What do original Star Trek fight scenes and Vietnamese music have in common?
I am about ready to nerd out, showing my love of Vietnamese culture mixed with some nerd cred. I have always thought that Vietnamese music seems very Western. It’s like the beat which comes preprogramed on keyboards, set on repeat. I started poking around the internet and went down a rabbit hole to find out why Vietnamese folk music seems so familiar.
What is Vietnamese Bolero?
Vietnamese bolero music is the wildly popular genre that emerged in Vietnam, influenced by the traditional Latin American bolero but infused with local flavors. It gained popularity during the mid-20th century and has since become an integral part of Vietnamese music culture. Bolero is the favorite music you may have heard being blasted at full volume for an intoxicated karaoke night or down a tiny Vietnamese alleyway. Vietnamese Bolero typically features soulful melodies, emotional lyrics, and often touches on themes of love, heartbreak, and nostalgia. The music is characterized by its slow tempo and is often accompanied by poignant vocals, making it a favorite among music enthusiasts in Vietnam.
According to Wikipedia… Bolero, a genre of song originating in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century. Characterized by sophisticated lyrics focused on love, it's hailed as “the quintessential Latin American romantic song of the 20th century” by the Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 9. Originally performed by individual troubadours playing the guitar, bolero evolved into group performances across Latin America, the United States, and Spain. The genre spread across Latin America, reaching the Dominican Republic in 1895 and later expanding to Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Bolero music made its way to Vietnam in the 1930s when the nation embraced modern music blending Western elements with traditional tunes. Vietnamese bolero, distinct from Hispanic bolero, has a slower tempo and shares similarities with Japanese enka and Korean trot. This romantic genre, expressing feelings, love, and life poetically, earned the colloquial term "yellow music."
The Viet Minh disliked this romantic genre as it conflicted with their aim of shaping the working class. During the Vietnam War era, the Viet Minh preferred the Communist endorsed patriotic "red music." Following North Vietnam's victory in 1975, yellow music was banned, leading to punishments for listeners and confiscation of their music. After the Fall of Saigon, Vietnamese immigrants carried the music to the United States.
The ban eased in 1986, allowing the creation of love songs again, but by then, the music industry had suffered. In recent years, bolero has regained popularity in Vietnam, particularly in the south. Overseas singers perform in the popular live show “Paris by Night” and singing competitions like Boléro Idol, contributing to its resurgence, even featuring songs that were once banned.
Captain Kirk rips his shirt
In the first episode of season two “Amok Time” of the Original Star Trek series, we see a fight scene between Kirk and Spock where we hear references to the iconic music playing in the background. The theme was composed by Gerald Fried, who also wrote scores for Stanley Kubrick and the T.V. show The Man From Uncle. The quick tapping drums and strong woodwind and brass pulsates as they build up tension of the scene. The scene wouldn’t really be as impactful without the score. Star Trek fans have debated the songs origins and many agree, the “fight theme” was largely influenced by Maurice Ravel - Bolero, the similarity is obvious when you listen to both.
Spock, the first officer of the USS Enterprise, begins to display unusual behavior, prompting Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy to divert the ship to Vulcan. It is revealed that Spock is undergoing pon farr, a condition requiring him to mate or face death. Despite Starfleet orders to travel to Altair VI, Kirk disobeys to save his friend's life. On Vulcan, Spock's intended mate, T'Pring, chooses Kirk as her champion in a physical challenge to the death, known as kal-if-fee.
The intense fight unfolds, with Spock eventually defeating Kirk. However, McCoy intervenes, revealing Kirk's simulated death and saving him. The reason behind T'Pring's choice is unveiled, and Spock, freed from pon farr, returns to the Enterprise. The twist of Kirk's survival surprises everyone, leading to Starfleet belatedly granting permission for the Enterprise to travel to Vulcan.
The famous fight theme has become iconic of Captain Kirk entering a battle and having his shirt ripped. Just the few Bolero notes signaled in the minds of most Americans that Kirk would have an epic fight. This has been parodied endlessly throughout pop culture.
Both Vietnamese bolero and Maurice Ravel's Bolero draw inspiration from the Latin American style, creating a musical connection between them. The connection lies in the shared musical elements and the incorporation of Latin American influences in both genres.