VietNamNet Bridge – Tired after a busy day at work, Nguyen Hoang Son turns on the television and sees a singing contest, “not another singing contest” he grumbles and immediately changes the channel.

The shows go on: A contestant at the Morning Star’s Rendezvous 2008. — VNS File Photo

Singers have been rushing to compete; some singers have even been on several shows at the same time, or compete in the next show after one finishes. Some contestants on Singing at School last year are competing on Star’s Singing on HCM City TV and Singing at School this year. Most of the 12 contestants in the final round of Morning Star’s Rendezvous 2008 were familiar faces, having also competed in previous contests, such as singer Hai Yen and Ngoc Minh from Viet Nam Idol, Thu Huong from Star’s Singing on HCM City TV, Phuong Thuy from Morning Star’s Rendezvous 2007, and also the three winners of last years contest. How can television singing contests promote singers’ career when they are in so many competitions? Maybe there is a limited talent pool in Viet Nam that has already been tapped, but certain singers have made a career out of being a contestant.

Musicians also tired

Television channels and candidates continue the contests, because they all have something to gain – money for contestants and TV channels, and exposure for sponsors – but what about the audience?

Musician Nguyen Cuong, a former member of the arts council who organised Morning Star’s Rendezvous 2006, said, “the quality of winners on the contests have become worse and worse. We can’t think that organising many contests will help us find more talented singers. We can’t find a new singing talent every year. In fact, there are only a few singers that are household names, such as Thanh Lam, My Linh and Siu Black, and they didn’t take part in any contests.”

Many musicians are also bored of singing contests.

“I am not excited anymore when I see that contests are organised one after the other. We have not found any new singing talent from the contests, it is just a game show,” said musician Quoc Bao.

Fellow musician Tran Thanh Tung added, “It’s good to have a few singing contests like this, but not if the quality of singers deteriorates, after the competition what do the contestants gain?”

(Source: Viet Nam News)