2024 marks the explosion of music reality TV shows. Experts say that music in reality TV shows is reorienting the viewing-listening market, and at the same time, dominating music listening platforms too much... What is your perspective on this issue?
- When I was invited to participate in Our Song, I spent time watching the two shows "Anh trai say hi" and "Call Me by Fire". Honestly, my biggest feeling when watching these two shows was... pity. I watched the entertainment program and felt so sorry that I cried.
When watching, the audience will only see good performances and artists shining on stage, but when I watched, I understood that to have that performance, to shine for a few minutes on stage, hundreds of people had to work hard.
I went to film Our Song, sat in make-up from 6am the night before, and didn’t get to go home until 7:30am the next morning. To be honest, when I got home, I had to go to bed with my face full of make-up because I was exhausted.
When I left, the camera crew, lighting crew and many other departments still had to stay and work.
The audience saw us sitting around laughing, interacting, and being funny with each other, but in reality, we were filming at 2am. We were exhausted, but on camera, we were still laughing.
Behind each performance, each shining moment, are days of practice, possibly having to film over and over again at 12am, 2am, and the tireless efforts of many departments, from filming, directing, logistics to artists.
It is undeniable that the attraction of music reality shows has created rare breakthroughs in the performance market in 2024. A series of large-scale concerts are constantly selling out. In your opinion, is this the time to show a big change in audience tastes as well as investment by businesses in the performance market?
- Reality TV production has created an opportunity for the audience to see us artists create together.
Producers have also brought a breath of fresh air, bringing huge changes to the performance and audiovisual market. I think we should acknowledge those positive signs.
In the past, artists rarely dared to do big concerts or live shows because they invested a lot of money, while selling tickets is always risky.
Therefore, the participation of investors in the performance market this year, creating breakthroughs, I think is very necessary and very noteworthy.
When businesses invest money, creating a fever with reality TV and large-scale concerts, many musicians expect that this will be the foundation for us to have a performing industry that makes money for the national economy - just like KPop is considered the "golden goose" for Korea's GDP. Are you an optimist and believe in this?
- I went to see the concert Anh trai say hi, the audience was really crowded.Obviously, the participation of investors is creating huge changes in the performance market.
I hope that investors will have long-term plans, they will have diversity in scripts and ideas.And every program will find the "key word" to attract the audience.
If it is a long journey, with a well-planned plan, I will have a lot of faith in change. I only see one small problem, reality shows are moving towards entertainment quite a lot. Music is not only about spectacular performances, sparkling lights, skillful choreography... Music is also profound, calm, brings educational value, and is also a human comfort for listeners.
I hope that future reality shows will invest more in art. There needs to be a better balance between art and entertainment.
In the beautiful moments when appearing in Our Song, Thanh Lam was still like a stage queen. Someone said, women who are in love and are loved will be full of energy and shine like that. Is that true for you?
- Yes (Laughs). We have a life of trust and love for each other, giving each other positive energy. His love gives me more energy and aspiration for my career. When I went to film Our Song, I had to be away from home often, once I was away for 2 weeks without returning, my husband came to cheer me on. He always encouraged me, created all the conditions for me to participate in the job. He always wanted me to be happy and as comfortable as possible.
He told me to just do what I like. He told me not to worry about winning awards when participating in game shows, just give my all to the audience.
I want to thank you, thank you for your love, thank you for giving me the motivation to shine on stage, thank you for everything.
When do you feel most beautiful, when standing under the spotlight, when singing your favorite song, or when living in the love of the man you 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.
The peace of adulthood is often exchanged for the storms and recklessness of youth. Do you think so?
- I have come a long way. Looking back at the things I have gained and lost, at different ages, I think that even failures and losses are still beautiful. You are more beautiful because of the challenges you have gone through. The past makes you beautiful today.
I met her many years ago, at that time Thanh Lam was very different from now, she had a strong musical ego, she was individual and different. After all these years, when talking, I felt that her heart was calm, it seemed that there would be nothing that would make Thanh Lam too sad, or too miserable like before?
- I practice Buddhism, read and understand the philosophy of my ego, see right and wrong in myself and improve myself every day.
With music, I have done my best. I have tried, tried non-stop, done my best. The decision to listen is up to the audience.
Now I know how to appreciate and preserve the meaning of life more, know how to be balanced, peaceful, and content with what I have.
Before, I thought that happiness was something very big that I had to search for and have. But now, happiness comes to me from very small things, maybe a message from the doctor, "come home with me", maybe a message from the love of the audience...
Happiness is simple, only humans make the definition of happiness difficult, heavy, and huge. Humans often make themselves and others suffer.
Through the storm, I became stronger, I accepted my mistakes and corrected them. When I know I am wrong, I will continue to grow. At each age, the way of living, loving, and perceiving is different. At this age, I have learned to be content.
I am happy with what I have.
Thanks for sharing!
(Posted in the special publication Lao Dong Xuan At Ty).
