Return to the glorious memories of youth.

Following its inaugural event three years ago, which offered a vibrant artistic atmosphere and evoked nostalgic memories for the public of a lively artistic era for generations of students, the second "Hanoi Alumni Gala" will be held on April 12th.

The event is expected to provide an emotionally rich experience filled with the melodies of youth.

The second "Capital Alumni Gala" is expected to provide a nostalgic and emotionally rich musical experience.

Memories of vibrant student life

The 1990s were a period when international music penetrated and exploded into the cultural and entertainment life of Vietnamese youth, with bands like The Beatles, Queen, ABBA, Smokie, Bee Gees, Boney M, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Deep Purple, Metallica... Along with the music, the lifestyles and fashion styles of these famous singers and bands became icons of popular culture, bringing many positive influences to Vietnamese students.

During this period, the student prom movement became vibrant, especially in Hanoi . Student proms were held continuously and enthusiastically on the campuses of major universities such as Hanoi University, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, Hanoi University of Foreign Languages, Hanoi University of Technology, etc., attracting tens of thousands of students and becoming the most popular cultural, artistic, and entertainment activity for young people born in the 1960s and 1970s.

Recalling the vibrant music scene, designer Anh Thu shared that around the 1990s, when she was still a student at the Hanoi Foreign Language Teacher Training College, the student prom became the biggest "spiritual nourishment" for young people at that time.

“Every era has its own unique way of ‘following idols.’ In our time, just having a guitar and singing international songs was considered… cool. Student proms were essentially places for students from different schools with similar musical interests to socialize and have fun. Music was what connected us all. Later, student activities became more vibrant in many fields such as modeling and fashion, and student proms added fashion shows to their activities,” Anh Thư recounted.

According to Tran Thanh Tung (Tung John), a former student of the University of Hanoi (now the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), his love for The Beatles' music led him and his friends (including MC Long Vu and Anh Tuan) to form the band Desire, participating in student arts and culture activities for many years. Throughout their vibrant youth, The Beatles' timeless songs like "Yesterday," "Hey Jude," "I Want You," and "And I Love Her" became an endless passion for him and his peers.

Music holds onto memories.

The singers and bands from those student days, now in their 50s and 60s, have established their own careers but still share a deep love for music. Therefore, when the "Hanoi Alumni Gala" was held for the first time in 2022, it became an unforgettable musical event for many, bringing back beautiful memories of their vibrant youth.

This year, the second season of the "Capital Alumni Gala" continues to recreate the vibrant and explosive atmosphere that once took place on university campuses, in gymnasiums, stadiums, and dormitories.

The program will take place on the campus of the University of Science (Vietnam National University, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi) with the participation of more than 100 artists and alumni from Hanoi, including musician Quoc Trung and the Phuong Dong band, musician Thanh Phuong and the The Time band, the Ngua Hoang band, the ABBA Vietnam group; the Big Toe - CO - ZigZag dance group; MC Thao Van, MC Dinh Tien Dung, singers Thanh Lam, Thanh Tam, Thuy Dung, Dinh Lan Huong, Tung John, Long Vu, Ngo Viet Khoi, Le Tien Dat, Lien Trinh...

In addition, this band reunion features many Gen Z members, bringing fresh energy and inspiring a large number of young people who love retro styles.

In addition to musical performances, the program also featured designer Anh Thư (Ngân An ao dai brand) and a special performance by a group of Misses, Runners-up, and models from the 70s generation, such as model and actress Hoàng Xuân, Miss Hanoi Runner-up Băng Giang, Miss Hanoi Runner-up Thu Hằng, supermodel Giang Cindy, supermodel Hải Yến, etc.

Attending this year's Hanoi Alumni Gala, musician Quoc Trung - the leader of Phuong Dong band, one of the biggest bands in the country in the early 1990s - enthusiastically shared that his time working in music as a student and that of many colleagues was the foundation for the development of their musical careers later on.

In the program, he and singer Thanh Lam will reunite to perform, just like when they were active in the arts together with the Phuong Dong band. MC Long Vu believes that the older people get, the more they tend to reminisce about the past, especially about the good and happy things. The student gala will help everyone return to those vibrant and romantic days, singing together songs from the past. His band will perform songs by The Beatles and many other songs.

Ms. Nguyen My Trang, Deputy General Director of My Thanh Company and a member of the organizing committee, said that this year's program will continue to be a musical celebration evoking the vibrant memories of youth, but with the inheritance of a new generation. The organizers hope to continue passing on the passion of youth and spreading artistic creativity among generations of music lovers.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/tro-ve-ky-uc-thanh-xuan-ruc-ro-697976.html