Chарtеr 13: Вrоnzе Lеvel, Plаtinum Drеаms
Тhе next daу, Luо Qingxu threw hеrself wholеhеаrtеdlу intо prераring for thе seсond eрisоde оf the рrоgrаm.
Unlike thе hаstily рrераrеd “Divinаtiоn” from lаst time, Luо Qingхu had alreadу submitted thе lyriсs аnd musiс fоr the seсond and third ерisоdеs to Рroduсer Chеn. Тhе асcоmpaniment, bасkgrоund musiс, аnd singing singer were аll rеаdy.
Тhe suсcess оf “Divinаtiоn” mаde Prоduсer Chеn trust Luo Qingxu’s аbilitiеs еvеn morе. Еvery time he saw her, he wоre а smilе, whiсh surрrisеd thosе around him.
Aftеr all, Рroduсer Сhen was famously known for his tyrannosaurus temper. If things didn’t go his way, he would fly into a rage. Few people could make him treat them so kindly.
“The creative department’s evaluation of this young lady must also be reconsidered.”
Han Changsheng, the head of the creative department, pondered repeatedly and planned to contact Fei Jiajun to renegotiate improving Luo Qingxu’s compensation and share.
When one is busy, time always flies by. In the blink of an eye, the day of the second live broadcast arrived.
“Aunt Jun, if you have things to do, go ahead and attend to them. You really don’t need to follow me around. I’m just a small-time nobody—why would a top-tier agent like you need to follow me every day? People might think my older brother has exiled you.”
In the exclusive lounge for “National Style Grand Prize,” Luo Qingxu watched as Fei Jiajun continuously answered calls and replied to messages, kindly reminding her.
“You ungrateful little thing, you’re the one who gives me the most trouble!” Fei Jiajun indeed had a lot on her plate. Today, she had squeezed out time to accompany Luo Qingxu to the program.
But there was no other way. Although Xiao Kui had undergone professional training, she was still too young, and this program was very important for Luo Qingxu.
With her “daughter” now grown up, Fei Jiajun always worried that Luo Qingxu might be bullied. Unable to rest easy, this “old mother” had no choice but to sacrifice her time to accompany her and personally keep an eye on things.
The theme of this episode was “Poetry.” Poetry is a shining gem in Chinese civilization, expressing the emotions and philosophies of ancient people through its unique rhythm and artistic conception.
In the world of classical poetry, it feels as though we travel through time, admiring the moon with Li Bai, sharing Du Fu’s worries for the nation and its people, roaming the Red Cliffs with Su Shi, and pouring out sorrows of parting with Li Qingzhao.
Each poem is like an exquisite painting, rich in cultural depth and historical significance.
Given this, the range of choices was broad. Luo Qingxu sifted through Xiao Bi’s music library and finally settled on the classic Chinese version of the duet “Do You Know, Do You Know.”
“Do You Know, Do You Know” is the theme song of the TV drama “The Story of Minglan.” It cleverly incorporates lines from Li Qingzhao’s “Like a Dream: Last Night, Sparse Rain and Strong Wind.”
With its beautiful melody and rich classical charm, this song successfully conveys the emotions and destinies of the characters in the drama, always reminding Luo Qingxu of the unique atmosphere she felt while watching the show back then.
The female voice part was still performed by her longtime partner, Zhen Chang. Her broad vocal range suited the style of this song perfectly, so Luo Qingxu chose her without hesitation, disappointing many who had hoped she would switch to someone else.
As for the male voice part, it was again selected through an internal company audition. Thanks to the small-scale popularity of “Divination,” many available small-time singers within the company came to audition. In the end, Zhou Yicheng stood out.
Zhou Yicheng was a fifth- or sixth-tier singer with some influence in niche markets but relatively low recognition in the mainstream.Especially in Luo Shen Media, where industry giants gather, Zhou Yicheng appeared rather obscure. Idling in the company while waiting for work opportunities, he happened to encounter Luo Qingxu’s selection process, and his agent helped him sign up.
Being selected, Zhou Yicheng felt that fate had finally smiled upon him. Thus, he gave it his all, mustering every ounce of energy and throwing himself into the performance with his best possible state.
After all, being able to perform a Work by the Luo Shen heiress was equivalent to firmly securing the support of Luo Shen Media.
