Noo Phuoc Thinh's unsuccessful attempt

Noo Phuoc Thinh showed many efforts to reinvent himself in the EP "Nhat giay" (Pick up the phone). However, the project is still quite safe, lacking the breakthrough needed to help him regain his former glory.

Before the rise of Gen Z artists, Noo Phuoc Thinh was one of the prominent names in Vpop during the 2010s. With his bright, warm voice, he showed great suitability for the ballad era; many of his songs quickly became hits. At the same time, Noo Phuoc Thinh also had several easy-listening pop-ballad songs that were widely accepted by audiences.

However, after a fairly active period in 2022, Noo Phuoc Thinh gradually became quiet, releasing only a few new products. At the same time, Vpop also underwent a significant transformation. The continuous release of albums by numerous Gen Z artists, bringing with them more rhythmic, individualistic, and unconventional music, has somewhat changed the audience's musical tastes. In this context, a comeback and regaining his position is not an easy task for Noo Phuoc Thinh.

The singer's previous product, "You're Hurt Me," faced mixed reviews, as his experiments with new musical styles were considered unsuitable.

And it took two years since that project for Noo Phuoc Thinh to return, with a larger-scale, more polished EP, showing his efforts to reinvent himself and keep pace with the current music scene.

Noo Phuoc Thinh's efforts

Two years ago, in his comeback with "You're Hurting Me ," Noo Phuoc Thinh already showed his desire to reinvent himself, not repeating the ballad formula that had made him famous but was no longer popular.

There, he tried his hand at a synth-pop track with a strong US-UK influence, featuring a driving sound created from synths and electronic drums. However, this unconventional approach sometimes felt out of place, while the songwriting didn't quite harmonize with the arrangement. Noo's vocals also weren't very suitable for the heavy, dark-sounding arrangement.

In his recent comeback with the EP "Nhặt máy" (Pick Up the Phone ), Noo Phước Thịnh showed his efforts to overcome the shortcomings of the previous two years. Continuing his journey of self-reinvention, this time the male singer chose to collaborate with Gen Z artists to bring his music closer to the current market. The songwriting was entrusted to Catchellers – a rather interesting pop collective that has released many high-quality products. The production was handled by DTAP, a name with extensive experience in the current pop segment.

Noo Phuoc Thinh is making efforts to keep up with new music trends.

And this calculation has somewhat yielded results, as all three songs in the EP have a rather youthful feel. "Pick Up the Phone" clearly reflects Catchellers' style of songwriting, evident in the way they construct a polished, well-structured pop-ballad, yet still incorporate structural variations to avoid monotony.

In addition, the song creates many gaps in the melody, giving ample space for instruments to shine, most notably the saxophone, which is subtly embellished, evoking a romantic, lonely feeling, like the state of mind of someone waiting for their loved one.

Meanwhile, in "Call Me ," Noo Phuoc Thinh opted for an energetic pop-rock direction with a brighter rhythm. The song is structured in an easy-to-listen-to way, and the arrangement creates a lively and catchy feel. The male singer also sings decisively, without any difficulty or excessive emphasis, thereby highlighting the vibrant and free-spirited nature of the arrangement.

You may also like

Policy capital flows 'boost' poverty reduction in An Giang's border and island regions.(PLVN) - After the merger, An Giang entered a broader development space, stretching from the border to the islands. In this context, policy credit continues to be an important source of social welfare capital, helping the poor and policy beneficiaries to have more support for developing their livelihoods and stabilizing their lives.

Warning of heavy thunderstorms in Hanoi's inner city this morning.SKĐS - Through monitoring satellite imagery, lightning detection data, and weather radar, it has been detected that a developing convective cloud system in the Thai Nguyen area is tending to move towards Hanoi, causing thunderstorms in the inner city area in the coming hours.

Weather forecast for June 26th: Temperatures drop in Northern Vietnam with widespread thunderstorms, while Central Vietnam experiences intense heat.Forecasts indicate that on June 26th, temperatures in Northern Vietnam will drop, with widespread thunderstorms, and locally heavy rain in some areas. The region from Thanh Hoa to South Central Vietnam will continue to experience intense heat.

