Chapter 271 - 271. Guan Zhou

Chapter 271. Guan Zhou 

The late 80s and the early 90s was a time when rock music was at its peak all over China. 

Rock was a genre that resonated most with the youths. 

At the same time, playing rock songs was also considered to be a form of rebellious nature and it was not liked much by the a.d.u.l.ts and the old people.

Society had become more open and flexible now, but it was not the same in the early 90s. 

At that time, when the rock industry in China was blooming, someone was leading the industry with his hit albums.

He was the Rock king, Guan Zhou.

Not only did his albums break the sales record in China, Guan Zhou even became the first Chinese singer to get popularity all over Asia. 

He won three Silver Phoenix music awards consecutively for three years, making him the most popular singer all over China.

His popularity was even higher than many of the top actors and he was even going on a world tour.

Everyone thought that no one would be able to stop Guan Zhou from ruling over the music industry all over the world.

But something unexpected happened….

Guan Zhou threw up blood during one of his concerts and after reaching the hospital, he was diagnosed with cancer.

It was shocking news.

Even Guan Zhou himself took a lot of time before finally accepting his faith. At that time, cancer was incurable. 

There was no way Guan Zhou would have been saved, but he didn't give up and opted for treatment from the best doctors in the world. 

His struggle was really worth clapping for. Guan Zhou didn't give up until the end, but in the end, he couldn't go against fate. 

He succ.u.mbed to death ultimately. 

It was like the whole China was silent. Many people were mourning for the legend of rock music- the Rock king Guan Zhou.

His legend ended and with this death, the rock scene in China also started to deteriorate.

Many bands and singers tried to follow up on his legend, but all of them failed. They were nowhere near his popularity.

People even said that there can be only one Guan Zhou in the world and no one can recuperate his success.

As the rock scene in China started to deteriorate, no old was able to save it and now, rock was struggling to survive. 

"I didn't know you were a fan of Guan Zhou."

Lily said as she looked at the vinyl record in the hand of Professor Che Shu. 

Professor Che Shu who looked like someone who would like slow and classical music was actually a fan of Guan Zhou.

It was the first time Lily was hearing this.

"Yeah, I even attended one of his concerts when I was young. It's a pity that the legend of the Rock king ended so soon."

Professor Che Shu expressed remorse on his face as he said that.

"Yeah."

'Maybe if Guan Zhou was still alive, then rock music would still be alive in China.'

Lily thought in her mind.

She wondered how rock music would have panned out if Guan Zhou hadn't died. It was an interesting thought. 

Maybe, rock music would not have become a gourmet food existence.

"Anyway, I think Guan Zhou would be able to help you?"

Professor Che Shu said and Lily tilted her head and asked.

"How can Guan Zhou help me? He is already dead and dead people can't talk."

Professor Che Shu sighed when he heard that. He wondered why Lily would act like an idiot sometimes. 

"You are forgetting that people can die but music will never die. Guan Zhou may have died, but his music is still here."

Professor Che Shu raised the vinyl record in his hand slightly while saying that. Realisation finally struck Lily as she stared at the record.

'Yeah, the professor is right.'

Many great musicians had died but their music was still in the world. People will still play their music and reminisce about the musicians. 

Guan Zhou was the same. Many people will still play his music regularly.

Although not many young people will listen to his songs or even know him, there were still many fans of his in China.

Professor Che Shu was one such example.

"But how will Guan Zhou's music help me?"

"You want to write original rock songs of China. Then, what's better than listening to the songs of the Rock king. Maybe, listening to his music will give you a direction."

Lily nodded at his words.

If she wants to write the best rock songs, then she has to learn from the best rock artists in China. 

Although she was not exactly 'learning' from him, she decided to believe the Professor. Maybe, listening to Guan zhou's songs will help her out. 

"I will play it. Try to listen to the core of the music."

Professor Che Shu quickly played the vinyl record.

After a while, a guitar voice sounded out from the record player. The song playing was called 'Dark shadows'.

It was one of the songs in the debut album of Guan Zhou and it was also Professor Che Shu's favourite song of Guan Zhou. 

"I'm standing here feeling clouded…."

"My shadows are shrouded…."

"And I'm wounded without you...."

Lyrics also started flowing out and Lily opened her eyes wide when she heard that. She couldn't believe the song that was flowing out.

It was the first time she was listening to Dark shadows and it was completely different than what she had thought. 

'This is a genuine rock song!!'

She thought as he stared at the song flowing out from the vinyl record. Then, she looked at Professor Che Shu. 

She noticed that the Professor had already closed his eyes and he was enjoying the song.

Lily decided to do the same. She let the lyrics and melody of the song enter her body. It was like she was imagining what the song was trying to say.

The song was about a boy who was heartbroken and he was staring at the clouds while sitting on the top of a hill.

Lily suddenly found herself on the exact same hill, besides the boy. She stared as the boy grieved about his love.

The boy stared at the grey clouds in the sky as he cried, but in the end, the grey clouds were swept away by the wind. 

The only thing that was left was the bright sunlight raining down on the boy. 

The song finished with the boy standing up and accepting his broken heart. 

"Ah…."

Lily let out a surprised voice when the song finished. She looked around but she found that she was not on the hill, but in the underground recording studio.

Professor Che Shu chuckled when he saw Lily liked that.

Guan Zhou songs have this special quality that will transport the listener in the song. It was like the listener was listening to the emotions instead of the song.

"How was it? Do you have a clue now?"

Lily composed herself and shook her head when she heard that. 

"No, I didn't get what I wanted."

Professor Che Shu made a frowning expression. He thought that Guan Zhou's song would help her, but it looks like he was wrong. 

As he was pondering on this, Lily's next words stunned him. 

"I didn't get what I was looking for but I think I found something more than that."