Thanh Lan

Thanh Lan is a Vietnamese American singer and actress. She is one of the rare artists who has been successful in all three fields of music, cinema and theatre. Thanh Lan is famous for her French songs, and is one of the representative faces of the early period of youth music in Saigon. In cinema, she has participated in many famous films such as Tiếng hát học trò and Ván bài lật ngửa.

Biography

Phạm Thái Thanh Lan was born on 1 March 1948 in Nghệ An. Her saint's name is Catherine, but she is known by her stage name, Thanh Lan. Although both of Lan's parents were from Hanoi and Huế, known as a "throat-clear voice area", she lived in a Northern community in her childhood. This gave her a distinctive singing voice, and her Vietnamese accent is between that of Hanoi and Saigon.

1956–1969: Early life and education

As a high school student, Lan attended the prestigious Lycée Marie Curie. She studied piano at Saint Paul's school, run by the Sisters of Christian Charity, and she remains Roman Catholic. She later studied with Trần Anh Đào, and musician Nghiêm Phú Phi. She majored in French literature at Saigon University, and from childhood she spoke French, Vietnamese and English. She audited classes in tranh, traditional, and reformed music at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.
While in her school years she joined a Vietnamese children's band in order to perform in the VTVN and Vũ-đức-Duy drama bands on the Vietnam Television Network. She also sang with the Seagull band, and the Life Source band.

1970–1975: Career and fame

In the early 1970s, Lan took part in the Young Music Festival. She became known for her interpretations of French popular music. She also translated English-language songs into Vietnamese. Such music in its original language, especially French, was considered highbrow, and more for world travelers and academics than common people. Part of her goal in translating into Vietnamese was to make both the words and music and their specific cultural meanings accessible to a much wider audience.
In 1970, Lan starred as a main character in the coming-of-age movie Students Singing. It was produced by Alpha Films, owned by her maternal uncle Thái Thúc Nha. He was a famous filmmaker in Asia during the 1960-70s, and also president of Vietnam Cinema Society, which launched and hosted the Vietnam Film Day. "Students Singing" included a nude scene that generated controversy in the Southern press, with several tabloids calling Lan a "sexy bomb," or using the highly euphemistic term "princess of gifted arts." Film critics were more positive, however, and she received the Promising Actress prize at National Award of Literature and Arts ceremony. She often collaborated with Nhật Trường.
In 1974, Japanese director Norio Osada traveled to Saigon to make the film Number Ten Blues with stars from both Japan and Vietnam. Lan suggested that Osada add a main female character and cast her, because she had been well-known in Tokyo since 1971. She had become even more famous throughout Japan after 1973, when she performed at the Yamaha Music Festival. The film was completed in March 1975 even as the political situation in South Vietnam deteriorated around them. At the Fall of Saigon in April, Lan became stranded during the panic and confusion that concluded the Vietnam War, and she was unable to escape.
The Japanese filmmakers worried when Lan went missing, and even wondered if she had died. They left the film unreleased when the studio disbanded. Later, however, the director was able to release it with the title Goodbye Saigon, to memorialize that historic event.
Thanh Lan was unable to leave Vietnam at the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam in 1975. In 1994, during a sponsored series of concerts in the United States, Vietnamese-American protesters accused her of colluding with the Hanoi government and being a communist sympathizer. Although she had been a beloved singer during the 1970s, in the U.S. she became the subject of forceful protests and even death threats. She canceled all but one of her concerts, gave interviews pleading her case, and finally prevailed in her quest for asylum.

1976–1993: Censorship and emigration

During a "campaign to proscribe corrupt cultural products" under the new regime, Lan was censored for ten years. The censors particularly blocked her the film Students Singing, about South Vietnamese soldiers, but also for pretty much all of her discography. Her name disappeared from official mentions in Vietnamese literature and the arts during these years.
During the Renovation period, Lan performed some songs which the censorship offices accepted. She returned as one of the golden voices on the HTV channel. Though she only starred in a few films, for example, Cards on the Table and Behind a Fate, most were extremely popular. Northern young audiences particularly admired her character Thùy Dung in Cards on the Table. However, her principal work was as a voice actor and vocalist. During the 1980s her Northern sound became quite popular on Vietnamese television and in movies. Her talent was even praised by some Soviet filmmakers.
From 1991 to 1993, Lan focused on the development of her music. She cooperated with many studios for recordings, and she organized two live shows: Thanh Lan's Singing and Thanh Lan's Music Night.

