Explaining the fever of "Continue the story of peace", attracting 5 billion views

According to data from YouTube, TikTok and Facebook platforms..., Continue the story of peace has now reached nearly 5 billion views - a staggering number - not only in the mainstream music industry, but also among content creators. Because it is rare for a song about national history to be able to "cause a storm" like an international hit.

So what has created such a strong craze and lasting vitality for this work?

Experts and professionals all agree that the ripple effect of Writing

The story of peace does not come from luck.

Behind a song that seems to be picky about listeners is the convergence of a series of factors: From timing, artistic quality, cultural and social values, to skillful media resonance in the digital age.

Nguyen Van Chung himself did not expect the song to spread as strongly as it has. He believes that part of his luck came from the appearance of the remix made by producer Duc Tu.

Musician Nguyen Van Chung received attention after the song "Continuing the story of peace" became a hit (Photo: Facebook character).

Golden time, cultural and social significance

From the perspective of a cultural expert and manager, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture andEducation - said that Continuing the Peace Story created a fever because it hit the deepest desire in the heart of every Vietnamese person: the desire for peace, independence, and the continuation of a proud national journey.

According to him, in the context of the country entering a new era of development - with changes in institutions, economy, technology and culture - the song is like a call to return to the roots, to the heroic history of struggle, and to the belief in a bright future.

"The element that makes the song so influential is its strong humanistic message. Continuing the story of peace not only recalls the sacrifices of our ancestors, but also inspires today's generation - those who are living in peace - to appreciate that value and contribute to preserving and cultivating it with concrete actions.

The song arouses love for the country, love for compatriots and love for life," Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Son emphasized.

Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, musician Duong Truong Giang commented that the most important factor helping the song spread is the current social context.

According to the musician, at this time, the spirit of patriotism among the people, especially the "patriotic trend" of the youth, is on the rise. In that atmosphere, "new songs with positive content, easy to listen to, easy to sing, so they are easily accepted".

Musician Duong Truong Giang believes that any song needs the right time to spread and Continue the story of peace met the right time.

"This year coincides with many major events of the country - important holidays, important milestones. These holidays have the power to stir up national pride, urge each person to remember their roots and look to the future.

This song was released in 2023, but it has only recently received attention because it falls right at the stage when audiences, especially young people, need to listen to songs that are not only good in melody but also suitable for their emotions and perceptions at this time," the musician said.

The name Duyen Quynh - the female singer who sang the original version of "Continuing the story of peace" - gained attention when the song became a social media phenomenon (Photo: Facebook character).

From the perspective of media and social networks, expert Nguyen Ngoc Long analyzed: "A song is not just music, but an emoticon at the right time and place."

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Long said that the song and its remix were released at the right time when the whole country was moving towards the values ​​of peace, solidarity and preparing for a major national cultural event.

According to Mr. Long, the fact that "Writing the Story of Peace" was chosen to be performed in the art program at the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30) in Ho Chi Minh City - which young people call a "national concert" - helped the song go beyond the usual musical framework, becoming a cultural symbol.

"This creates 'legitimacy', making it easy for organizations, agencies, media players and the public to share without worrying about commerciality.

In mass media, a product with national symbolic value will always resonate with mainstream media, from newspapers to social media platforms - forming an extremely strong synergy," he commented.

Sharing the same opinion, media expert Hong Quang Minh - who has many years of following and researching the entertainment market, especially the music industry - also said that one of the factors that created the success and fever of Continuing the Peace Story is the timing and social mindset.

"The timing of its release and explosion, right when the country celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South, is a great catalyst. Especially at a time when society is very interested and curious about historical awareness, the appearance of an easy-to-remember, easy-to-love song with a positive spirit, creates a media convergence point that very few current political products can do.

Young people can approach history not through books, but through music that touches the heart. It is a smart and emotional way to "decode memories", Mr. Minh said.

The performance "Continuing the story of peace" by Dong Hung and Vo Ha Tram during the recent grand ceremony attracted a huge number of views (Photo: Provided by the character).

The power of melody and lyrics that touch the heart

If timing is the fulcrum, then music is the core part that makes this song go beyond the framework of a "propaganda" product.

