Sharing Hmong Music

Kub "Qab Kaws" (Qab Kaws means frog) Vaj is a Hmong pop/rock artist.  He is one of the few Hmong soloists from Thailand who makes original music, and his songs are filled with good meanings too.  He possesses strong vocals and a wide range singing ability.

I like many of his songs, including "Nplooj Siab Vib Nais" and "Thov Hmoob Hlub Hmoob," but "Tsis Nco Yav Tag Los" was the easiest one to sub so I'm sharing this one first.  Maybe in the near future, when I feel like it, I'll sub and share the other two favorites as well. 

"Tsis Nco Yav Tag Los" tells the story of a man who has overcome a broken heart, meets a new and better woman (and learns to be appreciative of her), and thus makes it clear to his ex-lover/wife that he will never miss her again for leaving him.

 

The Magnificent Seven Chapter 7

The rainy season had begun.  The ground was often muddy as the raindrops fell nonstop on the tin-roof buildings.  And, the presence of rain meant that the atmosphere was often moist and cold—perfect whether for people to easily catch colds.  So, the hospital was not only swamped with injured soldiers but sick civilians.  

Although the nurse trainees’ schedule was hectic, Lwg Dej would often make time to come accompany Xyooj Vaj Huam, even if it meant having to skip her break and meal times.  After cleaning and changing him, she would tell him stories of hope and courage to keep him company.  And while that brief period was exhausting, Lwg Dej never felt tire for she was experiencing a kind of happiness that she’d never had before. 

On the seventh morning after his admittance into the hospital, Noog Xi came to check Xyooj Vaj Huam’s vital signs as usual.  And as usual, she found Lwg Dej resting her head on the bed next to the patient.  While the two slept, Noog Xi quietly checked Xyooj Vaj Huam’s temperature and blood pressure.  His fever had subsided and his vital signs were stabled. 

Just as she finished writing down her observation, she heard a moaning sound.  She turned to look and saw that the patient was mumbling something.  “Water….water…water….” he called hoarsely.

The Magnificent Seven Chapter 6

It was late afternoon already when she returned home to break the news to Niam Tais Paj and Yawm Txiv Txooj Sua.  When she arrived at their wooden shack, Yawm Txiv Txooj Sua was cutting wood outside.  Too focused on his wood cutting, Yawm Txiv Txooj Sua did not even notice her return.  She decided not to bother him as well so she quietly stepped inside the home. 

Noog Xi saw Niam Tais Paj sitting on a wooden stool, polishing her silver jewelries.  “I’m back,” she said.  “Have you and Yawm Txiv eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Let me cook then.”

She went into the kitchen and pulled out some meat and vegetables.  She scrambled a few dishes for dinner that night. 

When the food was prepared and served, Noog Xi called Niam Tais Paj and Yawm Txiv Txooj Sua to the dining table.  They sat around the round bamboo-woven table and ate their portion silently. 

After swallowing a few bites, the girl cleared her throat and looked at her aunt and uncle.  “Niam Tais…Yawm Txiv…I know that we are very poor now so I found a job,” she said.

Niam Tais Paj and Yawm Txiv Txooj Sua stopped eating.  “You did?” Niam Tais Paj responded surprisingly.  “Daughter, you didn’t have to.  I didn’t mean to force you to find a job with the words I said the other day.”

“It’s alright, Niam Tais.  I know that you and Yawm Txiv need all the help you can get.  I am still young so let me suffer a bit.”

“What job did you get daughter?” Yawm Txiv asked.

“A nursing job.”

“And when do you start?”

“Tomorrow,” the girl answered firmly.  “But, this job is not like my previous teaching position where I can live at home and walk to work everyday.  This job requires that I live at my work place.  But before that, I will be taking courses in Vientiane for 6 months and then spend another 6 months training in Thailand before returning here.”

“What?  That’s ridiculous!  I won’t let you do it!  Even if we are poor now, Yawm Txiv and I will find a way out!”

Sharing Hmong Music

This song is called "Xa Lub Siab Nrog Tus Duab Hli" by Ntsim Yaj.  He debuted in 2009, but never really made it big and probably didn't produce a sophomore album.  With so many new Hmong artists coming out of Laos and Thailand these days, a singer must really learn to stand apart from his/her competitors to grab attention...i.e. Lis Koob Xyooj (whether you like him or not, I'm indifferent). 

