Szomoru vasarnap AKA Gloomy Sunday, the song known as a “Hungarian Suicide Song” made its appearance into Vietnamese music on Asia 56 Mùa Hè Rực Rỡ - Yêu Đời Yêu Người where singers Thùy Hương and Nguyễn Hồng Nhung performed the Vietnamese version translated by Nam Loc in 2007. Many others had also recorded the Vietnamese version such as veteran Khanh Ly and Vietnam group AC&M title “Chu Nhat Buon”
Rezso Seress wrote Gloomy Sunday as a result of a one-way love for a woman who didn’t return his love. Later on after the song became well known, the woman that Rezso Seress loved was found to have committed suicide and in the background was playing the song Gloomy Sunday. Then in 1968 Rezso Seress himself jumped off the window at the building where he lived. As you see, the history of this song was not a pleasant one as it was associated with many suicidal deaths and was banned. The song appeared in 1933 in Hungary and reappeared in America in 1936 with an English translation and was sung by numerous artists. However, the most popular version was by Billie Holiday. Besides being popularly sung by many recording artists, Gloomy Sunday was inspiration for many plays, films, TV shows, and movies.
Many people believe the song to be a curse of some sort that had caused many suicide deaths. However, looking at it with a critical eye, Hungary at the time was a very depressing society due to economic problems. Also the deaths with the song Gloomy Sunday playing, could due to the fact that the people already had plans to suicide stumble upon a song that is depressing and after listening to it they continue on with the plan. Basically if you are already having problems and plan to suicide, listening to any song is not going to change much. And as for those dying afterward, it could be a copycat or a last plead of attention or mark to be remembering by on this world. Lastly why is this song popular or over talked about as being somewhat a curse is probably due to the stories and attention that the media and people in the industry who wanted to create curiosity and hype from the crowd to help boost their sales. I mean would anyone be so interested in a song made back in 1933 in Hungary if not for the talk about it relating to suicidal deaths?
My Thought: Personally I listened to the song and really don’t see anything depressing about it. Maybe the sadness gets lost in translation. The English version is about lost love while the original is more about humanity and such so I guess its more depressing. But like I said if you’re already depressed and are having a miserable time in life then this song only add on to your misery. Listen to it yourself and tell me what you think. Also if you remember this song was talked about before on Thuy Nga Paris By Night by Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen and Nguyen Ngoc Ngan. Although I cannot remember what tape it was on. If anyone can dig up the info, please inform me. Thank you. The social situation nowadays is more lighten up. I found this video on You Tube where a contestant on Hungarian Idol sang the song. Check it out.
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