Vietnamese rock band pioneer wins Billboard kudos

U.S. entertainment website Billboard has lavished praise on Buc Tuong (The Wall) in a recent article, calling them « the band that led generations to rock music in Vietnam. »

The article, published Wednesday, notes that Buc Tuong, a five-member band formed in 1995, helped popularize the rock music genre in the domestic market. The band played a « pivotal role in the development of rock in Vietnam » and « became a symbol of change for a generation who dared to pioneer a dream, » it writes.

« Buc Tuong’s compositions were simple yet rich in humanity, creating a whole new audience for Vietnamese rock, » it stated.

Once the most famous rock bands in the country, Buc Tuong had hibernated since the death of its leader Tran Lap in 2016. But it has enjoyed a resurgence since last year after introducing new vocalist Pham Anh Khoa.

Their sixth album, « Con Duong Khong Ten » (Nameless Path), and their recent live show in Hanoi have won praise from fans across the country.

« The songs have a strong and resilient spirit. Bright, upbeat melodies with compelling rhythms remain the band’s main theme throughout the album. But new sounds have also been introduced, reflecting changes in the band’s evolution, » the Billboard article says.

Members said that when Buc Tuong performed in Hanoi last month, they were worried about the ups and downs of Vietnamese rock and the band over the last few years.

But their nervousness was allayed on seeing thousands of hands waving and people singing along. Band leader Tran Tuan Hung said he believed that rock music was still in the hearts of many generations.

Buc Tuong has earned three nominations at the Dedication Music Awards, which is considered the « Grammy of Vietnam. » They won the award’s « Show of the Year » title in 2017.

By Dang Khoa – VnExpress.net – May 21, 2021