Images from the music video "Duyen Tinh Xu Thanh" (Love Story in Thanh Hoa Province).
Thanh Hoa's music also includes songs where, from the very first note, music lovers can immediately picture a particular region. "Greetings to the Heroic Ma River," composed by musician Xuan Giao in 1967, is one such song. Previously, when the melody played, listeners felt transported back to the fierce battles fought by the army and people of Thanh Hoa. Today, this heroic anthem evokes images of a beautiful and vibrant land. In the 2017 music video by singer Trong Tan, Thanh Hoa is depicted with a profound sense of pride, showcasing the gentle Ma River and the historic Ham Rong Bridge.
This shows that songs that have stood the test of time, once associated with the memories of fierce war, if reinterpreted and modernized in a way that suits contemporary life, can bring new emotions to listeners. Not only do these works preserve historical value, but they also become a bridge between the past and the present, contributing to promoting the image of the homeland and arousing curiosity and a desire for exploration among tourists from near and far.
When mentioning Thanh Hoa, many people will immediately remember familiar songs such as "The Road to Thanh Hoa," "Thanh Hoa Love Song" (composed by Nguyen Trong), "Returning to Thanh Hoa" (composed by Nguyen Tien), "Love Story of Thanh Hoa" (music by Le Xuan Hoa, lyrics by Mai Duc Hung)... These are all compositions imbued with pride in the homeland, evoking famous landmarks such as Lam Kinh, Ho Dynasty Citadel, Sam Son beach... along with many distinctive cultural features of Thanh Hoa. These songs are frequently chosen to be performed at the annual opening ceremonies of the beach tourism season and major art programs of the province, becoming familiar melodies associated with the image of Thanh Hoa tourism and culture in the hearts of tourists.
In particular, many songs about Thanh Hoa have been produced with beautiful music videos, becoming vibrant films that promote tourism. Examples include music videos such as "Love Story of Thanh Hoa", "The Majestic Thanh Hoa", "Come Home, My Brothers and Sisters", and "Proud of Thanh Hoa"...
Meanwhile, many young artists have chosen to create music videos in a modern, youthful style to promote tourism. In July 2024, the music video "My Hometown Is the Best" by comedian Trung Ruoi offered a fresh and vibrant perspective on Thanh Hoa province. Lyrics like: "The people of Cam Thuy are honest, the people of Hoang Hoa are also honest, and the people of Lang Chanh are lovely..." create a cheerful and familiar feeling. Comedian Trung Ruoi shared that he and his team hoped the music video would not only showcase the beautiful scenery of Thanh Hoa but also spread the optimistic spirit, sincerity, and hospitality of the people of Thanh Hoa.
Clearly, music promoting tourism is not simply about describing a place, but more importantly, it must evoke the unique, distinctive, and attractive characteristics of that region. A successful song is not about mentioning many or few place names, but about its ability to stir emotions, making listeners want to visit, explore, and fall even more in love with the land and people of that place.
During the recent April 30th holiday, Ms. Hoang Le Thuy, a tourist from Hanoi, chose Thanh Hoa as her family's annual trip destination. Every year, her family dedicates time to exploring a new place. Ms. Thuy is a music lover. Whenever she hears songs about Thanh Hoa, she imagines a land that is both generous and poetic, with blue seas, many ancient heritage sites, and sincere, hospitable people. “When I was little, I thought Thanh Hoa was only famous for Sam Son beach. Later, as I grew up and learned more about and listened to songs about Thanh Hoa, I understood more clearly the depth of its culture and history,” Ms. Thuy shared.
In reality, the harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, folk elements with contemporary musical influences, along with catchy melodies and catchy phrases that can go viral and spread quickly on digital platforms, is becoming a familiar formula for many artists and singers. Given that young people are the most active users of social media and generate the strongest viral effects, accurately understanding their tastes is crucial to the success or failure of a music product promoting tourism.
Hopefully, in the future, there will be more new compositions that can touch the hearts of tourists, so that whenever a melody is played, people will immediately remember Thanh Hoa - a land rich in identity, affection, and charm. From there, music will truly become a bridge of emotions, contributing to promoting the image of the homeland and taking Thanh Hoa tourism further.
Text and photos: Tran Linh
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/du-lich-xu-thanh-qua-am-nhac-287910.htm
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