Sơn Tùng's music video sparks heated debate, with both praise and criticism.

"Come My Way" attracted attention due to its dense imagery and the multiple layers of culture embedded within it. However, the project's use of symbols and content also sparked much debate.

24 months after "Don't Break My Heart" and 6 years since his collaboration with the famous rapper Snoop Dogg, Son Tung M-TP has truly returned, in a project on a scale that immediately made him the center of attention.

And in just 14 hours, "Come My Way" reached nearly 10 million views on YouTube, even climbing to number 1 on the global YouTube Music Video chart on May 28th. Clearly, with what has happened, Son Tung M-TP has once again proven his "unrivaled" position in Vpop, at least in terms of media appeal and the ability to create a mass impact.

Besides the music , the sheer volume of cultural elements in the "Come My Way" music video has also become a topic of discussion, sparking a "decoding effort" on social media platforms. However, many images have sparked debate regarding their appropriateness, as Son Tung incorporates too many Vietnamese cultural symbols into a pop, hip-hop song about love.

Multiple layers of culture are superimposed on one another.

Come My Way doesn't have a coherent story, almost completely omitting any narrative elements. Instead, the music video operates as a series of images showcasing culture, where multiple layers of symbolism are juxtaposed: from the Dong Son culture (Lac bird), the dragon motifs of the Ly Dynasty, folk elements, to landscapes and national memories (Trang An, Khue Van Cac).

From the very first seconds, with a revealing shot, the image of Son Tung M-TP gradually appeared on the back of the mythical Lac bird, suspended in the urban landscape of Los Angeles, creating a powerful visual impression. The Lac bird is an image associated with the Dong Son bronze drums, often seen as a symbol of national identity, sacredness, and the ancient spirit of Vietnam.

Come My Way incorporates many cultural and historical elements.

The contrast between ancient Vietnamese cultural symbols and the modern Western setting creates a mystical atmosphere, intentionally fostering a dialogue between Vietnam and the world . Furthermore, the Lý Dynasty dragon details on Sơn Tùng M-TP's collar and sleeves evoke medieval Vietnamese art.

Notably, the Xuan Pha folk mask – a recurring symbol throughout the music video and marketing campaign – is a detail that subtly conveys the message of "Come My Way ," reflecting Son Tung M-TP's ambition to bring Vietnamese cultural elements to the world.

According to Dr. Hoang Minh Tuong, in an article published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage , Xuan Pha was once used to reflect the position of Dai Viet and its diplomatic relations, through scenes of neighboring countries coming to pay homage, dance, sing, and congratulate the king and the court after victories or during grand ceremonies. Thanks to this, Xuan Pha became a message about the independent and self-reliant Dai Viet nation, possessing a strong position and appeal in the region.

In addition, Come My Way continues to incorporate many Vietnamese folk symbols and elements into its imagery, such as: the Seven Mountains bull race (An Giang), flying motorcycle circus (Southwest Vietnam), the mechanically modified jade buffalo image, Trang An, or the Khue Van Cac version at Bai Dinh Pagoda.

Beyond its intricately interwoven and layered cultural elements, Come My Way also stands out for its tributes to numerous 20th-century Vietnamese paintings.

First, the scene shows Sơn Tùng M-TP standing alone amidst a vast mountainous landscape, reminiscent of "Remembering an Afternoon in Northwest Vietnam " (1955; lacquer painting). This is one of Phan Kế An's famous works, created during his time in the Việt Bắc resistance zone during the war against the French. Following this, the MV continues to evoke "Land and Water" by Nguyễn Quang Thọ (1978; oil painting). The painting revolves around the close relationship between land and water – two fundamental elements of Vietnamese life.

This segment pays tribute to the paintings in Come My Way.

Another work featured in the music video is "Red Mountain and White Horse" by Nguyen Van Da (1986; oil on canvas). The red mountain evokes a feeling of heat, solidity, and ferocity; while the white horse suggests vitality, movement, and freedom. From this, the work expresses the idea of ​​a person with strong willpower, resilience, and a yearning for freedom despite facing harsh environments. Finally, there is "Hang Mam Street" by Bui Xuan Phai (1984; oil on canvas), suggesting an old, quiet Hanoi, deeply marked by time but still full of life.

Under Phuong Vu's hand, paintings are restructured into visually dynamic spaces. He takes the core elements of painting: color, composition, lines, space, and symbolism, and transforms them into an environment that viewers can feel as if they can step inside.

In addition, the music video transforms the paintings into scenes with a continuous rhythm, where viewers can move from one picture to another without interruption.

Controversy surrounding "Come My Way"

Despite its significant visual investment, "Come My Way" remains controversial due to its somewhat over-the-top visual arrangement. It's evident that the music video incorporates too many cultural symbols, but most of them fail to create a clear connection within the overall message. While the images may be impressive individually, when placed together they easily create a sense of overlapping and excessive display rather than serving a central idea.

Another point of contention lies in the music video's almost complete lack of a coherent narrative. Instead of guiding viewers through a journey with a beginning, development, and emotional climax, "Come My Way" resembles a disjointed series of scenes, primarily focused on visual appeal. As a result, viewers struggle to grasp the story the music video aims to tell, and may even find the way cultural symbols are incorporated into the video somewhat confusing.

The disconnect between the audio and visual elements also makes the overall result unconvincing. The song is originally an English love song, revolving around invitations, infatuation, and the feeling of conquering the other person. Meanwhile, the visuals take a large-scale cultural presentation, showcasing heritage, identity, and folk symbols. This discrepancy has led to questions about the suitability of the music video and has received considerable mixed reviews.

Another controversial detail is the image of Son Tung M-TP standing on a model of the Lac bird. For many viewers, the singer's act of standing on this image is considered somewhat inappropriate, failing to place the Lac bird in a position of honor, in accordance with its cultural significance.

Sharing his views on the matter with Tri Thức - Znews , Associate Professor Dr. Tran Huu Son, Director of the Institute for Applied Cultural and Tourism Research, said that the Lac bird is considered a common symbol that the entire nation aspires to, therefore this action greatly affects young viewers who watch the music video.

The controversial image of Son Tung M-TP.

"That is the pride of the entire Vietnamese nation. The Dong Son culture is very strong and ancient, so the pride is even greater. Artists with great influence and a large fan base have a responsibility to spread patriotism and Vietnamese national identity, not to spread such actions," he stated.

Meanwhile, folklore researcher Nguyen Hung Vi believes this is a minor oversight that Son Tung's team needs to learn from. According to him, the singer shouldn't have acted in a way that disrespects a cultural icon. However, the actions of the 1994-born singer shouldn't be condemned or criticized.

Besides the debate over the use of cultural symbols, some scenes in Son Tung M-TP's " Come My Way " music video are also said to resemble " Open Your Eyes ," a product previously released by MONO. On social media, many viewers pointed out similarities in the way the two music videos construct vast visual spaces, the composition of characters standing amidst nature, slow camera movements, and a mystical color palette.

However, some argue that these similarities are primarily in visual perception and staging style, and not sufficient grounds to conclude that it constitutes plagiarism. In art-film-style music productions, the use of nature, symbolism, and highly performative visuals is not uncommon.

Source: https://znews.vn/khen-che-nay-lua-mv-cua-son-tung-post1655197.html