By Thu Anh

HCM CITY — Many film soundtracks are becoming local hits, helping some young singers become pop stars.  

Young actor Jun Phạm became a pop idol after his latest song appeared in 100 Ngày Bên Em (A Hundred Days With You), a romantic comedy released in April.

He performed Đôi Lời (Words), one of the film’s soundtracks, a love song by young composer Hoàng Dũng. He also played a leading role in the film.

After the film’s release, its soundtrack Đôi Lời became the year’s favourite song voted by fans on music online forums. 

Jun produced a music video (MV) featuring Đôi Lời. The MV became a top hit. It has attracted more than 300,000 views on YouTube.   

The 26-year-old Jun wrote a message on Facebook, saying, “I love music. I decided to develop my career in both film and singing.”

Another songwriter and singer is Trịnh Thăng Bình.

Bình began his career in 2000, but he was an unknown until he performed a soundtrack in Ông Ngoại Tuổi 30 (Scandal Maker), a comedy released in March.

His song, Tâm Sự Tuổi 30 (I’m 30 Years Old), became a hit after the film’s release.

The song has attracted more than 2.6 million views on YouTube.

According to composer and songwriter Only C of Hà Nội, film companies frequently contact him and other young musicians to order and buy their old and new songs.

"Creating instrumental music is the fastest way for young artists to train and achieve a high degree of professionalism," he said.

Only C wrote two songs Em Chưa 18 and Yêu Là Tha Thứ (Love Means You Never Say Sorry) for the film Em Chưa 18 (Jailbait), a teen comedy directed by Nguyễn Thanh Sơn.

Both songs were performed by young singer and rapper Will and Lou Hoàng.

While the film earned more than US$4.4 million in ticket sales in the first 11 days of release, its soundtracks, Em Chưa 18 and Yêu Là Tha Thứ, each attracted over 3 million views on YouTube.

Film producer Mai Thu Huyền of Tincom Media, who works for leading film companies in HCM City, said: "The driving force behind film producers’ interest in using works composed by young musicians is the demand from audiences, mostly teenagers, for songs written and performed by young faces." 

“The music, with its melody based on traditional Vietnamese music and Western songs, is used in Vietnamese films to win the hearts of young audiences.”

"Considering the high royalties that film companies pay young musicians, I think they have no reason to turn down our offers," she said.  

Film companies on average are paying around VNĐ30 million ($1,400) for each new song, and a maximum of VNĐ150 million ($6,500) for a song by famous artists.  

In previous years, to create a soundtrack for a film or TV series, producers preferred working with veteran musicians like Đức Trí and Huy Tuấn, who received up to several hundred million đồng for each film.

Now they are willing to work with younger faces to encourage new talents and save money for their film’s budget.  

"Making soundtracks professionally is very important to the development of Việt Nam’s music and film industries," said singer and songwriter Bình, explaining how interest in films is encouraging him and his colleagues to churn out popular hits. — VNS