Tung Duong recounts his childhood singing: The stage was his bed, his cousin was the audience

(Dan Tri) - The male singer said that his childhood with his cousin - musician Nhuan Phu - was associated with home performances. He sang, she beat the rhythm with a sticky rice pot and chopsticks, and the "tickets" were student papers.

On the morning of October 20 in Hanoi , at the MV launch event of Beloved Mother and Hanoi at the Season's Eve by musician Nhuan Phu, singer Tung Duong shared many memories and special relationships with his cousin.

Talking about his close relationship with musician Nhuan Phu, Tung Duong said that when he was young, when his parents were on a business trip abroad, he was taken care of and raised by his uncle and his wife - Nhuan Phu's parents. Therefore, the two siblings grew up together, as close as blood relatives, and together they experienced childhood years filled with laughter.

Tung Duong shares many childhood memories with his cousin, musician Nhuan Phu, from neighborhood games to their shared passion for music (Photo: Manh Nguyen).

The male singer said: “In the past, my sisters and I played with whatever we had: chess, hopscotch, plastic balls… But the game I will never forget is related to our passion for music.

I sang, and Ms. Nhuan Phu stood behind, taking the sticky rice pot and chopsticks, tapping the rhythm, and even made paper tickets to give to the neighborhood friends to listen. The stage at that time was the bed, and the friends sat below to watch. Ms. Phu pulled the curtains, beat the drums, and clapped. I sang with great passion, closing my eyes and singing, and by the third song, when I opened my eyes, the audience... had all left.

Later, when Tung Duong became a professional singer, his cousin - Nhuan Phu - also studied music formally and started her career as a composer. Seeing her having a happy family life and still maintaining her passion for art, Tung Duong could not hide his appreciation. He often encouraged her to write music, considering it the best way to preserve her beautiful emotions.

“My parents and Nhuan Phu’s parents are both teachers. Family is where we are taught about order, discipline and love of art. We also have a young grandfather, the late musician Tran Hoan, a shining example for both of us to follow. I believe that Phu will become more mature as she writes, with many more good works about human love, love of the homeland and love of mother,” Tung Duong expressed.

When asked to “badmouth” his cousin, musician Nhuan Phu laughed and said: “To me, Tung Duong is a cousin but as close as a real brother. When he was young, his parents were far away, so he lived with his two uncles and two sisters. Duong was obedient, gentle and very affectionate. In particular, everyone in the family noticed his passion for music very early on.”

To musician Nhuan Phu, Tung Duong is both a cousin and a music teacher, always accompanying and sticking with her in life and art (Photo: Manh Nguyen).

One of the memories that she will always remember is when Tung Duong went to sing and received gifts from everyone, he would bring them home to share with his sisters. “Once, before his parents took him to Russia, Duong called me and said: “Stay home, I have some money, you can buy whatever you want”. I don’t know where he saved it, but at that time I was very touched. A little boy who knew how to think and love his sister like that”, she said.

For Nhuan Phu, Tung Duong is not only a childhood friend but also his first teacher. “It was Duong who taught me music, rhythm, and solfege before I took the entrance exam to Hanoi College of Art. Until now, Duong is still my younger brother, my companion, sharing everything in life and music. I feel so lucky to have such a cousin,” the female musician emotionally said.

From the close relationship between the two sisters over many years, singer Tung Duong continues to accompany musician Nhuan Phu in the MV Hanoi Seasonal Night.

On the occasion of the Capital Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2025) and to celebrate Vietnamese Women's Day (October 20), musician Nhuan Phu simultaneously released two MVs : Hanoi at the Season's Eve and Beloved Mother. Before that, she made an impression with the song Vietnam - A Rising Era performed by singer Tung Duong.

From left to right: Singer Tung Duong, poet Hong Thanh Quang, musician Nhuan Phu, singer To Hoa, director Tran Xuan Chung and MC Phi Linh (Photo: Manh Nguyen).

If Hanoi on a Seasonal Night is a gentle love song, bringing a contemporary breath to the Capital - a place that holds memories, love and pride - then Dear Mother is a child's sincere gratitude to her mother, reminding everyone to cherish her while they still can.

Dear Mother is a gentle pop-ballad, filled with love that Nhuan Phu dedicates to his mother and grandmother. The song is performed by the clear, powerful voice of singer Do To Hoa, contributing to spreading the message of love and deep gratitude.

Both MVs were directed by Tran Xuan Chung, and the music was arranged by musician Ha Trung.

Musician Nhuan Phu (born 1981) grew up in a family with a long tradition of art, with relatives on both sides of his family such as: Meritorious Artist Trong Thuy, Meritorious Artist Minh Quang, singer Tung Duong, singer - musician Tang Duy Tan...

Her song Linh Thieng Quang Tri won a prize in a songwriting contest about Quang Tri, while Vietnam in the Rising Era was performed in the solemn atmosphere of the A80th Festival.

Not only stopping at compositions with the sound of homeland and country, Nhuan Phu also shows diversity in musical style through a series of emotional songs such as: Ve BLao voi anh, Ha Giang co via, Em dep nhu hoa Son Tra, Tender nostalgia for autumn, Hu vo, Tinh gio, Nguoi da ba sa mat, Mua yeu...

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/tung-duong-ke-tuoi-tho-di-hat-san-khau-la-giuong-chi-ho-lam-khan-gia-20251020203506941.htm