1994–Controversy

In 1993, Thanh Lan planned a tour across the United States. Because she had been unable to leave Vietnam at the fall of Saigon in 1975, this later drew the suspicion of some of her fans that she might be cooperating with the state. During a Congressionally-sponsored series of concerts in the United States in 1994 on a three-month visa, she initially planned a tour, and she registered at the USCIS office as "Catherine Pham," her saint's name at birth. However, she soon became the target of protestors who claimed she was a tool of the Hanoi government. Lan's only scheduled performance after the cancellations was in San Jose, and protesters turned out in force. "We are against the Hanoi propaganda scheme. Thanh Lan is only a tool. She would be welcomed back if she shows remorse for what she did and cancels the concert." During radio interviews in San Jose pleading her case, her goal was convince the protestors that she was not an agent of the communist party. She attempted to describe how much she had suffered, but she allegedly made a misstep in the eyes of many former fans when she said that Vietnam paid her well. Despite the controversy, however, she was successful in her quest for asylum, and this calmed much of the rage. Protestors were later re-angered in part by President Bill Clinton's decision to end the trade embargo with Vietnam, but these demonstrations were quieter, and Lan was no longer a target because of her asylum status. Composer Trúc Hồ from Asia Entertainment offered her a contract, and she remained in the United States permanently.

1994-2013: Life in the United States

Initially, Lan collaborated with singer Ngọc Lan and some French-speaking amateur vocalists to perform French songs. After Ngọc Lan's death there was also a decline in interest surrounding pop française, so she collaborated again with Trần Thiện Thanh, focusing on songs of soldiers.

2014 to present

About 2012, an old Number Ten Blues tape was found and restored by NHK's experts. After looking for more information from Vietnamese people who lived in Japan, NHK sent staff to California. They showed Lan the restored version's DVD and invited her to attend the 2013 Fukuoka International Film Festival. In this event, she received the Audience Award for Number Ten Blues and Goodbye Saigon.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lan often could not fly to shows. However, she did return to Ho Chi Minh City to guest star on the Vietnamese TV show "Happy Memories, Season 2," a program on channel VTV3.

Personal life

Lan entered a brief marriage at 19. Her husband - Mr. Dũng - was a man from the Long Biên district of Hanoi whose family had settled in Dalat after Operation Passage to Freedom. After an amicable divorce, Thanh Lan and her ex-husband remain close friends.

Books

Tumultuous Life in Englist & Vietnamese. In 2003 Lan told MC Jimmy Nhựt Hà from the popular channel Jimmy TV that she had begun writing her memoirs. In August 2022, she published Tumultuous Life. She primarily wrote in English, which she had spoken since childhood, and then translated her words to Vietnamese.
Other short-stories and novels.

Albums

;Records

Việt Nam, Sóng Nhạc, Nhạc Ngày Xanh, Sơn Ca, Shotguns, Phạm Mạnh Cương, Diễm Ca, Nghệ thuật - Tâm Anh, Thương Ca, Nhã Ca, Premier, Continental, Trường Sơn,...
Nhạc trẻ 6 - Thanh Lan
Phạm Mạnh Cương 25 - Thanh Lan
The best of Thanh Lan
Tiếng hát xôn xao mộng tình đầu
Tà áo Văn Quân

;Paris By Night

NB	Song	With	Program	Year
1	Tình	solo	Paris By Night 27	1994
2	Yêu Thầm	solo	Paris By Night 28	1994
3	Dấu Vết Tình Yêu	solo	Paris By Night 29	1994
4	T'aimer	Franck Olivier	Paris By Night 29	1994
5	LK Hai Sắc Hoa Ti-gôn	Thái Châu	Paris By Night 32	1995
6	Con Quỳ Lạy Chúa Trên Trời	solo	Paris By Night 34	1995
7	Giàn thiên lý đã xa	solo	Paris By Night 36	1996
8	LK Trả Lại Em Yêu, Kỷ Vật Cho Em	Joseph Hiếu	Paris By Night 37	1996
9	Ru Đêm	solo	Paris By Night 40	1997
10	Điệu Buồn Dang Dở	solo	Paris By Night 41	1997
11	Chiếc Bóng Bên Đường	solo	Paris By Night 43	1998
12	LK Nhạc Pháp: Histoire D'un Amour, Et Pourtant, J'entends Siffler Le Train, Je Sais, Mal, Si L'amour Existe Encore, Main Dans La Main	Elvis Phương	Paris By Night 50	1999

