Musician Nguyen Duy Khoi: Ho Chi Minh City's tolerance and humanity are my materials.

The song "Ho Chi Minh City: 50 Years of Shared Joy" by composer Nguyen Duy Khoai was awarded third prize in the songwriting contest for the theme "The Nation's Complete Joy".

organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper

Reporter: What emotions inspired you to compose the song "Ho Chi Minh City: 50 Years of Shared Joy"?

- Composer NGUYEN DUY KHOAI: The idea for the song originated from what I observed in Ho Chi Minh City – when the country in general, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular, faced many difficulties, but the sincere, tolerant, and compassionate hearts of the city's people overcame those challenges to create the developed, civilized, dynamic, modern, and compassionate Ho Chi Minh City we see today.

As someone with extensive experience in composing themed songs, what advice does he have for writing a good song?

- When composing any song, regardless of subject matter, genre, or theme, emotion is paramount. Without emotion, the song will struggle to touch the listener's heart. However, even when emotions are heightened, it's important to exercise restraint and ensure the emotion doesn't stray from the main theme.

A good work of art must stem from one's genuine thoughts and feelings. I often compose based on that principle – using emotions to find empathy from the audience.

Nhạc sĩ Nguyễn Duy Khoái: TP HCM bao dung, nghĩa tình là chất liệu của tôi- Ảnh 1. — Composer Nguyen Duy Khoai. (Photo provided by the subject)

Do you have any suggestions for spreading the word about the success of the songwriting contest for the theme song "The Nation's Complete Joy" organized by the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper?

- To spread the success of the competition, attention must be paid to communication and promotion of the entries. Printing and distributing the 50 songs that participated in the competition is one of the necessary steps. Social media platforms should be utilized to promote these songs.

As a musician, what are your hopes for the cultural and artistic sector of Ho Chi Minh City as it enters its 50th year?

- Ho Chi Minh City is very proud of its outstanding achievements in culture and arts over the past years. We hope there will be more creations with folk influences combined with modern elements. We also hope for more large-scale cultural and artistic programs with high artistic value to be organized and brought to the public. The songwriting contest on the theme "The Nation's Complete Joy" is a valuable contribution to the national culture and arts, marking a major turning point as music composers and citizens join together in the joy of the nation and tell their stories through music.

What were your feelings upon receiving the news that you won third prize?

- My first feeling was one of great joy. This is the happiness of a composer when their work is understood and shared. I hope my song will make a positive contribution to the musical landscape of Ho Chi Minh City in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.

Results of the writing contest

The songwriting contest for the theme "The Nation's Complete Joy" was launched on September 25, 2023. The deadline for submissions was December 30, 2024. A total of 122 authors submitted 166 works. 110 authors submitted 143 works that were deemed eligible for preliminary judging. After the preliminary round, the Organizing Committee selected the 20 works with the highest scores to advance to the final round (February 2025).

Results: No first prize was awarded. Two second prizes went to the works "Singing About the City I Love" by composer Tran Xuan Mai Tram and "Following the Sacred Testament" by composer Nguyen Van Chung. Two third prizes were awarded to: "City of Smiles" by composer-singer Huynh Huu Duc and "Ho Chi Minh City: 50 Years of Shared Joy" by composer Nguyen Duy Khoai. Three consolation prizes were awarded to "The City Connecting Bridges" by composer Ngo Duy Thanh, "The City Forever in Our Hearts" by composer Pham Hoang Long, and "The Quintessence of a 50-Year Journey" by composer Huynh Loi.

The "Most Popular Work Among Readers" award went to "Proud to Be Vietnamese" by musician Le Ba Thuong.