VietNamNet Bridge – Songs about summer and love composed and sung by musicians in their 20s have become the biggest hits of the season.  

Musician of the Year: Composer Pham Toan Thang released the new single Nang Cuc (Hot Sunshine) for the summer music season. VNS File Photo

Composer Pham Toan Thang, winner of Musician of the Year at the Cong Hien (Devotion) Music Awards in 2015, released a new single, Nang Cuc (Hot Sunshine), for the summer season.

The song’s lyrics contain a message about global warming, while its melody is a mixture of trap, hip hop and don ca tai tu folk music of southern Viet Nam.

“My inspiration came from the hot summer in HCM City. It took me only two hours to write Nang Cuc,” said Thang, who mixes traditional and contemporary music genres.

After only one week of release, the song attracted more than 220,000 listeners on local online music channels Zingmp3.vn and nhaccuatui.com.

“The song makes me feel cooler during the hot summer,” said Nguyen Dang Khoa, who likes many of Thang’s compositions, such as Ve (Drawing) and Dau Mua (Trace of Rain).

Khoa said he liked the meaningful lyrics of Thang’s songs, and the way the composer mixed folk music with rock and hip hop.

In mid-May, Thang introduced a demo for Nang Cuc, which received a warm welcome from music fans.

“Thanks to my fans’ support, I decided to improve the song,” said the 28-year-old musician, who started to compose when he was in the 10th grade.

The song saw Thang reuniting with young singers Truc Nhan and Truong Thao Nhi, who worked together to produce the hit Bon Chu Lam (Four Important Words).

It won an award at the Devotion Music Awards, as well as a Journalists Council Award and Song of the Year at Bai Hat Viet 2014 (Vietnamese Song 2014), a TV show that showcases new works by Vietnamese songwriters.

Nang Cuc also features the voice of singer Ba Hung.

“The four of us want to bring a joyful and fresh atmosphere during the hot summer days,” Thang said.

The new single from HCM City-based musician Vuong Anh Tu, Anh Cu Di Di (Just Go Away), has had more than 1.2 million listeners on Zingmp3.vn after one month of release.

The ballad has a gentle melody with moving words about the pain a woman suffers from a failed affair.

It features the voice of Hari Won, a Vietnamese-Korean singer who returned to Viet Nam in 2013 to develop her career as an actress and singer.

She has played leading roles in the films Chang Trai Nam Ay (Dandelion), released in 2014 and directed by Nguyen Quang Huy, and Benh Vien Ma (Haunted Hospital) directed by Vo Thanh Hoa this year.

Hari is now filming a music video for Anh Cu Di Di, which is expected to be released early this month.

“When I started to write Anh Cu Di Di, I thought of Hari. Then, after meeting her, I knew it was truly for her, a woman who devotes all her heart to love,” Tu said.

In his mid-20s, Tu has written dozens of songs which have become hits for young singers like Ong Cao Thang, Dong Nhi and Bui Bich Phuong.

He has also released Giup Anh Tra Loi Nhung Cau Hoi (Help Me Answer These Questions) featuring his voice, which was on the top list of the local music board, although it was released a few months ago.

“In the near future, I’ll try to write songs about joy and happiness. I hope my fans will like them,” said Tu, who began composing at the age of five.  

In hopes of creating another hit, he is working with pop star Ho Ngoc Ha and young singers Noo Phuoc Thinh and Si Thanh.

“I’m on my way to win audiences’ hearts by creating quality music products,” Tu said.

This week, many young composers like Mr Siro and Khac Hung released new singles.

Mr Siro’s ballad Trai Tim Em Cung Biet Dau (My Heart Still Hurts) featuring the voice of young singer Bao Anh and Hung’s Cuoc Tinh Khong May (Unlucky Affair) with pop star My Tam are also expected to become popular songs this summer.

VNS