1RomanceEB Chapter 46 Next stop: the pop music scene!
Chapter 46 Next stop: the pop music scene!
Looking at his senior sister's concerned face, Lin Hanjiang knew that there were some things he had to say now, at least to put her mind at ease.
He organized his thoughts, his tone sincere:
"Senior sister, I didn't act on impulse."
"I have my reasons for trying. Music has many facets. Folk singing is my root, and I will never lose it. I will always remember my teacher's teachings. But pop music is the most widely spread and most accessible form of music to the general public. I want to try to express something in a way that is more familiar to everyone. This does not contradict my singing of 'The Story of Spring' and 'Entering the New Era.' It's just that I want to have more options."
Lin Hanjiang would never tell these outsiders that he was only doing it for money.
If you join a performing arts troupe, you'll only get a fixed salary and performance-based pay.
Let alone repaying 40 yuan in three years, it might take ten years to pay it off.
Zhang opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed back his deeper admonition. He just sighed and muttered, "You...you always have such a strong opinion. Let's see how you explain this to the teacher."
Jiang Tao looked at the two senior and junior disciples and seemed to understand something. He put away his joking expression and said solemnly:
"Brother Lin, you have your ideas, and I support you, but the pop music scene is not something that can be created casually."
"Thank you, Brother Jiang Tao, I understand," Lin Hanjiang said sincerely.
Chen Hong also said softly, "Hanjiang, keep going. But no matter which path you choose, those who sing with their hearts will always shine."
Lin Hanjiang nodded and turned to Zhang Ye and Zu Hai.
"Senior sister, Xiao Hai, let's go back. We're too tired today."
"Okay, let's go back first and talk about it later."
But at this moment, Lin Hanjiang's thoughts had already moved beyond the glory of tonight.
It was directed towards the city in the south where a new song chart was about to be held, and into the scorching heat of July.
He has won the gold medal, but still has 40 yuan in debt to pay off.
The journey of this new era has only just begun.
His next stop is the surging tide of the pop music scene.
……
Late at night, a yellow van travels through the sparse streets of Beijing, its engine sound particularly clear in the silence.
With the car window half-open, the early summer night breeze, carrying warmth and a faint scent of locust blossoms, wafted in.
Zhang Ye held Lin Hanjiang's gold medal trophy, and the smile on his face never faded.
Even if my junior wants to sing pop music again.
But now that I've won the gold medal, I can put everything else aside for now.
"Hanjiang, look at this trophy, it's so shiny! It would be the best one in the school's exhibition hall. Tomorrow I'll talk to Teacher Liu, who's in charge of the exhibition hall, and tell him we have to put it in the most prominent place."
Zu Hai, his little head bobbing sleepily, leaned on Zhang Ye's shoulder and mumbled indistinctly, "Senior brother's trophy is the brightest."
This also highlights Lin Hanjiang's current strength, but it will only be left for a month before the rightful owner can take it away at any time.
Don't worry about the academy taking the trophy away.
Lin Hanjiang leaned back in his chair. After the initial euphoria, the outline of reality gradually became clear.
The final of the Young Singers Competition will be broadcast on TV this weekend.
The stirring melody of "Entering the New Era," coupled with the explosive news of "breaking the record with a score of 9.888," will propel him to an unprecedented height.
That will be more than just "a winner of the CCTV Young Singers Competition Gold Award"; it will become a symbol, imbued with meaning beyond music itself.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jin was rubbing his temples.
The old man was strict and traditional, but he loved his students at heart and was not inflexible.
If you are truly determined to leave, explain yourself clearly, clarify your aspirations and difficulties, and you may be able to gain understanding.
At the very least, it's a reluctant acquiescence.
The real pressure comes from the leaders who are about to take over.
Two mainstream works with absolutely correct political orientation and extremely high artistic quality are enough to make him a favorite of major galas, celebrations, and even higher-profile occasions.
An invitation from the Great Hall of the People may not be just a dream.
Once incorporated into a large and stable system, they are crowned with the titles of "young singer" and "singer of the times."
If I were to switch back to singing popular songs, I would face not only the incomprehension of my teachers and relatives.
It is an invisible constraint.
Trapped in the performing arts troupe, they followed the expected path of performing, getting promoted, and becoming a leading figure...
That's not the future he wants.
The debt of 40 yuan, like the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, forced him to run faster.
They are moving towards areas with stronger monetization capabilities and broader markets.
The pop music scene will be his next battleground.
The Guangdong New Song Chart is currently the clearest entry point.
"I wonder what the rewards for this new song chart are..."
Lin Hanjiang was making plans in his mind.
"Ideally, I'd like to be given the opportunity to record a record, even if the conditions are harsh and the profit sharing is small. As long as I can quickly release some works and gain recognition, I can get commercial performances, release tapes, and release CDs... Let's pay off the debt first."
The car stopped at the school gate.
Zhang paid the fare, got out of the car clutching the trophy, and was still excitedly planning: "Tomorrow I'll go back to the department to share the good news; the faculty will definitely be waiting! And also..."
"Senior sister," Lin Hanjiang interrupted her, "you can keep the trophy for now. My dorm is messy, I'm afraid it might get bumped."
Zhang was taken aback, noticing the obvious weariness on his face under the streetlight.
The initial joy cooled slightly, turning into concern:
"What's wrong? Tired? Yeah, today was exhausting. Okay, I'll keep it for you for now. After a month, whenever you want to take it back, I'll go get it for you."
"Okay, thank you, senior. And please take Xiaohai back to his dorm too; he's really tired today."
Watching Zhang Ye help Zu Hai walk towards the girls' dormitory building.
Lin Hanjiang took a breath of the night breeze, which smelled of fresh grass, and turned to walk towards his drab, gray boys' dormitory building.
The hallway was silent except for the echo of his footsteps.
I pushed open the dormitory door, turned on the light, and walked to my desk.
On one corner of the table, there lay a note with neat handwriting and a phone number.
This is Su Xiao's contact information.
If you want to know something about the Guangdong New Song Chart Competition that Jiang Tao and the others mentioned, this female reporter might know something about it.
Lin Hanjiang picked up the note: "I'll have to call her tomorrow and ask her."
Since we've decided to venture into the pop music scene, we can't fight an unprepared battle.
He understands the pulse of popular trends in this era, knowing which songs truly endure and which are merely fleeting phenomena.
I sat down, pulled a thick notebook out of the drawer, and, under the light, began to organize the soundscape of this era in my mind.
Those melodies and names that had become somewhat blurred by the passage of time gradually became clearer.
The 1980s were a time of enlightenment and explosive growth.
The music broke free from the singular themes of hymns and folk songs, carrying the reflections of scar literature and the passion of reform and opening up.
Cui Jian's roar in "Nothing to My Name" expressed the confusion and rebellion of a generation.
"Young Ambition Knows No Sorrow" and "Where is the Road Ahead?" are popular songs brought to the nation by TV dramas, which are passionate and full of idealism.
As the northwest wind blows, the songs "Loess Plateau" and "My Beloved Hometown" are rugged and unrestrained, carrying the earthy scent of the land.
Teresa Teng's "decadent music" quietly seeped in from across the strait, and her sweet love songs soothed countless hearts.
That was the era of bell-bottoms, tape recorders, and dance halls; music was the clarion call to break free from constraints and an outlet for emotional expression.
As the new category emerges, all things begin to grow.