- What inspired the composer to write the song "The People's Representative"?
- Over 10 years ago, I collaborated as an arranger on the song " The National Assembly Shines with Faith" by composer Vu Duc Tao - a song that won first prize in the songwriting competition celebrating the 70th anniversary of the first general election to elect the Vietnamese National Assembly (January 6, 1946 - January 6, 2016). Sharing in the author's joy, I developed a deep admiration for this theme.
When a new songwriting competition was launched at the beginning of 2024, those memories and emotions came flooding back. As a military musician and a voter who closely follows every session of the National Assembly, I saw this not just as a competition, but as a "command from the heart." With confidence, a deep understanding of the subject matter, and unwavering faith in the role of the National Assembly, I decided to embark on creating this work.
- The musician shared the reason for collaborating with lawyer Vu Tuan Anh on writing the lyrics for the song.
- When I started writing "The People's Representative," I felt a certain pressure from the heroic tone, the generality, and the scale of the work I had arranged 10 years ago. Instead of choosing a broad, overarching perspective, I decided to delve into a specific person - the representative.
I collaborated with lawyer Vu Tuan Anh because of "Trust - Understanding - Harmony." To write about people's representatives without falling into clichés, I needed the keen insight of a legal professional. Lawyer Vu Tuan Anh brought "living material" from the parliamentary arena, from the concerns of representatives. He understands the law very well and is extremely careful with his lyrics. We have also shared many years of shared passions for music and literature. This collaboration is like building a house. Lawyer Vu Tuan Anh erected the solid framework, while I breathed in light and warmth, transforming seemingly dry laws into the voice of the people.
- The song has a lyrical tone but also a heroic quality. How did the composer manage to reconcile these two elements?
- This is truly a difficult problem regarding musical structure. Writing about the National Assembly that is only "heroic" can easily become dry and rigid, while being only "lyric" lacks the solemnity befitting the highest authority.
I chose a classical anthem style as the overall foundation. It's like a tightly woven rope, with a soft, lyrical thread wrapped around a heroic, steel core. The opening is lyrical and full of empathy. I wrote stable musical passages, with a narrative-driven melody. At that moment, the music was like the voice of the voters, a message of faith entrusted to their representative. The lyricism here lies in its humanistic aspect.
Towards the climax, the music shifts to a heroic and aspirational tone. When mentioning the theme lyrics "The People's Representative" and the image of "the bridge between the Party's will and the people's hearts," I raise the melody to a fourth octave, making the rhythm more intense and powerful. The heroism here is not the sound of a battle trumpet, but the spirit of intellect and the belief in victory of a rising nation. Within that heroism lies the heartfelt emotion of the representative, and within that lyricism lies the immense stature of the country. When a representative works with both heart and mind, they are truly "shining stars."
- How did the musician feel about winning the prize in this songwriting competition?
- When the work won the B prize, I felt a mix of honor, pride, and reflection. First and foremost, I was happy that my "brainchild" and that of lawyer Vu Tuan Anh had been recognized. This is a meaningful reward for the sleepless nights we spent debating every single word.
What made me think more was that the campaign didn't award a first prize. I don't see it as a shortcoming, but rather as a message. The National Assembly has been a symbol of the wisdom and will of the entire nation for the past 80 years. Writing a song worthy of that stature is a never-ending journey. The absence of a first prize is like a meaningful void, reminding artists that themes about the people and the National Assembly always demand deeper exploration and greater commitment. This second prize further motivates me to continue improving myself. I still feel I "owe" the voters, I owe those shining stars, more stirring melodies, and I will certainly continue writing.
- According to the musician, what elements are needed for a song on a socio- political topic to resonate with the public?
- This was my biggest concern when I started writing. In my opinion, for a socio-political song to "touch" and "spread," it needs to have three elements.
Firstly, it's about the authenticity of real life. Don't write about slogans, write about people. Instead of praising the National Assembly with abstract flowery words, I chose to write about the prudence of the representatives, about the sleepless nights they spent worrying about the people. Secondly, it's about the combination of "steel" and "poetry." Political themes require steel to affirm the nation's stature, but to spread, they need poetry—the lyricism of emotion. Finally, it's about foresight and intellect. A song about the National Assembly needs to express vision, with philosophical lyrics. When a song gives listeners faith in the future, it will naturally spread.
In short, musicians must bring politics closer to the heart. When the "Party's will" is expressed in the language of the "People's hearts" through a beautiful melody, that song will surely have lasting vitality.
- Thank you very much, musician!
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nhac-si-doan-nguyen-hieu-viet-ve-dai-bieu-nhan-dan-la-mot-menh-lenh-tu-trai-tim-738723.html
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