Minh Tuyet: Wants Everything To Be Perfect

Translated by Le_Chi

Disclaimer: I translated this article for my own enjoyment and for the benefits of those who can't read Vietnamese. I will apoligize if I made any error in translating. However, I do not know if any information in the original article is false or misleading so don't shoot me if it is. The author of the original article is unknown and so is the date of writing, however based on the contents of the article it was probably written just prior to April 2002. At any rate, here it is in full translation. Enjoy (like if you will)!

Less than 5 years after she settled in the US, the young lady named Tran Thi Minh Tuyet, born in Saigon, became a promising singer well known in many Vietnamese music activities oversea. She had come to the US under the International Student status and is awaiting approval to become a US citizen with a wish to pursue a fashion design career for a living while continuing with her singing, which to her is a passion. Minh Tuyet grew up in a family of 6 chilren, 2 of whom are the well known singers Ha Phuong and Cam Ly.

In the early days in the US, Minh Tuyet resided in San Diego, then moved to Los Angeles 3 months before finally settling in Little Saigon. As a child passionate for singing, Minh Tuyet had joined many Musical Talented Youth groups in the city before becoming a professional singer when she was 17 years old. Thanks to the early participation in the youth groups, Minh Tuyet received proper training so she now has a solid footing in performing arts. However, in her appearance as a professional before an audience in 1993 at Trong Dong in Saigon, she couldn't help with an intense anxiety when reciting the two songs "Vet Son Tren Co Ao" and "Co Be Doi Hon", before a large audience. She didn't know anything other than concentrating on the two songs so "after finished singing, I was still shaking, ran inside and asked Mom if they actually applauded my recitals or not", as she recalled. That first formal appearance indeed brought her success and a huge encouragement for her to confidently continue to pursue the singing career, which she didn't previously get her parents approval to be involved in. After some time of consideration, realizing that the entertainment activities can award the artists with favourable conditions, her parents finally agreed to let Minh Tuyet pursue the career that she had chosen, just like her two older sisters. Not only did they approve but "afterwards my parents were even more passionate for music than we are", according to what Minh Tuyet cheerfully said in the midst of her innocent laughters. At the end of August 2001, Minh Tuyet had a chance to go back home for a visit. Before stepping into the house, she "already heard all kinds of singing, then realized that it was Mom learning how to sing." Again, her cheerful laughter erupted as she mentioned her family's passion for singing, including her two older brothers trying hard to pursue the singing career. However, they seemed "not so lucky with the performing arts" like the 3 daughters in the family, of whom the youngest Minh Tuyet is now a relatively well known oversea. That also is how Minh Tuyet assessed herself in thinking that "although she has made herself a little famous, it is not a real success" because she hasn't had a chance to showcase all her skills on belief that "have to do everything well." With that, Minh Tuyet is now concentrating on American songs. However, she has revealed that consistent with her desire for technical perfection she has not decided to recite American songs. In the meantime, reciting Vietnamese love ballards has been considered much accomplished especially with those songs previously recited by Ngoc Lan, who she idolizes.

The path to her singing career oversea came by chance. In the early months living in San Diego from 1997, she was spotted by the owner of a music store for her voice, and introduced to Tinh Productions. She was immediately offered an exclusive contract with this company from 1998, in the same timeframe in which she was attending an English class (ESL).

Minh Tuyet made her first video appearance in DVD 3 with the song "Em Van Doi Anh", and began to receive attention from fans in DVD Tinh 4 with "Chieu Xuan". When getting to DVD 5 and 6, her voice in "Quan Vang Mot Minh", and "Lang Thang" received many compliments. Lately, Minh Tuyet has become much accomplished in "Bo Ben La" on Tinh Productions DVD 10. In addtion, Minh Tuyet sometimes co-performed with Johny Dung (Trai Tim Khong Ngu Yen, Mot Thoi Da Xa, etc.) and with Huy Vu (Dem Co Don, Neu Phoi Phai Ngay Mai, etc.)

