Fractured music market seeks new sound

After the lunar New Year, Vietnam’s music market has seen progress. Many singers are preparing for new projects, but will these push music circles forward or not?

Singer Dam Vinh Hung

New genre

Since late 2007, songs for teenagers have appeared on online forums. Among them, Mobile Dwarf is the most popular. It is particular to these songs that they are only available on the Internet and performed by unknown singers and have received a high level of fame amongst the youth. 

Besides Mobile Dwarf, there is Candy Girl, The battle Against the Witch, Bladder Princess, Decayed Tooth Boy, etc. These songs are battling against Vietnam’s usual pop music genre, which has recently been uninspired. 

Some call this kind of music “candy music” and outstanding representatives of this gene are singers Bao Thy, Thuy Chi, Phoebe Bao Ngoc, Kiix Kalentine, who are very famous online. 

The characteristics of this genre are that the singing ability is not so important, but the songs must be funny, popular and easy to remember. 

“Candy songs” are not about break-out loves but the realities and sentiments of teenage life. 

Music market needs breakthrough

Music changes every year, but Vietnam’s music market has been static for the last several years.

Singers and show organizers are working hard trying to find new talents and a breakthrough sound. Some have returned to the old music genre and succeeded, for example Dam Vinh Hung. 

After Dam Vinh Hung, Kasim Hoang Vu, Cao Thai Son, Khanh Ngoc and Thanh Thuy also began singing old songs. Recently, “doll” Thanh Thao said she wants to give up the image of a “doll” for a more serious image.

Vietnam’s pop music is stuck and has fallen into a vicious circle where the old and the new are combined. Though the old values are honored and attempts are made to make them into a trend, it is becoming clear that this is not the future of Vietnam’s music market.

(Source: SGGP/VNN)