26 years ago in the '80s, I Shere Thu Thuy (Vietnamese vocalist) made my mark in the music industry and successfully entered the transition to the American market. This documentary video is a brief look inside my career. I had a goal with my music and that was to be initially recognized by the Vietnamese refugees. However, when they didn't accept me I turned to venture into the American market where I established my career, and eventually, my dream came to fruition. And that was to perform at the legendary "Whisky-A-Go-Go". And on August 24th, 2013, at 8PM Sharp! This video documentary was recorded.
Firstly, and for the record. New Wave is not pop or Italo Disco music. And the definition of a legend is a history with tangible evidence or rumored popularity, as the creator of the initial reconstruction of a changing routine. And in this case, this is about a female Vietnamese original New wave 80s recording artist. I created this blog to reveal the truth about the Vietnamese music industry's prejudiced politics and conduct, towards its performers. Especially to those who dare, to establish their careers outside the Vietnamese refugee communities.
The artist is Shere Thu Thuy, born and raised in South Vietnam. Her music career began as a teenager performing to the US military personnel stationed at Long Binh for the GIs and U.S.O officers clubs in the ’70s. And her journey to America was a long passion of hers to become a singer and to be recognized by the American and Vietnamese music industry.
Shere's journey begins as a struggling waitress initially looking for work in Television, movie roles, and juggling her music career during this time in America from 1971 to 1991. Shere’s main goal was to establish her music career and was successful with her four ’80s original new wave Vinyl albums, MTV video airplay with (Bring My Heart To Light And It's only you). She also toured nationally and internationally with concerts at the Whisky a Go-Go, and Madame Wong’s West, etc. And to date, there are no other female Vietnamese with that many combined credits in mixed original music, TV, movies, and the proprietor of her own record label J&T, and production company TT inc.
And the road to her achieved accomplishments was not an easy task. Unfortunately, she was met with adversities along the way such as Tuberculosis, a miscarriage, and a near-death experience with a Brain Aneurysm. Unfortunately, this did impede her career for 20 years.
The following reveals the Vietnamese music industry's prejudiced politics and conduct. It is particularly sad, and hurtful when you are rejected, blackballed, or a political outcast from your own creed. Unfortunately, the Vietnamese music industry, past, and present choose not to acknowledge Shere's name. This also includes popular performers (vocalists and musicians) who she helped kick off their careers, by introducing their first debut on Shere's 1985 album Nu Hon Dau.
And on the internet, you can read any articles connected to the Vietnamese ’80s new wave performers, or Vietnamese celebrities and they all ignore this legend. They don't even invite her to any of their Vietnamese new wave TV shows, interviews, or Vietnamese celebrity promos. This begs the question, why is this performer being ignored? Instead, the Vietnamese music industry has proclaimed another artist in all their articles who is 16 years younger, and with an ambiguous history that challenges the integrity of "The one and only Vietnamese '80s Queen Legend" and how this was established.
This is in spite of all Shere’s tangible evidence of her achievements, which should have not been ignored. However, there a few exceptions from dedicated fans and friends who have shared theirs support to reveal the truth. You can visit Shere's Q&A section on her website to read all these details from her fans at Shere's website.
What makes Shere Thu Thuy extraordinary and separates her from all her female Vietnamese performers. Is the fact, that she was the first one, and only Vietnamese who produced New Wave '80s original music in English and Vietnamese to the American market. Shere’s most popular songs are, “Gonna lose my heart” and “It’s only you”. And she did this at the pinnacle of the ‘80s new wave obsession. Shere’s sound was Americanised and influenced by the American New Wave and not the European sound. Shere also has an incredibly large range of music styles in multi-languages which, surpass all her Vietnamese female competitors.
And I believe unequivocally, Shere has been unfairly marked as an outcast from the Vietnamese music industry, and not from her fans or close friends. However, today Shere is much stronger and is still producing New Wave original music, which you can find throughout all her social media channels on the internet. Unfortunately, the repugnant Vietnamese music Industry behavior still continues to ignore Shere. The missing link! And The Invisible Legend.
