PS Chapter 96 – Is Shocked
In the first qualifying round of the Beijing Division of “Singing China”, there were a total of 35 contestants.
Lu Chen’s number is 0030, and Mu Xiaochu, who is still behind him, is 0032.
At this moment, on the stage, is contestant 0017.
Therefore, there was plenty of time. He opened the case and took out the guitar again.
Lu Chen skillfully plucked the steel string, and played the song “Sweet Memories” to accompany Mu Xiaochu.
This famous sweet song has a simple tune. It doesn’t need any complicated fingering. It belongs to the entry-level repertoire in guitar playing. Although Lu Chen has not played the guitar many times, it is still easy.
He even added a little fancy to it.
At the beginning, Mu Xiaochu was shy, showing a trace of unease in her expression. However, encourage by Lu Chen’s smile, she accurately kept up with the rhythm and sang her own voice.
“I accompany you through the most beautiful coastline…”
“The feeling of happiness, linger, sharing the same world together…”
“That sweet memories, lives in my heart…”
“la~lala~la…”
Mu Xiaochu’s voice is very beautiful, sweet, and moist. Listening to it can make one feels like it can refresh one’s soul, or make people feel they are drinking cool sweet honey, and unconsciously will indulge in it.
Naturally, many contestants and members of the group of relatives and friends gathered around them. Everyone politely kept silent and listened quietly to her singing. Everyone had a smile on their face.
A staff member at the scene quietly turned down the volume of the wall-mounted TV.
Mu Xiaochu, who was surrounded by people, was obviously a little nervous, but she quickly got used to it and finished singing the whole song!
“Ah ~ This is our sweet memories!”
At the end of the song, the sound stops, but the remaining sounds still linger, as if it were still in the heart of the listener, enough to leave an aftertaste for a long time.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Applause resounds, although not so warm, but full of sincere affection.
Mu Xiaochu blushed with embarra.s.sment and took a bow to thank the onlookers. “Thank you…”
“Xiaochu…”
Her two cla.s.smates, which is also her best friends, hugged her from both sides, smiled and said, “You’re the best!”
Mu Xiaochu tried very hard to break free from their embrace. She looked at Lu Chen brightly and said, “Senior, why don’t you sing us a song, too?”
Everyone’s attention immediately focused on Lu Chen.
Of all the 35 contestants, Lu Chen is undoubtedly the most outstanding in terms of appearance.
He was tall, young and handsome, with a sunny smile like the boy next door. He’s just the type that people liked.
Besides, when it comes to talent, Lu Chen’s finger playing level is very excellent just now, and without a doubt he knows music.
Therefore, everyone wants to hear how well he sings. After all, “Singing China” is a talent show for singers.
There are no quota limits for qualifying, and the contestants present are not really compet.i.tors, but singers with the strength and ideas will still keep an eye on those who they think are strong enemies in advance.
And Lu Chen is a strong enemy!
Does he have any weaknesses? For example, is his singing plain or is his voice ordinary?
“All right!”
The two unrelated people clapped their hands to applaud first, anxious to stir up trouble.
Lu Chen can’t help but laugh, then he thought about it and said, “Then I’m going to reveal my inadequacies. Since my junior high school sister sang Chen Fei’s song, I’ll sing Tan Hong’s song.”
Everyone could not help but show a knowing smile – Tan Hong and Chen Fei’er.
Lu Chen readjusted his sitting position and began to play with his guitar in his arms.
“Flying Pigeons!1“
As soon as he played the prelude, someone immediately recognized that it was Tan Hong’s famous song, a cla.s.sic in folk songs.
“On a rainy day, I’m walking down an empty street…”
“As I looked at the blooming flowers, I said my thanks…”
“As I stand before you, I dream, to become a pigeon flying through the deep blue skies…”
“La La a ~ Flying pigeons!”
Lu Chen has already played and sung this song countless times. It is his repertoire in the Forget Worries Bar. Even though he has not practiced it for some time, its interpretation is still perfect. The fingering, singing, emotion is impeccable!
The contestants that were present, regardless of their level, have basic musical judgment.
Their eyes and even their faces changed as they listened.
