"Burn" with passion...

(Baonghean) - I still think of you - singer Que Thuong, like a magnolia flower that blooms in March, the season of crop failure. The flower incubates itself, conserves its life force, gathers its strength throughout the cold winter, then simply lights a fire when spring ends. And, Que Thuong's singing voice, though simple, is also very impressive.

I remember the first time I heard Que Thuong sing was about 10 years ago, when she was still a student at Nghe An College of Culture and Arts. Standing on stage, in the green volunteer shirt, Que Thuong sang passionately, with all her enthusiasm and passion. Singing for the Youth Union movement, performing at Border Guard Stations, singing for the people, Que Thuong never accepted a salary, even a small amount called...

Before deciding to pursue a singing career, this singer of traditional and folk music participated in many competitions at school, commune and district levels and won high prizes. Que Thuong said: “When I was little, I loved singing. Every afternoon, I would go to the coconut trees in front of the alley to listen to songs played on the speakers, then write them down and practice, learning how to sing with vibrato. Perhaps music was instilled in me from the lullabies of my grandmother and mother. The love of singing led me to follow the path of art.”

The path of art is inherently difficult and not easy to walk, to become famous is even more difficult because the pursuer needs to gather many factors such as talent, determination, both "fragrance" and "beauty", luck, launching pad and promotional technology... Que Thuong's voice is extremely outstanding but it is difficult to cover up the physical disadvantage compared to many others because "Truong Chi's singing" is often difficult to enter the ivory palace... Indeed, the Gold Medals of the National Student Singing Festival of Cultural and Artistic Schools in 2004, the First Prize of Sao Mai Nghe An Province in 2005, 2007, still cannot bring Que Thuong to a new height.

Que Thuong confided: Entering the professional singing industry, the path I took was no longer strewn with velvet and roses. From being confident, I turned into being self-conscious. Sometimes I joked that “among the artists in Nghe An province, Que Thuong is the ugliest”… That said, I think: I am disadvantaged in appearance, so I need to try harder, make more effort, and use my singing to conquer the audience. Practice and practice constantly, success will surely come.

After a few years away from home, I finally had the chance to meet Que Thuong's voice again. The owner of a CD store right at Ho Chi Minh Square introduced her two CDs: "Voice of the homeland, voice of affection"... The CD "Que Thuong with the songs of the homeland" was released in 2008 with songs that helped her become famous such as "Voice of the homeland", "Voice of waiting and waiting", "Emotions of the folk songs, the folk songs"...; The CD "Noi a trong toi" was released in 2010, with songs such as "Mùa thu sang", "Lý co may", "Noi ay que nha", "Nang am que huong". So, Que Thuong has affirmed herself and achieved initial success.

Later, I met Que Thuong more often on big stages or at school and commune-level exchanges. Her singing voice is very special, outstanding, leaving many good impressions in the hearts of listeners. Explaining her successes, Que Thuong said: “The first lucky thing is that I got to work at the Huong Sen Song and Dance Troupe - now the Provincial Ethnic Song and Dance Troupe, and was guided a lot by my uncles, brothers and sisters. The second is that I have a husband who always supports me and is a solid support for me to pursue my passion and develop. A woman who sings must be different from a girl who sings, right?”

Now, Que Thuong is a mother of two children, with a warm and happy family. In terms of career, she is the main singer and MC of the Provincial Traditional Music and Dance Troupe. She is currently being sent by the troupe to study at the Vocal Department, National Academy of Music. Que Thuong said: “I am in my second year, studying and working at the same time. I am satisfied and happy with my current life, with what I have.”

There are times when Que Thuong also craves the “position” of the stars of contemporary folk and country music, but for her, family happiness is everything, she will not trade it for success. “I define myself as not a “star” but just a normal performing singer, being able to sing, doing the job I love at the Song and Dance Troupe, serving the people, that is enough. And Que Thuong’s magnolia flower still shines silently, burning with passion…

Thanh Son