Khanh Ly: 'I have never cried in front of Trinh Cong Son'

The late musician once wrote the song "Rợi Lệ Lu người" for the famous singer, but in real life, both of them hid their tears when they met.

In early December, Khanh Ly plans to perform her live show at the Hoa Binh Theater in Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first time in 41 years that the famous singer will reunite with the Saigon audience in a private concert. She talked about her memories of this city.

- In the past, Khanh Ly sang barefoot in Saigon with Trinh Cong Son playing the guitar. In the live show scheduled to be held in December, who will be the one to hold the guitar next to Khanh Ly?

- Anyone can play the guitar because without Mr. Son, everyone is the same. I cannot demand but have to accept the fact that Mr. Son is no longer here. To me, he is still around somewhere, still everywhere in Saigon. Here, everywhere I feel like his footsteps have passed, his breath is still the breath of Saigon. In the past, I lived and sang in Saigon also following Mr. Son's dream, but at that time I did not know what a dream was. Mr. Son always wanted to live forever in this place.

Khanh Ly shared with her the image of the late musician Trinh Cong Son associated with Saigon. Photo: Gia Tien.

- Every time you return to Saigon, besides work, where do you go?

- I thought I would go back to the old road, the old place, but I didn't go back. Because I knew everything had changed. For more than 40 years, I myself had changed, let alone grass, trees, wood and stone... The people I wanted to find were no longer there, so I didn't go looking. When I returned to Saigon, I only remembered Mr. Trinh Cong Son. Not only that, besides Mr. Son, there was also the heart of the people of Saigon for me, that was precious. For me, that was enough.

- Why, for you, does Saigon only have Trinh Cong Son, when here you are still famous through the works of other musicians?

- Of course I've also made a name for myself with other composers' music, but there are things in life that cannot be compared. It's like love. Love isn't a book where you can turn the page to a completely new one.

- You once said you didn't love Mr. Son during the time you two were in Da Lat, so what about the time you two were in Saigon?

- Mr. Son in Da Lat or Hanoi, Saigon is still Mr. Trinh Cong Son. Mr. Son is alive or Mr. Son has gone to another world, he is still Mr. Son. My love for him does not change because Mr. Son is here or not here. It is only one love.

- But you once shared that the time in Da Lat was when you and Trinh Cong Son maintained their love for poetry and music, and in Saigon was when you became a musical couple, eating and singing together... So how can we understand the change in that relationship?

- Nothing has changed, that relationship has been marked from the beginning. If I think it is fate, destiny, then from the moment we met it has marked my life. That relationship has not changed no matter where Mr. Son is, even if he has five or seven wives, he is still my Mr. Son.

Khanh Ly and Trinh Cong Son at Quan Van.

- In 1967, when you returned to Saigon from Da Lat, how did you meet Trinh Cong Son again?

- We were walking on the street and met each other, quite by chance, although it may not have been by chance. The first time we met again was on Le Thanh Ton Street. At that time, we were both very happy. Mr. Son invited me to sing right away. In Saigon, the first night I sang with him in front of thousands of people at Quan Van.

- Did you and Trinh Cong Son ever confide that one had feelings for the other?

- Never. We never mentioned it, near or far. The relationship between the two of us can be understood however we want. Because there is nothing, so why ask? If there was, it would have been there right away. Love is strange, love is love from the first moment.

- Since you knew musician Trinh Cong Son, have you ever shed tears because of this musician?

- (Long silence) No. There are things I keep hidden in my heart, there are tears I keep hidden, but the important thing is that I remember wherever I am, I don't need to wait until the anniversary of my grandfather's death to remember, if I remember, I can remember morning, noon, afternoon and night. That's how I live, I don't show it on the outside, what I keep in my heart is my love. Love is to hide it so that what I say doesn't harm anyone, the things I keep in my heart are the things I cherish the most. There are joys that I can only enjoy alone. Sometimes late at night, sitting alone, remembering old stories, I suddenly laugh to myself. Because my joy is not necessarily everyone's joy, the same goes for my sadness. Now, when I miss Mr. Son or my husband, I often keep it to myself.

- You have never cried because of Mr. Son, so in front of Mr. Son have you ever cried because of something?

- No. Never. Even when life took a turn for the worse, I never cried in front of Mr. Son. I never cried for my mother or my husband. Even when I was in the most difficult and painful situation, even if I could die, I still wouldn't cry. Crying would be useless. It's all me, no one can take care of me.

- Is it because you can express yourself in song that you don't need to cry anymore?

- Listen to me sing and you will understand. I cannot say that. When people hear me sing, they cry. Whoever understands, understands. I cannot complain, please understand me.

Khanh Ly sings in Ho Chi Minh City at the charity concert "Circle of Compassion" gathering many singers in September. Photo: Gia Tien.

- How many songs did Trinh Cong Son write for her?

- There is only one song I know he wrote for me, which is "Roi Le Lu Nguoi". He told me that. As for me, I think every song he composed was written for me. Just like when people listen to his music, they can also think it was written for them because they find themselves in it.

- If you love Mr. Trinh Cong Son so much, why didn't you come to his funeral 15 years ago?

- I bought a plane ticket for Mr. Son's funeral but didn't return because I didn't want to disturb the funeral. No matter how much people respect Mr. Son, they still want to know who Khanh Ly is. That's making a mess. All the glory is his. I'm just a shadow next to the glory.

From the time I left Vietnam until the day musician Trinh Cong Son passed away, we met four times. The first time was in 1988 in Paris, France. The second time was in 1992, in Canada, when Mr. Son went there for medical treatment, after Mr. Son's mother passed away. In 1997, I returned and met him in Saigon. In 2000, a few months before he passed away, I visited him. That day, I returned to Saigon to visit Mr. Son because I had almost no relatives left here.

According to VNE