Sounding the Summit: The Music Variety Show Finals Night (III)
As the recording continued, the contestants took the stage one after another, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others. Those who advanced were overjoyed, while those who were eliminated wore looks of disappointment.
This elimination round was to be recorded over three days. Chen Chen did not get his turn on the first day, but his turn finally came on the second.
Chen Ze was waiting backstage to perform when a system notification suddenly sounded in his mind.
"Ding~ The system has issued a new mission. Please sing a song and successfully advance. Mission rewards: 10 Attribute Points to assign as you please and 10,000 Empathy Points. There is no penalty for failure. Does the host accept?"
Accept! Chen Ze said silently.
"Our next contestant is Chen Ze, and he's bringing us an original song of his own, 'Secret Fragrance.' Please welcome Chen Ze!"
At the mention of an original song, all four mentors' eyes lit up slightly, and they looked forward to the performance. After all, he was the first contestant to sing an original song.
Amid the audience's cheers, Chen Ze slowly walked onto the stage. He steadied himself, took a deep breath, and nodded to the accompanists at the side of the stage. The accompaniment slowly began to play!
Chen Ze, a once-obscure contestant, slowly walked onto the stage in a simple yet elegant black suit. The microphone in his hand seemed to have become the only bridge between him and the world. As the familiar, melodious prelude to "Secret Fragrance" flowed through the theater like a babbling stream, the entire world fell silent in an instant.
A young girl in the front row had a gleam in her eyes, and her hands clasped together unconsciously. Her name was Xiaoyan, a freshman who had just entered university. The song instantly reminded her of her high school days, when she had been deeply in love with a boy. But when that boy met the daughter of a wealthy family who was better than her and had more money, he ruthlessly cast her aside! Pain surged through her heart like a tide. She closed her eyes slightly, following the music as it rose and fell toward its climax. Her pain seemed to have found an outlet, slowly healing her wounds!
On the other side of the audience, a gray-haired woman's eyes glistened faintly with tears. She was Professor Chen, a scholar who had worked in the field of music for more than half his life. Over his long life, he had experienced countless ups and downs. As soon as the melody of "Secret Fragrance" rang out, he seemed to return to his youth, an age full of passion and dreams. She remembered her determination to set out in pursuit of her musical dreams and further her studies despite her family's opposition; she remembered the joy of being struck by inspiration again and again during the arduous creative process. Her hand rested lightly on the armrest, her fingers trembling slightly to the rhythm of the music. Her heart was full of emotion: the melody was like a key, opening the long-sealed door to memories deep in his heart.
Onstage, Chen Ze's singing flowed slowly like a clear spring, yet held boundless power. His voice was pure and captivating, and every note seemed alive, leaping and circling through the air. The mentors were also deeply drawn in by his singing. Their gazes remained fixed on Chen Ze, their expressions changing constantly with the rise and fall of his voice.
Lin Qingxue was a famous pop singer and one of the judge-mentors for the competition. Her eyes were full of surprise and appreciation, and she leaned forward slightly, as if hoping to get closer to the stage so she would not miss a single detail of Lin Yu's performance. Over the course of her career, she had heard countless outstanding singers, but Chen Ze's "Secret Fragrance" gave her an entirely new kind of shock. She could not help recalling the difficulties she had faced when she first entered the music industry, the days and nights she had spent practicing in dim rehearsal rooms. The persistence and love for music in Chen Ze's singing resonated deeply with her. She silently marveled that this young man had limitless potential.
Another judge-mentor, music producer Wang Feng, frowned slightly, immersed in the world of music. In his mind, he continually analyzed Chen Ze's singing technique, the qualities of his voice, and his expression of the song's emotions. From a professional standpoint, Chen Ze's performance was almost flawless. His breath control was just right, every high note full and charged with tension, while his low notes were steady and deeply expressive. Wang Feng nodded inwardly. Such singing skills were truly rare among the younger generation of singers. Moreover, Chen Ze had not simply imitated the original singer, but had added his own unique understanding and interpretation, giving the classic piece a new charm.
As the song progressed, Chen Ze's performance reached its climax. "When petals leave the flower, a secret fragrance lingers; its scent fades after the wind and rain, with no one there to breathe it in..." His voice was like a sharp sword, piercing the defenses around everyone's hearts. The entire theater was silent, with only Chen Ze's singing echoing through the air. At that moment, time seemed to stand still. Everyone was immersed in the beautiful yet sorrowful music, forgetting everything around them.
