Singer Bang Kieu speaks out about 'no shows' in the US and 'stepmother and stepchild'

Having gone through 2 marriages with 4 children, singer Bang Kieu feels happy because he has met only good women, and is not afraid of the awkward situation of having his children treated badly.

Singer Bang Kieu is preparing to be one of the guests at the live concert Duong Thu - The song Autumn returns.

Singer Bang Kieu.

- Is your life in two places too inconvenient?

Now I spend more time in Vietnam, mainly in Hanoi . My children in the US are grown up, have stable education, and live with their mother, so I feel secure.

My youngest son Bentley is still young and needs his father to be with him, so I make arrangements to spend time with him. I have a lot of work in Vietnam, so I spend about 80% of my time here. Only when there is a special show or an important occasion do I fly to the US and combine it with performing for overseas audiences.

- Recently, social networks have been discussing a lot about "stepmothers - stepchildren". As for you, I still feel happy when the children, whether from the first wife or the second wife, always receive love and do not face that dilemma?

I am truly lucky to have met kind women, whether in marriage or other relationships. My children are loved and have never suffered discrimination. My biological and stepchildren often ask about and care for each other and are very close. I am grateful for that.

The eldest son has studied art and the third son is starting high school this year, also majoring in art. I am very happy, I just hope that they study well and accumulate enough knowledge. Later, if they choose to pursue a singing career, I will support them wholeheartedly.

- Some opinions say that the overseas music market is no longer as vibrant as before, even Bang Kieu has no shows there, while in Vietnam he still has shows regularly. What do you think?

Actually, that is the general situation. In the US, young audiences are gradually listening to more European and American music and the Vietnamese community overseas is not that large, music events take place on weekends. In Vietnam, the market is large, entertainment activities take place continuously all week. I am lucky to be loved by audiences both at home and abroad, so whenever I can, I still return to the US to perform. But there has been more work in Vietnam in recent years.

Musician Duong Thu - a special father

- You rarely mention your biological father, but many times you shared that you consider musician Duong Thu as your second father. Not only a teacher and a father in music, what role does musician Duong Thu play in your life?

Uncle Thu is someone I have been very close to since my early days of singing. He is kind, innocent and delicate. Even when he is sad, he is sad in a manly way, gentle and not noisy. I learned many things from him, from his philosophy of life to his career. My music is also influenced by him: gentle, vaguely sad but not tragic.

Singer Bang Kieu considers musician Duong Thu a special teacher and father in both music and life.

- Usually, fathers love their children very much but sometimes they are strict. Has musician Duong Thu ever scolded you?

He is very gentle, if he scolds me, it's like: "Hey, I love you so much but you never reply to my messages!" ( laughs). He gets angry but then forgets it right away, never holds grudges. He chooses his friends very carefully, only sticking with people who are refined and kind. With his musical family from People's Artist Thanh Lam, Hong Nhung, My Linh to me, if he gets angry, it's only for a short while, then he lets it go.

In the past, when I went to perform in Ho Chi Minh City, he often called me to his house. He took care of me like his own son, from food and accommodation to daily activities. I rarely saw him treat anyone so intimately. Therefore, I always felt that he was not only a teacher but also a real father in my music and life.

- How is your music influenced by musician Duong Thu?

Uncle Thu has had a profound influence on my artistic path. Right from the first days of singing, he reminded me: "Music must have an audience." That seemingly simple saying has become a guiding principle throughout my career. For any product, from an album, a project to a single song, I always try to make it as close and easy to receive as possible, so that listeners can feel the most love and emotion.

It was those conversations, even during tea drinking sessions, smoking tobacco, and talking about music with him that opened up many valuable "keys" for me. These things not only helped me shape my style but also forged a serious attitude towards my work.

Uncle Thu always emphasized that in art, self-respect and humility are important. Not arrogance but knowing how to maintain a level to reach, not being easygoing. That is also one of the lessons I received from musician Duong Thu and have always applied throughout my career.

- Being favored in the past, when Duong Thu was considered a musician of the market, he must have earned a lot of money because he 'forgave' his royalties?

I love many of his works, but the song that is most associated with me and brings me the most shows is Listening to Spring Returning . For many years now, every spring, this song has been an indispensable part of my program.

As for the copyright fee, it is still according to the regulations, that is, the program organizer pays for the author's permission. As for my uncle and I, the father-son relationship has never been calculated.

Bang Kieu performs "Listening to Spring Coming"

Photo: NVCC

My Linh, Bang Kieu participate in a special art program for Vu Lan season . On the evening of September 18, at the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Cultural Palace (Hanoi), the special art program "Grateful Parents 2025" will take place with the participation of singers My Linh, Bang Kieu, Phuong Thanh...

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/ca-si-bang-kieu-len-tieng-ve-chuyen-e-show-o-my-chuyen-di-ghe-con-chong-2444040.html