Author's Selection of Ngoc Lan's 5 Best Music Videos

Just like every fan of Ngoc Lan's, I immensely enjoy watching her music videos for obvious reasons.  Not only did Ngoc Lan have a beautiful voice, she was also extremely beautiful.  There was something about her that the camera just loved.  She had a certain charm about her that made her videos really likable.

Here are the five videos I've selected as my favorites of Ngoc Lan's.  It was really difficult to narrow down to just five.  Also, I couldn't decide which one was my absolute favorite, so these five videos are listed in no particular order.  Share with me which are your favorite Ngoc Lan videos.

1.  Khi Co Chang (Je Ne Suis Que de L'amour):  In this video, Ngoc Lan displays her acting abilities.  Just when she's crying, everybody watching just cries with her.  She looked beautiful in every scene.  I really liked her choice of wardrobes in this video.

2.  Doi Cho:  This is a personal favorite.  Or shall I say, a guilty pleasure?  I loved this video for its cornyness.  The storyline really doesn't make sense.  But it's just too delicious to pass up, watching Ngoc Lan dance in the studio, in the lake, as well as on the ramp of some building.  I've always wondered what would Jeanne Mas think if she ever saw this video of Ngoc Lan's rendition to her hit song, Johnny, Johnny.

3.  Joe Le Taxi:  Ngoc Lan looked so sexy in shorts dancing with dancers on the Hollywood Night stage.  This is a fun song.  She certainly looked like she had fun making this video.

4.  Mua He Nam Ay:  I must say Ngoc Lan had great taste when it came to fashion.  I loved the blue evening gown she wore on this music video.  And how the production crew came up with the special effects at the end of the song with Ngoc Lan disappearing into thin air was just genius.  I wonder if members in the live audience were able to enjoy this special effect, as well.

5.  Mua Thu Ru Em (Autumn Lullaby):  As with most other songs written by Duc Huy that Ngoc Lan had recorded, her vocals with this song is nothing short of fantastic.  As for the music video she had made for this song, I'd have to say this was probably the most artistic out of all of Ngoc Lan's music videos ever.  I especially liked how natural she looked.  Despite how she was not dressed in a glamorous evening gown, her natural beauty made her even more radiant.  I'd say this was the best music video on her second solo music videotape, Mat Troi Ben Kia Mua Ha (Sunny on the Other Side).

Well, there you have it.  Those are my five favorite Ngoc Lan videos.  Which ones are your favorites?

Wishing Our Beloved Ngoc Lan Happy Birthday Posthumously

This past December 28th would have been our beloved Ngoc Lan's 58th birthday.  It's hard to believe when I think about it.  I wonder how she would look like today if she had not been taken from us.

Last week I went with a friend to go visit her grave site.  It was an emotional experience for me.  This was the first time I had been there since her funeral almost 14 years ago.  When I arrived at the cemetery, I went to the front office to ask where exactly her grave site was located.  It has been a long time.  I still had a pretty idea where it was,  but there are so many that I really didn't have the time to be walking around searching.  When asked by the reception desk, I gave them the name Maria Thanh Lan Le since that was her real name.  Nobody had any idea who that was.  Then I looked at this Vietnamese man who was also a worker there and said, "Do you know where singer Ngoc Lan is buried?"  Right away, he pulled out what looked like a brochure from his desk drawer that had her photograph printed on it along with a map to where her grave site is located.  I then asked if people still visited her grave site often.  His response was, "Yes, her grave site is probably the most asked about since I've worked here."  In a strange way, that made me happy.

Even with the map, it wasn't easy to find.  I walked over to the region where she is buried and I still couldn't find it.  Just when I was about to give up, I looked up and said aloud, "Chi Lan, where are you?"  And then as I turned, I saw her picture at her grave site.  I was amazed.  It was as if she heard me.

There were no flowers at her grave site that day.  I was rather surprised.  I sat down and started to cry.  I said, "Chi Lan, it's me, Phu.  I always wanted to tell you thank you for all that you had taught me.  I love you very much.  Happy birthday!"

Just then I couldn't take it anymore and so I left.  I hate talking about her death.  A part of me still wants to believe she is still here with us.