However, from Ntsim Yaj's debut album, this is probably the single song that I like and so I am sharing it here.



The Magnificent Seven Chapter 5

The journey to Looj Ceeb was an arduous trip, taking the Zos Hav Xyoob villagers to the town of Sam Thong first.  As new refugees, they were not permitted to enter Looj Ceeb until they went through proper health examinations and documentations in Sam Thong—Copper Marsh, or Lima Site 20.  It was a mountain ridge town almost a day’s walk from Looj Ceeb.  It had about a population of 8,000 residents and was located north of Looj Ceeb but southwest of the Plain of Jars.  The town had a dusty, dry red airstrip surrounded by karts and sat along a clear flowing pristine mountain stream.  Some of the town’s surrounding trees have been cut down to use as fire wood but the few scattered pine trees still stood tall.  Downfield of Sam Thong were valleys of thorny bushes and purple fountain grasses. 

While Looj Ceeb was the CIA-supported base for guerrilla operations against the communists, Sam Thong was headquarter of USAID operations in northern Laos.  It served as the center for refugee assistance as well as standard aid programs, and kept its own hospital and school.  Sam Thong was the only town to occasionally receive foreign journalists.

With the exception of a few policemen—the civilian town of Sam Thong was emptied of any soldiers.  The day was pouring rain and the temperature was cold so even civilians were not visible outside.  When the two policemen guarding the gate to Sam Thong spotted the new group of refugees, they ran over.  After speaking quickly to the village chief, the two policemen led the group to a building that sat on the northeastern side of the airfield.  It was made out of wooden planks painted a light sky-blue color and wooden black shingle roofing.  The facility included some operable square-shaped aluminum windows with tempered glass to permit the passage of light and ventilation, and two opposing-opened wooden steps on the outside that connected with the main entrance.  Inside the building, there were rows of evenly-spaced red plastic chairs.  Office spaces took half of the building. 

A group of 10 men and women—mostly Westerners but a few Filipinos and one Hmong medic greeted the newly arrivals.  The policemen handed the group over to the staff and left. 

An American man, who seemed to be in charge, spoke to the group through the interpretation of the Hmong medic.  “Everyone, please have a sit,” he instructed.  “We will come by to examine you all for health problems.  Anyone with severe issues will be sent to the main hospital.  Those who are in good health will be given some vaccinations before proceeding to your living quarter.” 

The Hmong medic interpreted.

The Magnificient Seven Chapter 4

            Two weeks have passed since the Red Lao soldiers captured the threesome and sent them back home.  Fearful of alerting the villagers, the soldiers dropped the three off at the edge of the village.  The young teacher had taken Teeb from the back of the Red Lao Hmong soldier, Thoj Zoov Ntxhw, and carried him on her back to her sister-in-law’s home.  It was already midnight when they reached Teeb’s family’s thatched hut on the north side of the village.  Xwm knocked on the family’s door and a few seconds later, the pregnant woman showed up.  Upon seeing her son, she grabbed him from the teacher’s back with tears of joy.  She thanked the elder boy and the teacher for helping to find her son and for sending him safely back. 

The teacher and her elder student decided to conceal their captivity from Teeb’s mother to help the woman to remain calm.  After she took her son, the teacher sent Xwm home.  They agreed not to share the experience with his parents either.  Xwm’s parents were concerned that he returned home so late but were grateful that their son was safe. 

When Noog Xi returned home, Niam Tais Paj and Yawm Txiv Txooj Sua were worried as well.  Since she had come to live with them, wherever she went to, she would usually be home before the sun set.  So her late return made the couple extremely inquisitive, and they kindly forced her to reveal the truth. 

They were terrified to learn about the incident.  They became circumspect and forbidden their niece to pass further than 10 feet from the house.  She had reassured them that they did not need to take that much precaution, but they felt uneasy if they didn’t.  Having been captured twice now, they could not let her endure such an experience again.  In the end, they intended to keep the girl home until they could confirm that it was safe to walk around the village again.  So, the teacher had to cancel class and the husband and wife lied to her students’ parents that she was ill and would keep to the home for many days.