;Asia

NB	Song	With	Program	Year
1	Tình Trong Phút Giây	solo	ASIA 4	1994
2	Một Ngày Vui Mùa Đông	solo	ASIA 6	1994
3	Huế Xưa	solo	ASIA 10	1995
4	Có Những Niềm Riêng	solo	ASIA 11	1996
5	LK Nhạc Pháp	Jo Marcel, Julie	ASIA 12	1996
6	Chiều Winnipeg	solo	ASIA 14	1997
7	Nếu Vắng Anh	solo	ASIA 15	1997
8	Đêm Khuya Trên Đường Canita	solo	ASIA 18	1998
9	Thu Vàng	solo	ASIA 20	1998
10	Người Ở Lại Charlie	Duy Quang	ASIA 21	1998
11	Que Sera Sera	solo	ASIA 22	1998
12	Ngày Xưa Hoàng Thị	solo	ASIA 23	1998
13	Bài Luân Vũ Mùa Mưa	Elvis Phương	ASIA 26	1999
14	Hoa Soan Bên Thềm Cũ	solo	ASIA 27	1999
15	Tưởng Như Còn Người Yêu	solo	ASIA 29	2000
16	Biệt Khúc Cho Tình Nhân	solo	ASIA 30	2000
17	Hội Trùng Dương	Thanh Tuyền, Hoàng Oanh	ASIA 31	2000
18	Nhân Chứng	solo	ASIA 32	2001
19	Trầu Cau	solo	ASIA 33	2001
20	Hòn Vọng Phu	Hoàng Oanh, Duy Quang	ASIA 34	2001
21	Vắng Bóng Người Yêu	solo	ASIA 35	2001
22	Hai Hàng Cây So Đũa	solo	ASIA 36	2002
23	LK Tình Yêu Và Tuổi Trẻ	Duy Quang	ASIA 37	2002
24	Mẹ Việt Nam Ơi! Chúng Con Vẫn Còn Đây	Lê Uyên	ASIA 38	2002
25	Mưa Ngâu	Dạ Nhật Yến	ASIA 48	2005
26	Anh Không Chết Đâu Anh	solo	ASIA 50	2006
27	LK Em Đi Rồi, Cho Em Quên Tuổi Ngọc	Diễm Liên	ASIA 51	2006
28	LK Đêm Nguyện Cầu, Nó, Một Ông Già	Trung Chỉnh, Chế Linh	ASIA 52	2006
29	LK Mộng Sầu, Hối Tiếc	Anh Khoa	ASIA 54	2007
30	LK Tình Yêu Ôi Tình Yêu, Búp bê không tình yêu	Doanh Doanh	ASIA 55	2007
31	LK Thôi, Ảo Ảnh	Tuấn Vũ	ASIA 56	2007
32	Người Chết Trở Về	Nhật Trường	ASIA 58	2008
33	LK Delilah, Je Sais, Mùa Tình Yêu, Một Thời Để Yêu	Paolo	ASIA 59	2008
34	Khúc Hát Thanh Xuân	Ngọc Hạ	ASIA 60	2008
35	Bà Mẹ Trị Thiên	Vũ Khanh	ASIA 61	2009
36	LK Trả Lại Em Yêu, Em Hiền Như Masour	Vũ Khanh	ASIA 65	2010
37	Kỷ Vật Cho Em	Vũ Khanh	ASIA 66	2010
38	Nụ Tầm Xuân	Vũ Khanh	ASIA 67	2010
39	Con Đường Tình Ta Đi	Vũ Khanh	ASIA 68	2011
40	LK Nhạc Pháp: Maman, La Vie, C'est Une Histoire D'Amour, Elle	Sỹ Đan, Vũ Tuấn Đức	ASIA 71	2012
41	Lòng mẹ	Lê Anh Quân	ASIA 72	2013
42	LK Nghẹn Ngào, Anh Biết Em Đi Chẳng Trở Về	Anh Khoa	ASIA 77	2015
43	Tuổi Biết Buồn	solo	ASIA 78	2016
44	Xóm Đêm	solo	ASIA 82	2018
45	Giáng Sinh Phận Người	Loan Châu	ASIA Christmas Special 2020	2020

Stage

Những người không chịu chết
Mắc lưới
Chiếc độc bình Khang Hy
Người viễn khách thứ mười
Chuyến tàu mang tên dục vọng
Đội lốt Việt kiều
Tình nghệ sĩ
Lá sầu riêng
Lôi vũ
Lồng đèn đỏ
Đoạn tuyệt
Sân khấu về khuya
Phù Dung tự
Công tử Bạc Liêu

Filmography

Students Singing — ?
Love — ?
Tears of Stone — ?
Ngọc Lan — Ngọc Lan
The Flower Seller — ?
On Winter's Peak — Nguyễn Thị Lệ
My Hamlet — ?
Don't Let Me Down — ?
My School — Thanh Lan
Eternal Love of My Dream — Nguyễn Thị Mộng Thường
Number Ten Blues — Lan
Cards on the Table — Thùy Dung
A Song Has Not Only Notes — Diệu Hương
Suburb — Huệ
Two Sisters — Trúc
Dept of the Crime — ?
Behind a Fate — Thục Nhàn
Heaven for the Dancing Queen — ?
Black Panther squad — ?
Love Has No Borders — ?
Across the Mist — ?
Human Companionship — Physician Trang
Ghost Lover — ?

Voiceover

Cards on the Table — Thùy Dung
The Girl on the River — Nguyệt