Michael Learns to Rock will perform '25 Minutes' twice tonight.

At a press conference on the morning of July 26th, the Danish band revealed that they would perform several of their hit songs twice during the show for the Vietnamese audience to enjoy.

Returning to Vietnam to perform after 18 years, the three members of Michael Learns to Rock – Mikkel Lentz, Kare Wanscher, and lead singer Jascha Richter – are all over 50 years old. However, all three remain passionate about music and are very excited about reuniting with their Hanoi audience tonight (July 26th). The concert is part of the band's tour celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The band Michael Learns to Rock at a press conference on the morning of July 26th in Hanoi.

During the press conference, Michael Learns to Rock surprised the press by announcing they wouldn't be performing three of their hit songs: "25 Minutes," "That's Why (You Go Away)," and "The Actor." However, just minutes later, band member Mikkel laughed and said it was just a joke: "25 Minutes, That's Why (You Go Away), and The Actor are three of our most beloved songs, how could we not sing them? We'll be performing these three songs twice tonight."

"25 Minutes" is a prominent song characteristic of Michael Learns to Rock's lyrical musical style. The meaning of the song's title is believed to originate from an anecdote about a European wedding. According to custom, church weddings last 25 minutes, and if anyone stands up to protest within that time, the ceremony will stop. The young man in the song arrived just in time to reclaim his happiness.

However, when asked about the inspiration behind this unforgettable song, lead singer Jascha Richter revealed that it was purely coincidental: “25 Minutes doesn’t originate from any true story. When I wrote this song, I simply thought the phrase ‘twenty five minutes’ sounded great and appealing when sung. Many fans expect a story behind it, but the truth is there’s nothing.” Jascha’s explanation made the other two members and the entire audience laugh.

Michael Learns to Rock also revealed that because English is not the band's native language, when composing and singing, they wrote songs with simple, easy-to-understand lyrics that are very good for... learning English. The band is also very proud to see on YouTube many Vietnamese children starting to learn English by singing along to their songs.

The Danish band acknowledges that their music is popular with many Asian audiences because it has a lyrical and passionate quality, reflecting the people of the region. Michael Learns to Rock stated that when performing in Europe, they still choose fast-paced, upbeat songs because audiences there prefer dancing and having fun. “When touring in Asia, we choose sweet ballads with slower tempos to suit the local audience.”

Member Mikkel further shared that Asia was the source of inspiration for their famous song "Paint My Love."

Michael Learns to Rock seemed delighted with the Vietnamese lotus flower he received as a gift at the press conference. Photo: Tung Neo.

During their 25-year singing career, Michael Learns to Rock experienced periods of hiatus, but the three members remained musically connected and regularly toured the world. In addition to singing, Kare Wanscher is a lawyer, while Mikkel Lentz is a film score composer based in Denmark.

Having performed in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 1997, Michael Learns to Rock said that since then, all three members haven't had the chance to return to Vietnam, and their memories of the country are limited to just those two days of performances. The band said they hope to bring their families to Vietnam for a vacation after this tour.

The Michael Learns to Rock concert will take place from 7:30 PM tonight at the National Convention Center. Two guest artists from Vietnam will perform: the winner of Vietnam Idol 2014, Nhat Thuy, and the runner-up of the first season of The X-Factor, the group OPlus.

According to VnExpress