The biggest singers of the previous generation of Vietnamese music all shared a common fear: releasing new products and not being well-received by the audience. This could damage their reputation and lead to a reluctance to release new music. Before Bảo Thy's comeback with two collaborations with Lohan and Quang Vinh, the "Bubblegum Princess" had been absent from the music scene for a very long time.
Many fans miss Bao Thy and have urged her to return to the music scene, after witnessing her still full of enthusiasm on stage during her performance of "Anh trai say hi" (Brother Says Hi). However, the singer shared on social media, "I'm completely abandoning my Vol 3 album, even though I'm very reluctant to do so. Simply because I know that if I release it, people will just say my musical style and musical thinking are outdated."
What are Quang Vinh and Bao Thy doing during their reunion?
Twenty years ago, Quang Vinh and Bao Thy were a dynamic duo in Vietnamese music. The pair created a CD sales sensation, dominating radio and music television channels with their two hit songs, "Ngôi nhà hoa hồng" (The House of Roses) and "Ngọn đồi chong chóng " (The Hill of Windmills). At that time, Quang Vinh was the "Prince of Song" of Vpop, and Bao Thy was one of the most popular female singers in the market.
The collaboration between Quang Vinh and Bao Thy was admired by audiences for their good looks and harmonious voices. "The House of Roses" was a ballad with all the elements to become a sensation in the Vpop scene from 2005-2010. That was also the golden age of duets, creating "perfect pairs," and Quang Vinh and Bao Thy were prime examples.
After many years, the duo reunited with the song "Hug Me When You Want to Cry ." After 10 days of release, this music video attracted a rather modest number of listeners and was easily crushed in the volatile Vietnamese music market, where two storms named Son Tung M-TP and the duo Binz - Soobin were sweeping across all platforms.
The collaboration between Quang Vinh and Bao Thy caused a frenzy among their loyal fans. They enthusiastically called on the community to support the former "dynamic duo," hoping that Quang Vinh and Bao Thy would shine brightly once again. However, this did not happen because the two singers had been inactive for too long, and this comeback was essentially starting from scratch, having to compete with many more "viral" rivals who knew how to better capture audience preferences.
From the core value of the song "Hug Me When You Want to Cry ," this is the song that keeps Quang Vinh and Bao Thy stuck in a time 20 years ago. It's the same old ballad style and the same arrangement as the Vpop of the two singers who once dominated the scene. The barrier preventing the song from breaking through also comes from the lyrics, which follow the generic patterns of the old music market, while the songwriting mindset of leading songwriters today is completely different.
This is concrete evidence of Bao Thy's fear. If singers of the previous generation, like Quang Vinh and Bao Thy, always struggled when releasing new products, they knew that maintaining their old style and approach would make it difficult to attract the audience that dictates market trends. However, when they decided to completely rebuild and reinvent themselves, the line between being unconventional and being over-the-top was very thin.
Previously, the market witnessed the failure of the "carp transforming into a dragon" style products by Nhật Kim Anh and Ưng Hoàng Phúc. Their return to the old musical style that had made them famous in the Vietnamese music market was criticized as outdated and obsolete. In the age of social media, music audiences are increasingly discerning and often tend to "crush" something they don't like by following the crowd.
It's no coincidence that the wave of criticism against Vietnamese singers from previous generations is increasing. This makes former stars of Vietnamese music even more hesitant about their strategies for releasing new products.
Noo Phuoc Thinh and Dong Nhi are also struggling.
Noo Phuoc Thinh and Dong Nhi are two singers who followed Quang Vinh and Bao Thy in dominating Vpop since 2007 and 2008. The duo, who once created the hit song "Neu," also went through a difficult period trying to regain their former position. On one side is Dong Nhi, once praised for her songwriting ability and distinctive style. On the other side is Noo Phuoc Thinh, who had superior musical thinking during the 2008-2015 period, but even he had to concede defeat to the changing market.
Noo Phuoc Thinh and Dong Nhi also faced the same prejudice of being "outdated" or "past their prime," similar to many of their contemporaries. However, their difference stemmed from their productivity. Both singers continuously released music and also encountered numerous setbacks. Gradually, Noo Phuoc Thinh and Dong Nhi confronted the truth, accepting that if they clung to their past glory and pursued their careers within safe boundaries, they would never be able to compete with the younger generation.
Dong Nhi no longer harbors ambitions of composing her own songs and defining her style. The female singer turned to DTAP, a group that simultaneously handles songwriting, arrangement, and audio post-production, to aim for a more "viral" sound. Noo Phuoc Thinh also set aside his familiar collaborators who had been by his side for many years and sought out younger colleagues.
Most recently, Noo Phuoc Thinh released his EP "Nhat May" (Pick Up the Phone ). Surprisingly, Noo Phuoc Thinh sought out MiQ and Soulient, young songwriters belonging to the newest and most up-and-coming generation in the market. The duo MiQ and Soulient are behind the song "May May" (Lucky), which gained attention when it was used by Ai Phuong and Bui Lan Huong in the game show "Chi Dep" (Beautiful Sister) season 2.
Noo Phuoc Thinh's breakthrough in collaborating with younger partners immediately propelled him to the top of the trending music charts. The male singer significantly changed his singing style and almost completely rebuilt his production process, from arrangement and sound post-production to music video production. This time, Noo's innovation was more than half-hearted, and he reaped the rewards of his initial success with the music video "Nhat May" (Pick Up the Phone ).
To get a music video into the top 10 trending charts, Noo Phuoc Thinh faced a situation where his other multi-million dollar music videos released in the past few years were unsuccessful. Similarly, Dong Nhi struggled to find a music video that generated a good impact amidst numerous failed attempts.
That's the challenge for Vietnamese singers of the previous generation, who are diligently pursuing their careers and competing in the music industry with younger generations. To achieve success, they need the right strategy and must be ready for a complete change in mindset and musical style. Not every singer is ready to do that, either because of ego or fear of failure.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/lan-song-che-ca-si-viet-loi-thoi-post1849203.tpo
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