People's Artist Thanh Lam is known as an artist who rarely participates in game shows or reality TV, especially competitions with scores and votes. Is your participation in Our Song a way to renew your image?
- I once jokingly said that I was "seduced" by MC Tran Thanh to participate in Our Song - Our Songs. Tran Thanh sent me videos of the songs performed at Our Song China, I found them very interesting. Tran Thanh told me that this program is very good, focusing only on music, not exploiting side stories, Thanh Lam should participate.
I even joked with Tran Thanh, “You have to protect me.” In fact, I was convinced by the “format” (script) of Our Song, when the show puts artists through singing challenges, and only focuses on music. I decided to join because I found it suitable for me. If the show exploits many side stories, that is not my forte.
When deciding to participate in a game show, I also had to spend time watching many of the hottest shows this year such as Anh trai say hi, Call Me by Fire, to see how artists participate in game shows and reality TV.
Reality TV doesn’t need to be too academic, the script is more about intimacy, bringing moments of relaxation to the audience. I also had to adjust so that appearing on Our Song is both suitable for me and brings the necessary entertainment to the game show.
There were many beautiful moments of Thanh Lam in the show. She had a brilliant costume. The younger generation like Lyly cried when watching Thanh Lam sing, swing, dance... Thu Minh said, she always looked up to her as an icon. Which moment moved you the most?
- All episodes of the show are a series of memories for me. There are no repeated moments or songs, each performance is a moment of dedication from our artists.
I remember, the most difficult thing for me was probably singing with Thu Minh. Thu Minh has very good dancing skills, she is a dance student. Meanwhile, I have been used to singing solo since I was little. I almost never sing in groups, and I am not inclined to dance. Therefore, it was very difficult for me. I had to dance, remember the moves, perform a song I had never sung before, had to remember the lyrics, know the script, interact with Thu Minh, interact with the whole group of dancers... That day, I swung on a rope and my hands were bruised.
It was really difficult for me, and I was under a lot of pressure performing such demanding shows.
Entering a reality show also means facing controversy, mixed opinions of praise and criticism. Are you still afraid of controversy?
- As I shared, when coming to Our Song, I went through many challenges and had to overcome my own obstacles.
I sang songs I had never sung before, did moves and dances I had never done before, had to do challenges I had never experienced before. In one week, I had to learn a lot of things at the same time.
There were times when I thought I couldn't make it.
The audience will only see us perform for a few minutes on stage, but to have those few minutes of shine is the effort and hard work of hundreds of people.
There were days when we filmed from 6am to 7:30am the next morning. We were so exhausted that I had to go home and go to bed with my face covered in makeup because I was so tired.
When we artists get to go home for a vacation, there are still many brothers in the filming, staging, and logistics teams who have to stay and continue working. I feel so sorry for them.
The audience watched the show, saw us laughing, joking, and juggling with each other, but that scene was sometimes filmed at 12am or 2am. We were so tired, but when the camera started rolling, we laughed again.
Generation Z like Orange has to drink Red Bull (an energy drink) to gain strength to spin, I also have to tell Orange, "let me drink Red Bull too".
My colleagues and I have done our best, tried, practiced day and night to have the best performances to serve the audience. The final listening and commenting part belongs to the audience.
You were still very beautiful when you performed in Our Song. When do you feel most beautiful, when you sing a favorite song, when you stand in the spotlight, or when you are in love?
Beauty will shine when you have a peaceful, balanced, and harmonious mindset. Just be at peace and content from within, and beauty will naturally shine, in both art and life.
Happy women often find it hard to hide, like the way you often express your feelings for your man on your personal page?
- Sometimes, people come in and ask, have you and I broken up? (laughs). So sometimes I post pictures to share that we are still together, cherishing every day we live together. To partly reduce the number of messages asking about the breakup.
If you could go back in time, which part of your journey would you most like to go back to? Is there any part or story you would like to redo?
- In every moment of life, I always give my all, whether I am right or wrong. Youth is always precious. I attend Our Song with Gen Z friends. I always tell them, this is the most wonderful stage of your life, no amount of money can buy it.
Live happily and joyfully in your youth. Youth that has passed is gone forever.
Many friends have talked about Thanh Lam, but in different ways. Some say she is straightforward and sincere, others say she is impulsive and clumsy, and others say she is devoted and enthusiastic about everything in life... What do they say about you that you think is true?
- At different ages, I always see that I have done wrong things. I think that, after going through everything, the most important thing is to realize that you are wrong. When you admit your mistakes and correct them, you will be able to improve yourself. There are many people who rarely see their own mistakes, they only see other people's mistakes.
Now, whenever anything happens, I have to look back at myself, see where I went wrong, and from there correct my mistakes to improve.
