Second-year arts student Ha Minh Tien has won the Sao Mai Diem Hen (Morning Star Rendezvous) national pop singing contest.
Tientook home a cash prize of 50 million VND (2,380 USD). Audiencefavourite Nguyen Thi Thuy claimed 54.3 percent of the votes, while DoThanh Ngoc won the title of Young Promising Singer. Last year's Sao Maicontest winner Ngo Thanh Huyen went home empty handed.
Star divaand contest judge Thanh Lam, said Tien's choice to perform Goc Toi (DarkCorner) by composer Nguyen Hai Phong at the last round on August 22 wasa "wise" decision, adding "the song totally showed off his rockcapability".
Composer Huy Tuan also praised Tien, describing himas a "strong dark horse" in the competition. The Hanoi Arts Collegestudent had appeared easy to beat at first but evolved as thecompetition progressed, said Tuan.
Musical show director Viet Tuwas more measured in his praise, saying that Tien's final roundperformance had not lived up to the artist's talent, however, heconceded that the budding star had shown technique.
Do ThanhNgoc, who had been considered to be the favourite for the title, failedto impress the judging panel after suffering from health issues andbeing criticised for poor song choice.
The three jury members also unanimously agreed that Ngoc had sang worse than in previous rounds.
"Shechose a good song but it seemed like she didn't understand the song'swords probably," Lam said. "She singing the correct notes but there wasno emotion behind it."
After the final round performances, formercontestants took to the stage, including winner of the 2004 Sao MaiDiem Hen, Tung Duong, Pham Anh Khoa (2006), Ngoc Anh and Ha Anh Tuan(2006). Manh Quan, Hoang Nghiep and Duy Khoa, who competed in the 2008series, also performed on stage.
Sao Mai Diem Hen is one of twonational television singing contests hosted by Vietnam Television everytwo years, with the first series taking place in 2004.
The othercontest, Sao Mai, has been held in the alternative years since 1997,with contestants singing across the chamber, folk and pop musiccategories.-VNA
Tientook home a cash prize of 50 million VND (2,380 USD). Audiencefavourite Nguyen Thi Thuy claimed 54.3 percent of the votes, while DoThanh Ngoc won the title of Young Promising Singer. Last year's Sao Maicontest winner Ngo Thanh Huyen went home empty handed.
Star divaand contest judge Thanh Lam, said Tien's choice to perform Goc Toi (DarkCorner) by composer Nguyen Hai Phong at the last round on August 22 wasa "wise" decision, adding "the song totally showed off his rockcapability".
Composer Huy Tuan also praised Tien, describing himas a "strong dark horse" in the competition. The Hanoi Arts Collegestudent had appeared easy to beat at first but evolved as thecompetition progressed, said Tuan.
Musical show director Viet Tuwas more measured in his praise, saying that Tien's final roundperformance had not lived up to the artist's talent, however, heconceded that the budding star had shown technique.
Do ThanhNgoc, who had been considered to be the favourite for the title, failedto impress the judging panel after suffering from health issues andbeing criticised for poor song choice.
The three jury members also unanimously agreed that Ngoc had sang worse than in previous rounds.
"Shechose a good song but it seemed like she didn't understand the song'swords probably," Lam said. "She singing the correct notes but there wasno emotion behind it."
After the final round performances, formercontestants took to the stage, including winner of the 2004 Sao MaiDiem Hen, Tung Duong, Pham Anh Khoa (2006), Ngoc Anh and Ha Anh Tuan(2006). Manh Quan, Hoang Nghiep and Duy Khoa, who competed in the 2008series, also performed on stage.
Sao Mai Diem Hen is one of twonational television singing contests hosted by Vietnam Television everytwo years, with the first series taking place in 2004.
The othercontest, Sao Mai, has been held in the alternative years since 1997,with contestants singing across the chamber, folk and pop musiccategories.-VNA
