Music project to rock youth

The last live show in 2006 announced Buc Tuong band break-up that drew 20,000 fans who came to say a tearful goodbye.- Photo neww.zing.vn

The project will have three main events including a Buc Tuong cover contest, a rock music tour and rock opera performance from now until next March. The contest is the first rock cover contest in Vietnam, according to the organisers.

"Buc Tuong cover contest will be held aiming to keep the flame of rock which is lit by Buc Tuong," said the project co-ordinator Bong Mai at a recent press conference.

Founded in March 1995 and consisting of five students of the Hanoi University of Construction, Buc Tuong quickly achieved success, becoming arguably Vietnam’s most popular rock group.

A year after forming, the band became popular among young people with a hit song We’re the Wall in a TV show for university students. Four years later, they created a stir with another hit Duong Toi Ngay Vinh Quang (Road to Glorious Day).

The band announced their break-up in the last live show in 2006 that drew 20,000 fans who came to say a tearful goodbye. However, in 2010, the band regrouped, but with an important change – it no longer performed hard rock and metal rock, switching instead to modern rock. The band released the album Ngay Khac (Another Day) to mark the change.

The death of 42-year-old band leader Tran Lap in 2016 due to cancer was a big loss for Buc Tuong and their fans.

During the cover contest, contestants can cover the songs by singing acapella, singing on beat or singing with the band and they will send a clip to website giaitri.vtvcab.vn. The top 10 round will be held on November 17 and the final on December 12.

The winner will be awarded a cash prize of VNĐ100 million (roughly US$4,300). The best contestants will have chance to perform in the rock tour and rock opera.

Rockers like Dong Hung, Tuan RC and Tuan Khanh from the band Microwave will perform at the tour which will be held in Hanoi, Da Nang and HCM City in March next year.

The opera entitled Ngay Hom Qua (Yesterday) will debut in March next year. The plot features a man who overcomes a lots of challenges and temptation to gain success. The 90-minute opera will be staged by Bong Mai to feature 50 songs of Buc Tuong.