Press conference to introduce the album "Thuong Cau Dan Ca Chieu Dem" (Loving Folk Songs on the Evening of January 27) - Photo: DAU DUNG
The folk song by composer Nguyen Quang Long, performed by AnhHI Thanh Cuong, is one of the rare Tet music albums from the Northern music scene, adding a special touch to this year's spring music landscape.
Why not be more disruptive , more rebellious ?
That's probably the question that pops into your head when listening to the album "Thuong Cau Dan Ca" (Loving Folk Songs) .
Nguyen Quang Long is a performing artist, a musician, and also a music researcher/researcher. Previously, he innovated in the art of Xam (a traditional Vietnamese folk singing style ), incorporating current events into it; he also doesn't shy away from combining Xam with hip hop, beatbox, and EDM, and has had hits loved by audiences such as "Xam Hanoi " .
This is to show that Nguyen Quang Long has more than enough skills to make his compositions more fashionable and trendy.
However, in this album, the audience sees a Quang Long deeply imbued with the sentiments of Northern Vietnam.
He shared that the use of traditional elements in popular music is a noteworthy trend, especially as many young artists boldly combine folk music with rap, electronic music, or modern pop.
However, he has always been concerned about the need for a more authentic, accessible form of folk music, one that retains the essence of folk music but also has a contemporary feel, suitable for the aesthetics and tastes of today's audience.
"For me, composing contemporary folk songs is not about returning to the past, but about continuity – a way for folk music to move forward," he said.
The music video "Thuong Cau Dan Ca" was released along with the album of the same name. This is a product combining AI and the beauty of Quan Ho folk music heritage and Dong Ho folk paintings.
Image taken from the music video "Thuong Cau Dan Ca" (Loving the Folk Song).
I love folk songs that are easy to listen to and easy to feel.
The album "Thuong Cau Dan Ca" (Loving Folk Songs) includes five songs: " Ngau Hung Con Duyen " (Improvisation on Still in Love ) (developed from the Quan Ho folk melody " Con Duyen " ), " Tinh Chuyen Tram Nam" (Continuing a Hundred-Year Story), "Thuong Cau Dan Ca" , and "Nghe Tim Minh Roi" (Listening to My Heart Fall ) . And Sister Two stars stand at the head of the village .
One can faintly hear the melodies of Quan Ho folk songs such as " Farewell to a Friend ," "Sitting by the Boat's Edge , " and " Calling the Ferryman " ; the characteristic nuances and embellishments of Northern Vietnamese folk music.
In particular, for the song "Calculating a Hundred-Year Plan ," the audience was surprised to hear the resonant, powerful, and vibrant voice of People's Artist Thanh Hoai, reciting verses from the Tale of Kieu, sounding like an impressive echo from the past.
Besides Thanh Hoài, the album also features the collaboration of traditional artists such as the zither playing of Meritorious Artist Vân Mai, flutist Hải An, and the two-stringed fiddle playing of artist Duy Thông.
Meritorious Artist Nguyen Quang Hung himself, in addition to his role as music director for this album, also plays the zither and moon lute. He plays the zither, flute, and two-stringed fiddle – everything is included.
People's Artist Thanh Hoai (left) and AnhHI Thanh Cuong - Photo: Provided by the interviewee
However, the album "Thuong Cau Dan Ca" is not a museum showcasing traditional music, but rather a free-spirited pop-infused version that is easy to listen to and easy to feel.
"The album is a gentle invitation: let folk music return to life as it once was – familiar, emotional, and with a natural place in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people today," Long shared.
In this album, Nguyen Quang Long collaborates with AnhHI Thanh Cuong (formerly known as Phan Thanh Cuong) - a singer from the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre, who participated in the Hanoi Singing Contest 2018 .
"AnhHI" is a wordplay that alludes to one of the hottest shows of the past few years, " Anh trai say hi" (Brother Says Hi ).
Cuong isn't a typical "big brother" from Kinh Bac, but a genuine Hai Phong native. However, because he loves folk music so much, he calls himself AnhHI, a term used by Gen Z, to express his love for it.
And whether they're called "big brother" or "brother HI," both Nguyen Quang Long and Thanh Cuong "love folk songs." If they love them, then they should go for it. Why not?
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thoi-nay-con-ai-thuong-cau-dan-ca-20260128023522627.htm
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