Recently, the stage of the program "Em xinh say hi" became the center of attention with the impressive performance of "He" by team leader Phuong My Chi and members Phuong Ly, Phao, and Chi Xe. Not simply an entertainment performance, "He" has created a storm of compliments from experts and audiences because of the subtle combination of traditional Vietnamese opera/tuong art with modern music and lively, catchy rap. This is considered a vivid proof of how the young generation is breathing new life into the national cultural heritage.
When modern music "gives wings" to the heritage of hát bội
Phuong My Chi deeply shared the meaning of "He": "For Chi, "He" is not only an entertainment act, but also a way for Chi to tell everyone about a profound, delicate and proud ancient Vietnamese culture. Chi wants to spread Tuong/Hat Boi singing more widely on stage from the perspective of the young generation".
If traditional music is Phuong My Chi's "artistic DNA", then her ability to inspire and "ignite" team spirit is what makes her special.
From the first time she heard the demo song, the female singer envisioned incorporating Hat Boi/Traditional Drama into her performance. She believes that although this art form is no longer popular in the mainstream music, Hat Boi/Traditional Drama still contains cultural depth and special artistic inspiration from the visuals, music to stage language. This has created a meaningful highlight on the modern stage, attracting the attention of a large audience, especially the youth.
With her "artistic DNA", Phuong My Chi recreated a stage imbued with folk music.
To "realize" the unique artistic vision of Phuong My Chi's team, the DTAP production team carried out a very meticulous research and "recreation" process. They deeply studied the typical melodies of Hat Boi - Tuong, then restructured and subtly blended them into modern house music.
The special feature that creates the "cultural soul" of "He" is that the traditional instruments such as the "co" (a type of zither), the "sen" (a type of zither), the drum, the "dong lo" (a type of zither), and the sona (a type of trumpet) are all recorded directly by musicians from the Ngoc Khanh classical opera troupe. This "authenticity" has brought a true cultural nuance, completely different from conventional electronic music products.
Each member of the group "shines" in their own way, creating a harmonious and attractive whole.
Behind a creative product is caution and respect for heritage. Phuong My Chi, DTAP and the "Em xinh say hi" crew have undertaken a very serious "learning" process to ensure cultural "standards". They proactively sought out leading experts in the field of Hat Boi - Tuong Co to "ask for advice" and learn before "touching" this precious heritage.
The team spent a lot of time researching every little detail of the performance.
Meritorious Artist Ngoc Khanh, Head of the Ngoc Khanh Traditional Opera Troupe, has become a special "teacher", meticulously guiding every aspect from music, costumes, body shape, musical instruments to "unchangeable" stage principles. Every detail is "conveyed" carefully and passionately. Not stopping there, Phuong My Chi's team also "dug deeper" by working with the project team "Heritage Journey - Hello Vietnam", to clearly understand the "boundaries" when innovating traditional art, as well as the subtle differences between Northern Traditional Opera and Southern Traditional Opera. From costumes to every movement of hands and feet, everything is carefully researched, not just put on and done, showing seriousness and professionalism.
Bringing Tuong/Hat Boi culture to the stage and creating interest for Gen Z is not an easy task.
The performance "Clown" is a clear proof that Vietnamese culture is not outdated, but on the contrary, always ready to shine if "retold properly" by the next generations. In the current context, when cultures have the opportunity to strongly interact and exchange, young Vietnamese people are asserting their pioneering role. They not only actively preserve, inherit and spread traditional cultural values to the world but also skillfully absorb and select the quintessence from abroad to enrich the national cultural identity.
As writer Nguyen Truong Quy has affirmed, the young generation is a promising force in continuing and promoting traditional cultural values. With their dynamism, creativity and ability to quickly grasp the means and methods of decoding of the new era, they can interact with humanity and bring Vietnamese culture further than ever before.
"Clown" is considered a truly unique performance because it dares to put national cultural elements into a modern arrangement without being forced.
Phuong My Chi, with her traditional "artistic DNA", not only shines personally but also shows the ability to inspire and "ignite" team spirit so that each member of the group can "shine" in their own way, creating a harmonious and attractive whole. This shows that the role of young artists is not only limited to performing but also in shaping trends, spreading culture and creating a new generation of audiences who love renewed traditional values.
This is an opportunity for folk culture to get closer to young people and international friends.
"He" is not only a success of Phuong My Chi and her crew, but also a symbol of intersection, creativity, and a strong affirmation of the strong vitality of Vietnamese culture in the modern rhythm.
