Chapter 50: What is a Competition Song!?
At the same moment.
Beijing, Houhai Bar.
Zhao Lei had just finished singing two songs by Xu Wei, “Your Past” 《 and “Travel” 》, and went to the lounge with his guitar.
“Lei Zi, hurry up, it’s almost Zhang Liangying’s turn,” the bar manager called out.
“I wonder if Zhang Liangying will sing an original song again this round? That song ‘Warmth’ 《 just now was amazing, a truly genius idea,” another resident female singer said.
“I think Shen Qing must have written a new song for her this round.”
Zhao Lei gently put down his guitar and said with a smile.
The manager and the female singer looked at him and asked, “Oh? Tell us, why.”
Zhao Lei: “Tomorrow Zhang Liangying is going to record for Happy Camp 《, singing another original song can attract a lot of fans… and Shen Qing can write them.”
Female singer: “Haha, Lei Zi, you trust Shen Qing that much?”
Manager: “Writing songs isn’t child’s play, you can’t keep creating…”
Zhao Lei: “I don’t know either, it’s just an intuition, I always feel like Shen Qing can create many more songs.”
Zhao Lei actually also loved writing songs, but he was only 19 years old, limited by his experience, and hadn’t written any decent tunes yet.
So.
He admired creative talents like Shen Qing.
As early as when he was 13, Zhao Lei watched a video of Wu Bai singing in an underpass and thought being a singer was too cool.
So at 17, he pursued his dream, singing in the underpasses of Beijing for two years, and this year he moved to Houhai Bar.
He was tired of this aimless life with no hope, but didn’t know where to go.
Since Xu Wei’s album “Every Moment is New” 《 was released last year, Zhao Lei had been deeply captivated by “Your Past” 《, always feeling a voice calling him to Xichuan.
Another one fooled by Xu Wei’s songs, about to travel to the western plateau!
At this moment.
On the television, No. 04 Ji Minjia had already started singing.
But Zhao Lei wasn’t paying attention to Ji Minjia; he just wanted to see what kind of posture Zhang Liangying would use to conquer the judges and audience.
…
Studio.
The song Ji Minjia brought was “Fly Higher” 《 by Mr. Wang, a significant figure in the Chinese music scene. It was the first time Shen Qing heard a contestant sing Wang Feng’s song.
“Life is like a great river,”
“Sometimes calm, sometimes wild.”
“Reality is like a shackle,”
“Binding me, unable to break free.”
“…”
At this time.
Shen Qing and the others in the audience had no reaction, but Zhao Lei, sitting in front of the television, felt deeply emo.
He already wanted to go out and explore, and now hearing this song, the desire to see the outside world could no longer be suppressed.
Zhao Lei seemed to have made up his mind, secretly thinking, “I hope that when I return from Xichuan, Mango TV will hold Super Boy, I will definitely participate!”
“I want to fly higher, fly higher,”
“Dance like a strong wind, break free from embrace.”
“I want to fly higher, fly higher,”
“Wings stir up storms, my heart roars.”
“…”
On television, Ji Minjia reached the climax of the song.
If Wang Feng’s “Fly Higher” 《 expressed the unyielding spirit of middle-aged people, then Ji Minjia’s performance embodied the aspirations of young people for the future.
Two completely different styles.
If Shen Qing had to choose, he preferred Wang Feng’s version.
Li Xiang walked onto the stage with a smile, her makeup today gave her immense confidence: “Please, Teacher Hei, give your critique.”
Hei Nan: “When you were singing just now, the audience below was boiling. Teacher Ke told me you are like a sports car.”
Ke Yimin: “You look like an inconspicuous sports car, but you have incredible stamina. Keep it up, Minjia.”
…
Next, No. 06 Zhang Liangying.
Whether it was Zhao Lei or other fans in front of their televisions, their hearts instantly became excited.
Seeing their favorite contestant, their emotions were hard to express.
This feeling was like playing a simulation game; every step Liangying took, every bit she grew, made them happy.
In the future, they （ she ） wanted to witness Zhang Liangying become a Heavenly Queen and stand at the pinnacle of the Chinese music scene.
Although this was difficult.
But this was how they felt at this moment.
“Liangying, you’ve secured advancement in advance!”
“Go for it!”
“Hope she sings another original and crushes Zhou Bichang and Li Yuchun, showing them what despair looks like.”
“Haha, even without originals, Liangying can beat them.”