The Magnificent Seven Chapter 3

Conscious now, Noog Xi turned her head to look at the window to the right.  The darkness of the night had faded away.  The moon went back to sleep and the sun came out to give light to the world.  Although the window in her room was still shut tight, she could witness sunlight creeping through the cracks of the window and traveling faster than anything else in this universe across time, space, and the walls of the house.  The light inside was bright enough that it kept her awake.  Not wanting to get up yet, she turned her whole body to the right side and stared at the window.  When she did so, Noog Xi could smell the sweet scent of freshly brewed rice coming through the cracks of the thatched-roof home.  Even this bright into the morning, she could still hear faint sounds of roosters crowing, calling for the sun to rise.  Suddenly, she did not hear the crows anymore but the sound of a sharp blade cutting through hard pieces of dry woods instead.  She knew that the sound was coming from her uncle chopping woods outside to be used for the day.  The noises helped to reassure her of her safety.    

After of few minutes of lying awake, the young woman’s back began to ache so she decided to get up.  But before stepping outside to wash her face, the dream crept back into her thoughts.  How she wished everything in the dream was just a dream like every other dream, but it was not.  Those vivid images were remnants of her past.  Even though she was safe and sound now, the experience haunted her every night in her sleep.  But in dreams, things did not occur the same way twice and they also did not stick to reality.  Sometimes, she would see things that never happened or have yet to exist in her lifetime while other times, the details and ending to her dream would often change.         

The Magnificent Seven Chapter 2

(This is the official poster for the The Magnificent Seven)

 

 

November, 1964.  Which day, Noog Xi could not recollect.  But she remembered that it was a festive time—an occasion for families to pay respect to their ancestors, for the young’s to court and the wise to socialize with friends and family.  Most importantly, it was a time to continue practicing the traditions and customs that her ancestors elaborately weaved many millennia ago for their descendants. 

The sound of the rooster’s first crow woke all the siblings up.  Filled with joy and excitement, they scarcely slept through the night and merrily mingled as they quickly washed up and prepared for the New Year’s morning ritual.  The younger ones were incredibly eager to watch their father hold his split ox’s horn to hu plig or call the spirits of the family to return home and impatient to smell the aromatic incense sticks burning away at the tick of each second that they dragged their sleepy father and mother out of bed.  Only when the chipped residues from the incense sticks fell gracefully into the bowl of raw rice were they satisfied. 

The morning ceremony ended after their father offered fresh food to the ancestors to ask for fortune and protection, and glued new rice papers onto the xwm kab wall by using chicken feathers dipped in crimson chicken blood.   Afterward, her family had their meal.  The newly harvested rice and tendered, home-raised chicken boiled with chicken herbs melted tastily in her mouth.  Noog Xi ate until her stomach was plumped like a frog despite her mother’s warning to avoid overstuffing so that she may maintain a slim figure and find a husband.  She simply ignored her mother’s advice.  She hadn’t eaten home-made food for a long time.       

The nebulous mist that shrouded the mountain top had dissipated by late morning when the girl walked outside with a large tin basin filled with used plates and bowls.  She laid the basin on the dirt ground and stretched her body to feel the cool wind brushed past her bared arms.  She closed her eyes and breathed in her ancestors’ presence.  Noog Xi recalled of the time when she asked her grandfather why the Hmong chose to live on the mountain tops.  He told her that there once lived two looj or dragon brothers.  The younger brother, however, arrived from his mother’s womb a little different.  He had a bird’s beak for a mouth and wings on his back.  His elder brother loathed him for his special features.  Wishing to prove that the elder brother was superior, he declared his younger brother to be his nemesis and vowed to dominate him in everything.  The kind-hearted younger looj desired for nothing else but to maintain a peaceful relationship with his brother and to live as only a free being under the sky.  So, every time his malevolent and greedy elder brother chased him, he ran away.  Gradually, everything related to the younger looj began to perish at the hands of his elder brother—kingdoms, knowledge, and history.  To save his kind from extinction, the younger brother retreated to higher and higher altitudes until only his descendants knew that they, the beaked and winged looj were born on the mountain tops while the lowlands were for the pure-breed looj.  That was why the mountainous terrains of Xiengkhouang Province may be inhospitable to many, but it was a safe haven for the descendants of the beaked and winged looj.  At least for the time being.

