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.



 

 

 

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?