Music is one of the powerful weapons to encourage the people's fighting spirit in the revolutionary stages. On the music front, musician Luu Huu Phuoc made an important and huge contribution, being one of the "leading birds" for the cause of building the Vietnamese revolutionary music. His compositions are imbued with the spirit of the times, strongly promoting the fighting spirit of the entire people.

Luu Huu Phuoc was born on September 12, 1921, in O Mon district, Can Tho province (now Can Tho city). From a young age, he taught himself music theory and played several musical instruments. When growing up, with passionate patriotism, he turned music into a sharp weapon in the country's struggle for independence and freedom. With many pseudonyms such as Huynh Minh Sieng, Long Hung, Anh Luu, Hong Chi..., the compositions of this musician-soldier carry the "breath" of the times.

During the period 1940 - 1944, while still a student, his compositions showed a strong fighting spirit with strong lyrics. Bach Dang Giang "the bravery of the Dragon and Fairy race", Ai Chi Lang "for the sake of the country, drawing his sword to fight / Loyalty, saving the poor people", Going to the road "Mighty solidarity / Bach Dang fame / Chi Lang echoes /With one heart to follow the hero's footsteps" to the Hanh of Giant River "The dawn is bright / All people wish for a tomorrow morning". Or Singing Jiang Long Hate (later renamed the Soul of a Martyr) with a deep and heroic rhythm "Getting hot blood to save the people from danger / Chi strutting / Years of merit / Building up the country"...

Member of Group Hoang Mai Luu. From left to right: Huynh Van Tieng, Luu Huu Phuoc, Mai Van Bo. (Documentary photo)
Member of Group Hoang Mai Luu. From left to right: Huynh Van Tieng, Luu Huu Phuoc, Mai Van Bo. (Documentary photo)
Along with 3 co-authors, Huynh Van Tieng, Mai Van Bo, and Dang Ngoc Tot, Luu Huu Phuoc released 3 songs: "Planting the pen", "Hurry to the South" and "Give light" to strongly encourage the movement "folding the pen". research" to urge students to give up studying well and pass high school to become a mandarin for France, instead "Putting down the pen to fight. Fold the pen in disdain for publicity, like vanity; Son Ha fluttered. Up! We advance! A love of the river, for our people, risked their lives...". This movement contributed strongly to arousing the patriotism of young people before and during the August Revolution. In 1944, while in prison, Luu Huu Phuoc also released Khuc Triumph with the belief of victory of the revolution. Poet Nguyen Dinh Thi wrote in the book Luu Huu Phuoc - People and career (Young Publishing House, 1989): "Luu Huu Phuoc's music is both healthy and fresh, imbued with ethnic characteristics and Southern colors. , unmistakable. Those songs have resounded on the streets of Saigon swarming with tens of thousands of people who revolted in August 1945.

During the resistance wars against the French (1945 - 1954) and against the US (1954 - 1975), Luu Huu Phuoc's songs continued to fuel the fire for generations and urged the whole people to enthusiastically fight with fighting lyrics. strong. It was a summons: “Arise! Heroic Southern People - Rise! Rushing through the storm/Swearing to save the country, vowing to sacrifice for life/Holding a sword, holding a gun, rushed to…” in Liberation of the South (Luu Huu Phuoc with Huynh Van Tieng, Mai Van Bo, often called Group Hoang Mai Luu, composed). It was the song of the Liberation Army urging the people to stand up when "the invaders trampled their homeland": "Fatherland, for the sake of the country's hardships / Let's go forward, we can hear the thunder rumbling everywhere / Let's go together. The South revolution". In particular, many people immediately think of Going to Saigon talking about revolutionary music during the anti-American era. Lyrics: "In the capital city in the light of electricity, laughter choked with laughter. The suburban five-petaled cottage groans day and night. Saigon, I'm back, I'm back ..." echoed in the liberation day of April 30, 1975, but few people know that the song was written by Luu Huu Phuoc in 1966.

Musician Luu Huu Phuoc (left) and writers Nguyen Van Bong and Ly Van Sam in the war against the US. (Documentary photo)
Musician Luu Huu Phuoc (left) and writers Nguyen Van Bong and Ly Van Sam in the war against the US. (Documentary photo)
Luu Huu Phuoc wrote many marches. With the characteristics of the marching genre, which are strong rhythms, solid rhythms, creating a vibrant atmosphere, his songs have an urge to act. In 1964, the movement "Three readies" was launched by the Central Youth Union, his songs "Ready to fight", "Youth three ready" with youthful and exciting melodies made a significant contribution to the collection of attracting young people to participate in resistance activities and build socialism.

In musician Luu Huu Phuoc, it seems that each song carries a mission corresponding to each historical period. The common point of these songs is that they all have high political and combat acumen, concise and generalized lyrics, expressing strong urges and summons. Some songs have been selected to become official songs of the organizations. In it, Liberation of the South is the official song of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, later the Provisional Revolutionary Government.