Compared to the other two songs in the EP, "Call Me" isn't a particularly groundbreaking product; in fact, it has a somewhat retro feel, lacking many of the currently trending elements of Vpop. However, the clear chorus, with just the right amount of repetition to create memorability, and the energetic, funky pop-infused second half, make the song more accessible and relatable to the audience.

Of the three songs on the EP, "The Last Call" can be considered the best quality track. It's a pop-ballad that suits Noo Phuoc Thinh well, showcasing his warm, deep voice and emotional delivery. Compared to "Pick Up the Phone ," the song has a more pleasant, gentle melody and is more suited to Noo's voice. The ballad quality is evident in the poignant tone and the sense of regret embedded in each lyric.

The song's highlight lies in its transition to R&B, particularly with 52Hz's performance. Her first three lines are quite impactful: her bright, slightly mesmerizing voice, combined with the rhyming scheme, creates a rhythmic flow and sets her performance apart from the preceding section.

However, when the tempo was increased, 52Hz failed to maintain its momentum. The breathy, unclear vocals somewhat diminished the emotional impact of this section. Therefore, although 52Hz's vocal contribution had its own ideas and style, it still left a feeling of regret for not fully exploiting its potential.

52Hz made an impression, but it still left some room for improvement.

Safe, but not groundbreaking.

In terms of arrangement, although the three songs in the EP approach different genres, the overall feel is still placed within a unified sound space. The arrangements utilize many retro elements, reminiscent of the pop sound associated with Noo Phuoc Thinh about 7-8 years ago, while also being punctuated by synth sounds, electronic sounds, and some modern processing layers, avoiding a feeling of outdatedness. Overall, the arrangements maintain harmony and are easy to listen to.

Unfortunately, unlike the products that helped Noo Phuoc Thinh make his mark on the market, the three songs in this EP all lack a sufficiently impressive chorus to become a hit.

In reality, Catchellers excels at creating polished, well-structured, and highly polished projects – something not every young artist can do, while they are generally less appreciated for their ability to create catchy melodies. Consequently, despite being considered promising, the group remains relatively unknown. With this EP, Catchellers once again delivers a relatively polished, up-to-date, and easy-to-listen-to project, but it doesn't quite break through.

Furthermore, the lyrics aren't a standout strength of Catchellers. Undeniably, the team put in a great effort to build a cohesive concept, telling a love story through three phone calls; the narrative is clear and coherent, the lyrics meaningful and easy for listeners to imagine. However, the lyrics still lack truly impactful lines capable of conveying emotion, especially considering the ballad style that permeates all three songs.

DTAP's arrangements in this project remain safe. The team isn't really at its peak, as the music mostly opts for familiar, predictable options, lacking moments that would surprise the listener.

Noo Phuoc Thinh has yet to make a strong breakthrough.

You may also like

Pilot program for scoring KPIs in lawmaking work over one year.VTV.vn - The Deputy Prime Minister requested the completion of the KPI scoring mechanism for lawmaking, research into the application of AI, and avoiding the creation of additional administrative burdens.

Why haven't the crowns of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors been recognized as national treasures?Following a remarkable revival, the royal crowns of the Nguyen dynasty are awaiting the bestowal of their rightful status.

Specific regulations regarding aircraft and aircraft operations.The government issued Decree No. 223/2026/ND-CP regulating aircraft and aircraft operations, which specifically stipulates the Certificate of Airworthiness and the maintenance of continuous airworthiness.

Nevertheless, the highlight of the EP remains Noo Phuoc Thinh's vocals. In this project, he shows greater versatility by embracing various musical styles. The male singer excels at his strengths with ballad-inspired melodies ( Last Call , Pick Up the Phone ), while also demonstrating his ability to adapt to more rhythmic arrangements ( Call Me ). Notably, Noo Phuoc Thinh conquers higher notes, showcasing complex techniques, including well-executed falsetto passages.

In fact, it would be harsh to only criticize "Nhat Hoan" ( Pick Up the Phone) , especially since Noo Phuoc Thinh has shown many efforts to improve, both in his vocals and music. The EP also achieved a reasonably acceptable listening rate, thanks to many factors aimed at an audience already familiar with the male artist's previous songs. However, if he aspires to regain the glory he had a decade ago, it's clear that Noo Phuoc Thinh still has much to do.

Source: https://znews.vn/no-luc-bat-thanh-cua-noo-phuoc-thinh-post1657022.html