Top 10 Best Songs by Singer Như Quỳnh

"The Old Path You Walked" was composed around 1967-1968 by Hồ Đình Phương, who wrote the lyrics, and Châu Kỳ, who composed the music. According to Kha Thị Đàng, Châu Kỳ's wife, the inspiration for the song came from a dirt path behind the paper mill where she worked.

Đàng recalled, "Behind the mill, there was a row of workers' dormitories and a narrow path that led through a rice field to the mill. We would often walk down this path. Every time I passed by, Hồ Đình Phương would joke with me, saying, 'The old path you walked.' After some time, the song 'The Old Path You Walked' was born."

The Central region of Vietnam, long known as a poor land where 'even plowing turns up stones,' is also famous for its beautiful landscapes, making it one of the most picturesque areas of the country. For Central Vietnamese people living far from home, no matter where they go, they always carry a deep longing to return to their homeland, to reunite with loved ones from the past, now distant and separated. Who will return to the beloved Central land and bring back a few words for me…

Among the few compositions by Duy Khánh, he has gifted us with masterpieces about Central Vietnam, such as Ai ra xứ Huế, Bao Giờ Em Quên, Biết Trả Lời Sao, Why Haven't I Seen You Come Back (Loving the Central Land 2), Keep the Scent of Love, Sầu Cố Đô, Trăm Năm Bến Cũ…

Every year, when spring arrives, the song 'The First Story of the Year' by Hoài An is often performed as a sign of welcoming the new season, filled with hope for the upcoming year. His songs about rural life, with their folk melodies, have also been highly successful, including 'The Moon Returns to the Village,' 'The Rice and Moon Romance,' and 'Destined by Heaven.'

The lyrics of Hoài An are simple, lyrical, and easy to remember. Như Quỳnh's voice beautifully captures the pure and fresh essence of spring.

'The road to your heart, oh, is icy cold, the winter sky with clouds that come and go...'

Twenty-six years ago, a young girl in a red jacket and beret performed 'The Winter Lover' for the first time on an overseas music show, Asia 6 – Night in Saigon 5, with the theme 'A Special Christmas.' Her name was Quỳnh Như, and her stage name became Như Quỳnh.

Her fame skyrocketed in the overseas Vietnamese music scene from that moment, and the image of the girl in a red coat with a beret became iconic among her fans.

For a brief moment, the 'super hit' 'Như Quỳnh – The Winter Lover' almost didn’t happen. After Anh Bằng wrote the Vietnamese lyrics, the Asia center initially planned to give the song to Ngọc Lan. However, Ngọc Lan chose another song, and with Như Quỳnh’s appearance, the song was given to her instead, becoming one of the most successful songs in overseas Vietnamese music.

'The Night Streets' was written in 1968, during the tumultuous days of the Tet Offensive when curfews and martial law began to take hold in Saigon. Perhaps that’s why the night streets felt emptier, more desolate than before. As night falls, the streets grow quiet, and the heart stirs with restless thoughts, knowing that life will bring more wounds, and the world will not be as simple or ideal as many dream.

The song contains beautiful lyrics that transcend its appearance as a popular tune. A young composer like Tâm Anh, in 1968, displayed an acute sensitivity in lines such as, 'I remember the days when flowers and sunlight rested on the trees, their yellow leaves wilting and falling…'

Alongside her performance of 'The Winter Lover' on Asia 6, Như Quỳnh also presented 'The Story of the Sim Flower' on Asia 7, both of which were released around the same time to the audience at the Asia center. These two programs were produced simultaneously, with music producer Trúc Hồ selecting two songs by composer Anh Bằng (either composed or with lyrics written by him) for Như Quỳnh. The two songs represented different musical styles: the pure golden music ballad 'The Story of the Sim Flower' and the more lively 'The Winter Lover.' Both songs were huge hits and became synonymous with Như Quỳnh’s name from that moment. Her debut album, titled 'The Story of the Sim Flower,' also achieved record sales in the overseas market.

'The Purple Sim Flower' is a famous poem by Hữu Loan, written in 1949 in Thanh Hoá. The poem was later set to music by Anh Bằng, specifically for Như Quỳnh during the early stages of her career. As predicted, the song elevated Như Quỳnh to the peak of the golden music genre.

'The Flying Leaves of the Tamarind Tree' is a well-known song by composer Anh Việt Thanh, first performed by singer Giao Linh before 1975. After the year 1975, Như Quỳnh was not the first to sing this song. In the early 1990s, Thúy Anh center released a CD by Tuấn Vũ and Phương Dung, titled 'The Flying Leaves of the Tamarind Tree.'

Tuấn Vũ performed the song at the peak of his career, but his version did not gain the same impact and the song faded into obscurity. It wasn't until 2011, when Thúy Nga center revived the song with Như Quỳnh’s voice, that it became an instant hit, loved by audiences to this day.

'Rekindling the Old Love' is a song created over 55 years ago by composers Ngân Giang and Vinh Sử. The song was inspired by a real-life love story of Vinh Sử, who accidentally reunited with his former lover. Still harboring feelings for her, Vinh Sử received support from Ngân Giang to rekindle their relationship.

The song emerged from this emotional encounter, reflecting the genuine feelings of the composer at that time.