简体中文
By APD writer Alice
Xam Ha Thanh (Hanoi buskers’ singing group) has just released a new MV entitled Tieu Diet Corona (Destroy Corona), expressing the voice of Vietnamese folk art artists in the global flight against COVID-19.
The song follows many modern tunes recently launched in Vietnam and other countries around the world to encourage citizens to take action to stop the pandemic. It was composed by musician Nguyen Quang Long and its music video was finished within three days.
“Seeing the doctors, nurses and soldiers sleeping outside to make room for the quarantined, I was overwhelmed with emotion, motivating me to write the song in just one night,” Long said.
Tieu Diet Corona consists of two parts – the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam and preventive measures. Its lyrics are about the unity among Vietnamese in the fight against the epidemic: “Entrepreneurs join efforts / Artists work together / People combine efforts / Be vigilant / Preventing the epidemic everywhere / When Corona appears / Together we will destroy it.”
The song maximises the strength of the percussion rhythm with Hue royal court music, which is blended with the humour and bustle of cheo (popular opera) and rap.
Xam is a centuries-old singing style of the Vietnamese people. It was popular in the northern region and has long been recognised as an important part of national cultural heritage. A xam band includes a singer and two to four instrumentalists.
Xam Ha Thanh was founded in 2009 by musical researcher Nguyen Quang Long and artist Mai Tuyet Hoa, a student of xam artisan Ha Thi Cau in 2009. The group gathers many talents such as Van Hai (Vietnamese two-chord fiddle), Pham Trang (monochord), Tran Hau (bamboo flute).
In addition to reproducing many popular songs that have fallen into oblivion, the group also create new tunes, targeting young audiences and have participated in many local and foreign programmes.
Earlier, the Vietnamese song about coronavirus prevention “Ghen Co Vy” (Jealous Coronavirus ) by two pop stars Min and Erik has catched worldwide attention after it was featured by John Oliver on “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”, an American late-night talk and news satire television programme.
The song’s animated music video depicts comedic images of the novel coronavirus and people wearing masks and washing their hands to prevent infection.
Oliver described the song as an "incredible" public information video about how to restrain the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) through proper hygiene.
Amid the complicated development of the COVID-19 at present as well as huge impacts it has on the economic development and human life throughout the globe, such songs have made citizens in some parts of the planet more relaxed and happier.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
