It has been 48 years since the war ended , but revolutionary songs (red music) still resound throughout the country . There, for the past 20 years, Trong Tan has always been the leading name with a series of shows across the country, even though many generations have appeared. How can this be explained ?
- This probably needs experts to research. I don't know ( laughs) . Maybe the audience accepts us (Trong Tan, Dang Duong, Viet Hoan, Anh Tho) too much so they are a bit harsh on the people behind? Besides, from my observation, there are still many young artists appearing with quality musical works, they are also loved and have their own audience.
You were born in 1976 – one year after the country was reunified and the South was completely liberated . Is this your strength compared to the next generation, when it makes you feel the memories of war more clearly , thereby conveying the red songs more completely ?
- I don't think so. Being born right after the war was hard and poor, but I didn't have any feelings about wartime. All I knew was from movies, books, and what my parents told me. In fact, in the past, we were even more disadvantaged than you are now, with very few audio-visual aids and limited information.
When I was young, I remember listening to bolero music all around me, and I was also immature in absorbing stories about the country and the people. Then when I grew up and was exposed to more, everything gradually broke out. I just read, understood and felt the goodness and beauty of a revolutionary song.
I still think that the important thing is the artist's perception and emotion. The story told to the audience is the story that they feel in their heart.
How do you evaluate the position of revolutionary music , music praising the homeland and country at the present time, when the country's circumstances have changed a lot ?
- To talk about this music genre, I think the first thing that can be affirmed is its longevity. Revolutionary music, music praising the homeland and country is not just entertainment, it is more noble, sacred and intense than that. Of course, there are times when many people listen to red music, and times when less people listen to it, but it will always exist and hold a separate position.
It must also be said that each genre of music, when it establishes a position in life, has its own way of living. One cannot compare this love with that love, nor the importance of this or that genre of music. Classical or pre-classical music appeared in the 15th and 16th centuries in the West, and is still performed in auditoriums around the world today, and is received enthusiastically and solemnly by the public. The same is true of the recent Rap genre. In the past, when Rap first appeared, people of my generation had a hard time listening and feeling it. But now, when I hear young people reading Rap in a song, I feel very familiar. I begin to listen to the message they convey in that song.
For many years now, you have not released any new music products . Are you somewhat wary of the current music market, where there are many new music genres and new artists developing ?
- I had to stop releasing a few years ago, not releasing any more discs because they couldn't sell. That's the general situation of the market, not just me. Before, I organized a live show at the National Convention Center, selling 4,000 tickets was terrible. Currently, Youtube has allowed people to access 1 million views in a day. In the future, there will most likely be digital theaters - where mainstream artists, opera artists perform, the audience just needs to pay via the internet. We have to change and need to support the development of new things like that.
I still maintain my Youtube channel, making videos to meet my audience. I also do not force myself to release new products, I just do it when it is suitable. With this genre of music, I think what conquers the hearts of listeners is still sincerity and simplicity.
Going back a bit, it seems one of the important reasons why you started pursuing a professional music career was because you were exempted from tuition fees ?
- That is also one of the important factors, of course not the deciding factor. The biggest reason is that I am truly passionate about music, in addition to talent, it is also a love from a young age. Since middle and high school, I have taught myself to play the piano, played the piano and participated in school activities, also participated in a few provincial competitions and won quite high prizes. That was the motivation for me to think that I could pursue a musical career.
Life was hard back then, and kids from the countryside like me were all worried about the future. First, would I have enough money for the next 4.5 years of school? Second, what would I do after graduation? If I chose the wrong career, not only would I fail my parents, my life would also be difficult and bumpy.
When I was young, when I watched professional artists perform on VTV, I honestly did not dare to think that I would become an artist. I understood that singing for fun and singing professionally were very different. But love is like that, because of love, I still went and still had hope that maybe this was the right path for me.
At the end of high school, the information that the regular intermediate program of the Conservatory of Music at that time fully supported the tuition fee, only having to pay for food and accommodation at the dormitory was the catalyst for me to decide to pursue music. Because my family was poor, I could hardly afford to take the entrance exam to another school, for example, the schools that I really liked and could apply to, such as Architecture or Finance.
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The first day you set foot in Hanoi , you must have been very uncertain about your future ?
- It's impossible to answer right from the start. Although, there are seniors who have shown me the prospects of the profession, like Mr. Tan Minh, Ms. My Linh... - people who have succeeded and matured from the Conservatory of Music.
In 1995, I went to Hanoi to take the entrance exam to the Conservatory of Music, not knowing that I had to practice beforehand. A friend took me to see Ms. Minh Hue (Trong Tan's first teacher in the profession - PV) but she did not accept me. She said: "There are only 12 days left for the exam, you came too late, let's retake the exam next year". Terrified, I thought to myself: "I probably failed this year. Sing whatever comes to mind", the three of us went to the next room to practice together.
I didn't expect that my singing would be lucky enough to reach her ears. She stood outside listening, then suddenly knocked on the door. She said: "You just sang, sing it again for me to hear", then told me to come to her room to continue testing my musical appreciation. Right after that, she accepted me as a student.
How did you get into your first days at the conservatory (now the Vietnam National Academy of Music) ?
- There were about 100 people taking the Vocal Music exam that year and only 3 people passed, including me, with perfect scores. Mr. Tran Hieu sponsored me right in front of the whole faculty, he affirmed that I would accept this student and take responsibility for him. He was also the person who helped me a lot on my musical journey.
