Yiruma and Ha Anh Tuan

In an interview a few years ago, pianist Yiruma said that while studying classical music at King's College, he was never considered a good piano player.

Yiruma and Ha Anh Tuan performed in Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of March 9th - Photo: DUYEN PHAN

He didn't pursue classical music because his hands were too small. When Yiruma accepted Ha Anh Tuan's collaboration, his story from his student days immediately reminded us of Ha Anh Tuan's early days in the industry.

Ha Anh Tuan and Yiruma are outsiders?

At the 2006 Sao Mai Diem Hen competition, despite being a popular contestant, always praised for his bright style and innocent attitude towards music, his technique was lacking. At that time, Ha Anh Tuan was always associated with the phrase "outsider".

But now, Yiruma's piano compositions are so popular that they sometimes surpass those of his more accomplished peers.

You could say it's elevator music, wedding music, popular music, but many people have come to the piano not because they want to play Mozart's sonatas or Chopin's waltzes, but because they want to play Yiruma's "Kiss the Rain," "River Flows in You," and "I Think You Love Me…"

And indeed, while one might not be able to learn the music of great composers, almost everyone can learn the music of Yiruma.

Similarly, with Ha Anh Tuan, despite having only average vocal skills—sometimes even when singing live, his singing is still noticeably off-key—after twenty years, compared to other "insiders"—his fellow students from the 2006 Sao Mai Diem Hen singing competition, many of whom have either left the profession or have no significant projects left, merely repeating their past performances—Ha Anh Tuan remains successful.

Even if we assume he only pursues music that's pleasing to the ear, with little artistic flair and experimentation, at least that's his positioning, his own unique mark in the pop music market. Now, who would dare call him an "outsider"?

Yiruma collaborated on music with Ha Anh Tuan during a meeting in South Korea - Photo: Provided by the artist.

Gentle and healing romance

Yiruma's collaboration with Ha Anh Tuan can therefore be seen as a meeting of two outsiders, two romantics representing a school of music that is gentle, soothing, and doesn't require much effort from the listener to enjoy.

The song "Dear, Memory," with music composed by Yiruma and lyrics written by Ha Anh Tuan, is a distillation of what Yiruma and Ha Anh Tuan have to offer: love, memories, sadness, and a dreamy state. If you ask whether this song contributes anything to their existing achievements, the answer is no.

The melody of "Dear, Memory" is still as beautiful and soothing as Yiruma's own melodies; one might think that composing such a melody was as easy as taking it out of a pocket for Yiruma. However, compared to his iconic melodies, "Dear, Memory," a piece about cherished memories, is not particularly outstanding enough to linger in the listener's memory for long.

Ha Anh Tuan and Yiruma perform the song Kiss the Rain - Video : MI LY

As for Ha Anh Tuan, mentioning him brings to mind countless national ballads, some of which have even reached classic status in Vietnamese pop. Adding another song, "Dear, Memory," doesn't bring much difference musically, although it certainly contributes significantly to his fame, brand, and experience collaborating with international artists.

Perhaps "Dear, Memory" should be seen simply as a meeting of two kindred spirits, a song commemorating a reunion, a joyful exchange, rather than a genuine musical ambition to discover something different in both artists.

That's okay, because the world of music has many kinds of musical encounters. There are encounters where personalities clash to create masterpieces, like Eric Clapton and George Harrison, for example. Then there are encounters that are just a lighthearted cultural "exchange," like Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli.

Whatever. Regarding the meeting between Yiruma and Ha Anh Tuan, perhaps the most interesting thing about them is how these two individuals, rarely taken seriously as artists and often labeled with terms that sound nice but are actually somewhat ironic, such as "decent music" or "healing music," still managed to find their own path of musical "spiritual cultivation."

What about non-Buddhist sects? The word "Dao" itself has many different meanings.

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HIEN TRANG

Source: https://archive.vietnam.vn/yiruma-va-ha-anh-tuan/