Tran Thuy Chi sings beautifully, but says a singing career is not for her

Her fans are legion, but Tran Thuy Chi is clear that she is not cut out for the big stage, “nor am I dazzled by its glamour.”

Chi is the Vietnamese singer who has the most songs downloaded by internet users and her soft, mellow music has done extremely well on music websites and billboards.

She chooses to follow the pop-ballad genre that is popular among the current generation. Her mellifluous voice has won instantaneous acceptance from audiences, particularly teenagers.

Chi also spearheads the underground movement in Vietnam that shuns big performances, publicity and commercialization.

When Chi’s rendition of Giac mo trua (Midday dream) composed by Giang Son was posted on the Internet in late 2005, it spread quickly and became a smash hit among local teenyboppers. The song, which had been successfully performed by singer Khanh Linh, instantly vaulted Chi into online stardom.

Chi’s other sought-after online songs include Dem nam mo pho (Dreaming of the street at night), Thien Duong goi ten (The so-called paradise), Cay vi cam (The violin) and Giac mo mang ten minh (The dream that bears my name).

When Chi’s two collections were unexpectedly posted on www.yeuamnhac.com in June 2007, they caused quite a stir in chat rooms and forums.

The number of people listening to the songs featured in these two collections topped weekly billboards.

Chi didn’t expect this success. Chi said her songs were first posted on the Internet by her friends who said nothing to her about it.

“I had no intention to publicize my songs on the Internet. I like the songs and only recorded them as a musical diary to capture my feelings and share them with my family and friends.”

Many songwriters have asked her to record demo versions for their songs and her smooth singing has helped several of them pass the initial rounds of the Bai hat Viet (Vietnamese songs) awards.

Despite the overwhelming success she has reaped as a singer, the teenager says her greatest dream is to become a piano teacher and she won’t make an album.

“Music is my ceaseless passion. Singing, however, is one of my hobbies and just like my other daily activities. I don’t think someone who sings well should necessarily aim for a singing career.” the 18- year-old says.

“I like a peaceful, solitary life. I’m not born for the stage nor am I dazzled by its glamour.”

“Besides, my piano studies takes most of my time, especially when I enter university next year.”

Asked why she takes part in many competitions when she does not want the glamour, she says: “Taking part in competitions means much more to me than gaining fame. My friends and I get together mainly to share our passion for music and musical learning experiences.”

Chi adds that “destiny” usually doesn’t allow her to perform onstage, noting she had a sore throat and a bad cough when she was performing at the Bai hat Viet (Vietnamese songs) awards gala in 2005 and 2007.

Chi was born in 1990 in northern Hai Duong Province.

She began to sing even before she learned to speak properly. She had her first folk songs recorded by her father when she was only 22 months old.

However, her father guided her to the piano when she was six and she soon took to the instrument. She was sent to study piano at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music when she was nine, and is set on pursuing it further.

She formed the TSD band together with three other students from the Hanoi Music Conservatory including young singer-composer Minh Phuong.

The band nabbed the first prize at the Tuoi doi menh mong (Young age) Gala held by Vietnam Television (VTV).

They also won a special prize at the National Students’ Bands competition in 2005.

Chi made her debut onstage appearance at the Bai hat Viet 2005 program in which she sang Dom lua (Sparks).

She also performed Khoang troi cua be (The child’s patch of sky) at the Bai hat Viet awards in 2007.

In the summer of 2008, Chi teamed up with boyband M4U and their songs such as Mua (Rain) and Xe dap (Bicycle) also created a fever on musical websites.

Reported by Diem Thu