Musician Pham Hoang Long: "The city is forever in our hearts"

Musician Pham Hoang Long sent his favorite song to the songwriting campaign "The Country is Full of Joy".

Reporter: Being born, growing up and witnessing the changes of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City, is that the material for you to compose the song "The City Forever in Our Hearts"?

Musician Pham Hoang Long (Photo provided by the character)

- Musician PHAM HOANG LONG: Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling, joyful, and vibrant city; a place where my youth was associated with countless images and memories of change and development. I used the materials from my heart's emotions when thinking about the city to write a song to participate. The songwriting campaign of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper is very meaningful, I believe that this will be a playground to promote good songs written about Ho Chi Minh City.

The song has lyrics that are close, authentic, and liberal like the people living in this city. Do you believe the song will win over the audience?

- That is not only my expectation. Any composer hopes that his or her brainchild will be accepted. The organization of the Lao Dong Newspaper is very professional. Before entering the preliminary round, the songs were posted on the information channel for readers and the public to listen to. Through each composition, readers and audiences can see the image of a city rising up. There, people live, dedicate themselves, and contribute to building a civilized, modern, and affectionate Ho Chi Minh City.

Many people consider him a "silent musician" in his travels across the country. The audience's favorite song is the song in the play "Fiery Field". Is that the result of silently absorbing heroic memories?

- I wrote the song for the play "Fire Field" based on a poem by poet Tu Le. The poem depicts the fierceness of war, the people's loyalty to the revolution and the brave spirit of the people of Vinh Loc commune, Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City in the struggle for national liberation. I am a quiet person, not fond of showing off. I live, observe, keep memories in my heart, to flip through when I feel the right emotion and write.

To let those life feelings be conveyed into a natural flow of emotions that flow and soar above real-life thoughts, what is your secret in composing?

- I just have to let my true emotions soar into a melody. To me, music is everyday improvisation, the simpler the more unique. The musician's free spirit will determine the success of the composition.

Do you think you will write more songs about Ho Chi Minh City to publish in your own collection?

- In enjoying modern music, melody and lyrics are very important. Writing a lot and chasing quantity to have enough to print anthologies is not my creative purpose. Because for a song to survive and be accepted by the public, it must be good and have empathy. I look forward to the anthology of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper when choosing the 50 best songs written about Ho Chi Minh City after this campaign.

The songwriting campaign "The Country is Full of Joy" was organized by the Lao Dong Newspaper to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025). The Organizing Committee (OC) received more than 150 songs from more than 100 musicians, singers, and singing groups. The Organizing Committee will select the 20 best works for the final round.

The final round will take place in February 2025 and the award ceremony of the campaign is scheduled to take place in April 2025. The 4th Music Exchange Program will take place on the morning of January 6 at Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper.

The organizers have put the works on the newspaper's social networking platforms to introduce them to the community and promote them. Currently, many songs are at the top of the list with the most views.

The Organizing Committee has selected a number of good works to stage and introduce at the 30th Mai Vang Awards ceremony (January 8, at the City Theater, broadcast live by VTV9 and digital platforms).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nhac-si-pham-hoang-long-thanh-pho-mai-trong-tim-ta-196250103205055713.htm