#THROWBACK, BABY!

#Throwback, Baby!

2005. Hmong American New Year Banquet, Minneapolis, MN.

5 Things You Need to Know About This Picture

1.  I love gold.  Gold earrings, gold embellishments, gold heels (unpictured), gold handbag (unpictured), and gold hair.  Can you tell?

2.  The Hmong American New Year kindly invited me as a guest performer for their annual banquet as I took first place that year at their vocal contest.   

3.  I performed a cover of Luj Yaj's "Muaj Ib Hnub," which was requested by a former Hmong professor in the summer of 2004.  Who knew it'd become a favorite of my listeners, including the judges I performed for. 

4.  Although I cringed while watching this 10-year-old video, I am grateful to realize the evolution of my singing and performing abilities.  I promise you will never see anymore hand gestures resembling tus noog from me. 

5.  I am grateful for vocal contests in the Hmong community.  Of course, I would agree with many music artists that we still need more development and professionalism in the Hmong vocal competitions.  But without the vocal contests I entered years ago, I may not be where I am today.