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Up close: Pop star Thu Minh enjoys singing at smaller venues such as bars and nightclubs. — VNS Photo |
HCM CITY — A HCM City bar that has just opened plans for live music with a twist – songs from English, French and Vietnamese musicals.
The owner of Tieng Xua (The Old Melody) bar on Cao Thang Street, District 10, himself an experienced music producer, has hired three bands to perform daily.
Vu Xuan Hung has signed up May Lang Thang (Wandering Cloud), Lang Du (The Roam), and Dong Xanh (Green Field) to perform pieces from The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, and Miss Sai Gon, all of them popular Western musicals, starting tomorrow.
He is confident of attracting aficionados, even professional singers and composers, to the bar.
New to Viet Nam
"Performing pieces from musicals is new in Viet Nam. Yes, my singers are newcomers in the field. But I believe they will provide fans something new through their style, instead of just pop, R&B, and dance music which are popular in the city."
But he fully realises that there is a long way to go before the new genre becomes popular.
To attract more people now, he said, the bands will also perform romantic Vietnamese tunes composed by Van Cao, Nguyen Van Ty, Tran Hoan, and Duong Thieu Tuoc, which have been much loved since pre-war times.
"I hope my singers' shows encourage young people to learn more about musical theatre."
Live music is alive and well in HCM City though many fans seem to prefer the more intimate ambience of smaller venues like bars and nightclubs to big shows.
A few years ago most of these venues were in the downtown area but things are changing, with clubs opening all over the city.
Their owners are trying to attract customers by spending to invite well-known singers like Ho Ngoc Ha, Dam Vinh Hung, Thu Minh and Duc Tuan, and doing up interiors.
In the cosy atmosphere of a small bar or club, audiences can relax to the gentle sounds of old romantic songs like Suoi Mo (Dream Stream) and Truong Chi (The Love of Truong Chi) by Van Cao, Tinh Nghe Si (Artist's Love) by Doan Chuan, and Dem Dong (Winter Night) by Nguyen Van Thuong.
Clubs like ATB and Khong Ten in District 1 cater to these connoisseurs.
Younger customers seem to prefer pop and dance music at places like Tinh Ca and Tieng Duong Cam in Tan Binh District.
They charge VND80,000 to 150,000 for a whole evening of live entertainment and refreshments. — VNS