A Bumper Crop of Victories (Vui Mùa Chiến Thắng)

Annotation — North Vietnamese Songs

As above, released on the Dihavina record label (# 6601), originally the state label of North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) before reunification in 1975, included the track "Quảng Bình quê ta oi" ("Quang Binh, O My Homeland!") and the song "Sẵn sàng chiến đấu" ("Ready for Fighting"). The song "Vui mùa chiến thắng" ("A Bumper Crop for Victories") focussed on the importance of farming and maintaining a food supply for the population and soldiers - noting "rice fields filled with ripen grain... grow the rice, corns and potatoes", in which the soldier accepts "with gratitude", in order "to nourish us" and "to go and kill the enemy". It took a positive note on the outcome of the war: "hero's feet tread on the enemy... we are coming home in victory".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: "This afternoon, I stand upon the Truong Son range, / My heart overflowing with the joy of a harvest rich with the fragrance of ripening grain. / The river carries its waters toward the lowlands, / Reflecting the maize fields where a mother, cradling her child, waves a flag. / The phi bird wings its way toward the heavy, golden stalks, / Gliding through the rustling autumn breeze. / Ho o, o o... / The season ascends the peaks of Truong Son— / Radiant as beautiful maidens, / Bright as the floral-patterned clothes of little children, / Vibrant as spring itself! / The future marches across the horizon of our homeland. / Ho o... / Within our hearts, we hold a deep love for our native land; / Across these hills, so many noble spirits dwell. / The ripened harvest awaits us, brimming with hope— / Autumn arrives amidst the joy of our victory. / Once, these ancient forests knew no human tread, / Before the cruel enemy came to trample upon our lives. / Now, we return to transform this wild, untamed wilderness / Into fields of rice, maize, and tubers—fueling our resolve to strike down the foe. / With rifles in one hand and axes in the other, we rise up; / With nothing but our own bare hands, we forge a new life. / Ho o, o o... / Our hands sow the seeds of new, green life, / Planting faith in a bright and promising tomorrow. / Through our love, we compel the wild forest / To sustain us as we fight to defend our homeland. / Ho o... / Heroic hands carve through mountains and tame…

Notes

Dihavina 6601 (CK 1), "Đĩa Hát Việt Nam", 45; label: "Quang Binh, O My Homeland!", solo mezzo-soprano Kim Oanh with the "Voice of Vietnam"'s vocal group and folk instruments orchestra. The picture sleeve front, titled "Quang Binh o my homeland!" and "Quảng Bình quê ta ơi!", shows a drawing, signed L. T. Đức, of a young woman with a rifle slung on her back carrying a fishing net, with nets hung to dry on a beach behind her. The back lists the three songs: 1. "Quang Binh, O My Homeland!" (Quang Binh quê ta oi!), 2. "Ready for Fighting" (San sang chiên dâu), 3. A "Bumper Crop" of Victories (Vui mua chiên thang); distributors Xunhasaba, 32 Hai Bà Trưng, Hanoi, D.R. Vietnam. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Quy Duong (Pham Quy Duong, 1937-2011), born in Hai Duong, was a leading Vietnamese classical baritone - chosen to sing the lead baritone role in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin at the Hanoi Opera House in 1960, making him Vietnam's first opera singer; he later taught voice at the Vietnam National Academy of Music and was one of the celebrated "3C Trio" of Vietnamese vocalists; he died 28 June 2011. His partner on this record is credited as Hoang Manh. [Source: Wikipedia; Discogs]

Themes

Vietnamese Perspective · Vietnamese Patriotic · Ho Chi Minh Trail

In collections

North Vietnamese Songs