VietNamNet Bridge – Songwriter Ngoc Dai, a pioneer in contemporary, experimental music in Vietnam, has released his new CD that contains sexual language entitled “Thang Mo 1” (Village herald 1) without a license from the authorities.

 

 

The album was released from April, with sensitive songs such as “Sexual Promotion” with daring lyrics that urge the listeners "to have sex" or "free sperm"....

Musician Ngoc Dai said he did not see such as sexual immorality or bad. Ngoc Dai said he only set poems by Nguyen Dinh Chinh to music.

"Nguyen Dinh Chinh is at my age. He has lived, experienced a lot so what he wrote is true to life," Ngoc Dai talked about why he chose the poems of Chinh, who is the son of famous poet Nguyen Dinh Thi.

Dai said if he asks for a license, he will be refused so he ignored this administrative procedure.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nhan – Director of the Department of Performing Arts - said by May 6, the agency did not receive Dai’s application for the release of his CD.

Nhan affirmed that releasing a CD without a license is a major violation. The office said that the tapes and CDs that violate customs and habit and lack of aesthetics will certainly be withdrawn. However, the 1,000 copies of “Thang Mo 1” CD have been nearly sold out, so it is difficult for withdrawal. Ngoc Dai said he sold the products himself on the streets of Hanoi.

Ngoc Dai also said he is not afraid of punishment from state agencies because he does not work for any state agency and the revenue from the CDs was spent. "Moreover, the album revenue is just enough to cover the cost of production. I made that product to satisfy my artistic hobby," Ngoc Dai said.

According to him, before judging the CD, people should listen to it first. He said after listening to the CD, many people praised his braveness.

Ngoc Dai is famous for his eccentric personalities. The audience knows him through the songs that made the names of diva Tran Thu Ha such as “Eclipse”, “Waving Nettle”... Recently, he has cooperated with the duo Thanh Lam and Linh Dung and often performed shocking repertoires on stage.

This time, however, Ngoc Dai performed all songs in “Thang Mo 1.” “Singers sing just to make money. They did not dare to perform my songs for the fear of being banned from stage," Ngoc Dai said.

Thanh Van