enjoyebooks Chapter 38 is the final chapter again, and the pressure is mounting.
Chapter 38 is the final chapter again, and the pressure is mounting.
The dust has slowly settled in the popular singing category, but the scores left behind are etched in the minds of all the subsequent contestants.
9.455! 9.450! 9.406!
Jiang Tao, Mao Ning, Chen Hong...
These are several pop singers with distinct styles who had already begun to emerge in the early 1990s.
Not only did she deliver a wonderful performance, but she also raised the bar for popular singing in the CCTV Young Singers Competition to an astonishing new height.
The fierce competition between Jiang Tao and Mao Ning, especially the 0.005-point battle, perfectly showcased the cruelty and allure of the final.
The heated discussion in the audience lingered like a tide, with many still savoring the grandeur of "Snow in My Hometown" and the deep affection of "Anne in My Heart".
They were discussing that crucial, subtle difference.
Lin Hanjiang stood in the corridor after tomorrow, having completed the final touches of his makeup.
The makeup artist, a middle-aged woman with extensive experience in galas, carefully examined Lin Hanjiang's face. Her soft powder brush gently swept across his jawline, and she whispered to Zhang Ye beside her:
"He has a good foundation, but his eyes are a bit tense, so I covered them up. Once he got on stage, the lights were on and he looked fine."
She used a bluish-gray foundation common in this era, striving to present the cleanest stage effect under strong light.
Zhang thanked him repeatedly, and after seeing the makeup artist off, he immediately pulled Zu Hai over. The two of them stood on either side of Lin Hanjiang, like two guardian generals protecting him.
"Hanjiang, look at Xiaohai."
Zhang Ye deliberately used an exaggerated tone, pointing to the thermos cup that Zu Hai was holding, which had the words "China Conservatory of Music" printed on it. The lid was open, letting the heat out.
"This girl has been staring at this jar of water since just now, her eyes are fixed on it. I suspect she doesn't want you to drink it, but wants to drink it herself to calm her nerves."
Zu Hai was completely absorbed in thinking about his senior brother's upcoming performance when Zhang Ye's words made him blush instantly, and his hand trembled so much that the large bottle of seawater in his cup almost spilled out.
She quickly composed herself and whispered in her defense, "Senior sister, I...I didn't. I was just worried that the water was too hot and would hurt senior brother's throat."
Seeing his junior sister's embarrassed expression, Lin Hanjiang smiled and took the cup from her: "Thank you, Xiao Hai."
He took a sip, and the slightly sweet, smooth sensation slid down his throat.
"The water temperature is just right."
Zhang immediately changed the subject, and with a plastic fan printed with "GG" printed on it, which she had somehow gotten, she began to fan Lin Hanjiang while telling him anecdotes she had heard from some obscure corner of the world.
"That Chef Zhang in the canteen, don't let his shaky hands fool you. Apparently, he was an exceptional accordion player in the performing arts troupe when he was young. Once, during a performance, with high-ranking officials in the audience, he got so nervous that he played 'Moscow Nights' as 'The Commune Members Are All Sunflowers,' without even realizing it. He was completely absorbed in the moment with his eyes closed, while the officials in the audience turned purple with embarrassment..."
She recounted the story vividly, gesturing wildly, attempting to use this absurd incident to ease Lin Hanjiang's tension.
Zu Hai couldn't help but chuckle as he listened, then quickly covered his mouth and nervously looked around.
Lin Hanjiang knew his senior sister's intentions and smiled in agreement.
"Hey, Hanjiang. How are you doing?"
Jiang Tao led Chen Hong and strode over.
The flush of excitement on Jiang Tao's face had not yet completely faded.
Chen Hong stood beside him, her expression much gentler than on stage.
Jiang Tao walked up to him and patted him hard on the shoulder: "How's it going? Seeing us guys fighting tooth and nail on stage, are you getting even more nervous? Let me tell you, don't panic!"
His loud voice drew the attention of several contestants waiting nearby.
"Look at Mao Ning and me, we're just a tiny bit different. What does that mean? It means that at our level, our skills are pretty much the same, it's all about the right breath and the right 'flavor' on the day. Your rendition of 'The Story of Spring' in the semi-finals had that 'flavor' right, it was captivating."
His tone was confident, carrying the wisdom of someone who had been through it all, as well as sincere encouragement.
"I have high hopes for you, really. Maybe tonight you'll be wearing the gold medal in the professional folk singing category."
Chen Hong smiled gently and said softly, "Hanjiang, don't overthink it. Once you're on stage, music is your world. Tell everyone your story."
Having just experienced the fierce competition, she understands even more the importance of comforting others at this moment.
Calm your mind and enjoy singing.
Lin Hanjiang said sincerely, "Brother Jiang Tao, Sister Chen Hong, thank you. I will seize this opportunity."
As they were talking, a staff member wearing a CCTV vest and carrying a walkie-talkie jogged over to the break room next door to call for help.
The staff member spoke hurriedly but respectfully:
"Mr. Liu Bin, Mr. Lü Jihong, please wait to the side of the stage. Mr. Lü, you are first, and Mr. Liu, you are second."
After giving the notification, he went to Lin Hanjiang's place.
"Lin Hanjiang, you are the last one. Please get ready here and wait for further instructions."
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
They're about to go on stage.
When Liu Bin and Lü Jihong came out of the lounge and walked over to Lin Hanjiang, their steps slowed down slightly in unison.
