Chapter 97 - Life On A String

“In Spring” has become very popular. In the first week of July, it has ranked 17th in China Music Charts, jumping from the 26th place from the previous week.

Although this week’s ranking has not been released, it is believed that there will be a big promotion to its rank.

Reaching first in the list is not impossible!

Therefore, In the qualifying round of “Singing China”, it’s normal for contestants to cover this song.

And Gao Feng’s interpretation of “In Spring” is very good.

The life experience of the Beijing drift singer determines that he has his own unique understanding of this rock song that is full of vicissitudes of life. With his hoarse voice and heart-tearing and lung-tearing singing, he fully displayed his strong feelings of anxiety and struggle, and deeply infected and moved the audience.

“If there comes a time, when I leave quietly, please bury me in this spring! In Spring ~”

When he finished singing the last few lyrics, more than 1,000 people in the audience stood up one after another and extended warm applause.

“Good!”

Of the four judges, Tan Hong was the first to stand up and shouted, “Good!”

Then Lin Zhijie, Zhen Zhen and Chen Fei’er also got up and applauded.

Faced with the tide of applause and the praise of superstar judge Tan Hong, the bearded Gao Feng’s eyes turned red.

“Thank you!”

He bowed deeply with his guitar in his arms, expressing his excitement and gratitude to everyone.

As a wandering singer struggling at the bottom, Gao Feng has never been so highly praised and welcomed on such a large stage. If he was not strong enough, he would have burst into tears!

In the backstage waiting area, Lu Chen also applauded Gao Feng.

“In Spring” is undoubtedly a true classic, but for Lu Chen, this song embodied the vicissitudes of life. If one doesn’t have enough life experience and years of precipitation, one will not be able to sing its essence.

Lu Chen himself could not sing “In Spring” well. He had to use the memories from Xu Bo to transform himself into the singer in the dream world. Only in this way can he express the confusion and sadness, desperate cries and self-examination of the song from beginning to end.

It was enough for him to sing the song once. If he sings it as his own song, it would be too easy to give others a strong sense of discord.

But now seeing “In Spring” moved so many people, even including Tan Hong and the other big stars, Lu Chen also has a very strong sense of satisfaction.

Even if he’s not the one singing it, others can make this classic shine in the world as it should.

He doesn’t regret it!

In the big studio, the tide of applause lasted for half a minute.

After everyone sat down again, judge Lin Zhijie said, “If I remember correctly, this song is the new work of the Wandering band, right? I’ve heard the original. You may be a little bit worse in singing skills, but the expression of emotion is more real than the original, so I give you full marks to pass!”

“Thank you, Teacher Lin Zhijie!”

Gao Feng suppressed his excitement and said, ““In Spring” is the main song in the first album of the Wandering band. I personally like it very much. I feel that this song sings the voice of a singer like me. I dare not compare it with the Wandering band, but I am grateful to the person who wrote this song.”

“if I have the chance to meet this extraordinary author, I want to say thank you to him!”

The whole audience burst into thunderous applause.

People who are humble and not arrogant are most likely to be well-liked and recognized by others.

Tan Hong said, “I very much agree with you. Nowadays, there are really not many original works like this with real power and emotion. I hope it can be heard by more people, whether it’s the original song of the Wandering band or your cover song.”

“I think this should be the greatest significance of “Singing China”, and I will give you a full mark!”

The applause, which had just weakened, became fierce again. The atmosphere reached a new climax in an instant.

Gao Feng bowed deeply: “Thank you, Teacher Tan Hong!”

Then Zhen Zhen and Chen Fei’er also commented with a couple of sentences, and they also give a pass.

Gao Feng got the semi-final pass card.

“Next please, Contestant No. 0030, Lu Chen, please go on stage!”

Lu Chen, who had already made his preparations, took a deep breath. He reached for the wireless microphone handed over by the host, stepped up the steps at a steady and forceful pace, and walked to the middle of the big stage.

With the bright spotlight on him, Lu Chen faced the four big judges and 1,500 spectators.

