Keeping Vietnamese music "clean"

After a meeting with the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports on the evening of October 29, Jack apologized, accepted responsibility and pledged to comply with traditional customs, and announced a temporary suspension of performing activities. This move shows the artist's receptiveness and the drastic involvement of cultural management agencies in correcting deviations in music .

Singer Jack has been causing a stir these past few days with offensive lyrics. Photo: FBNV — Singer Jack has been causing a stir these past few days with offensive lyrics. *Photo: FBNV*

When lyrics cross cultural boundaries

Not only Jack, previously, the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee frankly pointed out a series of artists who showed deviations in composition and performance.

Typical examples include singer Phao (Nguyen Dieu Huyen) with the song “The Bad Career”, which contains many vulgar and even offensive lyrics. Rapper Gducky (Dang Mai Viet Hoang) in “The Dreamland” and artists Hoang Ton, Andree, Tinle with the song “Clme” all have lyrics that promote the use of stimulants. Singer Dat G has the song “Cao Oc 20” with lyrics that express deviant expressions…

According to the authorities, such products "damage public morals, artistic aesthetics and the image of artists in the eyes of the public."

More importantly, this phenomenon is no longer isolated, especially in the digital age, where just a few “shocking” lyrics are enough to become a “hit” on social networks. This is being exploited by some people as a tool to attract attention, even trading off their professional dignity to spread widely.

In recent times, Vietnamese music has seen the emergence of many young talents, which is a good thing. However, what many people are concerned about is the lack of cultural foundation and sense of social responsibility. Many artists confuse “genuine” with “vulgar”, “different” with “arrogant”. If the artist’s ego is not trained by knowledge and ethics, it will easily slide into offensiveness.

Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Son, a full-time member of the National Assembly 's Committee on Culture and Society, warned: “The more criticized, the more famous some artists become. They consider negative reactions as a communication strategy. When offensiveness becomes a tool, when attention is measured by views, it means we are witnessing the extreme commercialization of emotions. I think the fault lies not only with artists but also with a part of the easy-going public, those who click to watch and share, allowing offensive products to "live". A healthy culture cannot rely solely on bans but requires self-awareness from the audience. When the audience knows how to reject bad things, the market will self-regulate.”

Strictly handle the phenomenon of "deviation"

Faced with a wave of singers using vulgar words in their songs, the Department of Performing Arts and the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) held an urgent meeting on October 27 to agree on a solution. People's Artist Xuan Bac, Director of the Department of Performing Arts, emphasized: "Any manifestation that goes against traditional customs must be strictly handled. No one prohibits creativity, but creativity must be based on the foundation of national culture."

Meanwhile, Director of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information Le Quang Tu Do affirmed that Jack's case is a typical example of a trend that needs to be corrected. "We must restore order in cyberspace. Artists - people with influence need to be clearly aware of their role as role models. When standing before the public, every word and action is a mirror reflecting culture," said Mr. Le Quang Tu Do.

These statements demonstrate close coordination between management agencies to maintain a clean artistic environment, while sending a clear message: Creative freedom does not mean arbitrariness or lack of social standards.

Many experts believe that in the arts, the response to a crisis is as important as the wrongdoing. A sincere apology, a step back to reflect, as Jack is doing, can be an opportunity to restore public trust. But if artists justify, challenge, or dismiss social reactions as “jealousy,” they will lose themselves.

In a world where social media is spreading faster than ever, every song and every statement can shape the tastes of millions of people. Artists are not only composers but also cultural messengers and role models for social behavior.

“I decided to temporarily stop performing so that I have time to listen, improve myself and ensure that all future artistic activities are in line with cultural orientation, responding to sincere comments from authorities and audiences,” Jack shared.

To deal with the root cause of artists’ deviation, in addition to clear sanctions, it is necessary to raise the awareness of artists and audiences. Music is only truly beautiful when artists know how to respect language and the public knows how to select, resolutely say no to products that deviate from standards. Music is not only to listen to but also to feel, to nourish the soul.

A humane song can sow the seeds of goodness, but a vulgar song is enough to harden the soul. Therefore, correcting the deviant behavior of artists today is not only the story of the cultural industry but also the common responsibility of the whole society in protecting the purity of the Vietnamese language and the spiritual values of the nation.

Looking back at Jack's incident, young artists can consider this a warning lesson for themselves, because stage glory can only be sustainable when illuminated by the light of cultural standards, ethics and professional self-respect.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/giu-dong-chay-sach-cho-am-nhac-viet-721647.html