Chapter 128: Music Scene’s Great Benefactor
“The moonlight is truly beautiful.”
A gentle breeze brushed by, the leaves by the roadside rustling, Qi Luo An lifted her head, her eyes reflecting the moonlight.
Moonlight like water quietly flowed between the two, their figures stretched long under the moonlight, sometimes side by side, sometimes overlapping, like some kind of silent tacit understanding.
“Yeah, my moonlight blood storm is already thirsty and impatient.”
“?”
Entering the neighborhood, the two slowed their steps in unison, Qi Luo An seemed a bit reluctant to part, as if living too close wasn’t such a good thing.
If only they could walk a little longer.
“What floor do you live on?”
After walking her to the building, Yu Wei confirmed the exact address like checking household registration, Qi Luo An was momentarily puzzled but still honestly told him.
“Why are you asking that?”
“To hit your home window with a slingshot.” Yu Wei gauged the height, 17th floor he definitely couldn’t reach, he couldn’t even see the windows clearly from downstairs.
Qi Luo An turned to go upstairs, but after a few steps, she thoughtfully turned back and asked if he wanted to come up and sit.
“Why would I go up, to check the layout?”
“?”
Qi Luo An was stunned for a moment, her eyes widening slightly as if she hadn’t heard clearly, then, this sentence struck her like a belated lightning bolt, her cheeks visibly reddening.
Damn it, it’s all because of internet abstract culture, what was she thinking…
She wished she could find a hole to crawl into, annoyed at herself for thinking that way, while couldn’t help finding the “ambiguity” of the sentence amusing and playful.
Luckily the night was quite dark, probably Yu Wei didn’t see clearly, her gaze drifted awkwardly elsewhere, her voice trembling with a hint of embarrassment.
“Bye bye, good night!”
Watching Qi Luo An dash upstairs as if fleeing, Yu Wei then leisurely went home, this girl was pretty easy to tease.
“Map of Mountains and Rivers” didn’t explode like “Dream Chaser’s Heart,” after all, it lacked emotional resonance, and surely many people wouldn’t appreciate rap.
But this song still got some explicit praise, and was requisitioned by the official side, turned into a video the next day.
After all, in a sense, this song was easier to favor, patriotic sentiment plus Yu Wei’s influence, it really could achieve better results.
Moreover, the lyrics and music of this song were solid on their own, it could handle immense traffic.
The video opened with aerial shots overlooking winding mountains, mist-shrouded mountain ranges stretching endlessly, paired with Yu Wei’s powerful rap in the prelude of “Map of Mountains and Rivers,” the scenes and lyrical imagery complementing each other perfectly.
When singing “Let rivers and stars rush like wild geese,” the shot switched to the Yellow River’s surging waves, the river water threading through the Loess Plateau like a giant dragon.
With “No matter eight thousand li of road clouds and moon, real men stand forward,” the scenes turned to border guards patrolling the snowy plateau, firefighters advancing against the flames at a fire site…
It could only be said CCTV’s editing was truly impressive, Yu Wei could even overlook Fang Ze’s obvious mistake while watching the video.
The visuals boosted the music quite a bit, if contestants who signed up for his competition had this editing skill, not just advancing, they might even make the finals.
When the chorus “Wield brush and ink to paint my mountains and rivers” played, AR technology presented giant brush virtual effects, outlining the veins of great rivers in the scenes.
Then the shots shifted to city nightscapes, drone swarms forming the outline of China’s map in the night sky, dialoguing ancient and modern with traditional cultural elements.
The video’s bullet comments were full of praise, some calling Yu Wei awesome, making him a bit embarrassed.
Good taste, it’d be even better if they checked out the book…
Yu Wei opened Weibo originally to see how Qi Xi’s matter was handled, but as soon as he entered the homepage, he saw Teacher Meng Han’s new post.
“@Yu Wei ‘Map of Mountains and Rivers’ is the ultimate fusion of Chinese aesthetics and modern expression, he abandoned the common narrative style of pop music, instead using grand geographical imagery and classical cultural exposition.
The success of this song lies in transcending mere ‘pleasant to listen to,’ sublimating into a comprehensive artistic experience of ‘listenable, viewable, imaginable.’
Additionally, Brother Yu’s rap flow isn’t known for complex show off skills, but with clear enunciation, stable rhythm, powerful presence, perfectly fitting the song’s grand theme, thumbs up!”
Why does it feel like he’s desperately praising me…
Meng Han’s fans in the comment section were shocked, their Teacher Meng usually bowed to no one and rarely praised others publicly.
But with Yu Wei, he’d praised twice already, last time concise with just an awesome, this time a long rant of praise.
Logically, the novel didn’t specify where “Blue Lotus” won, no grudge, but it should be a competitive relationship, why praise so hard?
Yu Wei couldn’t figure it out himself, outsiders might think he was Meng Han’s own son, even Meng Lei didn’t get this treatment.
Netizens could only interpret it as Teacher Meng’s recognition of Yu Wei, he was no longer the future of the Chinese music scene, he was the present!
Seeing Teacher Meng so enthusiastic, Yu Wei thought to interact, casually asking “When are you coming to compete” with a doge emoji.
Meng Han actually replied instantly, saying his old bones couldn’t handle young people’s stuff, but he could introduce some musicians.
“This good?”
