Spring brings forth blossoms, and songs from the East echo.

 

      Since March 11, I have watched nine episodes of a program on Hunan TV via the internet. Not for the sake of stardom, but because the experimental nature, expansive thinking, and competition format of the show caught my attention.

      In a singing competition, one typically expects vocal talent.

      Guo Qu’s singing skills are average, yet he keeps advancing.

      In most competitions, the judges make the decisions on who progresses. However, in this program, the judges only offer brief comments after the performances, and the final decision lies with the live audience’s votes.

    Guo Qu always hovers on the edge of elimination, and in one round, he needed the judges' pre-competition “protection” to avoid being eliminated. Yet, this young man, who often raises the audience's anxiety, continually wins the approval of the judges, and he’s someone that established artists are eager to collaborate with.

      During the ensemble segment of the show, established artists Ao Ri Qi Leng and Xiao Mai “snatched” Guo Qu into their group to perform “In That Distant Place.” The three singers took turns expressing the main theme, with a backdrop of the melancholic Mongolian long tune, the lingering melody of Xinjiang, and the dramatic intrusion of electronic guitar. The sense of space was suddenly expanded; was the distance and longing between people really that far?

    Gong Shuang, an academic type, had previously won the Golden Bell Award for Chinese Music and was the champion of  “Ear on China.” In the eighth round, he teamed up with DJ Guo Qu to perform “Youth Dance.” Guo Qu deconstructed the original song, reassembling it with a vocoder and dubstep to unfold the music from a haunting atmosphere. Then came Gong Shuang’s nostalgic, operatic theme, followed by the cuckoo's vocal acrobatics, with Guo Qu conversing using a voice changer, resulting in a novel, thought-provoking presentation.

      After the performance, the judges asked Guo Qu why the opening had such a terrifying atmosphere. Guo Qu replied, “Youth Dance” isn’t a cheerful dance song. People feel helpless and uneasy about the passage of youth; thus, he sensed elements of sorrow in the music.

      The song's arrangement showcased Gong Shuang’s operatic prowess while incorporating the arranger's personal insights. The popularization of folk songs did not strip classical traditions of their dignity. Guo Qu also demonstrated his DJ skills, leading the audience in a relaxed and enjoyable cross-genre experience.

      Spring brings forth blossoms, and joy comes from the music.

      If we remain stagnant, believing that blossoms can only follow a predetermined pattern, are we not wasting the gentle spring breeze that brushes past us?