I'm incredibly meticulous when it comes to art. This is well-known among artists in the north. I was demanding in my youth, and now, with age, I've become even more so. But I believe this meticulousness is essential in art, not just for me but for every artist. Without it, how can we create quality products? If 'Bac Bling' were simply a piece of entertainment music, I probably wouldn't have been interested. However, from the first phone call, Hoa Minzy convinced me that she and the entire team were well-prepared to transform this unique idea into a polished product.
I've dedicated my life to art. I am getting on in years, but seeing the passion of the younger generation, especially their appreciation for national culture, made it difficult to refuse. Even a small contribution from me can encourage young artists on their journey to conquer traditional art, and I’m always willing to do so. Those who don't understand might think, "He’s old, yet he’s still dancing around, competing for Mid-Autumn Festival gifts with the children." But those who do will recognize my support for young artists trying to spread the beauty of Vietnam to the world. Not just Hoa Minzy, but any young artist with a serious idea about national culture, if they invite me, I will definitely accept. I will support them with all my ability, because we all know music is one of the fastest and most effective ways to promote and develop national culture.
Exploring and capturing the essence of folk art, combining traditional and contemporary elements to create art forms suitable for the times, isn't difficult. The challenge lies within the artist: do they have the dedication, the talent, the daring to think and to do? We are fortunate to inherit the culture of a nation with thousands of years of civilization, a place where many long-standing cultures of the world have interacted and transformed. A nation that endured thousands of years of Chinese domination and hundreds of years of colonial rule, yet was not assimilated. A nation that, despite the ups and downs of history, the hardships of nation-building, and the resilience in defending the country, has preserved its writing system, language, and unique identity. This heritage is inexhaustible, especially when we know how to "renew the old" to create products that retain the soul of the past while remaining contemporary. Because of this viewpoint, I wasn't surprised to be invited to rap in a piece of music. Those familiar with Xuan Hinh might find it unbelievable that a stage artist like me would dare participate in something so modern.
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Artist Xuan Hinh's appearance in 'Bac Bling'. Photo: Provided by the artist |
Rap music was introduced to Vietnam and has become increasingly popular among young people. Combining our folk music with modern world music is a bold and intelligent move. If you look closely, you'll see that in our folk music, our ancestors were "rapping" long ago - hundreds of years ago - we just didn't call it that. Hat xam, bai choi... they all contain "rap". The verses in bai choi, performed by artisans with rhythm and tempo like "above skin, below is also skin, put it in, it's warm, pull it out, it's cold...", if that's not rap, then what is it? This shows that our folk art is both old and new, only the form and content change with time.
Because I’m familiar with the "rap" style of traditional melodies, when Tuan sang the rap part, I didn't need to practice beforehand; those kinds of folk melodies were already flowing within me. I'm not saying performing that rap part was easy. Nor am I saying that rap technique is simple. Indeed, any art form has its specific standards and techniques that artists need to practice diligently to master. But the rap in 'Bac Bling' is truly... very Vietnamese, very folk. Therefore, it was quite easy for me to grasp the music.
(Excerpt from the book Rustic Joker, published by THBooks)
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, The End.
Xuan Hinh was born in 1963 but registered his birth year as 1966 to meet the age requirement for Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema. His name is associated with traditional cheo melodies, quan ho folk songs, xam singing, and chau van. The artist is best remembered for works like Thi Mau Goes to the Pagoda, The Fortune Teller Goes to the Market, The Man-Horse, The Horse-Man. He was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist in 1997. In March, he attracted attention when he sang and rapped in the song 'Bac Bling', collaborating with singer Hoa Minzy and musician Tuan Cry.