Luo Qingxu’s creative abilities were not to be underestimated. Meeting her during humble beginnings could not only leave a deep impression on her but also secure an advantage in future collaborations, such as more easily receiving song invitations from her. No matter how you looked at it, it was a guaranteed profitable venture.
The order of appearance for this episode did not require drawing lots; it was determined based on the rankings from the previous episode. The lower a contestant ranked in the previous episode, the earlier they would appear. In the previous episode, Luo Qingxu had claimed the top spot, so she would be the last to perform.
“It seems everyone is pulling out all the stops this time,” Zhen Chang remarked, observing the four contestants who had already performed. Three of them had chosen to bring in guest singers for assistance, while the one who hadn’t was an amateur contestant with no other resources besides themselves.
In the first episode, most contestants likely intended to test the waters. Aside from Luo Qingxu, everyone chose to perform on their own. After all, they were participating as composers, and their singing skills were somewhat immature.
The same song, when performed by singers of different levels, could evoke vastly different feelings. Professional singers possess more mature control over technique, emotion, breath, and other aspects.
And so, to improve their rankings, contestants in this episode unleashed their trump cards, each showcasing their unique strengths.
Bai Lin invited a third-tier singer from Huaying Media, who was exceptionally skilled at storytelling through song. The singer performed an adapted version of “Guan Ju” from the Book of Songs, delivering it with a gentle, lingering charm that captivated the audience and earned thunderous applause.
Another contestant, Jiang Suyun, who had ranked fourth in the previous episode, started with a bang by inviting the veteran singer “Iron Lungs” Qu Guangqing.
Although Jiang Suyun’s company wasn’t as renowned as the three industry giants, it still held a significant position in the industry.
Qu Guangqing was one of the company’s star performers. His Voice was powerful, impactful, and explosive, delivering a strong sense of awe. What was even more remarkable was his unique “raspy” vocal characteristic, which allowed him to effortlessly navigate high notes while also excelling in the mid-to-low range. His performances were deeply emotional, melodious, and captivating, capable of conveying a rich array of feelings.
Inviting Qu Guangqing to assist Jiang Suyun in adapting “The River All Red” was truly the icing on the cake.
The grand and majestic accompaniment, the inspiring lyrics and melody, paired with Qu Guangqing’s rugged vocal charm, fully stirred the patriotic sentiments of the audience. It could be said that this was the most flawless Work since the Program began.
After watching Qu Guangqing’s performance, Luo Qingxu was utterly astonished. Was that a sound produced by a human?
How could he maintain such clear articulation and perfect tone even in the high notes!!!
“Teacher Qu Guangqing’s professional skills are unparalleled in the industry. His songs, aside from himself, no one else can replicate that majestic momentum.
Even though he is now over 50, he remains just as formidable as he was in his youth.
Luo Shen once considered poaching him, but the boss of Jiang Suyun’s company had done him a favor, so…”
Perhaps noticing Luo Qingxu’s surprise, Fei Jiajun briefly filled her in with some information.”Aunt Jun, Teacher Qu’s voice is so distinctive, I want to collaborate with him!” Luo Qingxu, having regained her composure, said firmly.
That vocal tone, that iron lung, that explosive power, that singing ability—isn’t this the Chinese version of Teacher Lin Zixiang?
If Qu Guangqing were right in front of her, she would eagerly present “A Man Must Be Strong” to him right away. She just didn’t know whether Teacher Qu Guangqing could handle the Lingnan dialect!
“It’s not impossible, but you’ll have to work hard for it.”
Generally speaking, lyricists and composers signed with Luo Shen would prioritize Luo Shen’s in-house singers for their works. Only if no suitable match was found would they collaborate with other companies.
Luo Shen’s lyricists and composers were divided into five levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum Diamond, and King.
Those who reached Platinum Diamond or above had the right to designate collaborating singers. The levels were evaluated every six months based on the quantity and quality of their creations.
Luo Qingxu had just transitioned from a “singer” to a creator in July, but her contract still fell under the artist management department. Her current level was Bronze… as a singer!
Of course, this would be different if Luo Qingxu used her privilege! That sister-obsessed little President Luo would definitely agree without a second thought.