Phuong Vy & Le Hieu – Mua Thu Cho Em
It’s a nice change to hear young singers like Phuong Vy and Le Hieu get intimate with old ballads and it’s also a treat to hear Duc Tri refreshes these standards with a touch of jazz. Mua Thu Cho Em is not a new concept. Duc Tri cut a similar record four years ago with Duc Tuan and Ho Ngoc Ha on Ao Anh. Nothing wrong with repeating a success.
The album kicks off with a duet take on Y Van’s “Nhung Buoc Chan Am Tham.” This tune has been arranged before with an uptempo, but Duc Tri slows it down with a Latin flavor. Between the two, Le Hieu is obviously more experienced than Phuong Vy on covering old standards; therefore, he saves most of the duet tracks, particularly Ngo Thuy Mien’s “Ban Tinh Ca Cho Em.” As for his solo, his bluesy take on Tran Thien Thanh’s “Lau Dai Tinh Ai,” is nowhere near Thuy Vu’s funky rendition. His nasal voice is far less sexy than Thuy Vu’s deep tenor.
Phuong Vy on the other hand lacks the interpretational skills on how to approach a standard. She also lacks the breath control. Her version of Ngo Thuy Mien’s “Ban Tinh Cuoi” is the weakest I have heard. She chooses to restraint yourself instead of taking up an octave on the bridge even though she is capable of soaring. Her rendition of Y Van’s “60 Nam Cuoc Doi” is a proof. Duc Tri turns this tune into a shouting blue, but he also cleverly added an r&b rhythm to it. The result is stunning as Phuong Vy shows her confidence in kicking her vocals up a notch. Unfortunately, she ruined the song with her English fluffing.
Even though the vocals aren’t up to par, Duc Tri managed to created a decent pop album with his minimal, elegant arrangements. That alone proves that he’s talented producer.
“Even though the vocals aren’t up to par, Duc Tri managed to created a decent pop album with his minimal, elegant arrangements. That alone proves that he’s talented producer.”
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Theo mình, một “talented producer,” cùng một lúc, phải chọn lựa giọng hát “up to par” với “elegant arrangements” chứ! Điều trên, không thoả mãn việc chứng minh Trí là talented producer.
Phương Vy lẽ ra phải vươn, thế mà tụt hẳn dốc! Hiếu thì cứ đều đều.
Ideally, it would be great to have great vocals to match up with great arrangements, but it’s harder to enhance a not-so-good voice with a production. In this case, Duc Tri has pulled it off. He knows how to make arrangements that not only complementing the singers, but also making them sound better. To me that’s a talent. It’s more challenging to work with inexperienced singer than let say Tuan Ngoc.
Thank you, Doanh, for the pointer.
I am digging “60 Năm Cuộc Đời:” that’s some yee-haw, low-down, dirty blues. We do that song as a twist, but it’s brilliant how it’s done here in blues.
Also like the concept behind “Huyền Thoại Người Con Gái;” IMHO, would have been better as a full heavy-metal arrangement though.
Anh Hai, you should here Hong Hanh’s swing rendition of “Huyen Thoai Nguoi Con Gai.” http://www.visualgui.com/2010/01/21/hong-hanh-ngo-dau-tinh-da/
Thanks, Doanh.
That’s one catchy swing. I like it.
I am not sure if i would want to go out and buy cds like these anymore!! Old songs..average singing doesnt do it 4 me ..
You also mentioned Tuan Ngoc. He surely is an experienced singer with exceptional music back ground and training and always pitch perfect. Somehow im not a big fan of Tuan Ngoc. Sure i listened to him much more regularly than say Bang Kieu, i still have trouble passing his pronunciation and occasional lack of emotions in his voice. i still like him, but not all songs that he sings.
Phuong Vy did 60 name rendition here in Philly couple months back.
Vocally she is very good live.. this was her best song ! Other songs
she was just so so…she is a cutie though.
Lam Dien, I really don’t mind hearing old tunes if they are covered creatively. Unfortunately, not too many Viet albums had done so.
Trong hình bìa album này, Phương Vy nhìn tựa như Hương Giang của PBN. Cả hai đều đẹp như tranh vẽ…
Dear James:
1. Đồng ý, cả hai đẹp lắm!
2. “Đẹp như tranh vẽ” là cụm từ ví von dường như là…sai của người Việt Nam mình! Bởi: trên đời này có những loại tranh vẽ rất đẹp và rất tồi!
Dear PTN:
PTN hôm nay hơi bị “lòng thòng”. Bởi đã có những bức tranh vẽ thật đẹp rồi nên ví như tranh vẽ cho người thường dễ mường tượng được là đẹp tới đâu, ra sao. “Đẹp lắm” là đẹp như thế nào nhỉ? Hơi khó so sánh đấy! Ít nhất cũng nên diễn tả là “đẹp như mộng” chứ, dù đôi khi cũng muốn “giết người trong mộng đã bội thề”…nhưng, hay tại mình “trong mộng vẫn ngu si” nhỉ? :)
Dear James: Đề nghị James đi ra ngoài ăn tối và nhớ gửi lời khen từ James đến cô bán hàng người Bắc rằng: Em đẹp như tranh…đẹp! (Chính xác là như thế, James nhé!) Chúc ăn ngon và bình yên bên Đức!