La Grande Sophie's song on Hanoi captures hearts of Vietnamese people

French pop-rock singer La Grande Sophie (real name Sophie Huriaux) demonstrated her love for the city by writing the song Hanoi, which has enchanted music lovers in Vietnam and France.

 

Last week, her song won her the award Bui Xuan Phai-For the love of Ha Noi  that recognises the contributions of individuals and organisations to the capital’s cultural and societal development. The song was lauded by the jury as “it is deeply imbued with the singer’s love for Hanoi and spreads the love of this city to the Vietnamese people and to those across the world.”

 

When La Grande Sophie performed the song in Vietnam in December last year, she won the hearts of the locals who were touched by the love of a foreign person for their capital.

 

“I am extremely touched by this decision of the jury of the awards. I feel very honoured,” said the singer.

 

“What makes me very happy is to know that the inhabitants of Hanoi can identify themselves in the song. I love this city. The memories come back, I see myself again in the city,” she said.

 

“To celebrate this happy news, I’ll come to eat bun cha (noodles with grilled pork and herbs), one of the specialities of Hanoi and find again all tastes that I miss,” she wrote in an email from Paris late last week.

 

Love song for Hanoi

 

La Grande Sophie wrote the song after her first visit to Vietnam in 2013. She was invited to perform in Hanoi at the "Oh la la" music festival, as part of the activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Vietnam.

 

Unfortunately, the concert in Hanoi was cancelled due to the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap. The country held a state funeral for several days for the general amidst national mourning.

 

After the concert was cancelled, she planned to travel to Hue City. However, a typhoon prevented her from leaving the city, forcing her to stay in Hanoi much longer than she expected.

 

“I met some Vietnamese translators and made friends with them. They helped me to discover the city. They spoke perfect French despite the fact that they had never been to France. I was very impressed to see their willingness to speak my language,” Sophie recalled.

 

“After several days of going out with them, and seeing Hanoi, I developed a real attachment towards them and to the city. I was sad when I had to leave Hanoi to return to Paris. I told myself that I had to come back to Vietnam. When I was back in Paris, I was very nostalgic about this city. I took my guitar and composed the song Hanoi to keep all those memories with me,” she said.

 

The singer was touched to discover the city, its charm and traditions with its motorcycles, water puppets, cyclos and street vendors.

 

“It is interesting to see that the life here revolves around the lake Hoan Kiem (the Sword Lake). I am impressed to see the energy and the dynamism of its inhabitants. They are tender, and so kind," she added.

 

"I sang about the city like I had discovered it. Hanoi gave me the desire to pick up my guitar again and compose songs,” she said.

 

During her 20-year musical career, it was the first time that she wrote a song about a city that she had visited.

 

Huge success in France

 

The song was well-received in France when it was first presented to the public in her new album last year. People who heard the song wrote on the singer’s Facebook fan page, saying they could recognise images of Hanoi in the video and lyrics. Others said the song made them want to visit Hanoi.

 

One fan, Nadine Meihac, said: “I have a charming memory of your visit to Hanoi while listening to the song and hope to come to this city one day.”

 

Another fan, Stephen Bunard, wrote on Facebook: “a very beautiful melody and nice lyrics that make those who know this city nostalgic.”

 

The singer said that she has always enjoyed performing this song during her concerts.

 

“I tell the public that I will take them to the country of smiles. But I don’t have time to finish my sentence. Some already said Ha Noi,” she said.

 

Sophie first began writing songs since the age of 12.

 

For her, music is a means of communication to make friends and meet interesting people.

 

To sing is to convey her emotions to others and spend good moments together. Beginning her career in the 1990s, La Grande Sophie first saw fame in 2004 when her third album, If It Were Me, earned her the first Victoires de la Musique, a music award in France.

 

Now with the prestigious Bui Xuan Phai award, she has a place in the heart of Vietnamese music lovers.

 

“My story with Hanoi continues and it’s a beautiful story. I wrote the song to always remember this fantastic trip made in 2013 as well as the kind people that I met. Hanoi accompanies me in all my concerts. The public waits for it, appreciates it. We travel together and create a strong link with Vietnam,” added the singer.