LOVE SONGS - Life and love are the themes of Dương Thụ-80 Năm Một Giấc Mơ (Dương Thụ-80 Years of Dreaming), a production issued on vinyl record (analogue recording) by 80-year-old musician and teacher Dương Thụ. Photo courtesy of the producer.

HCM CITY— Song-writer and music teacher Dương Thụ has released his latest album in HCM City, featuring top hits from the 1990s and new songs. 

Life and love are the themes of Dương Thụ -- 80 Năm Một Giấc Mơ (Dương Thụ -- 80-Year Dream), a production issued on vinyl record (analogue recording). 

It features 16 hit songs that shot him to fame. 

Highlighted songs include Vẫn Hát Lời Tình Yêu (Singing Love Songs of All Time) released in 1993, Gọi Anh (Calling You) from 2000 and Hoạ Mi Hót Trong Mưa (Nightingale Sings in the Rain) from 2003. 

Musician Thụ worked with his staff from Viết Tân Studio to record the songs. 

Pop stars Thanh Lam, Hồng Nhung and Bằng Kiều are featured. 

"I hope my fans will have a good experience after listening to my songs on a vinyl record. I believe they can touch the music,” said Thụ, who has 50 years in the industry, at his album’s launch ceremony in HCM City on March 31. 

LONG CAREER - Musician and music teacher Dương Thụ has 50 years in the industry. Photo courtesy of the producer.

Thụ, who began his music career in 1982, has composed more than 100 songs in pop and contemporary folk music. 

He has worked as a music lecturer at several universities and colleges in Hà Nội and HCM City.    

In 2009, Thụ launched Cà Phê Thứ Bẩy (Café Saturday), a cultural programme to introduce Vietnamese culture and music to young people.

His programme offers seminars and forums in fine art, literature, painting, photography, film and theatre. The events are hosted by well-known cultural researchers, musicians, writers and artists. 

In 2018, Thụ received the Culture and Education prize presented by the Phan Châu Trinh Awards in HCM City. He was awarded for his contributions to musical research and to Vietnamese culture and music.

The annual Phan Châu Trinh Awards, launched in 2008 by Phan Châu Trinh Culture Foundation, honour individuals and groups for their contributions to Vietnamese culture, translation, research and Vietnamese studies. Bearing the name of nationalist hero Phan Châu Trinh (1872 -1926), the awards aim to restore and spread defining cultural values to renew Vietnamese culture in the 21st century.

Thụ has released 20 group albums.—VNS