Social media is said to be contributing to the spread of many "trashy" music products.
"Watching the music" is not listening to the music.
With the rapid development of technology, music is undergoing many changes with entirely new ways of making and reaching audiences. Digital technology has made the music production process easier and more time-saving. Musicians and producers can use software and digital tools to create music on computers and mobile devices with great convenience.
Similarly, in the performing arts, with the support of technology, singers appear before the public not only captivating in terms of sound but also visually, with effects from sound and light.
The development of digital technology has also brought about changes in how the public receives and enjoys music. Instead of attending a concert, now, with just a smart device, audiences can enjoy a diverse range of musical products at any time, freely debating and expressing their opinions about the program and the artists, from anywhere.
However, alongside its usefulness, technology is also causing confusion among those involved and audiences alike due to its negative consequences. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi My Liem from Saigon University, who has been involved in music training and research for many years, stated that when discussing music products solely in terms of quality, it's easy to see that the artistic and cultural content, including traditional customs and cultural values, can be diminished because technology is now capable of replacing them. Many people now "watch music" rather than "listen to music."
Ms. Liem expressed that sometimes technology is involved in "faking" art, transforming an ordinary voice into something extraordinary, even "exceptional." Currently, there are many software programs that can "make" a voice thicker and more colorful, allowing artists to confidently enter the recording studio knowing that the technology can help correct pitch and rhythm errors. Not to mention, people can separate the "beat" (background music, backing track) of another artist and insert their own vocals into it, turning it into... their own product.
"In this way, the artistic talent, artistic emotion, and skill that an artist needs become less necessary, and the artwork loses its 'soul' because the artist doesn't have to think or express anything but relies on technology," Ms. Liem shared.
Finding true value for music.
In recent years, rap music has become a popular musical phenomenon, dominating the scene compared to all other entertainment genres. Along with this explosion, the level of misinformation and confusion online, such as plagiarism, copycat music, and parody songs, has reached alarming levels. Furthermore, some sudden successes have created misconceptions among audiences about the true value of music.
Even more alarming is that many facile, even vulgar and offensive, musical products, upon their release, immediately receive negative reactions from audiences, the media, and cultural researchers. Most recently, "Fever" by Tlinh and Coldzy, with its lyrics alluding to "18+" content, has caused widespread public outrage. In this song, the two Gen Z artists used offensive, explicit, and vulgar language, making listeners feel ashamed... Released on June 4th, after more than three weeks, "Fever" has garnered nearly 1 million listens and thousands of comments on YouTube. Furthermore, the song has spread across online music platforms with very high engagement; on TikTok, "Fever" has even been used as background music for over 4,000 videos.
According to musician Hoai An, for a musical product to reach the public, there must be consistency in all three stages: the songwriter, the singer, and the producer. If any one of these three stages malfunctions, the product cannot be created. For example, a songwriter has the right to disagree if they see their song's lyrics altered; a singer has the right to refuse to sing if they find the lyrics too vulgar; and a producer will not invest money if they feel the product does not contribute positively to life… However, some songs today are negative, from their imagery to their lyrics, being explicit, offensive, and vulgar, easily influencing listeners, especially young people who lack life experience.
It can be said that, with the support of technology and social media platforms, anti-artistic products and "cultural garbage" are tapping into the curiosity of a segment of today's youth. As a result, many artists, even knowing that their creations are worthless, still choose this path to gain attention and profit.
Therefore, musician Hoai An believes that, along with embracing the best of technology, it is necessary to adjust regulations and penalties for violations, possibly restricting viewing age, issuing warnings or removing content, and publishing notices of violations… In addition, the penalties should be increased for musical products that use vulgar language or offensive, obscene images, or products that promote social vices…
Many also argue that preventing this type of music is not easy without the cooperation of authorities and music producers themselves. Furthermore, listeners should be more discerning, so that trashy music with offensive lyrics and imagery has no place to thrive.
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