Viet Nam News
HCMCITY — An outdoor music gala will be held this week in HCM City on the 105th anniversary of President Hồ Chí Minh’s departure abroad to seek ways to save the country (June 5). It will also be the 40th anniversary of the day that Sài Gòn- Gia Định was renamed after the President (July 2).
The event, called Thành Phố Rực Rỡ Tên Người (Shining HCM City - The City named after President Hồ Chí Minh), will feature dozens of veteran and young singers and bands, including pop stars Cẩm Vân, Đàm Vĩnh Hưng, Hồ Ngọc Hà, and opera singers Anh Bằng and Thanh Thúy.
Patriotic songs in praise of the country, soldiers and President Hồ Chí Minh, composed by gurus like Hoàng Hiệp and Phan Huỳnh Điểu, will be included.
Pop bands MTV and Giai Điệu Xanh (Blue Melodies) will perform new songs in pop, dance and electronic music, on themes related to youth, love and life.
The event is part of many cultural activities launched by the city’s People’s Committee in co-operation with Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the occasion.
It will open at 7pm on July 3 at Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street in District 1.
On Sunday, more than 1,500 people visited Sen Hồng Stage on Phạm Ngũ Lão Street in District 1 to join the awards ceremony of the Song Composing Contest, which aimed to mark the 40th anniversary of the day the city was renamed after President Hồ Chí Minh.
Young singers performed 20 popular songs, including two winning works 40 Năm Thành Phố Mang Tên Bác (40 Years of the Day the City was Named after Uncle Hồ) and Lời Ru Đất Nước (Lullabies of the Country), both written by artists from Thừa Thiên-Huế and Bình Định provinces.
The three-month contest received 111 songs submitted and created by 85 amateur and professional songwriters and musicians across the country.
“I’m an amateur in composing, but I was interested in joining the contest,” said young singer Y Jang Tuyn of the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) region.
“Through the contest, I wanted to show my love and respect for Uncle Hồ, a national hero who devoted his life to the country and people,” he added.
The best songs will be published in a music book by the Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House next month. — VNS