Free style dancers scoop music awards

Viengsavanh Phengphachan

 LOCAL bands, Unlimit and Cancum, scooped up the cream of the awards at the 2004 Song Contest Festival on Tuesday night, the finale of the four-day event held at the National Culture Hall.
This year's jury said the contest was more difficult to judge because there were many good stage acts. The event was organised in conjunction with the 29th anniversary of Uprising Day, August 23.
Deputy Head of the Fine Art Department, Mr Sayasin Srikhotchounnamaly, one of the six members of the jury, said that decisions were made on musical arrangement and the singers' voices.
"The singers' interpretation of their song and the mood created must match the type of song - fast or slow, lamvong or country western," he said, adding that the clothes performers wore on stage also counted.
The clarity of the message in the song was crucial. However, there were some singers who had good singing voices but could not perform to suit the mood of the tempo.
"The winners are those whose voices were clear and their pronunciation of words was correct," said Sayasin, who is also an official from the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Unlimit band won two awards including a prize for "best free style song" worth two million kip and a cup, guitar and an education scholarship. The band also scored second prize for "excellent dancing." This included 500,000 kip, a guitar and a cup.
Mr Thipphakone Phothivong, lead singer of the ten-member Unlimit band, said that he did not expect to be the top winner. "We just wanted to show our talents on stage," he said.
The lyrics and performance of the dancers were the key for his band to win two prizes. Thipphakone said that this was the first grand stage performance for him. "Normally I only sing in karaoke bars."
The other big prize winner was the Cancum band for best lamvong song and best dancers. The band earned two million kip, a cup and a guitar. Among other successful bands were Country Boy Band and Sweet Heart.
There were 70 bands registered in the contest, 35 of which made it to the final round.
Director of the Vientiane Music School, Mr Thinnarat Phengsy, said that this year's competition was difficult to judge, bands were developing themselves more than on the previous occasion.
"At first, we thought that only 15 prizes were to be given, but once we saw the performances, we decided to increase the prizes to 25," he said.
There were five categories of prizes awarded to lamvong, free style, and others. The festival was organised by the Vientiane Music School, the second of its kind.

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