Son Tung: I do what I like!

(Baonghean) - However, with Son Tung, he doesn't need any excuses. He just does what he likes. It might sound a bit exaggerated, but I think that statement of his is almost a declaration of today's youth.

During the final night of The Face 2016 – Vietnam's Brand Face 2016, the popular young singer Son Tung MTP had a quick interview with the show's MC after his performance. When asked about the ink mark on his forehead, the singer replied that it was a temporary tattoo that had just been drawn on.

Image of Son Tung and the tattoo on his forehead. Photo: Internet.

His quirky English pronunciation of the word "Tattoo" quickly became the subject of a satirical online movement. Numerous images, videos, and even parody songs and remixes circulated online in a short time, providing much laughter and entertainment for people.

Also during that quick interview, there was another statement from the young singer that received less attention. It was his explanation of why he got that temporary tattoo. The simple reason was, "I like it, so I drew it on." That's right, very simple. No deeper reason, no special meaning.

Many people choose a drawing, a number, or a word with personal meaning to get tattooed on their body, such as the name of their spouse, children, or a symbol of their religion. They choose tattoos to express their personality or to commemorate an important event in their lives. However, for Son Tung, he doesn't need a reason. He simply does what he likes.

It might sound a bit exaggerated, but I think your statement is almost a manifesto for today's youth: Do what you like. We're past the days when everything needed a lofty ideal or a humanitarian purpose. Young people today live more for themselves; they work and play according to their own whims. In that free and unconstrained space, they'll be more creative, creating values ​​that may or may not be judged as good, but at least they'll be a breath of fresh air.

Looking at it from a broader legal perspective, it's perfectly natural and legal. Citizens have the right to do anything that the law doesn't prohibit. Currently, as we know, our law enforcement system has many limitations. Instead of being allowed to do what the law doesn't prohibit, citizens are only allowed to do what the law permits.

This is a very common phenomenon in commercial transactions, import and export, or cultural and artistic performances. This way of applying the law is acting as a straitjacket, hindering the development of culture, society, and the economy. Sơn Tùng's statement, which is also what businesses, artists, and many other segments of society want to say, is: let us freely do what we like, as long as it is legal.

It's important to note here that freedom must be permitted by law. The reason singer Son Tung was ridiculed so much for his tattoos is partly due to his English pronunciation, but more importantly, the tattoos are a copy of those of the famous German model Daniel Bamdad. It's not a new creation by Son Tung.

Sơn Tùng's outfit that day was also similar to that of South Korean singer G-Dragon. Even the song he performed, "Chúng ta không thuộc về nhau" (We Don't Belong Together), a song supposedly written by him, was criticized for plagiarizing "We Don't Talk Anymore" by Selena Gometh and Charlie Puth.

This isn't the first time Son Tung has been involved in accusations of plagiarism and copying like this. It could even be said that this is his style, imitating everything from clothing styles and video scripts to choruses from famous foreign singers. Perhaps Vietnam is still a relatively underdeveloped region in the world of arts and culture, so Son Tung isn't afraid of lawsuits, but perhaps someone needs to remind him that Vietnam is a signatory to international conventions on intellectual property rights and copyright. This means that his works showing signs of plagiarism carry legal risks if foreign authors file a lawsuit.

We all remember that musician Bao Chan was once involved in a plagiarism scandal regarding his song "Tinh Thoi Xot Xa," ​​and his career declined from then on. But it seems that younger audiences are more forgiving of Son Tung now; some oppose him, but many others wholeheartedly support him, so his career continues to flourish. However, Son Tung, like other artists, should remember that Vietnam will increasingly integrate more deeply with the world, not only in terms of culture and art, but also in terms of law.

So, just do what you like, but remember to do it legally.

Vu Tuan Tu