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.

Hlub Ib Zaug Nco Ib Sim - 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 child, I loved hearing elders weave Hmong folklore into everyday life. My grandmothers often told me stories at bedtime—though I usually fell asleep before the ending. One of my favorites is the tale of a heavenly bird maiden who marries a gifted mortal, only to be forced to leave him. He then journeys beyond the sky to bring her home.

This traditional Hmong folktale was originally told in Hmong and has been translated into English for a wider audience. Every effort has been made to preserve the story’s original meaning, cultural details, and spirit while making it accessible to English readers. I hope you enjoy this English rendition and the timeless story it carries.

Some may notice similarities to the Tai/Dai tale The Peacock Princess, but this is not a copy. Hmong ancestors also lived in China, where they, like other peoples, observed and drew inspiration from the natural world. Places such as Lake Poyang—an important winter refuge for migratory birds—may even help explain elements of the story, such as the “heavenly road” and “earth road.”

Translated from the original 1986 Hmong RPA text into English by WYImagination.blogspot.com. Read the full historical copyright and storyteller attribution at the bottom of this post.

Long ago, a great flock of celestial birds descended from the heavens each day to bathe in a mysterious pond hidden deep within the wilderness.

One day, while hunting through the forest, a young man named Thoob Yej happened upon the pond. Hidden among the trees, he watched the birds splash and play upon the shimmering water. Yet there was something strange about them. They seemed unlike any birds he had ever seen.

When he returned home, the sight lingered in his thoughts.

"If I set a snare around that pond," he mused, "perhaps I can catch one."

The next morning he braided a strong rope trap and carefully laid it around the edge of the pond before returning home to wait.

At dawn he hurried back.

To his astonishment, something had indeed been caught.

Niam Tij & Tij Laug Tsis Hlub Ntsuag

This story was originally posted in Hmong in 2013; updated as an English rendition with new artwork in 2026.

Translated from the original 1986 Hmong RPA text into English by WYImagination.blogspot.com. Read the full historical copyright and storyteller attribution at the bottom of this post.

Long ago, there was an orphan boy whose mother and father had both passed away. The only family he had left were his older brother and his older brother’s wife. Sadly, neither of them loved him, and the orphan spent most of his days wandering alone through the mountains, carrying his father’s gun and bow wherever he went.

One day, as the orphan wandered along a stream, he came upon a small cave. Near the entrance, he saw a giant centipede carrying a large, precious jewel out of the cave.

Suddenly, lightning flashed across the sky.

The centipede quickly hid itself.

Another bolt of lightning struck, but it missed the centipede. Again and again, lightning flashed and struck toward the cave, but each time, the centipede managed to escape.

The orphan watched for a while before finally saying, “Ah! Lightning keeps trying to strike you, but it misses every time. Let me help Lightning out.”

The giant centipede emerged from the cave once more, but lightning missed it again.

The orphan quickly drew his bow and released an arrow. The arrow flew straight toward the centipede and struck it, piercing its body.

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.  

 

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.

Meej Vaj Sings

It is always fantastic to discover that a talented actor (pra-ek) has deep roots in the music industry well before stepping in front of the cinematic camera! Meej Vaj is a perfect example of this dual-threat talent, and his collaborative work with Nkauj See Lis represents a beautiful chapter in regional Hmong music history.

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.