Please don't call Tung Duong 'Cover Saint' or 'Hit Stealer', I'm being wronged!

Singing loudly is better than lip-syncing.

- It seems like you rarely make mistakes when singing on stage? What would you say about the controversy surrounding singer Ho Ngoc Ha for singing loudly?

I sympathize with artists who make mistakes on stage. I make a lot of mistakes too! There are mistakes that I know, my colleagues and collaborators know, it's just that the audience is not as good at recognizing them as the professionals.

Everyone, please consider singers making mistakes when singing as just a small accident. No one is perfect! To me, singing with real voice and being out of tune is more valuable than lip-syncing. Experienced singers can still make mistakes depending on their health, mood, conditions...

Ha can admit that today's singing is a little lacking, tomorrow will be better. I hope the audience understands that we artists are like everyone else, there are times when we are not okay, when we do not do well.

Sometimes trying to sing high will cause the note to break, but at least I dared to try.

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Singer Tung Duong. Photo: NVCC

- If your health is not good enough to hit high notes, how will you handle it?

I tend to sing in a less energetic, more "playful" and relaxed way. Singing 8 points is fine, as long as it's the best it can be under unhealthy conditions.

I myself experienced a similar situation to Ho Ngoc Ha when doing the live show Heaven and Earth in 2017. A month before the show, I made a controversial statement about bolero music, which caused stress and led to losing my voice.

From someone who took good care of my voice, and held two live shows a year, my voice became hoarse and could not be cured. At that time, if I had to cancel the show, can you imagine how much criticism I would receive?

Finally, after 2 nights of live shows, I gave myself a 9. We all knew our voices weren't as clear and full as usual, but the audience didn't seem to notice.

I was wronged

- Every time you sing your colleague's song it goes viral. Do you want to maintain the title "Hit Stealer"?

I have to justify myself a little, all of those shows were not chosen by me but were carefully discussed by the crew. And once the script was approved, I had to sing it and could not change the song. I could only sing the best I could.

I also often receive messages asking me to sing covers. For example, when Phuong Thanh texted me that she wanted to sing Tai Sinh , I immediately agreed. I even discussed with Tang Duy Tan not to collect royalties from colleagues who sang Tai Sinh online or in tea rooms.

So I don't think cover singing is about stealing someone's hit. Artists singing each other's hits has been around for decades.

I don’t dare steal anyone’s hit. (laughs) Think of it as us contributing to prolonging the life of each other’s works. When I sang the song Ngay chua gio bao (The Stormy Day) and it went viral, the author Phan Manh Quynh was so happy!

Please don't call Tung Duong "Cover Saint" or "Hit Stealer" anymore, I'm being wronged!

Tung Duong sings "Rebirth"

- I believe you because I heard that cover singing requests often come from sponsors, maybe some big banks or airlines, right?

Not really, it depends on the program. For example, the national concerts on the occasion of A50, A80, they are music directors, experts and leaders.

Or with the song " Continuing the story of peace" during the trip to Japan, Duyen Quynh herself said: "I beg you, sing it, so I can tell Chung to call you". At that time, I just said "yes" to finish because I only knew the last two words "fluttering" at the end of the song.

I'm completely innocent! Don't think we're looking for any hot posts from our colleagues to steal.

Not only in Vietnam, even divas around the world often sing covers. That is the way to keep classic works alive forever. Me too, I don't sing covers to please any underground forces. (laughs)

- When the song "Rebirth" went viral, I thought: Is Tung Duong himself also being "reborn"? Because the him of the past 2 years is so different from before!

Rebirth or revival are both correct but I prefer the word "rejuvenation" because I can clearly feel the inner energy being regenerated and rejuvenated.

Even though I don’t participate in hot game shows, I still follow and recognize young talents and don’t hesitate to collaborate with them. I invited Double2T and GDucky right after they finished their competition.

You can call it rebirth or whatever, I am happy with my positive change. However, I still balance projects that honor, appreciate and create without chasing after young people.

Tung Duong and Tang Duy Tan from cousins to colleagues on stage. Photo: FBNV

Tang Duy Tan has not "talked" to his uncle yet.

- You just won a gold medal at the National Music Festival, can this be understood as a secret preparation for the title of Meritorious Artist?

Last year, Giang Son told me: "You can wander around but you should join a club so we can still participate in musical activities."

Listening to Ms. Son's invitation, I joined the Vietnam Musicians' Association as a non-permanent member. The Association also had Mr. Duc Trinh and Mr. Do Hong Quan - people who did not teach me but I always considered them as teachers.

Recently, I was chosen by the Association to compete in the Festival, it is an honor so I have to participate and sing well. As for collecting medals to get a title, I really haven't thought about it.

I appreciate all the titles people call me like divo, diva or "The Man Who Sings" but they are all relative.

People who are obsessed with titles will gradually grow their ego, from there they become complacent and cannot develop further. If I am worthy of everyone's trust, I am willing to accept the titles. Otherwise, let everything happen naturally.

Tung Duong and singer Mikaela Ayira perform excerpts from the classic musical "The Phantom of the Opera" as part of the 80th Anniversary Celebration of the Vietnam-US Association. Photo: Organizing Committee

- With exchange activities with foreign artists, do you aim to reach out internationally?

I believe that not only I but also my colleagues want this. However, to do this is not easy because there are many barriers.

Besides participating in international competitions or awards, we need good products that approach world standards; increase exchange activities, performances, events such as festivals... with them.

In addition, Vietnam is also a very potential "fertile land", attracting many international artists such as G-Dragon, BLACKPINK, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys... to come and perform.

- What do you mean by teasing singer Tang Duy Tan and Bich Phuong online?

Tan and I share many things in life, but he keeps his love life a secret and never confides in me. He hasn't introduced me to his uncle yet!

It's all just rumors, I don't know anything. However, if Tang Duy Tan and Bich Phuong really "have something" together, I think they are a beautiful couple and I fully support them!

The performance "Aspiration to Rise" helped Tung Duong win the Gold Medal at the National Music Festival.

Singer Tung Duong: I'm no longer young, my beauty is average or weak. On November 5, singer Tung Duong had a vinyl album introduction event in Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tung-duong-nhan-xet-ho-ngoc-ha-tha-hat-that-ma-oet-con-hon-hat-nhep-2459804.html