Tam Doan – Sau Le Bong

To fully express Vietnamese sentimental ballads, a vocalist has to reach the ripeness of the lyrics. She has to sing like she lives it. Tam Doan has been covering lyrical standards throughout her career, yet her latest release, Sau Le Bong, is as plain as yesterday’s cold white congee. Her version of Lam Phuong’s “Giot Le Sau” lacks the despondency and Song Ngoc’s “Xin Goi Nhau La Co Nhan” lacks the soul-stirring despair from the older generation. Maybe she was trying to refrain herself by staying in the low register, but you can never go over sentimental on over-sentimental music.