Binh Duong must be a very delicate, sharp person who loves the highlands and the Mong people very much to be able to capture the soul and spirit of Mong folk songs like that.

Saigon girl goes to load ammunition

Lu Nhat Vu wrote Saigon Girl Carrying Ammunition in 1968 on Kham Thien Street, Hanoi, when he was a student from the South going to the North. But it was not until 1970 that he entered the battlefield in the South.

The musician said that year, poet Le Anh Xuan and musician Diep Minh Tuyen left him one after another to go to the South.

He often went to the lake shore, standing with a crowd of people looking at the war map of the General Offensive and Uprising of Mau Than 1968, eager and excited, wanting to do something for his beloved homeland of the South.

The song "Saigon Girl Carrying Ammunition" was sung by 12 singers of the Central Song and Dance Troupe, with the lead by singer Vu Dau.

While still alive, musician Phan Huynh Dieu commented that the song had a bright, optimistic melody, an urgent, intense rhythm but was very graceful and lovely; clearly depicting the soul of Southern girls on their way to the front line.

According to Phan Huynh Dieu, the song is so familiar that just by saying "Bird Song Calls", people can sing it even if they don't remember the name of the song or the author's name.

Musician Lu Nhat Vu on the way across Truong Son in 1970 - Photo taken from the book Lu Nhat Vu - Life and Music

At Uncle Ho's statue

The song was composed by him in 1978 with lyrics by Le Giang. This is one of the songs about Uncle Ho that is loved by many audiences nationwide.

During his lifetime, musician Lu Nhat Vu once said that compared to many musicians of the same age, he was lucky enough to meet Uncle Ho many times and each time left behind memories that he could never forget for the rest of his life.

Rest assured mom

The musician said, "In 1978, on the 6th floor of an apartment building, we saw our son Le Anh Trung off to join the army, to do duty at the Cambodian border. Before leaving, our son hugged and kissed us and said goodbye, his voice full of emotion: "Dad, Mom, rest assured about me."

That saying inspired musician and poet Le Giang to immediately sketch the song "Rest assured, mother" .

During the Southwest border campaign, this song was performed many times by Dinh Van, Le Hanh, Mai Truc, and later by Dan Truong, Trong Tan, Nguyen Phi Hung...

Song of the Southern Land

Song of the Southern Land (music by Lu Nhat Vu, lyrics by Le Giang) was first released in 1997, as the theme song of the TV series Southern Land (director Nguyen Vinh Son).

Not only a film soundtrack, Song of the Southern Land has also become an independent musical work, loved by the public, and is one of the timeless songs.

To Thanh Phuong - Southern Land

The song has also been performed by many singers such as Huong Lan, Bich Phuong, Nhu Quynh, Phi Nhung, Trong Phuc, Cam Ly, Luong Bich Huu, Phuong My Chi...

Musician Lu Nhat Vu's coffin lies at the Southern National Funeral Home, 5 Pham Ngu Lao, Ward 3, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Burial ceremony: 7am, March 30.

Visitation: 8am March 30.

Memorial service: 7am March 31.

Funeral ceremony at: 7:30 a.m., March 31.

Burial at Binh Duong Flower Garden Cemetery, Chanh Phu Hoa Ward, Ben Cat City, Binh Duong Province.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhac-si-lu-nhat-vu-mat-con-mai-co-gai-sai-gon-di-tai-dan-bai-ca-dat-phuong-nam-20250329113545352.htm