RAAS Chapter 20: The Song of Dreams
Chapter 20: The Song of Dreams
In the studio, waves of heat surged, and everyone raised their hands excitedly, swaying to the rhythm of the song.
Li Qing's song was grand and magnificent. Especially in the chorus, his high notes were more like shouts, expressing his inner hopes and dreams with all his might.
"You want to fly higher!
I am willing to help you soar!"
Half of the audience decided to become Li Qing's fans the moment the song ended.
Liking such an ambitious singer is truly something to be proud of!
Moreover, Li Qing's voice was not only pleasant to listen to but also versatile.
For instance, his tenderness and delicacy in "Angel's Wings" and his rough and bold style in "Fly Higher" were both masterfully handled, showcasing his artistry.
More importantly, his rock style differed from many contemporary rock singers.
Modern rock singers often present melancholic, self-pitying songs to the audience. To Li Qing, this was anti-commercial, anti-mainstream, and even anti-social, with no redeeming qualities.
These singers constantly hovered in the rock circle, comforting each other and making no progress, which led to the decline of the rock scene, making it impossible to replicate the record sales miracles of bands like Yuanzong and Big Windmill.
However, "Fly Higher" was different from contemporary rock songs. Although it belonged to the rock genre, it had a heart-stirring, inspiring force.
In simple terms, this new form of rock was more acceptable to the general public.
This might be the unique aspect of Li Qing, making him memorable and distinguishable from others.
His ability to captivate over a thousand spectators was entirely due to his full-hearted expression of his intentions and messages in a positive manner, resonating with the audience.
This form of music was refreshing to all the viewers at the time.
And this was the new rock Li Qing brought to this world...
No decadence, no sorrow, no darkness, no non-mainstream elements, just heartening shouts full of hope.
Such shouts, without full devotion, are difficult for ordinary people to replicate.
At this moment, countless spectators felt a strong desire in their hearts.
Undoubtedly, "Fly Higher" would lead the trend and once again bring a rock wave to the music scene.
But... how far could it go?
Everyone eagerly awaited the answer, watching excitedly.
...
When the song ended, Li Qing stood on stage, gently releasing the last string on his zebra-striped guitar.
The studio was still in a state of shock, and no one cared about anything else after Li Qing finished singing.
The whole place fell silent.
Li Qing shrugged, with a confident smile under everyone's gaze.
He mimicked "Fly Higher" almost perfectly, capturing the essence of the original singer.
He didn't believe such a powerful song could fail in this PK competition.
In his previous life, the original singer of this song had swept major music charts with it, setting multiple records, and it had been covered hundreds of times on various shows, always topping KTV and other music platforms. Even the prestigious CCTV had used "Fly Higher" as background music.
So, Li Qing was immensely confident about this song.
Sure enough, as the song's sound dissipated and the guitar stopped, the audience snapped out of their shock and a thunderous cheer seemed to break the studio's constraints.
Li Qing's name was shouted out loud by the audience.
Li Qing was very satisfied with the scene until contestant number 06, Xie Sijie, took the stage, and the frenzied atmosphere slightly subsided.
"I've heard of you," said Leng Ling, smiling from the judge's seat. "I've heard your last song too, it was great, many industry teachers speak highly of you."
Li Qing was flattered and quickly thanked, "Hello, Queen, I'm a fan of yours..."
This sounded insincere. To be honest, he hadn't listened to a single one of her songs, except for "Stars" performed by Feng Jing just now.
But these were just pleasantries, not to be taken seriously. Everyone in the industry knew that taking them seriously would mean losing.
So, although the audience applauded excitedly and Leng Ling looked surprised, she didn't feel any emotional fluctuations inside.
Because she had heard such words too many times, every junior who met her behaved like Li Qing, making her feel like one of those old seniors in the industry, although she was only 26 years old.
"The song has made it to the top ten on the radio request chart. Now you can hear it in record stores on the street," said Xu Wensheng into the microphone, sighing. "The Yangtze River flows forward with new waves."
Zhou Guoping smiled and said, "Li Qing is probably the fastest-rising contestant since 'Music Star' started, with limitless potential."
Han Wenya was a bit embarrassed but still praised, "Yes, although he's young, he is versatile in singing and songwriting, and his looks are rare in the industry. He could probably star in idol dramas."
The stance had changed.
