Foreign artists pump “new blood” into Vietnam showbiz
The increasing number of famous foreign artists performing in Vietnam’s popular broadcasted live shows not only brings new blood to Vietnam’s music industry, but also shows the industry’s strong development.
However, foreign artists’ performances in Vietnam are not completely new. Besides the many foreign singers and music bands from countries like the U.S. and the Philippines performing regular shows at bars and restaurants in Vietnam, the country has also had the honor of live music shows, though rare, by foreign artists like Bryan Adams and Sting.
In the past, most stars were invited by sponsors to Vietnam as part of their promotion campaigns, but now, concert organizers are strong enough to invite the artists themselves. This has, in fact, become a new trend of the music industry.
Vietnamese fans benefit from this new trend since they can now easily watch live performances of their favorite artists from other countries. With more foreign artists taking the stage in Vietnam, the competition also gets tougher for domestic artists, who now must improve their voices and performance skills to secure their fan bases.
The first foreign artist to appear in a televised live show was the Filipino multi-talented singer-actor Carlo Orosa. As a special guest on Vietnamese pop star My Linh’s live show last February, Mr. Orosa was a big crowd pleaser.
Encouraged by the success, the organizers then invited the Bulgarian rock band B.T.R. to their rock-themed live show. The popular East European band shared the stage with two Vietnamese pop bands Trio 666 and MTV.
Starting in June, the television channel HTV also joined the race to refresh live music programs with foreign artists. HTV and the organizers of the monthly program “Friendship Melody” invited Thai singer Yayaying, Singaporean top singer-actor Fann Wong, “old friend” Carlo Orosa and Filipino singer Pam G.
In September 2004, Vietnamese fans will have an opportunity to enjoy the performance of another Bulgarian voice, Miglena Mihaylova, at two big events – the “Friendship Melody” on Sept. 12 in Hanoi, and the finals of the Vietnam model contest on Sept. 19 in Ho Chi Minh City. Hopefully her performance will be even more influential than that of B.T.R., praised organizers.
Well-known in her home country not only as a talented singer, but also as a super model, Mihaylova, 31, has a doctorate degree in musical theory and a master’s degree in conducting. She has won many domestic and international prizes as well as fans in many countries worldwide, including the U.S., China and Czech Republic.
Joining Miglena Mihaylova at the 2004 Vietnam Super Model finals are foreign celebrities like Singaporean TV drama star Christopher Lee Ming Shun, who will be on the judging panel.
Another outstanding event which promises the presence of many European and Asian artists from France, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, Korea, Japan, Thailand and Singapore is the International Pop Festival 2004 which will be held in November.
Thanh Nien Newspaper
