"Burning" with passion...

(BaongheanI still think of her – singer Que Thuong – as a kapok flower blooming in March, the season of scarcity. The flower buries itself, carefully conserving its life force, gathering its strength throughout the cold winter, then simply ignites its flame amidst the fading spring. And, Que Thuong's singing, though simple, is truly impressive.

I remember first hearing Que Thuong sing about 10 years ago, when she was still a student at the Nghe An College of Culture and Arts. Standing on stage, in her green volunteer uniform, Que Thuong sang passionately, with all her enthusiasm and dedication. Singing for the Youth Union movement, performing at border guard posts, singing for the people, Que Thuong never accepted any payment, not even a small amount…

Before deciding to pursue a singing career, this folk singer participated in many competitions at the school, commune, and district levels, winning high awards in all of them. Que Thuong recounted: “When I was little, I loved singing. Every afternoon, I would go to the coconut trees in front of my house to listen to songs playing on the loudspeaker, then write them down and practice, learning the nuances of the melody. Perhaps music was ingrained in me from the lullabies of my grandmother and mother. My love for singing led me down the path of art.”

The path to artistic success is arduous and difficult, and achieving fame is even harder because those pursuing it need many elements such as talent, willpower, both beauty and charm, luck, a launching pad, and promotional technology... Que Thuong's voice is extremely outstanding, but it's difficult to mask her physical disadvantages compared to many others, because "Truong Chi's voice" often struggles to reach the ivory pitch... Indeed, the Gold Medals at the National Student and University Arts and Culture School Singing Festival in 2004, and First Prize at the Sao Mai Singing Competition in Nghe An province in 2005 and 2007, still couldn't elevate Que Thuong to a new level.

Quế Thương confided: "Entering professional singing, my path is no longer paved with velvet and roses. From confidence, I've become insecure. Sometimes I jokingly say, 'Among the artists in Nghe An province, Quế Thương is the ugliest...' But I think: If I'm disadvantaged by my appearance, I need to try harder, work more, and use my singing to win over the audience. Practice and keep practicing, and success will surely come."

After several years away from my hometown, I finally had the chance to hear Quế Thương's voice again. The owner of the CD shop near Ho Chi Minh Square introduced her to two CDs: "That's the voice of my homeland, the voice of affection..." The CD "Quế Thương with Homeland Songs," released in 2008, features songs that helped her achieve fame such as "Homeland Songs," "Waiting and Longing," "Emotional Folk Songs and Melodies," etc.; the CD "That Place in My Heart," released in 2010, includes songs like "Autumn Arrives," "Words of the Wild Grass," "That Place, My Homeland," and "Warm Sunshine of My Homeland." Thus, Quế Thương has established herself and achieved initial success.

Later, I met Que Thuong more often on large stages or at school and community-level events. Her voice was very special and outstanding, leaving many positive impressions on listeners. Explaining her success, Que Thuong said: “The first stroke of luck was that I got to work at the Huong Sen Song and Dance Troupe – now the Provincial Ethnic Song and Dance Troupe – where I received a lot of guidance from the senior members. Secondly, I have a supportive husband who is a solid foundation for me to pursue my passion and develop my career. A woman who sings has to be different from a young girl who sings, right?”

Now, Que Thuong is a mother of two, with a warm and happy family. In terms of her career, she is the lead singer and MC of the Provincial Folk Music and Dance Troupe. Currently, she is being sent by the troupe to pursue advanced studies at the Vocal Department of the National Academy of Music. Que Thuong said: “I’m in my second year of university, studying and working at the same time. I’m content and happy with my current life, with what I have.”

There were times when Que Thuong envied the "status" of stars in the contemporary folk and country music genres, but for her, family happiness was everything, and she would never trade it for success. "I've decided that I'm not a 'star,' just an ordinary performing singer. Being able to sing, doing the work I love at the Song and Dance Troupe, and serving the people is more than enough for me." And so, Que Thuong, like a cotton flower, continues to shine brightly, burning brightly with passion…

Thanh Son