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The Sing!Asia 2025 international music competition is witnessing explosive performances, and in the first semi-final round held in Shanghai, the duo Phuong My Chi (Vietnam) and Kelou (China) truly made an unforgettable impression. More than just a simple performance, their bold combination of Vietnamese Cai Luong (traditional opera) and Chinese opera in a unique mashup became the highlight, affirming Phuong My Chi's talent and consistent performance, while also opening up a space for profound cultural dialogue, elevating Vietnamese heritage to an international level.
This performance is a surprising blend of "Túy Âm"—a huge Vietnamese hit from 2017—and "Lục Hải Vi Vương"—a piece of music with a strong epic Chinese flavor. The choice of "Túy Âm" was not only due to its high recognition but also because of its potential to connect strongly with audiences across Asia.
In the first semi-final of “Sing! Asia 2025”, Phuong My Chi and artist Kelou (China) presented a mashup performance combining Vietnamese Cai Luong (traditional opera) and Chinese opera, creating an explosive act.
Under the masterful arrangement of the DTAP production team, this song has been completely revamped, taking on a modern feel while retaining its distinctive characteristics, and then unexpectedly connecting with "Luc Hai Vi Vuong". The two seemingly unrelated songs blend artistically, creating a mashup that not only showcases exceptional creativity but also clearly demonstrates a performance rich in cultural dialogue. Phuong My Chi and Kelou did more than just perform; they skillfully unfolded a parallel story, telling of two outstanding female generals from two different cultures, shining together on a shared stage.
The most iconic and proud highlight of the performance was the poignant moment when Phuong My Chi's voice, imbued with the essence of Vietnamese folk singing, soared. Her emotional voice evoked a heroic historical moment, recalling the valiant journey of General Trung Trac in the classic Cai Luong play "The Drum of Me Linh," with the moving lyrics: "But alas, my lofty ambitions were not yet fulfilled, and the path between life and death separates us, shrouded in sorrowful clouds…"
In the context of the modern stage, the poignant melodies of traditional Vietnamese folk songs, emanating from Phuong My Chi's voice, become a deeply moving highlight. The image of General Trung Trac is recreated through music as a historical snapshot, both tragic and heroic.
This was not just a performance showcasing her singing talent, but also a proud tribute to the nation's cultural heritage, strongly affirming Vietnamese identity on the international stage. Phuong My Chi has truly become a "cultural ambassador," bringing Cai Luong – a unique traditional art form of Vietnam – closer to audiences in Asia and around the world.
The most remarkable aspect of Phuong My Chi and Kelou's performance lay in the unexpected connection between two distinct traditional theatrical forms: Vietnamese Cai Luong (traditional opera) and Chinese opera, through a subtle language exchange. Phuong My Chi performed "Luc Hai Vi Vuong" in Vietnamese, while Kelou presented "Tuy Am" in Chinese. This language swap not only created a unique highlight but also demonstrated a strong spirit of cultural exchange, breaking down language barriers so that the two cultures could "converse" and understand each other.
The innovative aspect lies in connecting two distinct traditional theatrical forms: Vietnamese cải lương (reformed opera) and Chinese opera.
According to the DTAP production team, bringing two traditional Vietnamese art forms, Cai Luong and Vietnamese opera, to the international stage is not intended to diminish the unique identities of each. On the contrary, the goal is to give them the opportunity to dialogue, complement, and shine together, creating a harmonious and unique whole unlike anything seen before. The subtlety in the harmony is also clearly demonstrated through the selection of traditional Vietnamese musical instruments. The Dan Bau – a characteristic single-stringed instrument of Vietnam – brought emotional depth and a distinctive rhythm to the performance. Meanwhile, the Dan Nhi, although present in both musical traditions, was handled with distinct techniques to retain its local cultural nuances, contributing to a performance that is both global and rich in national identity.
After her impressive performance, Phuong My Chi couldn't hide her emotions as she shared her pride: "When singing that traditional Vietnamese folk song, I only thought about how to tell the story of Trung Trac in the most proud way. I feel very happy to be standing on an international stage and singing about my nation's history."
The young singer felt proud to perform as a representative of her country.
She also expressed her joy at witnessing the fusion of two distinctive traditional art forms for the first time: "This is the first time I've had the opportunity to bring Vietnamese cải lương (traditional opera) and Chinese opera together. Two distinct cultures, yet shining brightly together." This performance was not only an artistic success but also a significant milestone, affirming the position of Vietnamese culture on the world map of music and art, with Phuong My Chi as one of the pioneering young talents.
