Playing the Game: This Year's Craziest Music Show

The gala night had about 5,000 spectators - Photo: MAI THUONG

In addition to Thang and his "old friends" of the band Ngọt (Nguyen Hung Nam Anh, Chi Hung, Trung Hoang), the CAM gala Choi troi cho on the evening of April 26 also featured uncles and nephews Duy Manh, Ha Le, Hoang Hiep, Dangrangto, Tung, Trang, Thanh Luke, Hoang Dung, The Flob, Minh Toc and Lam.

Especially not everyone has a style. Indie/underground and mainstream have it all. And all "play" on the background of symphonic music.

Sweet but not Sweet

It's because the band's musical spirit is still there when the familiar notes ring out: Xanh, Drama Queen, Rarely, See Yet, Fall in Love, Good, Burn Incense and Burn Gold ...

There are Thang, Chi Hung, Nguyen Hung Nam Anh, Trung Hoang, all former members of the band Ngọt in different stages. So it's Ngọt and who else!

But Ngọt is no longer Ngọt. Because you can hear a void behind the continuous sublimation of notes since they announced their hiatus last March.

Even though the music is still good, there is still a feeling of incompleteness. This does not necessarily come from the absence of Hoang Phan on stage, but because deep down, there is a certain brokenness that has been pinned in the mind.

Stepping onto the stage, Thang repeatedly claimed to be a newcomer; and called the other three members "his long-time friends".

There were moments that seemed to stop. In the stands, some of the audience had red eyes. They wondered how long it had been since they had seen the members (now former members) standing there playing music, raising the "soul calls" in the "reunion of humanity" that had been associated with their youth.

Thang Ngọt and former members of Ngọt gathered on the same stage - Photo: MAI THUONG

But as the spirit of this CAM gala goes, life is basically like a game that never ends.

"No one knows what they will get from life. What to do with all the madness and chaos that God has given us now? Just play. We want to play the game of life with all our audiences," a CAM representative told Tuoi Tre Online earlier.

So just listen, before the singing decays, the sounds stop. It is rare to see Thang passionately and roughly, Chi Hung playing the guitar skillfully, Nam Anh shining in the back with his own drum beats...

Lam, Hoang Dung, Tung, Trang - Photo: MAI THUONG

The 7X, 8X uncles "play games" with the 9X, 2K2 grandchildren

We must commend the organizers for "daring" to invite "uncle" Duy Manh to join. It also shows the madness of the person who planned this line up.

Known for his ballad hits from 2 decades ago such as Tinh em la dai duong, Hay ve day ben anh, Kiep do den, Di vang cuoc tinh ... romantic and cheesy, putting Duy Manh's music on a symphony background is something "super funny", "shocking" as the audience commented before.

However, last night, the singer born in 1975 was also quite… good. In a smart suit, he sang solo songs Xin dung mat vat anh, Di vang cuoc tinh .

Besides collaborating with Hoang Dung to sing "Love is the ocean" , the scene where Duy Manh sits on the guitar and sings "Come back here by me" is also impressive and makes many young people sing along fluently.

The humorous singer said "it's been a long time since I sang live, normally I just lip-sync" which made the whole audience laugh out loud.

The two brothers who overcame thousands of hardships, Ha Le and Hoang Hiep, brought about another storm called Trinh's music ( Diem Xua, Mua Hong ) and music with folk melodies ( Chiec Khan Pieu, Tren Dinh Phu Van, Co Doi Thuong Ngan ).

If Ha Le is leisurely, with a modern and varied voice, Hoang Hiep - formerly the main vocalist of the rock band Ngu Cung, treats the audience to "high on the kumquat tree", fiery and passionate parts.

Chơi trò trò chơi - Ảnh 11. — Audience said "Uncle Duy Manh is very handsome today" - Photo: MAI THUONG

Chơi trò trò chơi - Ảnh 12. — Ha Le sings Pink Rain, Old Performance - Photo: MAI THUONG

At the end of the show, the two brothers returned, singing with the bands The Flob Tu Phuong Vo Su and Nhat Bai Thien Ha as an "eardrum-shaking" but satisfying ending.

In addition, The Flob also brings their "specialty" of diverse indie rock, from ballads, funk to metal with songs loved by the audience such as Cuoi ngay, Em oi, Dap co con tim , Khe uoc (with Ha Le), Nguoc gio (with Lam).

Meanwhile, Thanh Luke, former member of the band Wild Salmon, also participated with October, Tomorrow, Rely on Each Other, Fast, Together ...

Chơi trò trò chơi - Ảnh 13. — Dangrangto, a rapper who emerged from Rap Viet 2024, made the audience squirm and get hot with Love is, Horse in the dark, 2GOILAYS - Photo: MAI THUONG

The couple Minh Toc and Lam brought Other Melodies 3, Moonlight City, Desert Place, Clouds on the Horizon to join in the fun. The music night also couldn't be without "regular guest" Hoang Dung with Half a Decade, Lean on Me and Listen to Me Sing, Phonecert, Compass, New Ending, Muse ...

With a narrative-heavy music style, not suitable for large spaces; combined with not-so-thick vocals, leaning towards rustic and suggestive, Tung and Trang are two low notes that make the gala night quiet.

Here Now, Crying Into A River, Dream, Intact (by Tung) and And let's just say we're left, If you need me, Negotiations with pain (of Trang) like dreams spread endlessly when the blood, fire, and madness temporarily stop.

The song Spring and Negotiation with Pain , Trang's latest song, are really good . There, love songs bloom in a very beautiful April evening "playing games".