Son Tung: I like it so I do it!

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

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

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

His “funny” English pronunciation of the word “Tattoo” quickly became the subject of a satirical movement online. Many pictures, videos, even parody music compositions, remixes… were circulated online in a short time and brought a lot of laughter and entertainment to everyone.

Also in that quick interview, there was another statement from this young singer but it received less attention. That was the statement he made explaining why he drew that fake tattoo. The reason was simply “I just drew it because I liked it”. Yes, very simple. There was no deep reason, no meaning at all.

Usually, many people will choose a drawing, a number, or a word that has a personal meaning to tattoo on their body, such as the name of their wife, husband, children, or a drawing that represents the religion they follow. They choose tattoos to express their personality, or to mark an important event in their life. However, with Son Tung, he doesn't need any reason. He just does it because he likes it.

It may be a bit too much, but I think that your statement is almost a manifesto of today's youth. If you like it, do it. We have passed the time when doing anything requires a lofty ideal, a humane purpose. Today's youth live more for themselves, they work and entertain themselves according to their own whims. In that free and unconstrained space, they will be more creative, creating values, which may not be evaluated as good or not, but at least it will be a breath of fresh air.

Looking a little more broadly from the legal perspective, we also see that it is very natural and legal. That is, citizens have the right to do anything that is not prohibited by law. Currently, as we know, our law enforcement system still has many limitations. Instead of being allowed to do what is not prohibited by law, citizens are only allowed to do what is permitted by law.

This is a very common phenomenon in commercial transactions, import and export, or cultural and artistic performances. The way the law is applied is a golden hoop that is holding back the development of culture, society, and economy. Son Tung's statement is also what businesses, artists, and many other social groups want to say, which is to let us be free to do what we like, as long as it is legal.

Speaking of this, one thing must be noted, freedom must be permitted by law. The reason why singer Son Tung is so much ridiculed when talking about his tattoo, partly because of his English pronunciation, but more importantly, that tattoo is a copy of the famous German model - Daniel Bamdad. That is not Son Tung's new creation.

Son Tung's outfit that day was also similar to that of Korean singer G-Dragon. Even the song he performed, Chung Ta Khong Qua Nhau Nhau Nhau, a composition said to be his, was criticized for plagiarizing the song We Don't Talk Anymore performed by Selena Gometh and Charlie Puth.

This is not the first time Son Tung has been accused of copying and plagiarism like this. It can even be said that this is his style, when he copies everything from the way he dresses, the scripts of his video clips, and the choruses in his songs from famous foreign singers. Maybe Vietnam is just a low-lying area of ​​the world in terms of culture and art, so Son Tung is not afraid of being sued, but perhaps someone needs to remind him that Vietnam has joined international conventions on intellectual property rights, the global convention on copyright. That means his works that show signs of plagiarism have legal risks if foreign authors sue.

We all remember that musician Bao Chan was once involved in a plagiarism scandal with the song Tinh thoi thot xa, and his career went downhill from there. But it seems that young audiences are now more lenient with Son Tung, some people object, but there are also many people who support him regardless, so his career is still growing rapidly. However, Son Tung, as well as 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 it must be legal.

Vu Tuan Tu