Today marks the first time that Google has honoured a Vietnamese person with a Google Doodle – the temporary alteration of the company’s logo to commemorate holidays, events, achievements and people.
Vietnamese music legend Trinh Cong Son, who passed away in 2001, would have celebrated his 80th birthday today, February 28. His contribution to Vietnamese music and culture has been recognised by Google with a doodle on its homepage.
According to Tuoi Tre, the Google Vietnam homepage has, in the past, created doodles to honour other important Vietnamese cultural events, such as mid-Autumn festival, Tet and Vietnam’s national day, among others, but never in honour of a person.
Trinh Cong Son was born in Buon Ma Thuot in Dak Lak Province on February 28, 1939 and grew up in the old imperial capital of Hue. He wrote over 500 songs during the 1960s and 1970s, drawing comparisons with other music legends of the time, including at one stage being dubbed the Bob Dylan of Vietnam.
Initially incarcerated by the authorities after reunification in 1975, Trinh Cong Son was eventually honoured posthumously by those same authorities, earning his music greater acceptance and popularity in later years – music that became associated with love and post-war reconciliation.
Happy Birthday Sir.
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