Singers Tung Duong, Thao Trang and musician Tuan Khanh are in Tuoi Tre to have an online chat Monday morning. If you have any questions for them, please send them to
Musician Tuan Khanh with Tuoi Tre readers:
Nguyen Ha Linh, 25 years old: What do you think: A singer with a good voice should participate in music contests or stay underground and have their own position in the audience’s heart?
Tuan Khanh: Thank you for an interesting question. I believe music contests only show a part of values in the Vietnamese music streams nowadays. In fact, the sinking iceberg of the underground era has a very great force but still remains unexploited due to many reasons.
People in the underground streams are liberal in their style and thinking, so it is hard for them to have high awards. Contests, in general, still have their own frames and limit liberal thinking in any country. Life forms each steam a different color and I think the best way is to decide from the beginning to avoid confusion and getting lost.
The most important thing is each stream has its own audience.
Nguyen Tan Nhut, 22 years old: You are often in the judge panel of big music contests such as Vietnam Idol, Sao Mai Diem Hen… What do you think about winners in contests who disappointed the audience as they disappeared so soon? Are music contests nowadays a playground for everyone to get on TV, get a prize and go home?
Tuan Khanh: Your question is my innermost feeling. I would like to tell you one thing: the music contests nowadays are first game shows with exploring and entertaining values.
We, Vietnamese music lovers, often expect too much from these games thus we can easily become disappointed. Win or lose, sometimes it is just a promoting technique for a show.
I also wonder like you, where the emerging talents will go. Up to now, calmly thinking, I think once the performance industry is complete, investors will have a better awareness in contributing to the future of Vietnamese music rather than merely doing business in this country. Then we will have an answer to the question you and I are concerned about.
Duy Lam, 18 years old:Many Vietnamese singers have beautiful voice as well as appearance but still remain unpopular in the country and overseas. On the other hand, Chinese and Korean singers have nothing special but are very famous. Is it because of promotion and when will Vietnam have famous singers on international stage?
Tuan Khanh: Can I ask you another question? Are we also witnessing many singers with bad voice and physical appearance being promoted to stardom recently? That is the worst promoting technique with participation from well-known means of media. We also have the same promoting techniques like other countries but are distorted and done in a wrong way.
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Musician Tuan Khanh at Tuoi Tre Newspaper Monday morning
Singer Tung Duong with Tuoi Tre readers:
Hoang Van, 28 years old:What do you think a good singer should be? Have you ever admired anyone’s talents? How can a talented singer contribute to Vietnamese music?
Tung Duong: Art gives birth to many talents and as such each artist has a very big ego. However, that rule is gradually being broken by contemporary artists. If an artist does not reflect on him/herself, listen and conceive correctly, he/she cannot go far. What’s important is learning, even the smallest thing from your colleague can also be helpful.
I have many music idols but above all, learning from their good points is not a simple thing. We need to filter and turn others’ good points into yours rather than turning yourself into someone’s copy.
Hoa Sim, 28 years old:What is the toughest thing in a singing career? How do you prepare to face and overcome it?
Tung Duong: There are always ups and downs in every singer’s life. To me, the support and love from fans are the most important. An artist should always strive to live long in every audience’s heart. What I fear the most is to lose desire and aspiration in my career.
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Tung Duong at Tuoi Tre Newspaper Monday morning
Singer Thao Trang with Tuoi Tre readers:
Hai Ha, 18 years old: There is a mixture of good and bad singers in Vietnamese showbiz nowadays. Are you hurt to be doubted to belong to the latter category and what do you do to face it?
Thao Trang: Thank you for a very good consideration to the current situation of Vietnamese showbiz. This is caused by many factors, requiring responsibility of managers as young singers do not have a clear direction. To overcome this crisis, I think it takes a considerable time when audience can become strict critics and select their own idols.
Vo Anh Minh, 22 years old: After Vietnam Idol 2007, what difficulties did you have in your career? As one of the contestants having professional training, do you think it is an advantage in a music contest or it all depends on audience’s votes?
Thao Trang: After the contest, it was advantageous at first because there were still echoes from the contest. However, after a year, it was getting more difficult as there were more and more young singers emerging. That is the reason why each singer has to be more active and affirm themselves more to stand.
About professional training, I have never thought it was an advantage. If you take Vietnam Idol for example, seeking a music talent with good techniques is not an important thing. The contest only looks for those with potentials or those who can go farther in the future. As you said, I think it is partly correct that audience are those who decide who will be music talents.
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Thao Trang at Tuoi Tre Newspaper Monday morning
Hanoi singer Tung Duong, 28, won the jury prize of the Sao Mai Diem Hen singing contest in 2004. After that, he has built a successful image as a “demon” singer full of internal forces on the stage. Tung Duong was also awarded Mai Vang (Yellow Apricot) prize. Danang girl Thao Trang, 23, advanced into the top ten of Vietnam Idol 2006 and successfully impressed audiences. HCMC’s Tuan Khanh, 42, who used to serve as a jury in several singing contests like Vietnam Idol and Sao Mai Diem Hen, has contributed valuable ideas and helpful comments for contestants and Vietnam music. |
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