Ngoc Lan Musique 1: Buon (Sadness) Album Review

After recording solo albums for other labels such as Giang Ngoc and May Productions, finally in 1994 Ngoc Lan decided to release an album under her own label, Ngoc Lan Musique, entitled Buon (Sadness).  This would be by far not her best work.  The album seemed like a mishmash of contemporary songs thrown together at the last minute.  None of the tracks on the album, which included the title track written by Y Van, Trai Tim Nguc Tu written by Duc Huy and a pair of uptempo songs written by Quoc Dung, Hoang Vang and Tim Dau, left any impression on me at all.  It seemed Ngoc Lan's deliveries of all the songs on this album were rather mundane.  I'm assuming perhaps her health matters played a significant role in her lackluster performance.  But being such a devoted Ngoc Lan fan, I went out and purchased for myself a copy despite how unimpressed I was after hearing some of the tracks played on the radio for the album's promotion.  If I were to choose any of the tracks on this album to be the most bearable to listen to, it would have to be Tinh Trong Phut Giay written by Ngoc Trong and to a lesser extent, Buon, the title track.  I must say though, during the same year that this album had been released I had heard the title track recorded by another singer for the first time ever.  That was by singer Thanh Ha on her debut solo studio album, Mot Doi Xin Nho Mai, released earlier in 1994.  I usually don't like to compare Ngoc Lan with other singers, especially whenever it is in favor of anyone other than Ngoc Lan.  But I must admit, I preferred Thanh Ha's rendition of Buon over Ngoc Lan's rendition here. 

Ngoc Lan and Vu Khanh Duet Album Review

Diem Xua has been one music production label known for its high quality in production.  When Diem Xua came out with a duet album combining its top male vocalist, Vu Khanh, with Ngoc Lan, this was no different.  The album was entitled Nguoi Em Sau Mong and released in 1992.  Of the twelve tracks, the album included four duet tracks that were very well done:  Hoa Rung Ven Song, Con Quy Lay Chua both written by Pham Duy and Chieu Phi Truong and Bai Ca Hanh Ngo both written by Le Uyen Phuong.  My favorite of the three was Hoa Rung Ven Song.  Their voices blended beautifully with this song.  Of Ngoc Lan's solo tracks included a pair of songs written by Duc Huy, Xin Mot Ngay Mai Co Nhau and Mot Tinh Yeu.  When it comes to songs written by Duc Huy, you just can't go wrong with Ngoc Lan as the vocalist.  Ngoc Lan also did a fine job with her deliveries of Tuan Khanh's Noi Niem and Quoc Dung's Anh Da Thay Mua Xuan Chua, as well.  Out of Vu Khanh's solo tracks, my favorite on this album was Dan Trong Dem Vang (Johnny Guitar).  Although I prefer listening to duets between Ngoc Lan and Duy Quang, I must admit this was a very competent project that combined two very fine vocalists in a very pleasant style.