Khanh Ly: 'Even though I'm old and not as pretty, I still want to sing alongside Ho Ngoc Ha'

The renowned singer stated that she was the one who should be worried about appearing alongside the female singer amidst the mixed public reaction regarding their upcoming duet at the live show.

On November 28th, Khanh Ly held a rehearsal in Ho Chi Minh City, preparing for her live concert on December 2nd. The concert by the renowned singer will feature performances by Y Lan, Hong Nhung, Quang Dung, Ho Ngoc Ha, and others.

Khanh Ly during rehearsals for her live concert. Photo: Quoc Bao.

Previously, the news that singer Khanh Ly would be performing with Ho Ngoc Ha attracted attention. Many viewers felt that the two were too different in age, experience, and musical style. Many worried that Ho Ngoc Ha was unsuitable for the show. Khanh Ly confided that her decision to invite the singer of "Finding the Dream Again" for a duet was not random. According to her, Ho Ngoc Ha has formal musical training and knows how to play the piano – a subject Khanh Ly "really wanted to learn but couldn't."

"Therefore, with any singer who knows how to play an instrument, I want to sing together so they can play for me. Ho Ngoc Ha is not just a simple entertainer. When she appears at this concert, people will think less about 'going to see a performance' and more about 'going to listen to a performance.' Choosing Ho Ngoc Ha, the one who worries is me because I'm old and not very attractive... standing next to someone who is both beautiful and talented. But I still chose her. What image could be more beautiful than artists playing instruments for each other to sing, or Ho Ngoc Ha playing the instrument for Khanh Ly to sing?", the renowned singer stated.

Ho Ngoc Ha with renowned singer Khanh Ly, singer Quang Thanh (left) and makeup artist Nguyen Hung.

She also expressed her affection for the other guest artists on the show. Khanh Ly recounted that she and Hong Nhung had a close friendship. They even shared a bed. To her, "Miss Bong" was gentle yet mischievous. She recalled that once, when she called the late musician Trinh Cong Son from the US, he boasted about Hong Nhung's singing voice. At that time, she felt he was lucky to have met the singer of "Thuo Bong la nguoi" (Back then, Hong Nhung was a person). "He never composed for anyone as much as he composed for Hong Nhung," Khanh Ly remarked.

As for Quang Dung,"The barefoot queen" had a soft spot for him even before meeting him. She knew Quang Dung from hearing Vietnamese singers perform overseas and talk about a "male version of Khanh Ly" back home who specialized in singing Trinh Cong Son's songs. When they met in America, Khanh Ly remarked that Quang Dung was "a very handsome, slightly shy boy who sings very well."

Hong Nhung (left) and Khanh Ly performing together at a concert.

Regarding the singer Ý Lan, Khánh Ly knew Thái Thanh – the singer's mother – first.Khánh Ly admired Thái Thanh and regarded the renowned singer as a "lighthouse" in her music. She once thought no one could replace Thái Thanh when singing Phạm Duy's music. When Khánh Ly met Ý Lan, she was delighted that Thái Thanh had a worthy daughter. "Ý Lan's voice is beyond words; all praise is superfluous," she remarked.

The Khánh Ly concert consists of three parts. The first part, themed "Nostalgia," features love songs by Trịnh Công Sơn, including the duet "Tình nhớ" by Hồng Nhung and Quang Dũng, and "Đóa hoa vô thường" by Khánh Ly and Hồng Nhung. The second part features Trịnh Công Sơn's "Da Vàng" songs with the theme of Mother and the Vietnamese homeland. The third part, themed "Love and Humanity," includes songs by Phạm Duy, Ngô Thụy Miên, Nguyễn Ánh 9, Anh Bằng, and others. This final part features performances by Ý Lan and Hồ Ngọc Hà.

Khánh Ly's live concert in Saigon took place on the evening of December 2nd at the Military Zone 7 Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to VNE