On the audio front, Tinh Productions has produced over 10 CD's for their "local" singer. In her first CD titled "Yeu Nhau Ghet Nhau", Minh Tuyet received a remarkable success with her bright and youthful voice. Even Minh Tuyet was surprised of her fans' affection towards her voice in those Chinese songs translated to Vietnamese on the CD, which is still on the market from the early 1998 release. This fact speaks well to the charming aspect of Minh Tuyet's voice considering she had only been in one DVD at the time. Furthermore, many of the songs on this CD had been previously performed by other singers oversea. From then on, Minh Tuyet considered herself lucky in the music activities oversea because she herself was still feeling overwhelmed by a totally new way of living. Through her words, one could tell how overwhelmed she was. She described the outfits of some of the artists on the same stage with her in her first appearance as "totally magnificient", for instance, La Suong Suong, used to sing with her in VN, being in a custom made outfit changed several times during a show. Minh Tuyet "was like wow'ed because they're just like singers of international class". In VN, she got up on stage with clothes "like normal street clothes here, sometimes even worse. And the same for make-up." Minh Tuyet considered that as "a total shock when singing the first time in the US." In addition, when appearing the first time in San Jose at a big wedding reception with the presence of well known singers, she couldn't help feeling sad and out of place because "When I got there, nobody knew me including the artists... Or maybe they knew but simply ignored me. Since I was a bit well-known in VN and now had to start all over I felt a little hurt", in her sincere words. But Minh Tuyet became encouraged after a few singers co-performing had praised her - among those was Vu Khanh - so the second time on stage she "could dance a bit more." Another note from this very young singer about life abroad: You have to be on your own in this materialistic world.

And Minh Tuyet knew how to be self-sustained, how to try hard in her new life to gradually overcome the initial difficulties. She was completely transformed after spending time getting to know her fans oversea.

Her independence will probably continue in April 2002 when her contract with Tinh Productions expires, the business firm that brought her name to her fans up until now. Lately, Tinh has made an exclusive DVD, shooting started from August 2001, and are preparing to release it in a near future. In this video [Translator's note: Ve Cuoi Duong Tinh], Minh Tuyet's skills will be reflected upon the reciting of different music types: love songs, pop, and folk music to satisfy a variety of fans, as she said with confidence. Two latest CD's of Minh Tuyet just been released recently are "Tro Ve Pho Cu" and "Chan Tinh".

After nearly 5 years, with the belief of "want everything to be good" Minh Tuyet has achieved a well-known name in the hearts of her fans in order not to feel "a little hurt" anymore as in the early days of bewilderment.

To know a little more about Minh Tuyet, the following interview helped her explain herself to those who love her voice...

- When you came to the US, did you think you would continue with your singing career?

"I was a little scared in the beginning because I thought that they would value attractiveness and appearance more than skills when I wasn't confident about my looks."

- If you couldn't go on your singing career....

"If so, I will sing for wedding receptions for fun. I need to sing, that's my fate."

- How do you improve yourself...

"I improve myself by listening to music. Any day I don't listen to music, I couldn't stand it. In the car too, all the time I need music. I'm also doing more reasearch into modern stagecraft from different countries, including from artists in VN and oversea to learn of new ideas. Then when I listen to my own songs, I know what is right and what is wrong, and ask my friends for opinions or go on-line and look for comments and ideas from fans. I never think I'm always good."

- Compare yourself with how you were before...

"Nowadays I sing more contemporay and pop music. Technique wise, I feel I'm getting better because I've learned a lot from my experiences."

- Any concern about stage performance..

"Initially I didn't pay too much attention, just let myself fall into the songs. Sometimes I just sing with my eyes closed throughout the song. But now, I feel with the song, and dance with it."

- The songs that your fans like the most in your voice...

"Quan Vang Mot Minh, Lang Thang, Bo Ben La, Mot Thoi Da Xa, etc. are those that I sang on video and were requested the most in concerts."