Sunday, July 10, 2011

Dedication to Ms. Chhun Vanna

Saturday, July 09, 2011
By P. from Long Beach

Some time back, I saw a posting a few of Youtube songs by Ms. Chhun Vanna on KI-Media. After listening to them, it occurred to me that I still have a cassette copy of these songs stashed somewhere. Several frustrating attempts later, I was able to convert them to digital format which I am asking the KI-Media team to post below. In the process, I was also able to locate a 60s oldies version of “Aun Srolanh Ter Bang Muoy Neak” (Love only you), as well as the 1982 version of the same song. I am including both of them here so that you may listen to the change through a period about of about 20 years.

Chhun Vanna from the 60s
Chhun Vanna on the cover of a 1982 cassette
Researching through Google, I was able to find a more recent photo of her in an old article on the bulletin board “Camdisc”:
Chhun Vanna photo taken on May 29, 2005 in Stockton, California (Photo by Perom?)
Reminiscing about Ms. Chhun Vanna brought me fond memories of my childhood: hearing her voice always reminded me of listening to a mother’s soothing voice. I am not sure if she still lives in northern California, maybe somebody here can update us about her current life situation.

In dedication to all the songs she contributed, I would like to say THANK YOU to all her work!

Enjoy,

P from Long Beach

Chhun Vanna - Aun Srolanh Ter Bang Muoy Neak (Oldies version)

Chhun Vanna - Aun Srolanh Ter Bang Muoy Neak (1982 version)

Chhun Vanna - Bor Pailin

Chhun Vanna - Khao-I-Dang

Chhun Vanna - Lea Heuy Long Bich

Chhun Vanna - Pa Vea Nov Amerique

Chhun Vanna - Pi Svay Mok Amerique

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Ta P-LB,

Welcome back! Were you on vacation or something? I think yay pov/tep might forget you already.

Anyway, thanks for coming back to share these songs.

I think I saw you at the river sid market with that American flag on your bicycle (just kidding:~))

Generation X

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. P from Long Beach, CA

Thank you so much for sharing Aun Srolanh Ter Bang Muoy Neak (Oldies version) by Miss Chhun Vanna and thank you to KI Media Team for posting the song on the Internet.

Mr. P, you did a good job in converting the song as it really sounds more or less like the original one I used to hear way back in Cambodia before the Khmer Rouge.

This song certainly brought back some souvenirs of my walking to school from Silep Market (Psar Silep) to my primary school (Sarla Decho Dam Din) passing through a noodle shop and hear this song from their loud radio.

I also remember then doing a little bit of Bolero-Twist with my friend when hearing this song on our way to the school.

Well, that was one of the best memory to remember about my beloved Decho Damdin school.

Once again, thank you.

Anet Khmer

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing these songs and for your time and effort.

The old music scene has been so dominated by Sisamouth, Sereisothea, Huy Meas and Pen Ran that so many other excellent voices like this lady's have almost become obscured by them.

Those of us who had had to live through the Pol Pot years have learned to treasure and appreciate popular music in a way that later generations may find hard to comprehend. To be without the sound of these songs as it was during that period except monotonous revolutionary songs broadcast on loudspeakers and the village chief's radio was comparable to having a part of your soul taken away.

So it was one afternoon just before the regime collapsed on my return to the village from the rice field that I heard a sentimental Sinn Sisamouth track being played and found my self transfixed by the power of the melody which I had now heard again for the very first time after nearly 4 years. And I was barely 14 years old at the time . . .

Anonymous said...

This is a historical piece. Thank you, people and KI. I was wondering what happened to her. I knew she survived the Khmeer Rouge; but did not know what happened to Chun Vanna next.

Thank you, sydney.

Anonymous said...

Anet Khmer,

I thought that you're only read politic, but I didn't really know that you spend your time listen to Khmer music as well. You are indeed a good story tell. Thanks for sharing your story with the memory of this music. I am really appreciate that the elder generation are willing to express their thought and feeling in this space.

OK ta P-LB, thank you for your time and afford for putting these wonderful songs. Yey tep ...where are u---ta P-LB sent you these songs..

Generation X

Anonymous said...

I would like to thank you so much to P from LB and KI for sharing these wonderful songs. They bring back all the sad memories of the time when I was in the refugee camps. These songs are sweet and meaningful. Why can't they write songs like these any more nowadays?

Thank you Ms. Chhun Vanna, you have a beatiful voice. God Bless you!

Indianapolis, IN

Anonymous said...