There will also be tens of millions of viewers in front of televisions and computer screens!

His mood, however, is unprecedently calm.

“He’s a handsome guy…”

At the judging seat, Chen Fei’er, sitting on the right of Tan Hong, gently smiled and said, “Please introduce yourself.”

“Hello, four judges!”

Lu Chen bowed politely and said, “I am Lu Chen, No. 0030. I’m 22 years old. I’m from Zhedong.” (TN: Zhedong is also Eastern Zhejiang Province.)

Zhen Zhen asked, “So what song will you be singing to everyone today?”

Lu Chen replied, “I will be singing a song called “Life on A String”. I wrote it myself.”

“Life on A String?”

Zhen Zhen was surprised, “Isn’t that the theme of “Singing China?””

The editor-in-chief of Pop Music magazine is in her forties, but because of proper maintenance, she looks quite young and speaks in a voice somewhat a bit like a girl.

[Life on a string and singing to Greater China] is the theme of the first live talent show of Beijing Satellite TV.

This theme is closely related to the rules of the competition. “Singing China” is divided into seven major singing areas: Beijing, Shengjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianfu, Huacheng and Bihai. The final champion is decided by a unique round of competition.

The first stop of the competition is the Beijing singing area. Through auditions, qualifying and semi-finals, the top 32 places will be decided, and then it will enter the knockout stage. The knockout stage will determine the top 16 from the top 32 and the top 10 will be selected from the top 16.

Then the top ten contestants in the Beijing singing area will go to Shengjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and other six major singing areas to compete with the top ten in each singing area, and finally select the top ten in the country, and then returned to Beijing for the final election!

It is precisely because of the unique competition system that there is a corresponding theme slogan.

Lu Chen nodded and said, “Yes.”

“Let’s start…”

Lin Zhijie, one of the judges, did not seem to be interested in Lu Chen. He said faintly, “I wish you success.”

As he spoke, a look of disapproval flashed in his eyes.

In Lin Zhijie’s view, Lu Chen’s choice of the song title is a suspicion of opportunism, and he does not think Lu Chen can create such a good work. He said those polite remark out of professionalism.

As the music director of Flying Stone Records, and also in this part of Beijing, Lin Zhijie has seen too many young people like Lu Chen, handsome and a little talented. They can sing and play the guitar or piano, but they often refuse to keep their feet on the ground and work hard and fantasize about becoming famous overnight.

A very few of them, for one reason or another, do get lucky enough to succeed and became famous.

But Lin Zhijie does not have any good impression towards them, whether they succeed or lose!

Today’s entertainment industry is too impetuous.

Tan Hong said, “You can start.”

Lu Chen nodded. He inserted the microphone into the microphone bracket and gave a thumbs-up to the sound technicians on the sidelines.

The prelude to the music sounded.

For his debut on the big stage, Lu Chen made careful preparations for the first qualifying match.

This song “Life on A String” is also a masterpiece from the dream world. In order to achieve the best results, he also paid Nirvana Studio to rearrange and record accompaniment, waiting for this moment!

“I’m already used to it,

Looking out from the wind to the south.

Crossing mountains and seas,

Is there any sadness waiting for you?

I feel a little bit sad,

Suddenly, I felt confused and panicked,

The cold wind blew in my face,

Letting my eyes wet with tears.

……”

This song is filled with beautiful melody, excellent lyrics, and Lu Chen’s full of tender and affectionate interpretation. He has just started singing two sentences, and the four judges under the stage were already moved!

“……

Actually, I also want to know,

Which time are you in this embrace?

Those spoken words,

After all, none of us was able to do it.

There’s always a little bit of guilt,

About running away without saying goodbye,

But the past is like yesterday,

I can’t forget it!

……”

_______

Song: Life on A String/Lyrics: Wu Yukang, Zhang Fanglu/Composer: Chen Zhiyuan

TN: Song: Here.

TN: The title: 边走边唱 can be translated as “Singing while walking” or “Life on a string”.