Buzz
3. The Boy Who Wrote on the Tree
'The Boy Who Wrote on the Tree' first premiered during the finale of 'Sing My Song 2017'. While the song didn’t secure Phan Mạnh Quỳnh a win in the competition, it captured the hearts of countless listeners. After the show, the song gained its own life, widely appreciated for its simple melody and profound lyrics that deeply resonate. Phan Mạnh Quỳnh's music has this unique charm—seemingly simple yet rich in meaning, crafted from raw, honest materials that not everyone can skillfully transform into art. Many listeners have drawn parallels between 'The Boy Who Wrote on the Tree' and 'Blue Eyes', a novel by Nguyễn Nhật Ánh, as both tell the story of first love, full of youthful naivety, and the bittersweet pain that comes with it.
It’s rare for a song to experience a remarkable comeback like 'The Boy Who Wrote on the Tree', which continues to trend even after more than two years since its lyric video was released.
Song Lyrics:
"A boy wrote on a tree
His words of love for that girl
Their love, like wind and clouds
Even after many years, it still feels
Like a picture painted with the gentleness of youth
Sometimes, deep inside, it feels like a dream
The story now seems so far away
A secret no one knows
They live in two different worlds
Long since apart, no longer walking the same path
Yet there is one who still cherishes the memories of love
Every time they remember, their eyes are like the blue eyes from a time before pain..."
4. Bland
Bland was released in late 2019, telling the story of a couple who go through various emotional stages: happiness, ups and downs, and suffering. In the end, they return to each other. The female lead is Huỳnh Khánh Vy, the songwriter's girlfriend. The MV has garnered over 41 million views. The song's lyrics are simple, with a familiar musical style that has become Phan Mạnh Quỳnh's signature. He says, "The hardest phase for a man is when his career crashes in his twenties, and that’s when he needs the support and understanding of a woman. The MV may be titled Bland, but the story is far from bland." The song was nominated for 'Song of the Year' at the 2020 Cống Hiến Awards.
Lyrics:
"We were once the reason to live We were once the light for each other But what we used to believe, that things wouldn’t change We should reconsider now We chased our own thoughts We paid more attention to everything around us It wasn’t because of a third party, but why did we grow apart? Even though we were once closer This feels like we're wasting time Letting the years pass with no waiting The question is, why are we still continuing this relationship? Because once we stop trying to make the other happy We realize we've been wrong from the start..."
5. From that moment
From that moment is one of the three tracks from the movie soundtrack of *The Bright Eyes*, composed by Phan Mạnh Quỳnh based on the film's storyline and performed by him. The song plays during the scene where the character Ngạn (played by Trần Nghĩa) sings to Hà Lan (played by Trúc Anh) in a sim forest, before she leaves for the city to study. Ngạn sings joyfully, expressing the carefree spirit of a young man deeply in love for the first time. The music video has reached 22 million views on YouTube.
Lyrics:
And my soul from that moment is a melody so pure
It's the bright smile of first love
Blending with trees and sunshine, and in my dreams, you’re there
The song of our journey together, walking step by step
When we stop, I pick up a leaf falling in the evening breeze
And the sunset reminds me of you
When spring blooms, you smile and wave with purple flowers in hand
And I hear the joy rising from my heart...