The Magnificent Seven Chapter 1

Some of you may recall that I have uploaded the first two chapters to this story before, but removed them because I realize that I had a problem continuing with the point-of-view that I initially used.  So, I took the story off to make the necessary changes and now it is ready to be viewed again.  Enjoy!

Update

For those of you who would like a brief synopsis on this story before diving into the readings or to help you decide if this story is worth your time investment, here is the synopsis taken from a post I've posted a while back.

Synopsis:

A rare female of her time, 22 year-old Lis Noog Xi returns to Laos in 1964 after completing college in Australia only to find her homeland in turmoil and war-torn. Shortly after her arrival and on the morning of Hmong New Year, her hometown of Nong Het is raided by Pathet Lao soldiers and she is taken a prisoner. After her miraculous escape and having no news of the whereabouts of her family members, she goes to live with her maternal aunt and uncle. But no Hmong village is safe against the infiltration of communist soldiers, so she and her aunt and uncle are forced to seek refuge in Sam Thong. It is there that Lis Noog Xi meets Edgar “Pop” Buell, head of the USAID Program in Laos. With her ability to read and write in English, Pop hires her to recruit, train, and heads a team of ethnic highlander nurses. She along with her fellow friends and comrades, Vaj Yuj Yeev, Hawj Yaj Mim, Thoj Suab Cua, Muas Ntsa Iab, Yaj Lwg Dej, and Xyooj Ntxhi Nag run Sam Thong Hospital to serve the needs of the people and the injured Hmong soldiers under Military Region II.

Their journey as nurses test their strength and significance as Hmong women in an era of ever changing fates, where their history is neglected in the context of a man’s world. They get tangle up in love affairs with some of General Vang Pao’s top ranked soldiers, pilots, and secret agents, discovering that to love someone during a time of war is bittersweet and a punishment from the heavens. Would Lis Noog Xi choose her youth sweet-heart on the communists’ side or a CIA-backed astute colonel instead?  Can a group of seven friends overcome the challenges befall upon them and change the lives of many individuals? ~The Magnificent Seven

Note: This story contains characters "loosely" based on real historical figures (dramatized for reading interest) so don't take the characters or events as true to their real life counterpart.  This story is categorized as a work of fiction. 

 

 

So, it was told that the folk legend unfolded like this…

Once upon a time, a young man named Nuj Txeeg was not only handsome and kind, but an equally talented qeej—bamboo reed pipe, player.  His fame and music stretched far and wide, all the way to the kingdom beyond the sky.  In that kingdom, there lived the youngest daughter of a king, but she had a disease—an enormous goiter.  And thus, she came to be infamously known as Ntxawm Mob Txia—the little goiter fairy.

Bored of her heavenly life, Ntxawm Mob Txia often peeked into Earth to observe the mortals’ lives.  One day, the heartfelt qeej music of Nuj Txeeg caught her attention and she instantly fell in love with the lad.

When the annual New Year’s celebration arrived, Ntxawm Mob Txia descended to Earth.  She singled Nuj Txeeg out at the local New Year’s festival, and would not pov pob—toss ball, with anyone else but the talented qeej player.  Her choice in tossing the ball only to Nuj Txeeg meant that she had given her heart to him, and have chosen him to be her groom. 

The young lad, however, didn’t regard Ntxawm Mob Txia in the same manner that she did him.  For one thing, her goiter appearance was not appealing and for another, Nuj Txeeg was already in love with another girl—the beautiful Nuj Saub Noog Xi.  Nuj Txeeg had courted Nuj Saub Noog Xi for a long time, and the two agreed to have their wedding after the New Year. 

Sharing Hmong Music

 

Sharing two of my more favorite songs by Paj Xia (Xis) Yaj off her debut album, Hlub Koj Xwb.  If you like the music, please do support the artist.

 

Hmoob Lub Neej 

 

 

Sharing Hmong Music

I've decided that when I share Hmong music, I'm going to stop calling it "Song of the Week," because I am not consistent at updating every week and there are some weeks that I might like to share more than one song.  So from now onward, the blog post title will just be "Sharing Hmong Music."