In September I started school, and in November my teacher let me compete in the Hanoi Voice Festival - a very prestigious music competition at that time. I won the "Promising Young Voice" award, and began to be known by many people. There is also a story about this competition, which Uncle Pham Tuyen later told me, which made me appreciate veteran and virtuous artists even more. He said: "The first time Tan competed, I and the judges judged Tan worthy of second prize. But after discussion, the council agreed that he was only a student of Intermediate Level 1, and the journey was still very long. The Organizing Committee decided to award him the "Promising Young Voice" award, both to help him continue competing next year and win a higher prize, and to help him make more efforts on his artistic path."
It is impossible not to mention the milestone of 1999 - when everyone, every household listened to "Tieng dan bau" - the song he performed and won first prize in the 2nd National Television Singing Contest , also the song that brought Trong Tan's name to stardom?
- My feelings about "Tieng dan bau" are still intact. When entering the final night, I wondered if I could win a high prize when the competition was held in Ho Chi Minh City, the judges and the audience were leaning towards lyrical, light music. When I finished singing, "Tieng dan bau" achieved an almost perfect score, I realized that anything that touches the listener's heart will be recognized.
For a long time, my schedule was packed, and wherever I went, I was asked to sing "Tieng dan bau". It can be said that after "Tieng dan bau", people started to listen to more mainstream music, and old songs were strongly welcomed again. "Tieng dan bau" also helped me shape my path - singing red music, folk music - lyrical.
Since 1999, the name Trong Tan has officially been considered a leading red music star. He was ranked with big and veteran names such as artists Trung Duc, Thanh Hoa, Thu Hien, while he was only 23 years old. At that time, was he a bit complacent ?
- I feel happy and proud to perform with Trung Duc, Thanh Hoa, Thu Hien, Duc Long, Tan Minh, Ta Minh Tam, Anh Tuyet… in the South. It can be said that from Thanh Hoa, Thu Hien to my generation, red music artists have been almost interrupted for quite a long time. I am not only happy that I am accepted, but also happy that people strongly accept the young artists who sing mainstream music.
In your journey with so much glory, was there any period when you felt disappointed in your career, for example the story that happened in 2013?
(After an art program in Laos , the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture , Sports and Tourism sent a telegram requesting the suspension of Trong Tan's performances at domestic and foreign art programs - PV).
- I don't think that's a low point in my career, maybe because I'm an optimistic person, I'm not someone who sets too many goals for the future, that I have to achieve this or that in a short time.
That is why, throughout my life, I have never been depressed or discouraged when I stumble. The story you mentioned in 2013 is a great lesson for us artists in interacting with state management agencies at work. After all, it is a great gain for us to move forward more firmly, not repeating the mistakes of the past.
I myself am not someone who intentionally does things that are not good for the group. That oversight was an opportunity for me to calm down, reorganize my work, and interact better with the organizing unit when participating in different programs, so that both sides can understand each other and make the right decision.
Recently, public opinion has talked a lot about the pressure of the artist's halo? Have you ever felt that your halo sometimes has a dark side ?
- I don't look at my path in the direction of glory, I look at it in the direction of love. And it really is.
For a concert to be successful, the audience must love and share their hearts with the artist. In such a space without distance, the sublimation is shared, not the person on stage who is the center of attention. If he doesn't do well, or the audience doesn't interact well, it will all be a failure.
The relationship between artists and the public is an eternal bond. Both sides need each other and love each other. Putting aside the love between men and women, this is a very pure and beautiful love.
Just think about it, people who don't know who you are, even thousands of kilometers away, love you, share with you, show their care through Youtube, through Facebook. That is definitely love, nothing else.
His duets with his son Tan Dat have attracted nearly 1 million views on social networks . His son has also appeared with him on many big stages. More than 10 years ago, when talking to me, he said he would support his son if he followed his father 's path . It seems that is gradually becoming a reality ?
- I don't force my children but I'm happy that they all pursue music. Dat has a good voice and his family is letting him pursue vocal music. My husband and I both agree: We will give him direction, foundation, share with him about the path, that he is quite suitable for the mainstream, he can approach more ballads, pop, or semi-classic... By the time the children are in, the audience can listen to music quite well.
On the other hand, young people will like new things. Tan Dat himself currently likes Pop more, he wants to be both an artist and a producer for his works. Dat is studying at two schools: the National Academy of Music and the Faculty of Applied Music - Thang Long University. He is learning about studio technology, composing, dancing, making music, and understanding new music trends. It can be said that Dat will definitely take a different path from his father. And I myself also want that.
Speaking of Trong Tan , the audience always remembers a man who pays a lot of attention to his family and children . Perhaps that makes his current life quite peaceful , I also rarely see him appear at meetings or events ?
- It's true that I'm an introvert and value family very much. I can sit on this rooftop and drink tea, tend plants, and watch cats all day without getting bored. There are times when I don't leave the house for days, but I still feel very happy and enjoy it.
I also love children. In addition to work, I try to be with my children as friends, sharing everything with them. Being friends with children is easy to say but very difficult. I hope to accompany them in their growth.
You and your wife have been together since high school, she was your first love and you once affirmed that it was your last. People often get bored easily when they have been together for a long time . And you, how have you maintained the warmth and romance in your family ?
- Actually, no one intends to do anything, because when we think about how to keep a marriage, it shows that the marriage has problems.
My wife and I have known each other since high school, and have been together for a long time until now. Besides nurturing our common life, we also respect and share with each other. Between us now is a feeling that goes beyond ordinary love - it is a soulmate love.
Marriage is the connection of two people from strangers to hold hands to go a long way together. When we turn to each other and have the intention to take care of the marriage like the way we take care of plants, one day it will bear sweet fruit. It is the feeling of not being able to live without each other, seeing each other as an indispensable part of our lives, there are many stories that can only be told to each other. At that time, the hardships, worries or trivial things we often do will be easily overcome.
Thanks for sharing!
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