Chế Linh | |
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 Chế Linh in 2019 | |
| Born | Lưu Văn Liên (1942-04-03)3 April 1942 (age 83) |
| Other names | Tú Nhi Lưu Trần Lê |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Spouse | |
| Musical career | |
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| Labels | |
| Website | chelinh |
Musical artist | |
Chế Linh (Eastern Cham:Jamlen; b. 1942) is a Vietnamese popular singer, songwriter. Anethnic Cham, his stage name Chế Linh is a Vietnamese transcription of his Cham name. However, like many Cham people, he also has an official Vietnamese legal name,Lưu Văn Liên.[1]
He rose to fame in the 1960s and is considered one of the four most renowned male voices of early Vietnamese bolero music ("Tứ trụ nhạc vàng"), each with a distinct style. The other three areDuy Khánh, Nhật Trường, and Hùng Cường.[2][3]
In 1958, when Che Linh was 16 years old, PresidentNgo Dinh Diem forbade the teaching of the Cham language in the Cham villages. The Cham language was a prestige language considered a second language since theBảo Đại’s era.
This discrimination toward the minority group created conflict between theChams and theKinh inhabitants. When the Chams came to town, they were stopped and being persecuted. Che Linh was injured on several incidents. The government ignored these incidents.
Che Linh moved toSaigon where he found a small job with a respected employer. After nine months, Che Linh decided to go back to school. He attended Bo De and laterNguyen Cong Tru.
Biet Chinh Biên Hòa Musical Group was selecting new singers to entertain a far-away village in theBiên Hòa Province.
Che Linh participated and won first prize. Not considering singing as a career at the time, but only because the pay is considerably high. Two years later, the group faded and dissolved and Che Linh became a driver for heavy construction organization in Bien Hoa. The love for music and as a hobby, Che Linh continues to learn the music, train his voice and composed several songs. Che Linh's musical career strongly excelled, and his first two songs were born: "Dem buon tinh le” and “Dem buoc co don”
Recognizing that music is the shortest way to bring understanding between the Kinh and the Chams and all the other ethnic groups, Che Linh promised to continue and excel in the musical industry. With his effort and talents, Che Linh became a famous star and had sung together with many artists such asAnh Ngọc,Duy Khánh,Thái Thanh,Thanh Thúy,Minh Hiếu,Tùng Lâm. Continental Productions produced his first record, "Vùng Biển Trời Và Màu Áo Em”. Che Linh then signed with several Viet Nam Record Companies.
He produced and wrote many songs.
Awarded by Kim Khánh for Best Male Artist/Vocal which was organized by the Daily Newspaper Trang Den. The Government of South Vietnam then forbade Che Linh's voice and songs during the summer war period.
Che Linh was hoping to have his music released from the forbidden list, however he was jailed as a revolutionary at Song Mao, then My Duc.
He was released from prison 28 months later.
Escaped to Malaysia and later settled in Canada where he now resides in Toronto, and where he is presently performing, singing, writing and producing music.
21st century
His songs stay popular both domestically and among Viet diasporas. In 2007 he performed in Vietnam again after decades abroad, during an event hosted byUNESCO. From 2011 onward he returned to Vietnam for several tours.
All of Che Linh's songs which he wrote goes under the name of Tu Nhi.
| Title | Year | Composer |
| Đêm buồn tỉnh lẻ | 1962 | Tú Nhi & Bằng Giang |
| Bài ca kỷ niệm[4] | 1962 | Tú Nhi & Bằng Giang |
| Đếm bước cô đơn | 1963 | Tú Nhi & Bằng Giang |
| Thương Hận | 1966 | Tú Nhi & Hồ Đình Phương |
| Lời thương chưa ngỏ | 1966 | Tú Nhi |
| Ngày đó xa rồi | 1967 | Tú Nhi |
| Xin làm người xa lạ | 1967 | Tú Nhi |
| Nỗi buốn sa mạc | 1968 | Tú Nhi & Tuấn Lê |
| Lời kẽ đăng trình | 1968 | Tú Nhi |
| Trong tầm mắt đời | 1968 | Tú Nhi |
| Đoạn cuối tình yêu | 1968 | Tú Nhi |
| Đoạn buồn đêm mưa | 1968 | Tú Nhi |
| Đoạn khúc đọan trường | 1969 | Tú Nhi |
| Mai lỡ mình xa nhau | 1969 | Tú Nhi |
| Khu Phố ngày xưa | 1969 | Tú Nhi |
| Nụ Cười Chua Cay | 1970 | Tú Nhi & Song An |
| Mưa bên song cửa | 1972 | Tú Nhi |
| Người về trong chiêm bao | 1973 | Tú Nhi |
| Xin yêu tôi bằng tình người | 1974 | Tú Nhi |
| Mưa buồn tỉnh lẻ | 1972 | Tú Nhi & Bằng Giang |
| Tình khúc đoạn trường 2 | 1976 | Tú Nhi |
| Tâm tư kẻ tù | 1976 | Tú Nhi |
| Lời lữ khách | 1980 | Tú Nhi |
| Sao đổi ngôi | 1976 | Tú Nhi |
| Xuân quê hương xuân lạc xứ | 1980 | Tú Nhi |
| Như giọt sương mai | 1980 | Tú Nhi |
| Ngày đó quê hương tôi | 1980 | Tú Nhi |
| Tôi đã hát,sẽ hát,và phải hát[5] | 1980 | Tú Nhi |
| Vùng trời đó tôi thương | 1980 | Tú Nhi |
| Đêm trên đường phố lạ | 1984 | Tú Nhi |
| Em bên đời ngẫn ngơ | 1995 | Tú Nhi |
| Hết rồi | 1996 | Tú Nhi & Anh Hoàng |
| Mù[6] | 1997 | Tú Nhi |
| Cứ tưởng còn trong tay | 1998 | Tú Nhi |
| Một trời thương nhớ | 2000 | Tú Nhi |
| Một góc phố buuồn | 2002 | Tú Nhi |
| Thành phố buồn 2 (Thành phố buồn hơn) | 2002 | Tú Nhi |
| Nỗi buồn của tôi | 2002 | Tú Nhi |
| Bài ca không tựa | 2002 | Tú Nhi |