Here are two songs. 

Note: Some of the Hmong music share on this blog, unless belonging to conventional music genres, are not traditional Hmong music.  They're mostly covers of a particular style of music from the country that the Hmong singer is from, and in most of the cases the music will be of Lao/Thai origin, but with lyrics changed and the songs sung in Hmong to reflect the lifestyle of the Hmong.  So although the music may not be Hmong in origin, as a listener, you'll still get a glimpse into the values of traditional Hmong folk or modern Hmong lives by paying attention to the meaning of the songs instead.

Ntuj Ni Txiv Leej Tub - Maiv Lis Thoj.



 

 

 

Nkauj Mim See

Nothing beats the old storytellers.  They put so much enthusiasm and passion into storytelling that one needs not motion picture, but the imagination, to see the content of a Hmong folktale unfold into life before the very eyes.  I just wanted to share an old audio clip of yet, another Hmong folktale by Ntxhoo Xub Vaaj.  I must note that it is in the Hmong Ntsuab/Hmong Lees dialect so it may be a bit difficult to understand for those who are not familiar with the dialect (even I have a hard time too).  Also, the audio quality isn't the best (it's old) so bear with it.  Perhaps in the near future, I will provide the text so that it be easier for some of you to follow along and to understand the storyline.

(Interesting Fact: What is called "dab neeg" in Hmoob Dawb is known as "lug nruag" in Hmong Ntsuab/Hmoob Lees.)



 

 

Actually, I found a written version by Kou Yang, and so provided it below.  The details may be a bit different, but it is the same storyline.  All credits go to Lus Nruag at http://lugnruag.webs.com/.  I'm only reposting the writing for the purpose of providing another option for those who preferred to read rather than listen.

Thoob Yej & Ntxawm Qaum Ntuj

As a kid, I enjoyed listening to the elders weave Hmong folklore into life.  My grandmothers used to tell me stories at night to help me fall asleep, and it's a pity I always fall asleep before the ending.  But, one of my favorites is the story about the girl being a heavenly bird who was caught by a talented mortal so she eventually wed him.  But fate had it that she was forced to leave him, and the remaining story talks about his journey to the land beyond the sky to retrieve her back (it's similar to the one below, but not 100% accurate because every storyteller adds their own flavor to the original story).

Some of you may recall that this story is very similar to the Tai/Dai story, "The Peacock Princess."  However, I can assure you that it's not a copy.  Hmong ancestors lived in China as well and I believed that our ancestors observed nature like other Chinese ethnic groups too (or they may have influenced one another) to come up with such similar legend.  China does possess mountains carved like angry elephants, boiling hot springs and lush forests, and Lake Poyang (the Hmong/Miao ancestors used to live there) is a refuge for birds that fly to it for the winter from as far away as Northern Siberia (that's why in the folktale the protagonist is always told that if he takes the heavenly road--meaning he fly, he'll get to the girl's kingdom quickly but if he takes the earth road--or walk, it'll be on the year scale).   Watch BBC's Wild China, and you'll know.

*Disclaimer* This blog takes no credit for the content of the story.  The story belongs to Patrimoine Culturel Hmong, and the original storyteller is Yaj Vam Tuam.

(Note: Again, the story is in Hmong.  There may be grammatical errors.  I will slowly fix them as time affords me so.)

 

Puag thaum ub ov, muaj ib pab niag qaib qus coob coob xij tuaj da dej hauv lub niag pas hawv lauj!

Thoob Yej mus plob pom.  Nws los txog tsev ov.  Nws los xav xav.  Ab!  Sim mus cuab hlua kais rau saib.  Thoob Yej txawm los ua tau rau rooj hlua kais, nws coj mus cuab tas nrho ncig lub niag pas hawv ntawd.

Ces Thoob Yej los tau ib hnub.  Hnub tom qab, Thoob Yej txawm mus xyuas.  Ciav mag tau ib tug qaib qus zoo zoo nkauj li lauj!

