VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to update its legal documents and regulations on musical performance.

Singer Trong Tan, who specialises in performing revolutionary songs. VNS File Photo

The Deputy PM said that already popular songs that have no words against traditional culture values and do not go against national interest should not need any permission for public performance, regardless of when and where they were composed.

Dam also asked the ministry to enhance its management capabilities over its Performing Arts Department, which recently issued some unpopular regulations that had to be retracted.

In the past few months, the department’s decisions to ban a number of songs composed before 1975 or after 1975 by overseas Vietnamese stirred confusions among the public.

The department had issued a decision to ban five songs, namely Canh Thiep Dau Xuan (Spring Greeting Card, by Le Dinh & Minh Ky), Rung Xua (The Old Forest by Lam Phuong), Chuyen Buon Ngay Xuan (Sad Story in a Spring Day by Lam Phuong), Dung Goi Anh Bang Chu (Don’t Call Me “Uncle” by Dien An) and Con Duong Xua Em Di (Your Old Path by Chau Ky and Ho Dinh Phuong).

The reason for ban was that performers changed original lyrics or listed the wrong authors’ names.

The department then announced a list of more than 2,500 songs that can be performed in public. However, the list does not contain historic songs by composer Van Cao, including Tien Quan Ca (Marching Song) that is now the national anthem, Truong Ca Song Lo (Lo River Epic) and Tien Ve Ha Noi (Marching to Ha Noi).

The popular song Noi Vong Tay Lon (Great Circle of Viet Nam) by composer Trinh Cong Son was not listed, either.

On May 20, the department added 300 songs to the list on its website. However, there now is a misunderstanding among audiences that the 300 songs are permitted to be performed again after a previous ban.

The department has also sent a press release saying that it will continue to update the list in order to simplify administrative procedures and facilitate agencies and individuals to use the songs.

Trong Tan, a singer specialising in patriotic song, said that the 300-song update was necessary. “But the way that the department dealt with the matter was not proper. It caused inevitable misunderstanding,” he said. 

VNS