Recently, singer Anh Thơ posted a video of herself singing a cover of the song "Cơn gió lạ" (Strange Wind) , originally sung by Phương Linh. The video attracted 100,000 views and received over 90% negative comments.

It could be said that Anh Thơ is a unique phenomenon, having had very successful cover songs that were praised by young people, while at the same time having controversial covers that led to her being listed among the top singers "who shouldn't sing cover songs".

Singing like "a battle is coming, a storm is coming"

"The Strange Wind" is not an impromptu cover performance, but part of Anh Thơ's official cover project titled "Thơ Sings Love Songs," which will be released throughout 2024.

In this project, she covers light and pop songs such as: "If I Could Choose," "The Day Before the Storm," "Finding the Dream Again," "Wild Flowers," "As If It Never Began ," etc.

The common thread in Anh Thơ's covers is her overuse of vocal techniques; from vocal tone to technique, especially the embellishments and pauses, everything seems inappropriate.

The "Strange Wind" version sparks controversy.

It's easy to see that her work as a vocal instructor and her success in folk and revolutionary music have profoundly influenced Anh Thơ's singing style.

Technically, her singing is impeccable. However, each genre of music has its own unique spirit and style of expression.

In a genre that doesn't prioritize technical skill like pop music, Anh Thơ's attempt to hit extremely high notes, combined with a vocal tone not suited for pop music, can easily create a harsh, jarring, and strained feeling for the listener.

For example, in the song "Strange Wind ," Anh Thơ forces the chorus into a long, high-pitched sequence with a loud volume, which can be tiring for the listener. This is also why her covers of pop songs are often described as "singing like a fight or a storm."

Next, pop singers are required to sing concisely, minimizing embellishments and vibrato.

Meanwhile, Anh Thơ's covers all have a slower tempo than the originals, and she still retains the characteristic vibrato and embellishments of folk music, making these songs sound drawn-out. The singer's arbitrary pauses and breaks also make it even harder for listeners to concentrate and appreciate the music.

601847286_1395275755278256_4690715201524888195_n.jpg
Singer Anh Thơ is a lecturer at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

Not only Anh Thơ's approach but also all the other elements of this project, such as production, arrangement, costumes, etc., do not meet the standards of contemporary market products, if not to say they are careless and superficial.

Meanwhile, the "Poetry and Love Songs" project fully meets the criteria of an official product from a professional singer. She cannot justify herself to the crowd by saying, "I'm singing for fun, don't be too critical."

With an overwhelming number of controversial cover songs, Anh Thơ has been listed by several websites and social media channels as one of the "singers who shouldn't sing cover songs".

A path forward for Anh Tho

If you think Anh Thơ's cover songs of pop music are bad, why did she once create a phenomenon with her song "Em một mình quen rồi" (I'm used to being alone), attracting nearly 4 million views on YouTube and receiving effusive praise from young people?

Anh Thơ sang "Close Your Eyes" in a drawn-out, lingering manner, with excessive embellishments.

The difference between the two cases lies in the context. In the "Crossroads of Time" program, Anh Thơ's performance was guided and supported throughout by music director and composer Dương Cầm, who also handled the arrangement and production.

When the right songs are chosen, with good arrangements and appropriate delivery, Anh Thơ's vocals almost completely conceal any flaws and are even elevated to a higher level.

At this point, she showcased her greatest advantage over younger singers: the accumulation of life experiences over the years reflected in her singing – something that gave the work depth, even surpassing the bland original version by singer Duong Hoang Yen.

Therefore, what Anh Thơ needs most in her cover song projects is a music director – someone who is actively involved in the industry, keeps up with the pace of development, and meets contemporary production standards.

This role serves both as a partner and a counterweight to Anh Thơ's ego, thereby balancing the elements within a project and creating a product that meets current standards.

Similarly to the music director, Anh Thơ also needs to seriously reconsider the controversial aspects of the project in order to find a team that meets market standards.

Anh Thơ is one of the veteran singers with remarkable talent. She is also a lecturer at the National Academy of Music - the largest training center in the country for young people who want to pursue a singing career. With her current reputation and position, she could choose to maintain her career within the safe zone she has been in for decades.

In the folk and revolutionary music genres, Anh Thơ still performs regularly, earns a lot of money, and is very difficult to replace.

However, if she wants to step out of her comfort zone and reinvent herself, she must first keep up with professional developments and the standards of the contemporary market.

At that point, Anh Thơ could absolutely create viral cover songs, where young people would stop to listen and seek new emotions, just as they did before.

When properly produced, Anh Thơ elevates the ballad "I'm Used to Being Alone."

Mi Le

The appeal of Trong Tan and Anh Tho: During the "Homeland Full of Joy" concert, the collaboration between singers Anh Tho and Trong Tan received prolonged applause. This once again confirmed that the duo's appeal is no less than that of any A-list star.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tiec-cho-ca-si-anh-tho-2498843.html