Ces Thoob Yej txawm mus daws tau tus qaib qus los.  Ua ciav, tsis yog qaib qus lawm las.  yog ib tug hluas nkauj zoo zoo nkauj li lauj!  Tus hluas nkauj muab tis tw hle tas, ces yog ib tug hluas nkauj zoo zoo nkauj lawm tiag.  Thoob Yej txawm hais rau tus hluas nkauj tias, "Ab!  Leej muad, koj yuav txia ua ib tug hluas nkauj zoo ua luaj tuaj da lub niag pas hawv no ua tus dab tsi?"

Niam Tij & Tij Laug Tsis Hlub Ntsuag

Sorry for the long hiatus; been extremely busy.  But here is an original Hmong folktale to share with everyone.  I apologize to those who cannot read romanized Hmong.  It takes a lot of hardwork and effort to properly translate a story written in Hmong into English, and I'm at a point where time doesn't permit me to do so.  I might attempt it in the future, unless someone else volunteers to do so.  Enjoy! 

*Disclaimer* This blog takes no credit for the content of the story.  The story belongs to Patrimoine Culturel Hmong, and the original storyteller is Yaj Xov Txiab.



Puag thaum ub ov, tub ntsuag niam thiab txiv tuag tas lawm. Tshuav tub ntsuag nrog niam tij thiab tij laug nyob xwb. Niam tij thiab tij laug tsis hlub tub ntsuag. Tub ntsuag niaj hnub nqa nws txiv rab phom thiab rab hneev ncig txhua me qab roob hauv roob.

Ces muaj ib zaug tub ntsuag mus taug taug kwj deg, txawm mus pom muaj ib lub nyuag qhov tsua. Nyob hauv lub qhov tsua txawm muaj ib tug kab laum kib tshooj loj loj kwv ib lub pov tawm tuaj ntawm rooj qho. Xob tua ib teg, niag kab laum kib tshooj nkaum zog lawm. Xob tua tua tsis raug li lauj! Tub ntsuag txawm mus ntsia ntsia, nws txawm hais tias, "Ab! Xob niam tua tua tsis raug, cia kuv sim pab xob tua saib." 

Niag kab laum kib tshooj tawm plaws tuaj, xob tua ib teg tsis raug li thiab lauj!

Tub ntsuag thiaj li nta hlo nws rab hneev cuam loo ib xib xub vos rau ntag. Ces niag kab laum kib tshooj tawm plaws tuaj tub ntsuag tib hnee rau, chob nkaus lawm lauj!

Niag kab laum kib tshooj tib plhaw tuaj tom tub ntsuag no, xob cia li tua tib teg txais nkaus kab laum kib tshooj tuag kiag. Xob muab tub ntsuag nqa loo pov rhees saum ntug dej. Tub ntsuag tuag lawm lauj ib ntsis tub ntsuag tsim los xav xav ib ntsis, nws ntsia ntawm nws txhais tes na has ua ciav nws tuav rawv ib lub pov haum. Tub ntsuag thiaj li xav tau tias yog nws tua ib tug kab laum kib tshooj, ciav yog nws tua kab laum kib tshooj lub pov ntag.

Tub ntsuag thiaj li nqes rov los taug taug kwj ha mus ntxiv. Mus zoj ib ntsis txawm mus txog ntua ib lub hav, muaj ib tug nyuag dej los tshuam, txawm ntsib ib tug yawg laus laus plaub hau dawb paug. Tus yawg laus laus ntawd txawm hu tias, "Koj tuaj los me tub. Koj yuav tuaj mus lawm qhov twg na?"

Tub ntsuag teb tias, "Kuv tsis muaj niam tsis muaj txiv. Kho kho kuv siab es kuv lam taug kwj ha xwb."

Tus yawg laus hais tias, "Aub! Yog li ces koj puas yuav pab tau kuv? Yog tias koj pab tau kuv mas kuv muaj ob tug ntxhais. Yog tias koj pab tau kuv mas koj nyiam tus twg los kuv muab rau koj. Yog koj tsis nyiam es koj yuav yuav nyiaj los kuv muab rau koj. Yog koj yuav kub los kuv muab, yuav nyuj yuav nees los kuv muab."

