Some history: after defeating the South Vietnamese government in 1975 and finally reunifying the country, the Vietnamese Communist Party set about running the economy under orthodox Marxist principles.
It didn't work out terribly well, and a scant eleven years later they introduced the doi moi (open door) policy, liberalizing the economy to a great extent.
However, one thing that has definitely not changed since 1986 is the musical taste of the Vietnamese people.
Last Saturday I met up with a Vietnamese girl of my acquaintance and several of her friends to go to the Acoustic Cafe, a rock cafe/bar in District 3. She insisted that we get there two hours before the band was set to play, and it soon became apparent why: the cafe was jammed, you couldn't turn around in there. So what was the occasion?
Stick it to the Man, a Bon Jovi cover band.
I wish I were kidding, but no. The place was full of young, hip, well-off Vietnamese who yelled out their favorite 80's stadium rock ballads and sang along (in English) to 'Every Rose has its Thorn'.
Afterward I took an informal poll of the English-speakers as to who was their favorite singer/musical group. I heard:
- Duran Duran
- N'Sync
- Sublime
- Celine Dion
- the Backstreet Boys
This place has a long way to go.
3 comments:
First off, music about booze, sex and drugs are out of the question. The govt will never allow those on the radio.
Second, there is no teenage angst culture; society discourages it. Conformity and temperament moderation are encouraged. Beside Vietnamese youth are too busy making money or climbing the social ladder to have them.
That leaves feel good music...
Also, consider the logistic of spreading music. Music made in the West has to clear copy right legal frame work and license agreement before reaching the TV and radio stations of Vietnam. That explain why the music that reaches the mass is one or two decades behind.
So rather than listening to the latest Madonna and Justin Timberlake they listen to the Backstreet Boys and N'sync.
Does not make that much of a different though...
'Latest Madonna and Justin Timberlake'? Looks like the mediocre could use some help in the contemporary music category himself...
Seriously though, I see what you mean about the culture... though the whole copyright thing certainly hasn't stopped them from pirating music.
I would have to disagree with mediocre. Vietnam, like its other neighbours are usually ahead or in line with Western countries; and not just in distributing music and films. Switch on TV and you'll see Madonna and Justin Timberlake music videos. BBC, CNN or MTV can be watched on many televisions (since cable is relatively inexpensive). As to the 1980s love affair; it comes down to taste. Modern up-beat music doesn't appear to suit the soft and gentle Vietnamese psyche.
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