“Don’t be arrogant, Li Yuchun has very high popularity.”
“…”
At this moment.
Zhang Liangying was already standing on stage.
She was still wearing the same pure white long dress and delicate pink makeup.
Shen Qing stared at the petite girl and couldn’t help but laugh, “The thought of them hearing Zhang Liangying’s song later makes me want to laugh…”
Meanwhile, short videos of two judges were played.
Hei Nan: “Actually, I think Zhang Liangying is a very, very rare and good singer, very unique. Her voice is like heavenly music to me.”
Ke Yimin: “The characteristic of her voice is that it sounds good at first, and then, the more you listen, the better it sounds.”
This was almost the highest praise of the night.
Earlier, when they evaluated He Jie, they only mentioned her aura and didn’t even mention innate hardware conditions like her vocal cords.
For a singer, the highest praise is ‘you have a naturally good voice’; such talent is beyond the reach of ordinary singers.
It’s like in Xianxia novels, where some have innate lightning-attribute spiritual roots, while others are born with mixed elemental spiritual roots… no matter how hard they try, they can’t see the back of a genius.
…
Executive Director: “Please welcome Zhang Liangying to perform her original song ‘Agony’ 《.”
The original singer of this song is Malaysian singer Jia Wei.
But the person with the most say on this song should be the walking CD – JJ Lin Junjie.
Whether it’s difficult to sing, JJ has something to say.
When he sang it as a duet with Jia Wei, he was completely exhausted and almost sang himself away.
The entire song is only 4 minutes and 20 seconds long, but more than half of the time is spent singing in the high-pitched range, reaching up to F#5.
If other singers were to sing it, more than half of them would probably need oxygen, and the remaining half wouldn’t be able to hit the notes at all.
But Zhang Liangying sang “Agony” 《 with no pressure, after all, she is one of the few singers in the Chinese music scene who can confidently say 【 I’ll handle the high notes 】.
It can be said that the song “Agony” 《 was born for competitions.
Not only is the melody pleasant, but it is also very difficult, requiring very high comprehensive qualities from the singer; any flaw would make it impossible to sing.
Before, Shen Qing had created a persona for Zhang Liangying as a singing girl from an ordinary worker’s family with dreams. Although she had sung a few high notes, it hadn’t left a strong impression.
Most people, including the judges, had the impression of her: good vocal condition + lucky to have sung a few original songs.
And now, with the finals approaching, Shen Qing wants to break others’ preconceived notions of Liangying and let everyone witness Liangying’s high-pitched talent, thereby telling everyone—
Zhang Liangying’s journey to this point doesn’t rely entirely on pleasant original songs; her own conditions are also top-tier.
If tonight’s “Agony” 《 is a stunning success, Zhang Liangying’s popularity will definitely skyrocket, attracting another wave of fans who value skill.
…
“If I had known, you were just a bird,”
“After the embrace, only feathers remained in my hand.”
“…”
Liangying opened her mouth. Initially, the speakers emitted a soft and melodious vocal, and the audience in the studio and in front of their televisions thought Zhang Liangying’s song would be in the same style as “Warmth” 《.
But when she reached the fifth line, the key changed （ the pitch rose ）.
Many people were taken aback.
“This song seems a bit different?”
“Look quickly, Zhang Liangying is building up emotion, it feels like she’s about to explode, but she’s definitely holding back a big move.”
At Houhai Bar, Zhao Lei stared intently at the television, “The big moment is coming, the next line, right in the next line.”
…
At the same time.
Zhang Liangying completely let go.
This time, she wanted people to truly see her strength.
After practicing continuously for the past two months, her high notes had been well-tuned by Shen Qing. Even if there were minor imperfections, they wouldn’t affect her ability to crush other contestants.
“My heart beats, love begins to agonize,”
“Every minute, every second.”
The moment her head voice-dominant, relatively balanced mixed voice came out, everyone in the studio was stunned. It was ethereal, distant, and extremely penetrating.
Many people got goosebumps.
Hei Nan and Ke Yimin were both taken aback, “Zhang Liangying’s head voice technique is that strong? Nearly ten seconds of high notes above B4, with clear articulation, sung as easily as drinking water!!”
At this moment, Shen Qing saw the reactions of fans like Chen Liang around him, and with satisfaction, he couldn’t help but put his hands on his hips and say, “This is what a competition song is!”
