Young people sing patriotic songs: 'Patriotism is not a trend, patriotism is in our genes'

When young people sing patriotic songs, they not only sing the lyrics of previous generations but also sing their own feelings about their country.

Soobin sings Tien Quan Ca, Me Yeu Con, Nguoi Viet, Trong Com... to spread patriotism - Photo: FBNV

When young people perform revolutionary songs, songs about patriotism, they not only sing the lyrics of the previous generation but also sing their own heart about the country. And the audience is also receptive and open, not considering patriotic music as an "ivory tower" and only high-class singers can sing it.

Soobin sang "The resistance has won the country back for life. The shadow of the country is like the shadow of my son", while Nguyen Hung sang "If the resistance is over and I haven't come home yet, mom, be happy, you have a heroic son". Gen Z audiences said the two songs were like talking to each other.

And here is a feeling of the Gen Z audience on TikTok: The song "Mother loves child" by veteran musician Nguyen Van Ty and "What is more beautiful" by young musician Nguyen Hung are like a dialogue between mother and child.

Of course, comparing a new song with a song that has been around for years is too much, but here the audience wants to talk about patriotic inspiration and maternal love.

If Soobin's voice or the singers who have performed "I Love You Mom" ​​are very skillful but no less emotional, then Nguyen Hung's voice - an indie artist - still retains the simplicity and immaturity of a twenty-year-old boy facing life.

Audiences compare the vocals and the way the songs are handled, there are still debates, but it shows that music about the country is having a more vibrant and youthful life than ever.

'Patriotism is not a trend, patriotism is in your genes'

2025 is a memorable year with major national anniversaries, including the 50th anniversary of National Reunification Day and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam).

Nguyen Hung (right) and Bui Cong Nam sang "What's more beautiful" at the recent Sao Nhap Ngu concert - Photo: BTC

Since then, national-themed musical performances have become increasingly popular in "national concert" programs, performed by many famous young singers alongside veteran names.

In August, there are two big concerts that the audience is looking forward to. One is V Concert - Radiant Vietnam with the artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Ho Ngoc Ha, Noo Phuoc Thinh, Den, Truc Nhan, Toc Tien, Hoang Thuy Linh, Hoa Minzy, Phuong My Chi, RHYDER, Quang Hung MasterD, 2pillz. The other is the concert Homeland in the Heart with Meritorious Artist Dang Duong, Tung Duong, Ha Le, Noo Phuoc Thinh, Toc Tien, Dong Hung, Vo Ha Tram, Suboi, Pham Thu Ha and the band Oplus.

Before that, the first half of the year, especially April and May, also brought the audience exciting "national concerts" and spread national pride with voices from veterans to famous vocalists and many young pop singers.

Song "What's more beautiful" - Nguyen Hung

Among those young singers, Soobin is a typical name through his performance of Tien Quan Ca in the Vinh Quang Cong An Nhan Dan Viet Nam concert in June. On Nguyen Hue Street (HCMC), thousands of spectators stood up when the song played. "The feeling is hard to describe. I have never experienced a moment like that. When everyone stood up to sing such a sacred and missionary song, I felt both pressured and proud" - Soobin told Tuoi Tre.

According to Soobin, the fact that young people are chosen to sing revolutionary music and songs about love for their homeland at major national events is "extremely precious," because they don't always have the opportunity.

He shared: "I have a pure view on music, no matter what song or piece of music I always sing with all my heart. Recently, young singers have been singing more iconic songs of the country.

Phuong My Chi radiates the image of Gen Z when singing at the "national concert" - Photo: FBNV

I don't know how much inspiration I can give, but I hope my fans, both young and old, will love these songs."

Right at the April 30th parade in Ho Chi Minh City, Gen Z representative Phuong My Chi was highly praised for her performance Spring in Ho Chi Minh City.

The singer's clear, proud voice and joyful expression seemed to convey the joy of the great spring victory to the audience. The vibrant, modern arrangement with electronic music by DTAP made the 50-year-old song more "gen Z" than ever.

Phuong My Chi also expressed the true spirit of Gen Z when sharing about the performance: "Patriotism is not a trend, patriotism is in your genes... Spring in Ho Chi Minh City is probably the song filled with the most pride and happiness I have ever sung."

