Huayu 1992: Starting with the CCTV Young Singers Competition

Chapter 41 Main Theme! Singing for the Motherland!

Five words, clear and powerful, resounded through the sound system to every corner of the studio.

For a fleeting moment, the audience froze.

Followed by.

"Buzz..."

A murmur arose.

The judges' panel is the area where reactions are fastest.

Li Shuangjiang leaned back and whispered to Li Guyi beside him, "Wow! This name is even more direct than 'The Story of Spring,' quite bold."

There was no hint of praise or criticism in his tone, only a strong sense of interest.

Li Guyi was slightly taken aback at first, then her delicate eyebrows relaxed, and a knowing yet expectant smile appeared on her face. She nodded gently and responded in a low voice, "To keep up with the times, it all depends on the lyrics and the performance."

Jin Tielin's expression hardly changed; he had heard it many times before.

The audience's reactions were more direct and diverse.

The front row was mostly occupied by people from the arts and media circles, as well as some leaders in the audience.

An elderly gentleman with gray hair and glasses, who looked like a retired cadre, said to his companion, "Entering the New Era? Great! This name has spirit; it should reflect the spirit of young people."

His companion, a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit, was slightly more cautious: "The spirit is there, but the key is whether the content can support it. Let's not just shout empty slogans again."

Several people, clearly leaders from the music academy, were whispering among themselves:

"Entering the New Era! Is Lin Hanjiang trying to launch another satellite?"

"This name opens up a whole new perspective. It's even grander than 'The Story of Spring'."

"Isn't it too mainstream? Can it be written and sung well? Liu Bin's 'The Great Plains of North China' really took a big theme to a whole new level."

Shh, just listen.

In the more distant areas frequented by ordinary viewers, the discussions were mostly driven by curiosity.

"A new era? That's right. Our lives are getting better and better."

"This young man's previous song, 'The Story of Spring,' was quite nice. I wonder how this one is."

"The song title alone is so uplifting!"

In the control room, Ge Yanping stared intently at the real-time reaction footage captured by each camera on the monitoring screen.

Especially the subtle facial expressions and lip movements of the judges and the front-row audience.

He quickly spoke into the intercom: "Camera number one, keep the judges calm. Camera number three, scan the audience, get close-ups. Especially those older folks. Pick up some of their chatter, yes, maintain the sense of realism."

Ge Yanping needs these most genuine, immediate reactions to enhance the suspense and significance of the song before its performance.

Backstage, in the waiting area, Liu Bin and Lü Jihong also heard the song title.

Liu Bin raised a thick eyebrow, crossed his arms, and said in a deep voice, "Entering the New Era, what a grand topic."

His tone was unreadable, but his eyes were fixed intently on the monitor.

Lü Jihong clicked his tongue softly, shook his head, and smiled, seemingly both admiring and impressed: "This kid is truly fearless. If he writes this kind of subject matter well, it'll be a milestone; if he messes it up, well…"

The words were left unsaid, but the meaning was self-evident.

The contestants in the popular category also heard the commotion.

Jiang Tao shouted at the person next to him, "Did you hear that? 'Entering the New Era'! I knew my brother Lin was no ordinary person; look at his vision!"

Chen Hong nodded: "Listen to it first, then stop arguing."

Mao Ning also glanced at Lin Hanjiang's calm figure on the monitor and felt that he was capable of winning the championship.

Liu Lu, being experienced, did not try to suppress the discussions immediately, as this was part of the show's effect.

Since it's just a recording, it can be edited well.

She waited a few seconds, allowing the sound to naturally reach a peak and then subside slightly.

Next, seize the opportunity.

With her clear and passionate voice, she drew everyone's attention back to the stage:

"Entering a New Era! Great!"

Liu Lu repeated the song title, her expression full of affirmation.

"Let's look forward to Lin Hanjiang's original work, 'Entering the New Era'! The stage is yours!"

She smiled and nodded encouragingly to Lin Hanjiang, then gracefully stepped back to the side of the stage.

Applause erupted again.

Everyone wanted to know how this young singer would interpret this grand theme.

Amid applause, Lin Hanjiang turned to the side and bowed solemnly to the band conductor and musicians.

He stood up and nodded slightly to the band conductor.

The baton was raised.

Music begins.

The murmurs subsided completely, and all eyes and ears were captivated by the figure in the center of the stage and the flowing melody.

The prelude is not a grand and majestic symphony, but rather opens with a relatively bright, marching combination of piano and strings.

The melody is beautiful and dynamic.

Lin Hanjiang raised the microphone and brought it close to his lips.

His singing voice flowed out like the first clear spring at dawn:

I always want to confess my feelings to you; my heart is filled with such pride.

I always want to tell you how much I love life.

The opening two sentences are clear and sincere, carrying the unique vigor of youth and heartfelt praise for the times.

His voice is clean and clear, his pronunciation is as clear as pearls falling on a jade plate, and his emotions are full but not exaggerated, instantly bringing the audience into a warm and uplifting mood.

The audience gradually began to enjoy the song.

Everyone on the judges' panel listened attentively.

Hardworking and courageous Chinese people stride confidently into a new era.

When he sang the words "Entering the New Era," Lin Hanjiang's voice rose naturally, full of Chinese pride, but without any deliberate shouting.

Instead, it is presented with a sense of inner driving force, like the footsteps of millions of people converging to form the sound of an era.

Ah—we, full of vigor and high spirits, step into that new era.

As the chorus arrives, the melody becomes more expansive and uplifting.

We sing "The East Is Red," standing up as masters of our own destiny.

We tell the story of spring, how reform and opening up brought prosperity.

A leader who carries on the legacy and paves the way for the future, guiding us into that new era.

[Hold high the banner and create the future]

Lin Hanjiang's voice opened up completely, with clear high notes and solid, warm mid and low notes.

His typhoon was calm and composed, without much physical movement.

But every glance, every change in breath, perfectly matched the music and lyrics.

Under the stage lights, that light gray suit seemed to be bathed in the morning sun of a new era.

In the second verse, his handling was more delicate, incorporating more of a narrative tone.

The subtle changes in sound convey the hardships of standing up as masters of our own destiny and the joy of becoming prosperous through reform and opening up, blending a sense of history with a sense of the times.

When he sang "Entering the new era with high spirits" for the second time, his voice was filled with an unwavering sense of conviction, like a vow, resounding throughout the studio.

As the song enters its final climax, the melody builds layer by layer, and the emotions accumulate continuously.

Let me tell the world that China is the master of its own destiny.

Let me tell the future: China is running a relay race.

A pioneering leader who bridges the past and the future, guiding us into that new era.

Lin Hanjiang's voice reached the peak of emotion, with a magnificent high note, yet still maintaining perfect control and a moving beauty.

It is truly moving!

The voice seemed to carry light, illuminating everyone's heart.

The last sentence.

[Hold high the banner and create the future]

Creating the Future—

He extended and softened the four words "Creating the Future" with just the right amount of emphasis, his voice gradually fading, yet leaving a lingering resonance.

Just like the relentless march of that era, it continues to extend towards the light.

The music stopped.

The lingering sound echoed.

Lin Hanjiang remained in the finishing pose, slightly out of breath, his chest heaving, and the passion from his singing still lingering in his eyes.

silence.

Absolute silence lasting several seconds.

then.

"Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap..."