Ben Phantom's Music Video 'Saigon' Documents His Father's Return To Vietnam

WUNC | By Anita Rao,

Published December 21, 2020 at 11:17 AM EST

Asheville musician Ben Phantom's new song and music video, "Saigon" tells the story of his father's return to Vietnam.

Asheville-based singer-songwriter Ben Phantom’s father never talked about his time in Vietnam. So when he finally decided to go back for a visit after 42 years in the United States, Phantom brought a video camera. Host Anita Rao talks with Asheville-based musician Ben Phantom about his new song and music video 'Saigon.'

As he filmed the sights and sounds of his father’s homeland, their family cemetery and the homes of family members, he started writing a song. Three years later, Phantom’s song and music video “Saigon” tell the story of his father’s return home. The musician joins host Anita Rao to talk about his father’s story, their travels in Vietnam and how the pandemic has shaped the year for the musician.

"Saigon" Official Music Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbZbvsufq9Q

Anita Rao

Anita Rao is the host and creator of "Embodied," a live, weekly radio show and seasonal podcast about sex, relationships & health. She's also the managing editor of WUNC's on-demand content. She has traveled the country recording interviews for the Peabody Award-winning StoryCorps production department, founded and launched a podcast about millennial feminism in the South, and served as the managing editor and regular host of "The State of Things," North Carolina Public Radio's flagship daily, live talk show. Anita was born in a small coal-mining town in Northeast England but spent most of her life growing up in Iowa and has a fond affection for the Midwest.

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Kaia Findlay

Kaia Findlay is a producer for The State of Things, WUNC's daily, live talk show. Kaia grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a household filled with teachers and storytellers. In elementary school, she usually fell asleep listening to recordings of 1950s radio comedy programs. After a semester of writing for her high school newspaper, she decided she hated journalism. While pursuing her bachelor’s in environmental studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, she got talked back into it. Kaia received a master’s degree from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism, where she focused on reporting and science communication. She has published stories with Our State Magazine, Indy Week, and HuffPost. She most recently worked as the manager for a podcast on environmental sustainability and higher education. Her reporting passions include climate and the environment, health and science, food and women’s issues. When not working at WUNC, Kaia goes pebble-wrestling, takes long bike rides, and reads while hammocking.

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