HCM CITY — Two music productions on mothers and children by composer Nguyễn Văn Chung of HCM City have been released to celebrate the annual Buddhist holiday of Vu Lan, an event that eulogises motherly love, held annually in the seventh month of the lunar calendar.  

The album Thương Con Thương Cả Cuộc Đời (Mother’s Love) and MV (music video) 8 Lời Nói Dối Của Mẹ (Mother’s Words), feature pop and ballad songs in praise of mothers, and show children’s gratitude to and appreciation of their mothers.

Thương Con Thương Cả Cuộc Đời features pop star Đức Tuấn and young singers Quốc Thiên, Lân Nhã, Thanh Huyền and kid singer Bào Ngư.

Trung Quân Idol, winner of the Best Male Singer at Zing Music Awards 2015, performs in 8 Lời Nói Dối Của Mẹ.

“I hope my new albums can encourage young people to love and respect their mothers,” said Chung, 35, who has worked to compose and record the songs.

Chung began his career in 2003 after working for Nhạc Xanh Studio, one of the city’s private music agencies.

His music is pop and R&B, using Vietnamese folk elements.

He has composed several hundred songs, including top hits such as Vầng Trăng Khóc (Tears of the Moon), Chiếc Khăn Gió Ấm (Beautiful Scarf) and Chuyện Tình Dưới Mưa (Love in Rain).

His songs have been performed by pop stars like Hồ Ngọc Hà and Hồ Quỳnh Hương, and young pop idols Miu Lê and Akira Phan.

Chung has recently released a songbook for children, called 100 Songs for Children, featuring his songs about childhood, family, friends, school and country.

The book includes beautiful pictures and sheet music to help young readers learn how to sing and play instruments. 

It also comes with a CD featuring the voices of students from music clubs at cultural houses for children.

“I have toured 50 primary schools in the city to offer my songbook for free. I hope students can enhance their love for music,” said Chung.   

His songbook includes Nhật Ký Của Mẹ, one of the composer’s most popular songs on mother’s love, which has been included on two CDs by Casa Musica, a music company in Germany.

The song was ranked 10^th  on the CD The Best of Ballroom Music Vol. 36, which features 45 works performed by popular artists and bands from different countries.

The song was discovered by a member of Casa Musica’s production board, who first heard it at a Việt Nam-Germany cultural exchange event. 

The producer contacted Chung to sign a contract to include the song on the album, which was a successful follow-up to the series produced by Casa Musica. 

The CD series, The Best of Ballroom Music, released by distributor Mailoder in 2015, is popular among dancers, dance teachers and musicians worldwide. — VNS