Tub Lwm Hawj

I was browsing youku (youtube's illegitimate Chinese cousin--that's what everybody calls it) and found some Hmong music videos by Tub Lwm Hawj, a Hmong Chinese singer from Yunnan.  In the past decade, there has been a growing interest among the Hmong Chinese in Yunnan and Guangxi, China in Hmong entertainment from the West.  They, in return, have produced a couple of singers themselves like Yeeb Yaj, Mim Yaj, Lig Vaj, and Leej Lis to cater music to the Hmong market in the West (which requires singing in intelligible Far Western Hmong dialect).  However, with the exception of Yang Geli, they have all been female singers.  So it came as a great surprise to me to finally find a male Hmong Chinese singer who sings pop songs.  

 



Although he does sing in our dialect, I'm assuming that Tub Lwm Hawj's music was produced for the Hmong Chinese community only.  This is a fact given that the music videos contain quite a bit of Chinese writing, the cinematography and editing quality is on the poor side (it resembles the way Hmong music videos was shot and edited perhaps 20+ years ago), the instrumental seems to be karaoke versions only, and the music video collection was not sold in the West.  Without sponsors in the United States to help out, I believed that the Hmong Chinese singers are just beginning to learn how to make music videos/films on their on so they're in the early developmental stage.  On a positive note, I applaud them for singing in our dialect.  It makes them seem less foreign when we watch/listen to them and it helps to bring all of us closer together as a people.

So, here are two music videos from Tub Lwm Hawj.  The first one is in Chinese and the other is a duet in Hmong.  (He also plays the flute as well but I'm having trouble uploading his other music videos so these two will be it for now).

Song of the Week

Choj Kub Lauj was at Fresno's Hmong New Year and I didn't even recognize him.  While waiting for my sister and sister-in-law to try on some Hmong clothes in a nearby booth (and because it was so cold too), I decided to walk over to his booth to check out what they were selling.  I read the name on his second album's DVD cover, came back home and youtubed him.  Then, he appeared on the Hmong channel and sang a couple songs too.  His voice was pretty good.

I went back to Fresno's New Year on the last day and bought his album to support him.  I didn't get a chance to ask him much, if anything, but he has a very nice and soft speaking voice (very different from his singing voice), and he seems like a kind and decent guy.  

After scanning Choj Kub's second volume, I have come to the conclusion that "Tsim Kev Hlub Los Ua Chaw Nco" is probably the best song out of the album.  It has a nice Lao country music beat and melody, and the lyric is pretty as well.

Meej Vaj Sings

After browsing youtube, I just found out that the main male protagonist (pra-ek) from the Hmong movie, Hlub Zaum Ob, sings too.  In fact, he has been singing many years prior to acting.  For me, it's always a plus to see a pra-ek who can both sing and act.  So if you are a fan of Meej Vaj, here's two songs for you to enjoy.  In both songs, he is singing in the Hmoob ntsuab dialect but we know he speaks Hmong dawb fluently too.



Nkauj Hmoob Tawv Ncauj - Meej Vaj & Nkauj See Lis

Guy:

Nkauj Hmoob Nkauj Hmoob

Hmong girls Hmong girls

Mej puas kaam nab?

Are you willing?

Pig kis ntxuv mej tuaj pauv peb zug

Come help us farm tomorrow morning

Moog hlais peb les nplej nab lov

(We’re) going to harvest rice grains

Girls:

Tsis kam…tsis kam…tsis kam

(We’re) not willing…not willing…not willing

Guy:

Kaam los mas…Kaam los ma

(Please) be willing…(please) be willing

Hlais peb le tag

After harvesting our rice grains

Peb mam mus hlais mej le os

We will help you harvest yours

Hlub Zaum Ob Recaps Part 2

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended.  This movie belongs to LEGEND-PICTURE Hmong Intertainment.

SPOILER ALERT: If you plan on buying/watching this movie (which you should to support our Hmong film industry), and does not wish to be spoiled then please don't read on.

Part 2 opens with Nkauj Hli's maternal first cousin, Pov, and his relatives negotiating with Nkauj Hli's parents for her hands in marriage.  Nkauj Hli comes into the room, only to have her father tell her that he has given his approval for a wedding between Pov and her.  Her elder uncle reminds her to accept the outcome because as a Hmong girl, whether it be today or another day, she will leave her family to marry into the family of another clan so she shouldn't object to Pov's marriage proposal.





