Minh Châu

Compiled of 21 songs performed at her first full-scale concert, HOÀNG THÙY LINH's VIETNAMESE CONCERT THE ALBUM is a mixture of songs from Hoàng Thùy Linh's third and fourth studio albums "Hoàng" and "LINK".

With the main genres of the two albums being folktronica, EDM, pop songs, the VIETNAMESE CONCERT ALBUM has succeeded in elevating the original tracks into epic, high-energy performance-based songs for the concert. It would not be a reach to say the concert remixes/rearrangement feel like Hoàng Thùy Linh is giving a metalstep/dubstep rock twist to her repertoire of folktronica songs.

Here are my top 8 favorite tracks from the concert album

1. Kẽo Cà Kẽo Kẹt (The Creeking) - Orchestral Version

note: i previously wrote a mini commentary for the song. this song is always most painful yet beautiful to me because it encapsulates her life story so well even through the borrowed use of a folk tale.

2. Tứ Phủ x Đánh Đố

My life was tormented when he betrayed my love Even heaven could not understand Aah a.. my tears immersed in the Natural Paths Aah .. I’ve longed for you in the middle of life for thousands of years Longed for you in the middle of life for thousands of years I blame nothing but our without-graces destiny. Clouds and water will not drift to their roots Like you didn't come to my lonely life And since I knew the name of sadness. The day I picked up from the old love story, Self-talkful words all night long, Amitabha...

Both original tracks were written by Hồ Hoài Anh, Ngân Vi and produced by Triple D, with the shared depictions of the tragic beauty of Vietnamese woman. I love Tứ Phủ (Four Palaces) which is inspired by Đạo Mẫu - the Vietnamese worship of mother goddesses.

3. Lắm Mối Tối Ngồi Không (Run After Two Hares, Catch Nones)

Sometimes I want to love But I'm not suitable to love anyone

The title is taken from an idiom in Vietnamese to talk about how if you have too many suitors, at the end of the day you will end up with no one.

4. Bánh Trôi Nước (Woman)

My body is white; my fate, softly rounded Rising and sinking like mountains in streams The hand that kneads me may be rough— At center, my heart is red and true

The lyrics of the song is taken directly from the traditional poem 'Bánh Trôi Nước' (lit. translation “floating cake in water”) of female poet Hồ Xuân Hương. The poem describes the life cycle of a floating cake which is used as metaphor for the tragic life of women in the feudalism era, detailed explanation here.

5. Gieo Quẻ (Casting Coins)

Love comes like a miracle, no one can predict We meet up as God's will, then suddenly, we'll fall for each other No one can force love, neither the Gods above Love doesn't ask for anything

6. Để Mị Nói Cho Mà Nghe (Let Mị Tell You Something)

Let Mị tell you something This soul ain't made to dwell in silence Owing the love for father, for mother Might as well surrender to fate

The song was inspired by a Vietnamese classic novella, "Vợ chồng A Phủ" - which is about a young girl who ran away from an abusive marriage. If the original song had given it the novella a modern twist by using the lyrics from the protagonist Mị to express her desire to enjoy her youth to the fullest, I'd say that the anime rock twist in this remix has essentially painted the picture of Mị partying at a festival during Tết after successfully escaping her abusive household.

7. Bắt Vía

This moment is rare Please don't turn away, turn away, away No need for long or forever So even if time fades, as long as you alone stay

While it is the most pop song on the album LINK, I feel like this specific rearrangement elevates the original track by giving room to the strings which were subdued in the og track.

8. Lúc Thấy Lúc Không

I dream, dream for the high clouds Where we had a date, but you didn't come I know you just want to play with my heart, yet I still wait for you, that's why I'm sad Keep waiting for you for what? Waiting for nothing

The rearrangement was so dreamy and fairy tale-like and gave the original track the grand ballroom sound it deserved in the first place.

bonus: See Tình aka Ting Ting Tang Tang being sung by a children choir accompanied by the HCMC Symphony Orchestra is just beautiful 🥺

tldr: hoàng thùy linh dropped a great concert album rearranging all the songs on her two latest full albums. please give it a try if you're into edm, pop, folktronica, traditional music sound like zhongguo feng