VietNamNet Bridge –While many pop and dance tunes appear and vanish from the music industry every few months, romantic songs that have lasted through different Vietnamese generations will linger on for more in Ha Noi thanks to a special music programme.

Remixed: HCM City Television music programmes, such as Golden Album, attract top singers and pop bands - and certainly meet the demands of audiences. (Photo: VNS)

The programme's third show last weekend was called Duong Xa May Trang (Far Road – White Cloud).

Performed over two nights, the concert featured singer Thanh Lam, who performed with composer Quoc Trung, one of the country's most popular music producers.

Lam performed 15 songs in an unplugged style, including Hong Dang's Hoa Sua (Milk Flower), Thanh Tung's Hoa Tim Ngoai San (Purple Flowers Outside at the Court) and Thuan Yen's Doi Cho (Waiting).

All the songs were remixed by Trung – the producer said he "wanted to make Lam's performance this time fresh to her fans."

A particularly inspired performance was Mot Thoang Tay Ho (A Glimpse of West Lake), a song based on folk tunes composed by Pho Duc Phuong.

Her strong and sweet voice touched the hearts of the audience, about 300 strong on each night. Comprising mostly young people, they willingly paid the rather steep ticket prices of VND1-2 million (US$50-100).

"No playback. No keyboard. Thanh Lam performed non-stop a series of 15 songs in a new style remixed by Trung. I think only Lam and her voice could take money from fans' pockets during the economic crisis," said Tran Minh Phuong, a fan who spent VND1 million for the ticket.

That all the three shows have been sold out indicates that the organisers are right in their estimation that people are willing to pay for high quality programmes that see the most talented singers, composers, musicians, art directors and sound and light technicians.

Begun this year by the AAA Corporation and its partners, Music Space is the only music programme in Ha Noi that employs a group of specialists in light and sound effects.

Through this programme, singers, musicians and composers would have the opportunity to present their talent at their best in front of an audience seeking the best, said Viet Tu, the programme's art director.

While music has for long been the youth's favourite form of entertainment, most students and workers would find ticket prices for high-quality live music shows too expensive.

Thankfully, they have producers willing to meet their need with quality concerts on the radio and television.

In a move to gain a larger audience amidst fierce competition among local music producers, Viet Nam Television (VTV) and HCM City Television (HTV) have devoted considerable resources to presenting quality music programmes.

VTV now broadcasts 20 concerts every month, including periodical shows like The Gioi Am Nhac (Music World) and Bai Hat Viet (Vietnamese Songs).

To attract more young people in the city and neighbouring provinces, HTV has given importance to producing more quality shows that match the audience's taste and present contemporary music idols.

"We hope to reach out to the youth through music shows," said HTV general director Nguyen Quy Hoa.

Two of the station's regular music shows, Nhip Cau Am Nhac (Music Bridge) and Album Vang (Golden Album), are very popular among both urban and rural audiences.

While the former is a good choice for those who love traditional music, the latter caters to more contemporary tastes. "Through HTV's music programmes, many people who aren't wealthy but love music can enjoy a feast of happiness and passion after hard days of work and study," said Nguyen Phuong Tram, a resident of Dong Nai Province's Bien Hoa City.

Although a fan of Golden Album, Tram said HTV and other stations should produce and broadcast more programmes introducing various forms of traditional Vietnamese music.

"A quality music show on TV will infuse love for the country's musical traditions and its people around the world," she said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News