Musician Duong Truong Giang commented that although it is written about the theme of the country and revolution, Continuing the story of peace does not choose the traditional revolutionary music style with majestic and spirited rhythms.

The song follows its own path: National spirit is conveyed through a gentle melody, close to the rhythm of modern life.

He said "this is very valuable, especially in the context of not many songs about patriotism in peacetime".

"I believe that the audience has enough aesthetic sense and sensitivity to recognize true values. A patriotic song that is widely accepted, instead of a purely entertaining song, shows that the content and emotions it brings have touched the public's sympathy," the musician expressed.

Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Son also highly appreciated the popularity in the melody and lyrics of the songs by musician Nguyen Van Chung.

"His lyrics are not elaborate or far-fetched, but each verse is like a slice of national memory, a flow of emotions from the past to the present," he said.

Expert Hong Quang Minh also agreed that the factor that helped Continue the Peace Story spread strongly was the modern melody, blending political music with accessible pop ballads.

"Nguyen Van Chung is a commercial musician who understands the formula for writing catchy, easy-to-remember music. His use of the familiar melody structure of pop ballads and modern arrangements helps this song escape the sometimes solemn atmosphere of traditional revolutionary music.

Simple sentences with storytelling elements are a special feature of "modern sensory communication". When the audience can understand - sing - retell after only 1-2 listens, the ability to share will increase exponentially", the expert analyzed.

Musician Nguyen Van Chung is happy when the song "Continue writing the story of peace" spreads to many units, competitions, schools, and activities celebrating the country's major holidays (Photo: Facebook character).

Resonance of media elements

Expert Hong Quang Minh pointed out that the horizontal community release strategy is the factor that helps the song gain a huge number of views/listens.

According to Mr. Minh, unlike many current music products that are released centrally, “Writing the Peace Story” is completely community-based. Anyone, from students, teachers, soldiers, artists… can sing, use, re-sing and spread it.

"Here is a very special "trick" in communication called horizontal virality - not based on a single point of light, but letting the fire spread gradually from many "small focal points", creating a natural explosive effect.

Tens of thousands of TikTok clips, student choir videos, flag ceremonies, and community theaters have used the song, making it "music for the masses."

When a song goes beyond the artist's market share and enters community life, it becomes a "temporary identity", a form of collective memory through sound," this expert analyzed.

Communications expert Nguyen Ngoc Long added that the song's spread was also amplified by the social media debate effect - which the expert calls "just enough drama".

Singer Vo Ha Tram (right) and Duyen Quynh (Photo: Facebook character).

Mr. Long pointed out that the story between the two singers Vo Ha Tram and Duyen Quynh surrounding the performance of the song has become the focus of public opinion.

Although there were no shocking statements or heated disputes, the debate about "who deserves to sing" unintentionally made listeners return to watch the MV, learn the lyrics, and share their feelings - thereby increasing the level of spread naturally and strongly.

"Although the debate is controversial, it is kept at a "safe" level, not damaging the song's peaceful message, but also making it receive more attention," said Mr. Long.

This expert also believes that the audience's mistake of thinking that the "father" of Continue the Story of Peace is a 70-year-old musician, and even that he is believed to have... passed away, has created a "reverse ripple effect".

According to Mr. Long, when this false information broke out, a large number of audiences went back to listen to old songs by musician Nguyen Van Chung, from which they discovered Continue Writing the Peace Story and continued to spread it.

After the rumor was corrected, the attention paid to the song increased even more, showing the great influence of this new product, to the point that a rumor can create social waves.

The influence of KOLs and celebrities is the final "booster" that turns a phenomenon into a movement. After the song was recognized as the official song in the national concert, many artists, big and small, began to share, post stories, videos of themselves singing the song or their own feelings about the song.

Expert Nguyen Ngoc Long said: "It is noteworthy that most of these shares have a personalized tone, not "hired advertising", which creates trust and a sense of sincerity. When the audience sees their favorite artist, and a series of TikTokers talking about the same song, they do not feel like they are being advertised, but feel "this is something to share together".

That emotional resonance is something that cannot be bought with an advertising budget. It is the "inspired viral" effect, when the song becomes a social symbol rather than simply a musical product.

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/ly-giai-con-sot-viet-tiep-cau-chuyen-hoa-binh-hut-5-ty-luot-xem-20250512135035427.htm