Some admire, some were surprised, some envy, and some became vigilant!
After Lu Chen finished singing, Mu Xiaochu was the first to clap her hands, and she clapped very hard that her palms became red.
The applause of the others followed.
Lu Chen bowed and smiled, “Thank you! Tan Hong, Flying Pigeons.”
His eyes shone with inexplicable light.
This song, which once carried Lu Chen’s original dream, was now played and sang here. How can he not feel anything in his heart?
Someone asked, “Lu Chen, is that the song you prepared?”
All people in the backstage, including the group of family and friends and staff, wear ident.i.ty cards, and their names can be known at a glance.
Lu Chen shook his head and said, “No, I’ve prepared another original work of my own.”
It’s just the qualifying round. There’s no need to hide it. Anyway, it won’t be long before everyone can hear it.
An original work?
He’s really confident – many people think so.
In most people’s opinion, Lu Chen can sufficiently win the semi-finals pa.s.s card with “Flying Pigeons”. But he unexpectedly will take his original work on stage, he is simply doing things that wasn’t necessary.
What original work can be compared with Tan Hong’s “Flying Pigeon”? And it just so happened that Tan Hong was one of the judges. Lu Chen can already sing well and if he got the guidance of this superstar, he would be in the limelight!
Playing an instrument and singing an original work can push oneself in the limelight, but if the quality of the work is not good, it may result as doing something seemingly clever but turns out to be a foolish one instead. (TN: 弄巧成拙: Self-defeating.)
Similar situation has also appeared in previous talent shows. Some contestants think too highly of themselves and used their original work to express themselves, but the result was very ugly.
“Singing China” is not “Super Singer”!
Many people have the feeling that Lu Chen joined in the wrong talent show, and at the same time, they were surprised and look at him strangely.
Of course, they can’t help but secretly criticize.
Lu Chen saw their expressions, but he didn’t care, because the facts will prove everything.
Mu Xiaochu, pure and supportive, said, “Senior Lu Chen, you will certainly get a pa.s.s card!”
Lu Chen smiled and said, “Let’s work hard together.”
“Contestant 0021, please come with me!”
Just then, a field personnel appeared in the backstage and shouted, “Get ready, Contestant No. 0022!”
The crowd then dispersed. The compet.i.tion was still going on!
Mu Xiaochu and her cla.s.smates also returned to their position, no longer peeking at Lu Chen.
Time pa.s.sed by minute by minute.
For many people, waiting is a torment, while for others, time pa.s.ses too fast.
0022, 0023, 0024. One contestant after another went on the stage and came back. Some of them successfully pa.s.sed the judges’ examination. They were delighted to get the exquisite semi-final pa.s.s card. And some were mercilessly eliminated.
They were crying as they left.
The people in the broadcasting hall of Beijing Satellite TV were getting fewer and fewer.
Just after 8 o’clock, contestant No. 0029 went on stage.
Lu Chen, who was No. 0030, also appeared in the waiting area near the stage.
Contestant No. 0029 was the middle-aged man who had previously sat on the right of Lu Chen. He should be a street artist or a Beijing drifting singer. His name was Gao Feng.
Standing on the stage, Gao Feng first made a brief self-introduction. He came from the Heijiang River in the Northeast China and was indeed a Beijing drifter.
Tan Hong said, “You can start. I wish you success!”
Gao Feng nodded and said, “Thank you.”
He turned his head and gave a thumbs-up to the sound technicians on the sidelines.
The accompaniment music was played immediately.
However, the familiar melody immediately shocked Lu Chen, who was standing in the waiting area!
“I still remember the spring of many years ago…”
“At that time, I had not yet cut my long hair, I didn’t have credit cards, I didn’t have her, I didn’t have a home with hot water running for 24 hours.”
“However, those times were my happiest, Although I only had a broken wooden guitar.”
Impressively, Gao Feng is singing “in Spring”!
______
TN: On Ch. 4, this was translated as “Soaring Pigeons” but on Ch. 9, this was translated as “Flying Pigeons” by the previous translator. I’m just using the last one for consistency. And I also got the translation for the lyrics from Ch. 4, but changed soaring to flying.1