Nguyen Van Chung composed the song in July, during a time of significant change for the country, particularly after the merging of several provinces and cities. "Living amidst this transformative period, I wanted to write a song about the aspirations of young people," the composer said.
Upon completion, he immediately thought of Tung Duong and sent the song to the singer. Over a month of collaboration, the two revised the song multiple times before finalizing it. Nguyen Van Chung favored the phrase "Asian dragon," while Tung Duong disliked the comparison. However, the composer retained the line "yearning for the Asian dragon" to express the desire for economic advancement. Regarding the title, Tung Duong suggested "Vietnam rising." Nguyen Van Chung, aiming for a more encompassing title, chose "Proudly stepping into the future."
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Composer Nguyen Van Chung (left) and singer Tung Duong at the product launch on the afternoon of 14/8. Photo: Provided by the artist. |
The song opens with the line: "Vietnam, I love the voice of the place where I live." Chung explained his inspiration: "While composing, I remembered my childhood, longing to hear my mother's lullaby every day. Vietnamese people living abroad yearn to hear the voices of their homeland. I believe love for one's country begins with love for the Vietnamese language."
Young composer Le Phong arranged the song with EDM elements, incorporating a violin solo. The music video, directed by Vu Hong Thang, captures scenic views of Ba Dinh Square, the Hanoi Flag Tower, and landmarks across the north, central, and south regions of Vietnam.
Within 20 hours of its release, the music video garnered nearly 600,000 views on YouTube. Many viewers praised the song's meaningful lyrics and inspiring melody. Tung Duong plans to perform "Vietnam - Proudly stepping into the future" at several major events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on 2/9. He hopes the song will be covered by fellow artists and fans.
Nguyen Van Chung, 42, from Ho Chi Minh City, is a graduate of the University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology. In 2005, he wrote "Crying Moon," which propelled the duo Nhat Tinh Anh and Khanh Ngoc to stardom. Many of his songs have defined the careers of singers such as Cao Thai Son ("Rainy Road"), Khanh Phuong ("Warm Scarf"), Akira Phan ("Winter is not cold"), Nam Cuong ("Flying through the Milky Way"), Bao Thy and Quang Vinh ("Rose House"), Hien Thuc ("Mother's Diary"). In April, his song "Continue the story of peace" reached 4 billion views across various platforms.
He is also a successful children's music composer, with around 300 songs to his name. The Vietnam Records Organization recognized him as the Youngest Composer with the Most Children's Songs.
Tung Duong, 42, is a prominent vocalist who rose to fame from Sao Mai Diem Hen 2004. He is known for his powerful voice and unique musical style. Since the competition, he has maintained a prolific career, releasing six studio albums, holding 11 live shows, and winning numerous prestigious awards. He married Giang Pham in 2010 and has a son, Mac Lam, born in 2015.
Late last year, he gained attention with the song "Rebirth," composed by Tang Duy Tan, which won Song of the Year at the Cong Hien Awards. Recently, he has been recognized for performing patriotic songs like "Continue the story of peace" and "A round of Vietnam."
Ha Thu
