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The simple lyrics, melodies, and rhythms that have been part of the memories and nurtured the souls of generations of Vietnamese people are now recreated with a new breath of life, through modern arrangement techniques that give it a fresh, youthful, and vibrant "transformation." The person who penned the modern rap in the film's soundtrack is none other than director and Meritorious Artist Trinh Lam Tung. He drew inspiration from the children's rhyme "Dung Dang Dung De" but transformed it into a playful exploration of words and music . Young audiences are delighted to immerse themselves in the vocabulary of Generation Z, the interwoven English-Vietnamese slang, both playfully rhyming and full of childhood rhythm, causing spontaneous laughter to erupt.

Nguyen Thu Giang with her two-stringed fiddle in the film's soundtrack.

Nguyen Thu Giang with her two-stringed fiddle in the film's soundtrack.

Director Trinh Lam Tung shared the reason for using folk songs and nursery rhymes for the film's soundtrack: "For me, 'Ly Cay Da' has a gentle, narrative quality and rich imagery. 'Di Cay' evokes a cheerful working atmosphere, with cinematic expressiveness through its lyrics. 'Dung Dang Dung De' has a lively rhythm, depicting a folk game that symbolizes the childhood of an entire generation. These three songs connect the characters' journeys of growth, evoking not only children but also parents who watch the film, bringing back their own beautiful memories. In the film, I not only tell a fantasy adventure story but also want to recreate a cultural space. There, children will not feel unfamiliar with the countryside, with the bamboo groves at the edge of the village, the well, the village square... Music is one of the strongest bridges to bring them closer to the soul and roots of the nation."

Admittedly, the film's soundtrack was a new risk for the director. The confident and energetic rap part was performed by child actor Tuan Khanh, who voiced the main character Quynh Nho. Director Trinh Lam Tung, Meritorious Artist, said: “For me, the rap part was more successful than expected. Tuan Khanh raps naturally, letting his emotions flow with the music. This rap part, combined with two folk songs, creates the best arrangement for the film, giving it a truly perfect ending. We hope that young viewers and their parents will leave the theater with their feet tapping and the lyrics on their lips because it connects the culture of many generations.”

Ho Trong Tuan Khanh, the voice actor for the character Quynh, also participated in performing the film's soundtrack.

Ho Trong Tuan Khanh, the voice actor for the character Quynh, also participated in performing the film's soundtrack.

The theme song for the film is performed by two teenage singers, Do Ngoc Linh and Do Nhat Anh. Furthermore, the musical instruments used in the film's arrangement, such as the two-stringed fiddle, zither, and flute, resonate harmoniously, blended seamlessly by the young musicians. The innocence of the young singers creates a pure and genuine ending to the song.

It took a long time for him and the music team to find a satisfactory arrangement. Composer Dang Duy Chien said: “The challenge in this process was changing the musical rhythm to match the character's movements. The theme song of the film maintained its national spirit but didn't feel outdated.” Recording director Pham Quang Quoc Trung was initially worried about whether incorporating international recording techniques into Vietnamese folk music would be suitable and smooth. However, after only one or two rehearsals, the young singers completed the task seamlessly.

Vietnamese animation artists have coincidentally started creating soundtracks inspired by folk music: an emotional mash-up in

Vietnamese animation artists have coincidentally started creating soundtracks inspired by folk music: an emotional mash-up in "Little Trang Quynh: The Legend of the Golden Ox".

“Little Trang Quynh: The Legend of the Golden Ox” proudly stands as Vietnam’s first commercial animated film to explore Vietnamese folklore. The film is developed from the popular YouTube animated series “Little Trang Quynh,” which won the “Audience Choice Award for Most Popular Vietnamese Film” at the Asian Film Festival - Da Nang 2024.

Lam Khanh

(Photo: Provided by the film crew)

Source: https://baocamau.vn/lam-moi-dan-ca-dong-dao-bang-loi-rap-a39890.html