Singer Trong Tan's name has been associated with the red music and revolutionary music since entering music, when he won the first prize at the Sao Mai Awards in 1999. What in revolutionary music is your favorite?
- It can be said that it was the revolutionary music genre that chose me. In 1995, I was a student from Thanh Hoa who took the entrance exam to the conservatory. I don't know which music genre, what is the name of each genre? At that time, when I entered the competition, I sang completely with my love for music, with my instinct. When I entered school, I was taught by my teachers that this was an official music genre, which are songs that have often been used to train and nurture great artists over the past decades.
The songs praising the homeland, the country, and love for humanity have beautiful lyrics and are imbued with the love of life. I see the beauty of this music genre and through the contests, my color is shaped, affirmed, and the audience loves me.
Trong Tan's voice is always praised for being beautiful and luxurious with masterful vocal technique, but according to him, to sing red music, revolutionary music that touches the hearts of the audience, is technique or emotion more important?
- It can be said that it is everything, from vocal technique, the beginning of his life, to direct emotions. There will never be a singing time like another singing time. Every time they perform on a stage, the singer's emotions are different. A gorgeous, magnificent, solemn stage brings another emotion. The simple stages give me other emotions. However, revolutionary songs still have common value and common messages.
At that time, the singer's emotions will determine the success of the song. Standing on stage, the academic element will no longer be decisive, I will not remember which part I have to squeeze in, how to sing that part. Everything will happen naturally, when I put my soul into the song. That was my greatest success.
In a conversation with Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, many veteran artists such as People's Artist Thanh Hoa and People's Artist Trung Duc commented that when artists go through war, witness the fierceness of war, they will sing red music, revolutionary music full of passion, they can cry because of the memories they have gone through when singing these songs. So, with what will the generation of singers who grow up in peace like you sing revolutionary music and red music use?
- The previous generation of artists lived in historical moments, even singing songs about Truong Son right in Truong Son, singing on the battlefield for the army. My generation grew up after the war. However, the echoes of that girls' school still exist in the songs I listened to since I was a child, told through the stories of my parents.
My father is also a soldier, and could not return home until 1975. My childhood was full of stories about the battlefield, about the fierce battles of my father and teammates.
I live in that scene, that love and that pride. His story has nurtured in me things that I myself have not known, so that after a long journey, I have sung natural and absorbed the red music.
I still remember, when I started to know how to paint, the first painting I painted was the image of a soldier wearing a hood and a gun handle.
I went through the subsidy period, to better understand the aftermath of war, witnessed the hard days, and went fishing in the bomb hole. The wound of war is still there, and I also deeply feel the pain, still imprinted in my heart.
On every important occasion, when national memories of the war years are revived, red music always proves its strength. A historic April, or in the near future, July 27 - the day to show gratitude to the generation of soldiers who left their blood and bones in the wars to help the nation find peace like today - red music, revolutionary music will resound throughout the streets, listened to a lot on the platforms... What are your emotions when performing these days?
- Having performed and stood on stage through many major historical milestones over the past 30 years, I have had the opportunity to sing at Ba Dinh Square, the Opera House, in front of the Golden gate. In all those performances, I have strong emotions, pride and gratitude for the sacrifice of our ancestors, so that today we can have a peaceful day. Many times, I sung a line and imagined the image of that line, my heart almost choked up. I had to use all the techniques, try to stay calm, when my heart was filled with sacred, proud emotions.
If you were to choose one of your favorite songs you have ever sung, which song would you choose?
- It is very difficult for me to choose a song because each work has a beautiful story and is associated with my own memories. The musicians have distilled their quintessence to write melodies and lyrics, painting a beautiful picture in music. I am very happy and joyful to sing and be mentioned as a singer who successfully performed songs such as: "Noi dai xa", "Tieng dan bau", "Vietnam, my hometown", "Gui em don don ca"...
I was also lucky to sing many songs praising the Party and Uncle Ho. Once when I passed by Ba Dinh Square, I heard my own voice resounding, I was very happy and proud. In addition, "The Voice of the Sea Elephants" is a milestone in my career, while "The Long Island" is loved by the audience and has very many views on YouTube. I am aware of my responsibility to contribute, help people love my homeland's sea and islands more, and arouse more intense love for the country.
Youth music continuously has new voices and faces. Especially after reality music shows exploded on television. But with red music, there are not many stars in this music genre, and there are always veteran faces... For example, in his generation, the prominent names that can be mentioned today are still Dang Duong, Trong Tan, Viet Hoan, Anh Tho. From your perspective, it can be explained why singers sing less red music, and their lives are not as vibrant as young music?
- I think that my generation or the artists Dang Duong, Viet Hoan, Anh Tho, Lan Anh have made music lovers love red music, so the younger generation can do it too. Young singers still contribute their voices to big shows. Revolutionary music, red music like underground waves, always quiet and rolling in the flow of music. As for young music stages, big music nights like the layer of waves are bustling and bustling above, creating the vitality of the music market.
However, audiences who love revolutionary music will not perform like young people, like thousands of audiences standing in the rain to watch, or holding lightsticks to cheer.
Revolutionary music is aimed at its own audience. They also expressed their affection for this music genre by participating in live shows, listening with bright eyes and singing along, applauding in every song. To see that, if there is enough space, the audience is still ready to love, ready to come to revolutionary music, in their own way.
The music market also has a comparison of the price of sand-se. If a young singer is "hot" he can now receive a salary of 450 - 750 million, even billions of dong for a show. What about red-language singers?
- I think that for each singer, the remuneration will be different, depending on different programs. In the music market, it is difficult to discuss the sand-set, because it is an agreement between the artist and the producer, and the audience. If artists satisfy the audience's "thirst" for music, they will be rewarded accordingly. I am not too heavy about how much compensation and salary, but I assess whether the artist's contributions are worth it or not. I and artists in the mainstream music industry are lucky to have a good life thanks to the love of the audience for us.
Singer Trong Tan was once considered a rich singer with a farm and restaurant. Are you a rich person, from a personal point of view?
- After many years of performing, I have a love for cuisine and 10 years ago, I contributed some business capital to a few friends. Up to now, the 2 restaurants have developed stably. I have a house in Hanoi, a garden house in my hometown. Sometimes the audience calls it a farm, but I think not to that extent. I returned to my hometown to garden, pick fruit, and relax in the green space to recharge after hard working days.
Since I was young, I have dreamed of having such a garden. After many years of working in the arts, I have also been loved by the audience and have a full life. I am always grateful for the love of the audience for me, for the red music industry for decades.
What I am richest with is the love of the audience.
