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For a song: The Cong Hien (Devotion) Music Awards 2010 recognise singers and composers in a ceremony at HCM City's Opera House last night. The ceremony was organised by The Thao&Van Hoa (Sports and Culture) newspaper. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Nhut |
HCM CITY — After attracting considerable controversy and debate over the nominations, there were very few surprises when the Cong Hien (Devotion) Music Awards 2010 were handed out last night at the HCM City Opera House. Local singer Tung Duong beat Ha Anh Tuan, Diva Thanh Lam, Uyen Linh and Duc Tuan to take the "Singer of the Year" title.
Duong had a full year with a live show Yeu (In love), a mini live show in Germany, and participated in Con duong am nhac (Music Road) and programmes to celebrate 1,000th anniversary of Ha Noi.
Duong also took the "Album of the Year" award for Li ti (Tiny), which received high praise from critics.
Released last December, Li ti combined harmoniously the Western's electronic music and mellifluous tones of Vietnamese traditional music.
Other album of the year contenders were: Bay Gio … Bien Mua Dong (Sea in Winter at Present) by Duc Tuan; Bo doi (Foot-Soldiers) by Thai Thuy Linh; Cocktail by Anh Tuan; and Nhung Tinh Khuc Phu Quang (Phu Quang's Love Songs) by Tan Minh.
Meanwhile, the "Programme of the Year" was granted to Viet Nam Television's Viet Nam Idol which won the hearts and minds of audiences and critics alike.
The programme was chosen for the award over Dieu Con Mai (Lasting Forever) by VietNamNet, Sao Mai-Diem hen (Morning-Star-Rendezvous) by Viet Nam Television, Yeu (In love) by Thanh Lam and Tung Duong, and first and last live performance of People's Artist Y Moan, Ngon Lua Cao Nguyen (Highlands' Flame).
Ngon Lua Cao Nguyen performed last September with popular romantic melodies from the Central Highlands, however, received a campaign medal at the ceremony.
Le Cat Trong Ly, composer of Chenh Venh (Unstable) was named "Musician of the Year."
Fifty journalists from Ha Noi and 53 from the southern city cast their votes for the four award categories on March 24 and 30, respectively.
The awards ceremony was organised by The Thao & Van Hoa (Sports and Culture) newspaper, who founded the award, Le Bros Co, and the Caviar de Duc brand.
Last year's award winners were: singer Duc Tuan; the Music of the Night album, Nguoi Tinh (Lover) programme featuring pop star Dam Vinh Hung, and upcoming musician Ho Hoai Anh.
Composer Duong Thu, music director for the 2010 Cong Hien Music Awards, said the music for the ceremony aimed to pamper the ear, not the eye, and was a blend of several musical genres.
Organisers said it was the first time in HCM City that a symphony orchestra performed at an award ceremony.
Singer Thai Thuy Linh entertained audience with the blazing composition Ho Keo Phao (Chant of the Artillerymen). Linh "rock-ised" the song accompanied by a 20-person choir.
Several nominees for yesterday's awards also performed at the ceremony.
Uyen Linh sang Take Me to the River, the song that catapulted her into a household name at the Viet Nam Idol contest last year.
Tung Duong sang Giang To (Spinwebs) from his album Li ti, while Anh Tuan performed Don't Turn the Music Down from his album Cocktail for the first time on stage. — VNS