TV music show back stronger than ever

Voices raised: Dinh Manh Ninh (second from left) will perform in the musical work Circle of Life tonight in Bai Hat Viet at the HCM City Opera House.- Photo maskonline.vcmedia.vn

Of the many music shows aired on VTV, Bai Hat Viet is the only for young song-writers. Since 2005, it has popularised many new songs by emerging artists.

Several award-winning composers have made a strong impression on audiences and industry experts alike.

Many Vietnamese music reality shows are adapted from foreign formats, including Don't Forget the Lyrics, Vietnam Idol The Voice, and The Winner Is. In order to compete, locally produced Bai Hat Viet has been forced to improve in a bid to win back audiences, according to organiser and composer Luong Minh.

A show tonight at the HCM City Opera House will feature a number of hit songs made popular on the show. The work, titled Vong Quay Cuoc Doi (Circle of Life), includes eight numbers that have triumphed at the Bai Hat Viet awards since 2005. Circle of Life will be performed by singers Dinh Manh Ninh and Ha Tram.

In the new series of the TV show the format has been tweaked so three new songs, and the stories of their production, will be introduced in the first three weeks of the month. The final week will be a live show featuring live performances of all the songs.

Featured producers and musicians will include Quoc Trung, Huy Tuan and Duc Tri, who are veteran song-writers.

"If some songs that appeared last series had been produced more professionally, they would have been become hit songs," said Minh. "We hope in the new version, young song-writers will be instructed by experienced producers with high quality sound equipment".

The show, which will air on Fridays at 9pm, was awarded the Devotion Award by the Vietnam News Agency's The Thao &Van Hoa (Sports & Culture) daily in 2008.