Not everyone can do what Son Tung M-TP has done.

TPO - In response to opinions suggesting that the image of Son Tung M-TP standing on the back of a crane harms the "sacredness" of the totem animal, cultural researcher Ngo Huong Giang commented that this is a subjective and forced imposition.

The cultural 'strategy' behind the frames.

Unlike many musical products that merely borrow traditional imagery as "decoration," Sơn Tùng M-TP's " Come My Way " is considered by cultural researcher Ngô Hương Giang to be a carefully calculated artistic strategy.

More than just a collection of symbols, the music video showcases the sophisticated and profound artistic vision of a contemporary artist who is both unconventional and confident.

Experts consider Sơn Tùng M-TP's new music video to be one of the most elaborately produced music videos in Vpop today, not only in terms of production techniques but also in the way it incorporates Vietnamese cultural elements into contemporary artistic language.

According to Mr. Giang, this is a typical product of Vietnam's cultural industry, capable of standing on equal footing and blending in with the global music scene. "A music video just over 4 minutes long, yet it encapsulates thousands of years of cultural knowledge and awakens the creative aspirations of young Vietnamese people," the expert commented.

Over the past few days, public attention has been focused on the image of Son Tung standing on the back of a mythical Lac bird – a sacred symbol from the Dong Son bronze drums – soaring through the streets of Los Angeles (USA). Many opinions suggest that this act is "offensive" and infringes upon the sacredness of the nation.

However, from the perspective of a cultural researcher, Mr. Ngo Huong Giang believes this viewpoint is somewhat strict and rigid: "Not every artist dares to do and can do what Son Tung did. Bringing the image of the mythical Lac bird soaring proudly in the heart of a great power like the United States is already a success. An artist cannot stand in the shadow of props and sing in a way that merely illustrates the scene; that would disrupt the artistic balance of the film."

Mr. Giang also drew a comparison: If we impose the logic of "sacredness" in an extreme way, then wouldn't martial arts works like "Dragon Tamer" or the "humorization" of pandas in "Kung Fu Panda" also be considered cultural trivialization?

Besides the mythical Lac bird, "Come My Way" also contains many other symbolic meanings. The image of Son Tung standing in the "eyeball" position amidst the surrounding masks conveys a powerful message: The artist must tear apart the falsehoods to see the world more broadly.

In particular, the elaborately recreated Khue Van Cac symbol in the music video is not only a nostalgic image but also a symbol of the aspiration to revitalize culture. When the artist's "artistic vision" is sophisticated enough, it will contribute to realizing the aspiration of bringing Vietnam to the world stage.

Fairness is needed for culture to reach its full potential.

As someone who has observed Son Tung M-TP's journey from the beginning, cultural researcher Ngo Huong Giang acknowledges that the male singer is an artist with a "rebellious creative ego," sometimes yearning for arrogance to the point of escaping reality. However, this does not negate the immense contribution of his products to contemporary Vietnamese culture.

For a Vietnamese artist to be able to stand on equal footing and collaborate with world-class stars like Tyga is an extremely difficult challenge. Creating a music video that is just over 4 minutes long but encapsulates millennia of cultural knowledge and awakens the aspirations of young Vietnamese people is a truly commendable achievement.

Come My Way marks the collaboration between Son Tung M-TP and Tyga.

Art always needs space for creativity and debate. Only when the public is truly fair, objective, and honest in their evaluation of works and artists can we create a launching pad for a truly modern culture to reach new heights in terms of "quality."

After just two days of release, Sơn Tùng M-TP's music video "Come My Way" has garnered over 17 million views. The work has received widespread praise from both critics and audiences for its stunning visual effects, and is considered an excellent fusion of Vietnamese culture and international music. Some even call it a "pioneering" product for the country's cultural industry.

It's easy to see Son Tung's ambition when the music video is densely covered with a series of traditional cultural details spanning from North to South Vietnam: from Ly Dynasty dragon motifs, Xuan Pha folk dance, Trang An heritage site, to An Giang bull racing festival, and flying motorcycle art... Nearly 10 outfits worn by the male singer also subtly incorporate heritage elements. In particular, the Lac bird – a symbol associated with the Dong Son civilization – is chosen as the underlying theme throughout, explored from its design to the intricate embroidery details on the costumes.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/khong-phai-ai-cung-lam-duoc-nhu-son-tung-m-tp-post1847773.tpo