Nkauj Hli looks upset and her mother tries to comfort her by telling her that her father is only doing what is best for her future.  Nkauj Hli cries, not wanting to marry Pov.  She tells her mother that if she is forced to marry Pov, she would rather die.  She charges out of the room in tears.

3 Leej Neeg 2 Txoj Kev Summary

3 Leej Neeg 2 Txoj Kev

According to the cover, this movie is based on a true story.  It takes place in Laos circa the Vietnam War era.  It starred Tshaus Hawj as Tshia Nag, Txam Thoj as Tshaj Meej, and Nuj Nraim Thoj as Chiv Feej.

Summary:

Tshaj Meej and Tshia Nag grew up together, and were very good friends.  They both harbored feelings for one another, but both couldn’t bring themselves to openly confess their love.  Since Tshaj Meej was an orphan, he felt that he was inferior and didn’t deserve a girl from a well-off family like Tshia Nag.  So after Tshia Nag’s father died from a stroke, she married the soldier—Chiv Feej instead.

Song of the Week

 



I believed this song was first performed by Voos Yaj called, "Niam Yuav Ncaim Tiag," when he was under Herr's Video Productions.  Somchai Yaj later covered the song for Herr's Video Productions' movie, "Ciaj Tuag Los Yuav Hlub."  The title and lyrics are changed in this Maiv Lis Thoj and Tsab Yaj version, which I find a little awkward and out of sense.  I preferred Somchai's rendition more, but this version is tolerable for the fact that I adore Tsab Yaj and his voice, if the voice in here is really his (and am a fan of Vixay Yaj's voice; yes, that's correct, the male singer of this song is Vixay Yaj--Somchai's younger brother, so Tsab is only lipsynching to Vixay's voice.  This is kind of a disappointment for me as I was hoping that Tsab was the original singer.  However, I don't mind at all that Vixay is the singer.  In fact, I am still hoping that in spite of Vixay being a married man now, I wish  that he continues to make music because his voice is REALLY REALLY nice.  Perhaps he sang this and the other duet with Maiv Lis Thoj, set to be released in a second album together, but he suddenly got married and had to drop all his singing projects.  So in the end, the producer(s) have to resort to someone else to lipsynch Vixay's part?).  I first saw him in the movie, "Cia Ua Dab Neeg" with Tsom Xyooj and Xia Yaj, and find him an amiable actor.  I believed that he has potential in both acting and singing (we'll have to wait for another time to hear his REAL singing voice).


Nkauj Iab Nraug Nab - Maiv Lis Thoj & Tsab Yaj (Vixay Yaj)

Girl:

Nim yog xyoo no

Because of this year

Ntuj nis Nraug Nab

Oh heaven, my dear Nraug Nab (a name reference to the handsomest man in Hmong folktales; he’s usually the husband of Nkauj Ntsuab—the most beautiful woman too)

Cas muab tsiab peb caug nim noj tag nrho lawm tiag

The New Year’s celebration is really over (the literal translation is: How come the New Year’s celebration has been eaten already)

Es ntshai koj yuav mus tiag

(I’m) afraid you are really leaving

Koj puas kam tso koj me nplooj siab nrog kuv no nyob

Can you leave a little piece of your heart (liver) to stay with me?

Hlub Zaum Ob Recaps Part 1

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended.  This film belongs to LEGEND-PICTURE Hmong Intertainment. 

Hlub Zaum Ob (2012) is a newly released film produced by LEGEND-PICTURE Hmong Intertainment (I believed the "I" in Intertainment is purposeful, not errorneous).  The story takes place in modern Vietianne as well as a countryside in Laos.  Meej Vaj and Sunny Yaj starred respectively as Yeej and Nkauj Hnub/Nkauj Hli.

When the movie opens, we are taken into the dream of the main protagonist, Yeej.  In his unconscious state, Yeej's late wife, Nkauj Hnub, calls for him.  He approaches her and wants to take her home but she retracts, reminding him that she is no longer human.  She informs him that she has come to see him for the last time, and asks him to take good care of their daughter.  Then she vanishes, leaving him devastated. 

At the moment his late wife's spirit fades away with the thin air, another woman walks toward him.  He looks up, unable to see her face clearly and then his phone rings and he wakes up.  His boss (I assume) tells him that he needs to travel away for work for a couple of days.