HÀ NỘI — This Christmas, children will welcome yet another album from music writer Hoàng Thu Trang, whose debut album of children’s songs became a huge hit. 

Trang’s second collection, The Joy of Christmas, was produced by Polaris Art & Music School, and it includes two sets of songs recorded both in English and Vietnamese - The Joy of Christmas, Đừng Khóc Đêm Giáng Sinh (Don’t Cry on Christmas Eve), Oh This Is Christmas and Niềm Vui Đêm Giáng Sinh (The Joy of Christmas).

Most of the songs were written by Trang when she was in France and recorded in Việt Nam. She has come home to Hà Nội for the release.

“It took me just about one week in October to write the songs but much time was spent preparing for distribution. The making of the album involves lots of stages and the singers are small children, so the preparation becomes much harder. Fortunately, I have a production team that has been harmoniously and professionally working together to finish it in time,” she said.

The highlight of the album is a song recorded by Phùng Khánh Linh, who became famous after her impressive performances in the Vietnamese version of the Dutch reality singing contest The Voice last year. Her soulful duet with 14-year-old Anh Sa is expected to put The Joy of Christmas on top of the charts.

Western influence: Each song in "The Joy of Christmas" is a special story about children’s love, beliefs and aspiration on Christmas. — Photo courtesy of Hoàng Thu Trang

With memorable melodies influenced by Western musical style, each song in the album is a special story about children’s love, belief and aspirations on Christmas.

If The Joy of Christmas and its Vietnamese version, Niềm Vui Đêm Giáng Sinh, expresses children’s happiness on returning home on Christmas Eve, Oh This is Christmas describes the children’s happiness waiting for Santa Claus riding the reindeers to arrive with gifts, and Đừng Khóc Đêm Giáng Sinh (Don’t Cry on Christmas Eve) will touch listeners with its beautiful melody, meaningful lyrics and message about peace: “Don’t make children cry on Christmas Eve”.

Trang said she was motivated to produce the album on seeing that “most Christmas songs for Vietnamese children originated from foreign versions, and there are few songs of high quality that can offer a real Christmas atmosphere — which can be felt only when the songwriters have real experience in life.”

“Such feelings have inspired me write Christmas songs for both children and adults to listen and understand Christmas legends, feelings and the cosy atmosphere that can only be found during this festive season,” Trang said.

Trang started writing songs when she was 12. Her first album, Trong Khu Vườn (In the Garden), which was for children between four and 10 years old, was released last June on the occasion of Children’s Day and has made her a popular figure among Vietnamese children and parents.

In addition to producing musical products for children, she has initiated several musical events to introduce Vietnamese music, especially traditional tunes, to international audiences in the past 10 years, while she was living in France.

The Joy of Christmas can be heard and downloaded on the online music website mp3.zing.vn. — VNS