Also in that program, Hoa Minzy sang Who loves Uncle Ho Chi Minh more than children with the children's choir. When she sang the line "Ho Chi Minh, we love Uncle Ho Chi Minh...", she almost burst into tears on stage.

Or in the program Spring Unification in April, Hoa Minzy transformed into a female guerrilla wearing ao ba ba singing Spring in the war zone with a new, joyful and bustling arrangement.

And one of Hoa Minzy's proudest performances is Vietnam in me in the program North-South Appointment.

Hoa Minzy sings Vietnam in my heart in the program North-South Appointment, Vo Ha Tram in the MV I Wish to be Vietnamese - Photo: FBNV

Turning back to history

Musician Huy Tuan spoke about the phenomenon of young people singing patriotic music: "This is a very encouraging phenomenon coming from talented young artists, appearing at the right time when the country is undergoing historical changes. They inherit the advantages of the times, quickly absorb global music trends, skillfully combine with the quintessence of national culture, and tell the story of their generation.

Previous generations have done this, but it lacked the necessary mass appeal to reach a wide audience.

If there is a next life, I wish to be Vietnamese.

Besides re-singing famous songs that have stood the test of time, young singers and musicians, singers of the next generation, also compose new songs themselves to further develop this music genre, while expressing patriotism through the lens of young people.

As a vocalist with outstanding technique, Vo Ha Tram successfully performed many genres of music, including revolutionary music. The performance " Writing the continuation of the story of peace" performed by her and Dong Hung in the 30-4 celebration program in Ho Chi Minh City was one of the most successful performances of this song.

In early August, Vo Ha Tram released the MV Nguyen La Nguoi Viet Nam (I Will Be Vietnamese) inspired by patriotism. The song was composed by young musician Doan Minh Quan. Investing in making the MV with the image of the Vietnamese Ao Dai, Vo Ha Tram wanted to dedicate the song to the "patriotic bloc" on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2.

The female singer expressed: "If there is an afterlife, I wish to once again carry the blood of the Dragon and Fairy's children, to live once again in the heart of the heroic Vietnamese people, born from the hundred-egg sac of mother Au Co and father Lac Long Quan. So that once again I can grow up with lullabies, mature in love and freely build, continue to join hands to develop the country."

She also hopes that Nguyen La Nguoi Viet Nam is not only her song but also the "national" song of all Vietnamese people. As a mother, Vo Ha Tram is proud to be able to convey patriotism to her little daughter. She was surprised when her daughter drew a "my idol" exercise with an image of her mother wearing ao dai singing about the country, behind her is the beloved national flag.

Anh Tu sings "You are Ho Chi Minh" - a song he composed himself - Photo: FBNV

Anh Tu - the champion of Mask Singer and member of Say Hi Brother - was inspired by the revolutionary life of President Ho Chi Minh to compose the song "Nguoi la Ho Chi Minh" which he performed in the show of the same name in May.

"That young man was alone on an ocean-going ship, but the hardships of being away from home could not stop his extraordinary will" - he chose to start the song with the story of a young man, the young man Nguyen Tat Thanh of that year. And later: "The Vietnamese flag proudly flutters in the sky. Together we keep our promise, vowing to continue with one heart. Overcoming thousands of waves, always steadfast".

Anh Tu told Tuoi Tre about the inspiration for composing the song: "Each verse is like a confession, a wish, a pride of today's youth generation to live in the independence and freedom that Uncle Ho and generations of fathers and brothers have worked hard to build."

This August is a big anniversary so many singers have chosen to release new music about the country. The song Kiep sau van nguoi Viet Nam performed by singers Quoc Thien, Duong Hoang Yen, Quan AP, Lam Bao Ngoc with the participation of People's Artist Thu Huyen was released within the framework of the community art project VIETNAMLOVE.

And also in August, the song Con gi dep hon (sung and composed by Nguyen Hung - the author of the hit Magic - with inspiration from the movie Red Rain ) spread because of its beautiful melody, simple and sincere lyrics, expressing the feelings of young men in their twenties going to war. The theme of the song is very "classic", the meaning of the lyrics is not groundbreaking, but like the way Soobin sings Tien Quan Ca , the song spread because it carries the youthful spirit of a new generation.

MI LY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-tre-hat-nhac-yeu-nuoc-yeu-nuoc-khong-phai-la-trend-yeu-nuoc-nam-o-trong-gen-cua-minh-20250827224010301.htm