A girl sitting in the back row, who had been whispering to her companion, was now also deeply captivated by Chen Ze's singing. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell slightly open, her face filled with shock and rapture. Her name was Wu Xin, an ordinary office worker. In her daily life, she was so consumed by the pressures of work that she rarely had time to settle down and appreciate music. But today, Chen Ze's "Secret Fragrance" was like a ray of light shining into her uneventful life. She suddenly realized that music could be so moving, could touch her heart so deeply. An inexplicable sadness welled up within her, along with a renewed examination of life and the future.
In a corner of the audience sat a young mother, holding her sleeping child in her arms. She listened quietly, a gentle smile on her face. She recalled the panic and helplessness she had felt during her pregnancy, and the happy moment when she gave birth. The sleeping child in her arms seemed to be feeling the beautiful melody too, filling her heart with happiness and warmth.
The song finally drew to a close. When Chen Ze's final note fell, the entire theater seemed still immersed in the music's lingering resonance. After a brief silence, thunderous applause and cheers erupted. The audience rose to their feet, waving their glow sticks and shouting Chen Ze's name. Their faces were filled with excitement and enthusiasm, as if they had just experienced an unparalleled musical feast.
The judge-mentors also stood and applauded Chen Ze.
Song Ying was the first to give her assessment. "Chen Ze, you really surprised me! From the moment you walked onto the stage, I could sense your unique charm. Your rendition of 'Secret Fragrance' had a distinctive flavor that let me hear an entirely new story. Your voice is exceptional, and your grasp of the song's emotions is extremely precise. Every note was captivating. I believe you'll go a very, very long way on your musical journey."
Wang Feng spoke next. "From a professional standpoint, your performance was flawless. Your breath control, pitch, and handling of the song's rhythm all demonstrated an extremely high level of skill. What's even more commendable is that you added your own understanding and innovation to your performance, giving this original song new life. In an age that values individuality and innovation, your unique interpretation of music is sure to win the affection of even more listeners. I look forward to more outstanding works from you in the future."
Mentor Ai Kun said, "Chen Ze, I noticed that you seemed to use a unique singing technique. I've only heard it in one song, and that song was called 'My Old Classmate.' May I ask if you sang that song too?" Although he phrased it as a question, his expression showed that he was already certain.
"Yes, 'My Old Classmate' is also my original song!" Chen Ze said.
A roar of cheers and discussion rose from the audience!
"What? He sang 'My Old Classmate'?"
"That's right! I remember it was a boy singing in the original video. I couldn't see him very clearly, but judging by his build, it should be him!"
"Wow, it's actually him! I love him, I love him! I'm going to become his fan!"
Mentor Lin Qingxue said, "Chen Ze, I'm very curious about you. As Mentor Ai Kun said, you used an entirely new singing technique, one I've never heard of before. Is this your unique understanding of music?"
"Yes. I call this technique Vibrato. Vibrato creates slight fluctuations in the voice, which can imitate the trembling of a person's voice when they're emotionally stirred. That allows listeners to feel the emotions the singer or instrumentalist wants to express more directly, such as sadness, joy, or excitement, making the expression of emotion more nuanced and profound. It adds variation and depth to the sound, keeping it from becoming monotonous. By varying the speed and amplitude of the vibrato, you can create different sound effects, making the music richer and more colorful and drawing the listener's attention. Vibrato can be used during a musical climax or wherever emphasis is needed, highlighting key points and strengthening expression. It can make notes more vivid and lively, giving the music greater tension." Chen Ze briefly described the advantages of Vibrato.
"Mm! I completely agree with you!" Lin Qingxue frowned in thought, as if she were about to grasp something.
"Mentors, please give us your decisions!" the host, Lin Jia, said.
All four mentors pressed the green buttons on their seats at the same time. Green meant the contestant advanced, while red meant elimination. If two mentors pressed red and the other two pressed green, the decision would be made by a vote from the panel of one hundred public judges in the audience.
"Congratulations to Chen Ze on advancing!" the host's congratulatory voice rang out.
That night, Chen Ze won over everyone present with "Secret Fragrance." His singing not only awakened memories deep in their hearts, but also kindled their love and pursuit of music. This competition would become an important milestone in his musical career, and "Secret Fragrance" would remain in people's hearts forever, becoming an unforgettable musical memory.