Liu Bin's gaze fell on Lin Hanjiang's face: "Stay calm."
He greeted the others.
Lü Jihong smiled at them, then looked at Lin Hanjiang: "Hanjiang, now that we've all finished singing, we've got all the punchlines for you. Being the grand finale can be a blessing or a curse; it's up to you."
The two did not linger any longer, and soon disappeared into the passageway leading to the side of the stage, one after the other.
From there, the lingering sounds and applause of the previous contestant's performance could be faintly heard.
The backstage area suddenly became much quieter.
Zhang also stopped fanning himself, and Zu Hai hugged his water cup tightly.
Jiang Tao and Chen Hong also stopped smiling and silently stepped back a few paces, leaving him with the last bit of quiet.
All eyes were on the monitor hanging in a corner of the waiting area.
Soon, the host Liu Lu's clear voice came back through the sound system:
"Next, please welcome the young singer, Lü Jihong, from the Naval Political Department Song and Dance Troupe. He will be singing 'Goodbye, Dabie Mountains'."
The powerful and heartfelt piano prelude instantly transports the listener to the revolutionary years, a time of both turmoil and profound emotion.
A gentle breeze tugs at my sleeve; I turn back with every step.
The mountains and ridges beckon me back, the stones and blades of grass keep me here.
Ah, one last look at the Dabie Mountains, and a myriad of emotions well up in my heart.
……
We met again, then parted ways, bidding farewell to many old friends.
Everyone, young and old, urged me to come back next year.
Ah, one last look at my dear fellow villagers, their voices and smiles forever etched in my heart.
……
Ah, farewell, my fellow villagers! Dabie Mountains, you nurtured me; I will remember you forever!
Lü Jihong's singing voice came through the loudspeaker, full, mellow, and brimming with deep emotion.
He handled this classic revolutionary historical song with both a majestic momentum and a delicate tenderness.
In particular, the repeated chanting of the three words "goodbye" builds up layer by layer, vividly weaving together the reluctance to part with the determination to make a revolution.
At the front desk, on the judges' panel.
Li Shuangjiang leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table in time with the melody, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.
He is a master of singing military songs and revolutionary classics, and he has extremely high standards and understanding for these kinds of works.
Li Guyi closed her eyes, tilted her ear slightly, and savored the handling of each note and the expression of emotion.
Jin Tielin sat upright, his face expressionless, his gaze focused intently on the stage.
Only those who know him well can tell from his slightly focused gaze that he is measuring things with the most professional and rigorous standards.
The audience was completely silent, with only the singing echoing through the air.
Many older viewers had tears in their eyes, as the song evoked so many memories for them.
In particular, most of the audience members were leaders who came because of connections, and they were also older, somewhere between retirement and semi-retirement.
Those were soldiers who risked their lives in the midst of war; hearing this song evokes a special kind of emotion.
After the performance ended, the lingering melody was followed by thunderous applause that lasted for a long time.
Liu Lu asked the judges for their comments.
Li Shuangjiang was the first to pick up the microphone, his voice loud and clear, filled with excitement:
"Excellent! Well sung! The difficulty of singing 'Goodbye, Dabie Mountains' lies in the balance of emotion. Singing it too forcefully loses its tenderness; singing it too softly loses its spirit. Contestant Lü Jihong handled it exceptionally well. His voice has depth and texture, and what's even more remarkable is that he perfectly combined the iron will of a revolutionary soldier with his deep affection for the people of the old revolutionary base areas. Especially the crescendo after the second verse, the emotional push was just right. It also demonstrates the profound skill of our military's cultural workers."
Li Guyi took the microphone, her smile gentle, yet her tone equally professional: "Ji Hong's singing deeply moved me. I won't elaborate on his technique; Teacher Li has already put it very well. What I want to say is the genuine emotion he poured into his singing. In 'Goodbye, Dabie Mountains,' 'goodbye' is not a final farewell, but a departure carrying promises and hopes. In his singing, I heard that promise, that hope, and that is the most precious thing."
It was Jin Tielin's turn.
He took the microphone handed to him by Li Guyi and spoke concisely, yet with great weight: "His vocal channels are stable, and his emotional expression is nuanced. His interpretation of traditional works, while inheriting the classic charm, also demonstrates his own understanding and handling."
Jin Tielin paused, then shook his head.
"However, I think he could have added more depth to the song's emotional content, making the emotions in the song more nuanced."
……
After comments from several judges in the folk singing category.
The judges acknowledged Lü Jihong's superb skills and profound emotional expression, but also pointed out a minor flaw.
Finally, all the scores were released.
The score is displayed on the screen.
9.492 points!
"Wow!"
A suppressed gasp rippled through the backstage area.
A score of 9.492 is an extremely high score that would have been enough to compete for the gold medal in previous years.
Pressure followed, and Liu Bin, standing to the side of the stage, also felt the pressure.
Zhang, after listening backstage, shook his head, "How can they be so strong?"
"Yes!" Zu Hai echoed.
Zhang immediately realized that he had been too loud and that it would make his junior brother nervous.
When she turned to look at Lin Hanjiang, he smiled at her.
If there are no strong opponents in the final, it would be a disservice to the songs he sings next.
Liu Lu's voice rang out again, filled with even stronger anticipation:
"Thank you for your wonderful performance, Lü Jihong. Next, please welcome Liu Bin, a singer from the Kyoto Military Region's Zhan You Art Troupe. He will be singing 'The Great Plains of North China'!"