Not long ago, the show's director had sternly warned them that if they didn't change their stance and continued to cold-shoulder Li Qing, they would face the full force of the TV station's backlash. And against the capital's TV station, even well-known figures in the industry didn't stand a chance.
Zhao Wendi realized this and, after pursing his lips, finally put on a happy face, saying, "Qing, once again, you've refreshed our perception of you. As your senior, I'm genuinely happy."
As soon as Zhao Wendi spoke, the judges all stared intently at Li Qing.
In the past, Li Qing would have sarcastically retorted to Zhao Wendi's insincere praise, even in front of thousands of spectators.
But to their surprise, Li Qing put his hands together and humbly said, "It's thanks to your guidance, senior. Thank you for your cultivation."
Zhao Wendi's smile froze slightly, and the other judges looked surprised.
Leng Ling remained silent but showed a trace of doubt as she glanced at a middle-aged woman nearby with a questioning look.
The middle-aged woman shook her head.
Leng Ling paused, then refocused on Li Qing and fell silent again.
"Oh, I almost forgot something!"
Xu Wensheng broke the silence, seeming to remember something, and turned to the audience, asking with a smile, "Do you know why Li Qing and Zhao Wendi are considered senior and junior? They were famous in the industry as the 'Flaming Boys.' Even now, they belong to the same company."
Some uninformed audience members suddenly understood, while those who knew the backstory sneered and booed.
Zhao Wendi seemed to ignore the boos and continued smiling, "Brother Xu, please don't say that. Back then, we were rookies, lucky to get a gold record. But we were too proud, couldn't withstand the market's test, and stumbled. Fortunately, after reflecting deeply, we brothers reappeared before the fans in a new way."
"And now, Qing appears before us with a brand new look, gaining many fans. I am genuinely happy..."
In this episode, all the praise Zhao Wendi had for other contestants seemed to pour out for Li Qing.
Li Qing stood on stage, still smiling humbly but feeling even more disgusted inside.
Zhao Wendi's thick-skinned and sycophantic skills seemed to have surpassed his memory...
In the audience, especially seeing Zhao Wendi's radiant praise of Li Qing, Director Zhang felt relieved and satisfied.
However, he was puzzled why the judges' comments on Li Qing's "Fly Higher" song didn't mention the song itself.
Twenty minutes later, Li Qing finally stepped down amid the judges' praise and the audience's warm applause.
At the same time, the studio's sound system announced the next performer.
"She is graceful and charming, cold-hearted but warm-hearted. Since her debut in 'Music Star,' fans have called her the 'Ice Queen.' She is strong and talented, capturing everyone's attention with her impressive skills in the qualifying round. This magnificent stage is destined to take her further..."
"Next, let's warmly welcome contestant number 06, the Ice Queen—Xie Sijie! Bringing her latest original song, 'The Song of Dreams'!"
Before the host finished his long introduction, Xie Sijie gracefully appeared.
Today, Xie Sijie wore a black and white short-sleeved jacket, silky smooth casual pants, and a pair of bright crystal shoes, giving off a strong "keep away" vibe.
No wonder fans called her the Ice Queen.
On stage, Xie Sijie's face seemed stiff, not smiling, looking very cold.
This unique aura made many audience members remember her.
Xie Sijie might not have Leng Ling's stunning looks, but she looked more like a quiet neighborly sister.
Suddenly, many fans screamed, raising blue banners they had somehow prepared.
They held the banners high, which read: "Go Xie Sijie!"
"Ice Queen crushes weak opponents."
"Xie Sijie forever love!"
"If Sijie doesn't win, there's no justice!"
Seeing these aggressive banners, many audience members showed disgust, as not everyone was fond of Xie Sijie.
Some audience members, newly converted to Li Qing's fans, were even more furious, shouting Li Qing's name to drown out the screams.
Xie Sijie's fans glared back, full of anger, screaming even louder...
Director Zhang,
watching the scene in the monitoring room, couldn't help but smile, finally at ease.
Although Xie Sijie and Li Qing were competitors, the "Music Star" program had succeeded in attracting public attention, stirring up enthusiasm among viewers and fans alike.
In the face of such a significant achievement, who would remember the details?
Seeing Xie Sijie standing on stage with a cold demeanor, Director Zhang couldn't help but marvel at her bearing.
Indeed, she deserved the title of Ice Queen!