Yu Wei never expected him to go this far, he’d even added the doge obviously joking, after all this competition was a recent hot meme.
“Top Streamer” fake competition basically had no talented persons, Meng Han coming would be dimensional strike, he didn’t want to abuse of vegetables, instead introducing some people, that would be a great merit.
Directly changing the entire competition landscape!
Netizens were shocked too, what, really some music industry big shots coming to compete, Yu Wei’s fake competition was getting good.
Previously a bunch of fan circle idols fighting was really annoying, time for real music to cleanse ears, support, must support.
Many pure musicians don’t go on programs now, basically impossible to join variety show competitions, but Yu Wei’s fake competition was just right.
Thinking of those singers who once amazed everyone reactivating, netizen fans would surely be happy.
Actually Meng Han really had this intention, many musicians were too proud, out of the circle too long focusing on music, barely affording food yet still holding back.
In this environment, no traffic means nothing, they couldn’t lower themselves to variety shows and commercial performances, perfect for him to bridge.
Yu Wei’s fake competition could bring them back to public vision on one hand, without violating their “faith” on the other, simply the perfect showcase platform.
Meng Han saw it clearly, the true purpose of Yu Wei’s competition wasn’t fan circle infighting, but to give truly capable people a chance to showcase themselves.
The masses’ eyes are bright, who is good or bad is easy to hear, fan circle hype is useless.
Precisely because Yu Wei’s past frustrated and unsuccessful days were too dark, that’s why he used his popularity to provide a platform for talented people!
Because he’s been through the rain, he wants to hold an umbrella for others, what a vision?
Yu Wei’s psychological issues so severe yet still striving hard, Meng Han called teacher by so many musicians, naturally duty-bound.
A great benefactor has come to the music scene…
Meng Han acted fast, right after replying he started contacting his frustrated and unsuccessful musician friends, rolling in the scene for nearly thirty years, connections unquestionable.
“Little Jiang, still teaching kids at the music institution, there’s an online competition, check it out!”
“Wei Zi don’t do that crappy tour, can you sell tickets, come sign up.”
“Little Xue, stop messing with originals, tinkering around it’s just so-so, listen to uncle, your singing skill is enough.”
“…”
Yu Wei didn’t know the situation, but Liu Ning suddenly received several new registration applications, has-been singers, folk song veterans, even music teachers.
Meng Han eventually convinced them, he didn’t do much, just played Yu Wei’s songs for them.
The best method to convince artists is to make them convinced…
Though arts have no first and martial no second, with Yu Wei’s creation frequency, which singer wouldn’t envy?
Plus Meng Han reasoning and emotional appeal, sharing Yu Wei’s frustrated and unsuccessful experiences, they were convinced on the spot.
This is the responsibility a new generation musician should have, they’ll do this competition, doesn’t matter if they become popular again, even just boosting Yu Wei’s book popularity they’d do it!
“Is this the composure of old generation artists?”
Teacher Meng single-handedly brought so many people, solidly music scene great benefactor…
Yu Wei successively added Jiang Si Heng, Song Wei, and Xiang Huai Xue’s contacts, and introduced the competition format.
Called fake competition, actually “Top Streamer” was more like an online competition, though with very high popularity, no substantial rewards or honors.
To them three, this was simply a “dream competition,” gain popularity without bonuses or empty fame, joining wouldn’t be said they’re chasing money.
Artists care about dignity, Yu Wei’s competition really let them gracefully boost fame, why not?
More importantly, they recognized Yu Wei’s spirit, hearing he was still in self-doubt spiral, achieving this was truly not easy.
“Jackpot.”
Yu Wei looking at their resumes was overjoyed, these people out of circle either dissatisfied with music commercialization or buried in art, none truly weak.
They had plenty old fans too, just didn’t harvest leeks, if competing, sentiment and strength both there, surely attract many.
While Yu Wei pondered scheduling, Qi Xi trapped in public opinion vortex finally responded, to avoid giving handles, he simply issued an apology statement.
“Dear fans and friends, everyone who cares about me:
Hello everyone!
I am Qi Xi. Recently, discussions about my abnormal performance in a certain competition, suspected of intentionally losing and guiding fans to vote for the blind person opponent, have drawn wide attention. This not only confused fans but may have misled the public. Here, I solemnly apologize to everyone and sincerely explain.
First, I must clearly admit: the abnormal situation in the competition was entirely due to an unexpected error from the technical system bug, absolutely not intentional by me or my team. I deeply know the core of competitive spirit is fairness, respect, and sincerity, as an artist and contestant, I always uphold this principle, never intentionally losing or using a blind person friend for attention.
……”
Classic bug.
This kind of thing doesn’t weigh four liang off-scale, on-scale it’s a thousand jin unstoppable, Qi Xi was forced on-scale, could only stubbornly claim bug.
Even excluding netizens’ hat-tossing, intentionally losing can be big or small, previous ones didn’t get on-scale, he ran into the gun.
With him as negative example, later ones wanting to lose would restrain a lot, guiding votes for others too obvious.
Yu Wei glanced at the contestant list, idea struck, let these old singers personally handle the fan circle idols’ elimination ceremony.
Anyway these fan circle little idols all want to lose, might as well make them leave something…
Just leave some fertilizer for the literary renaissance.
Talented persons should crush idols!