SHE'S LIVING IN STOCKTON CALIFORNIA

Khmerbotra said...

It's a good posting. If you want to find other Khmer Singers, please go to my site at www.forkh.com It's very easy to listen and download.

---------------
www.forkh.com
You won't be disappointed

Anonymous said...

Thank you. I wish she has good health...

Sydney

Anonymous said...

Dear P. Long Beach,

Thank you so much for posting Mrs. Chhun Vanna.

God bless Mrs. Vanna.

Khmer Woman!

Anonymous said...

Dear P from Long Beach,

I would like to request a song, if you could find it. The title (?) "chloy cha mok oun/bong ~ please answer yes". I would like to dedicated this song to HS (definitely not Hun Sen). Please answer yes to the translation....for the love of our nation...

With my regards,

Anonymous said...

I meet her at Chonbori camp during 80's.

Anonymous said...

Dear all

Thank Ms Vanna for being a good singer.

Thanks you very much from the bottum of my heard.

Khmer Brisbane Aussie

Anonymous said...

the other two famous singers, sort of forgotten, that are still living today are ms chhoun malai and ms. so savoeun. they both have had some popular hits from way before the KR time. we haven't heard anything about them. i know ms. so savoeun was on of the most famous singers and from the contemporary of ms. ros sereysothea, etc... the last i heard of her, she's living in paris, france. as for ms. chhoun malai, i have no clue where she's living now. anyone knows? and perhaps someone can post some of ms. so savoeun's songs and some of ms. chhoun malai songs here as well. both had some famous hits from the late 1960s and early 1970s. thanks in advance.

Anonymous said...

I love to listen to them very much and thank you for the post.

Anonymous said...

thank KI and P.from Long Beach,CA.
Chhun Vanna has had a beautiful
voice.She served Khmer people
hearts.Thanked she was a live from
Khmer Rouge regime.Her beautiful
songs will last as long as people
like them.
Her songs are beautiful,meaningful,
lovely places,and honest wife to
dear husband.

Anonymous said...

សូមអ្នកស្រី ឈុន វណ្ណាប្រកបទៅដោយសុខ
កាយ សប្បាយចិត្តក្នុងឆាកជីវិតរបស់អ្នកស្រី។
ចំរៀងអ្នកស្រីប្រកបដោយអត្ថន័យ ពីរោះ
និងមានខ្លឹមសារ។ភរិយាមានភ័ក្ដីភាពចំពោះ
ស្វាមី និង នឹកអាឡោះអាល័យទីកន្លែងដែល
ធ្លាប់ប្រទះឃើញ។

Anonymous said...

Is she still alive anyone?

stephen8850 said...

i like her voice. i wish her to be healthy and sing to the khmer people forever.

Anonymous said...

4:43AM - it is not true that Chhun Vanna was less well known than Ros Sereisothea etc.. you have to understand that khmer music evolved over time and khmer singers have had their time of fame one after the other: the first to be famous nationwide was Keo Setha in the 50's and early 60's. then came Mao Sareth who achieved fame in late 50's to late 60's. Then came Chun Vanna and Chhuon Malay from late 50's to 60's. Then Huy Meas, Ros Serey, from mid-60's to 70's. i prefer Chhun Vanna and Mao Sareth to Ros Sereysothea, but that's because i'm of an older generation. Those who think Ros Serey is the most popular khmer singer of all time are simply mistaken.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting these songs of Chhun Vanna, the elder khmer singer. It is the first time to me to know her name and songs. I would like to request all of you who can find more about former khmer singers, stars, because as I am a new generation I know very little about them and some of them I never know. Once again, thank for this contribution.
GoooooooooD LucK

Anonymous said...

I have not hear her name bfore, i downloaded her songs to listen some times, thanks so much for ki-media posted her songs.

whenever i heard old songs , it made me pain in my heart, remind me of dark era, that khmer
still support it....
chao ta

Anonymous said...

Thank you KI and P. from Long Beach, CA.
Chhun Vanna had lived close to us for a few years. She came and practiced her song at our apartment a few times. After she moved, we never see her. Hope she is doing good.

Wish her good luck and healthy!

Olympia

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have her phone number or know how to get a hold of her... a very good friend from when she was living in Seattle.

Anonymous said...

Chhun Vanna has passed away on January 17, 2018 at 6:03pm. My grandma is having a ceremony in California and any friends, family, or fans are allowed to pay their respective towards my truly amazing grandma. For more information, please contact me via email: saraty353@gmail.com