'Sơn Tùng M-TP is not allowed to stand on the mythical Lạc bird'

This is what Professor Vu Minh Giang shared with Tuoi Tre Online regarding the controversy surrounding Son Tung M-TP standing on a model of a mythical bird in his music video "Come My Way".

The song was co-written by Son Tung M-TP and producer Marvey Muzique, while the lyrics were written by Marvey Muzique and Tyga - Photo: Provided by the artist.

After more than a day, Sơn Tùng M-TP's music video "Come My Way" (a collaboration with Vietnamese-American rapper Tyga) has reached over 14 million views on YouTube, not including other platforms.

Currently, the music video is leading the chart of the most popular music videos on YouTube today on YouTube Charts, surpassing both Shakira's Dai Dai and Burna Boy.

"It's wrong for Sơn Tùng M-TP to stand on the mythical Lạc bird."

Professor Vu Minh Giang - Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association - shared with Tuoi Tre Online that he strongly encourages young artists to draw inspiration from the history and traditional culture of the nation for their creative work.

"However, this requires the person implementing it to understand it thoroughly and scientifically, not just create whatever they like or want; otherwise, it can sometimes be offensive or even dangerous," he commented.

Son Tung M-TP's MV " Come My Way"

Experts say the image of the mythical Lac bird appears on the surface and body of the bronze drum, which is a sacred object used in solemn rituals by our ancestors.

"Previously, I advised the unit that intended to include this pattern on the doormat, and they immediately abandoned the idea. Because it relates to sacred objects, it should never be placed under seating areas, standing areas, or used for wiping feet," Mr. Giang explained.

According to Mr. Giang, from a spiritual perspective, standing on a model of the mythical Lac bird is wrong: "Leaving aside whether it is a totem or not, the image of the Lac bird appearing on an artifact always used in the sacred rituals of our ancestors (i.e., bronze drums) means that one should not stand on it. My personal opinion is that it is not only inappropriate but not permissible."

Sơn Tùng M-TP standing on a mythical bird causes division.

Unlike his other projects, "Come My Way" demonstrates Son Tung M-TP's immense ambition in promoting Vietnamese culture.

Besides the mythical Lac bird, the music video is also filled with cultural details such as Ly Dynasty dragon motifs, the An Giang bull racing festival, the art of motorcycle stunts, the Xuan Pha folk dance, and the Trang An heritage site… Nearly 10 costumes worn by the artists also incorporate elements of the nation's traditional culture.

In particular, the mythical Lac bird – a symbol closely associated with the Dong Son civilization – is featured throughout, from the model itself to the intricate embroidery details on the costumes.

Upon its release, the music video was highly praised for its visual effects and its blend of Vietnamese and international cultures; some even lauded it as a "groundbreaking" product.

The opening scene sparked controversy - Photo: Provided by the subject

However, this new product has also faced much mixed public opinion. Besides some scenes being considered similar to the concept of MONO's (Sơn Tùng M-TP's younger brother) "Open Your Eyes " music video, the opening scene, where the artist stands on a model of a mythical Lac bird – a symbol associated with the Đông Sơn bronze drums – appearing in downtown Los Angeles, is also dividing public opinion into two camps.

Some fans or audiences who appreciate visual art consider this a groundbreaking, highly symbolic creation, placing Vietnamese cultural symbols at the heart of an American urban center as a visual statement of identity and integration.

The other side asserts that the lack of respect and insult to the traditional cultural symbol is due to the fact that the Lac bird is considered the totem of the Vietnamese ancestors.

Currently, discussions surrounding this topic are attracting a huge number of comments and shares online.

CENTURY BEANS

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/son-tung-m-tp-khong-duoc-phep-dung-tren-chim-lac-20260530105249422.htm