Quach Thanh Danh – Nhu Da Dau Yeu
Quach Thanh Danh’s fourth album, Nhu Da Dau Yeu, is snore-worthy not because of his vocals but his karaoke-standard productions. Even though his relaxed baritone is charming, the lifeless accompaniments make him sound so sleepy. It would have been a great album of cover if QTD were to hire either Hoai Sa or Duc Tri to provide him some simple but classy arrangements.
Yen Lam is unknown to me and I am not impressed with his work on this album. The use of zither on the intro of Anh Bang’s “Khuc Thuy Du” gives an impression that we’re about to hear a Chinese tune until the lyrics come in. The cheesy guitar riff on Truong Sa’s “Xin Con Goi Ten Nhau” is just unbearable. Yet, the most distracting sound is the programmed drums on most of these tracks. Phu Quang’s “Em Oi, Ha Noi Pho” is one of the best two songs on the album because the drums were illuminated. The strumming guitars offer a sense of intimacy to QTD’s warm voice. The other standout track is also from Phu Quang and without the rhythm section. The blending of tinkling piano and sorrowful violin brings a lonesome and chilling vibe to his soulful delivery on “Noi Nho Mua Dong.”
If Nhu Da Yeu Yeu were stripped down to just his voice accompanied by either a piano or a guitar, it would have been a worthwhile album. I have never heard of a Vietnamese singer who sings with just the double bass. Both Cassandra Wilson (on “The Very Thought of You” from her recent album, Lovely) and Kevin Mahogany (who did it live on stage) hypnotized me with just their vocals backed up by the plucking bass.
Hãy nghe Lam Xưa & Giọt Lam…CDs này là những đầu tư lớn – tư duy & tài chính!
“I have never heard of a Vietnamese singer who sings with just the double bass. Both Cassandra Wilson (on “The Very Thought of You” from her recent album, Lovely) and Kevin Mahogany (who did it live on stage) hypnotized me with just their vocals backed up by the plucking bass.”
I think it’s an issue of mindset: “it’s not music unless it has a full band behind it.” Additionally, the bass (again, a mindset issue here) is not considered an accompanying instrument, like a guitar or a piano. Just a plodding rhythm marker.
Even within my group, sometimes we end up with 3 to 4 guitars, 2 to 3 keyboards, drum and bass, all backing up a lonely voice.
@Hml…and they all play rhythm because no one can play lead if their lives depend on it. Lead guitar is a lost art.
Hi
During one of the shows our band did about 2 years ago when in the middle of the song, suddenly we lost the electricity. The sound of the keyboard and the guitar was gone. what ‘s left was just me and the bass and drums. We kept singing in the dark with just glow sticks and I sang the entire song with just the bass and the drums (in the dark) . It was a very fun thing to do actually.. Now that I thought about it.. why not repeat it again this time on purpose.
Thanks for the idea :)
BTW, In the band, I prefer a very strong bass and drummer. A great keyboard player is good but we have to be careful when adding more people.. it will be sometimes too loud. I prefer just 3 players most of the time (3 strong ones). Unless the guitarist is fantastic, most of the time I find that the typical VN band guitarist tend to be too loud and they want to “solo” rather than rythm, which is what I like more because I prefer the piano sound as opposed to the electric guitar.
Here’s a home recording of Vết Lăn Trầm, wherein we did with “less is more,” with piano, drum and bass backing our sis MN:
http://mnguyet.multiply.com/music/item/235/A_Little_Touch_of_Jazz_With_My_Friends-_Vet_Lan_Tram
At least, that’s how we rehearsed.
At the actual performance however, it never failed that there’re one or two additional, unplanned, instruments…
i wonder if donny heard of these old cds. his music might not be easy to listen to compared to Tu Cong Phung, but Nguyen Dinh Phung is pretty good for a doctor/inspired-poet/song writer
http://www.nguyendinhphung.com/Nhac/nhac12.html
the song Dem Sao and Toc May Bay are wonderful
from his song titles i can tell night and stars are NDP inspiration. as for TCP, the beach, da trang`, and hills are his inspiration.
Oh Yeah, Da Khuc is my favorite album.
Hml…I love this home recording of Vet Lan Tram by you guys. I think alot of TCSs songs can be accompanied by this approach. Listens to this at night brings out the vocals and the lyrics more. Whats the name of your band and where you guys from?
Anh Hai, your bass ! :) Good job.
Here is a clip of Ngoc Anh.
I love this arrangement of Mua Thu Canh Nau
by Nguyen anh 9 ‘s son, nhac si Nguyen Quang
http://www.video4viet.com/index.html?cid=1168&idx=2608993f427fb521d9b0013b885b3b3b
May be I can perform this one in April.
“Hml…I love this home recording of Vet Lan Tram by you guys. I think alot of TCSs songs can be accompanied by this approach. Listens to this at night brings out the vocals and the lyrics more. Whats the name of your band and where you guys from?”
Thank you.
We are from Northern Virginia. We are not a performing band in the usual sense, just a group of friends getting together, doing music for the love of it.
Every other month or so, we have a music get-together: if you are in the area on 4/4/09, please come hang out with us (quanvanva.multiply.com).
“@Hml…and they all play rhythm because no one can play lead if their lives depend on it. Lead guitar is a lost art.”
More often than not, it becomes a battle of the guitars…
“Here is a clip of Ngoc Anh.
I love this arrangement of Mua Thu Canh Nau
by Nguyen anh 9 ’s son, nhac si Nguyen Quang
http://www.video4viet.com/index.html?cid=1168&idx=2608993f427fb521d9b0013b885b3b3b
May be I can perform this one in April.”
So, does this mean we’ll be seeing you for sure in April? :o)
Yes !!
I’d like to jam with you guys first ALONE though.
Website của bác sĩ Nguyễn Đình Phùng sến sặc sụa! Nhưng mình thích cách làm việc và tâm hồn của BS. NĐP & Mặc Bích!
À, Quân ơi, Vân Anh có hát nhạc của NĐP đấy! Trong CD sẽ có!
hey chi ThuHoai,
by Anh Hai choi bass, hes not the same anh Hai from Houston is he?
No it’s not. You are talking about anh Hai from the “Ocean Band” where Dat is the guitaritst featured in Van Son right ?
yeah…you know him too? my bro hangs w him n his band.
I know Dat and his buddies, the drummer and the keyboard. I sang with them before. They are pretty good band. I remembered the keyboard player keeps saying he likes my voice, style and song choice. Nhin hien lanh lam.