Chinese entertainment, from radio love songs to superstars

Chapter 199, Where has the time gone?
On the stage, Shen Lang was immersed in singing. Occasionally, he would look at the audience or at the camera, but there was no other extra interaction.

At this moment, he did not use any special singing techniques, no gorgeous high-pitched stunts, and no complicated transitions. He just added real emotions to his singing and used the purest voice to express the story in the song.

The song is peaceful and sincere, told in a leisurely manner without deliberate sentimentality, but it has a power that moistens things silently, gently touching the softest part of people's hearts, and evoking memories about family and time in their hearts.

"Where has the time gone?

Not enjoyed young age good enough before turning old
Give birth to a son and raise a daughter for a lifetime
My mind is full of the child crying and laughing..."

In the fast-paced modern life, people are often busy with work, study and socializing, and neglect to get along with their parents and accompany them.

Shen Lang frankly sings about the bitterness of parents working hard for their children all their lives and losing their youth without realizing it, which makes people reflect on whether they care about their parents enough.

This strong call for family affection instantly penetrated into the hearts and lungs, and the audience below the stage were immediately infected and their eyes turned red.

At this moment, the lights on the stage shone on Shen Lang, as if covering him with a soft halo.

There was an imperceptible touch of emotion in his eyes, which was a deep understanding of family affection and a helpless sigh at the passing of time.

While singing this heart-warming song, Shen Lang seemed to see the stories of countless families, the selfless dedication of parents for their children, and the traces left by time on people's faces. Those scenes kept flashing in his mind like a movie, softening his heart, which had been as hard as steel.

However, he is Shen Lang after all, the man who lives alone. He suppressed the waves of emotions in his heart and did not shed tears after all.

"where did all the time go
Your eyes are blurry before I even take a good look at them
Half a lifetime of daily necessities

In the blink of an eye, all that was left was a face full of wrinkles."

Geng Di, 33 years old, is from Changshan in northern Hebei.

Just like last year's New Year's Eve, in the evening, he sat together with his wife, his adorable 4-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and his father and mother to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

The family is immersed in the joy of the festival and the warmth of reunion, and the programs on TV are wonderful.

However, as he was watching, Geng Di suddenly found that his wife was quietly wiping away tears. A trace of doubt arose in his heart, and his eyes immediately turned to the TV screen. Only then did he notice that a singer in the party was singing "Where Has the Time Gone".

At first, Geng Di did not listen to the lyrics carefully. His mind might still be chatting with his family or looking forward to the new year. But when he saw his wife crying, he calmed down and savored the lyrics of the song carefully.

"New buds grow on the old tree in front of the door, and the dead tree in the yard blooms again. I have lived for half my life and said many words, which are hidden in my white hair." These lyrics unfolded before his eyes like a picture scroll. He thought of the old locust tree in the yard of his hometown that grew up with him. It witnessed his childhood and youth. Now he is 33 years old, and the tree is still standing there, but it looks a little more vicissitudes of life. His parents, just as the lyrics say, have unknowingly turned their hair gray.

"The little feet and chubby little mouth in my memory, who gave her love all her life, just for the call of 'Mom and Dad.'" His eyes fell involuntarily on his 4 and a half year old daughter beside him. Her cute little feet and innocent smile filled his heart with warmth. Recalling every little thing since her birth, he and his wife had given countless love and efforts for her, and their parents had also worked so hard to raise them.

The simple and affectionate singing was like a key that slowly opened Geng Di's heart, and he had a deeper understanding of his wife's tears.

In the past, during the seven-day Spring Festival holiday, he would only take one or two days to visit his parents-in-law with his wife.

However, because of this song, he decided to drive over to pick up his father-in-law and mother-in-law immediately. It was not too late now.

"In the blink of an eye, all that's left is a face full of wrinkles."

After Shen Lang sang the last line, he bowed and left the stage, ending his third Spring Festival Gala performance.

And every time I come, I have different feelings and insights.

The first time was because Yanjing successfully bid for the Olympic Games and qualified for the Men's World Cup. He was invited and sang the appropriate song "Together Towards the Future". At that time, he was young and full of energy. His purpose of going to the Spring Festival Gala was simply to show his face and let more people know him.

The second time, he was asked to bring a new song, so he sang a festive song "Gong Xi Fa Cai". At that time, he already had a certain status in the entertainment industry, and the purpose of performing on the Spring Festival Gala was to establish a good relationship with CCTV and pave the way for his career development.

This time, although he was also asked to bring new songs, his mindset was completely different. He was no longer the rookie who needed the Spring Festival Gala to boost his popularity, so what he wanted to do now was to use this stage to output some more meaningful and emotional songs to the national audience.

Three Spring Festival Galas have witnessed Shen Lang's growth and transformation. From a singer who simply pursued fame and fortune, he has begun to look like a "role model".

At the same time, at Gao Yuanyuan's home, the three members of the family were wiping away tears.

"Now, I finally understand why you were so sad and cried that day. It was because at the right moment, you heard a song that suited your mood, and your inner emotions were fluctuating." Gao's father's words seemed to carry a deep understanding and emotion, as if a person finally found the answer that touched his soul after a long search.

"Oh, where has the time gone..." Mother Gao feels that "Where Has the Time Gone" is not just a song, it is also a mirror, through which she can see her own reflection in the long river of time, reminding her to cherish the present, the people around her, and not let time slip away through her fingers.

"Dad, Mom." Gao Yuanyuan called softly, her gentle voice full of affection.

When I first heard Shen Lang sing this song that day, I just thought the melody was beautiful and the singing was pleasant. However, when I listened to it again just now, the feeling was very different. On this special day, the stage of the Spring Festival Gala seemed to have become an amplifier of emotions.

She gazed at her parents quietly. Time had left traces on their faces. Their once black hair was now mixed with silver threads, and their once smooth faces were also engraved with the lines of time. An indescribable emotion welled up in her heart, and she realized more deeply the importance of parents and the preciousness of family affection.

Shen Lang is still the bad guy who specializes in deceiving her tears.

At this time...

The lights on the Spring Festival Gala stage became bright again, but its splendor seemed to have ended with Shen Lang's departure.

It was almost 12 o'clock and the four hosts appeared together to tell the time. The guest actors were all crowded on the stage and the audience followed the countdown of 4, 5, 4, 3, 2 following the sound of the clock. "Happy New Year" was displayed on the screen, followed by the loud gongs and drums, the deafening sound of firecrackers coming from outside the house, small pieces of paper and streamers falling from the sky, and so on. It was as lively as possible.

Then there was another round of skits, songs and dances. It was around 4 a.m. on New Year's Day. The large-scale song and dance "Reunion" ended the evening party. The song was sung by four singers, two of whom were from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Finally, four hosts came on stage together, said a few auspicious words, and the party ended with the song "Unforgettable Tonight".

Across the country, some places have begun to implement regulations banning the burning of fireworks and firecrackers during the Spring Festival for environmental, safety and other considerations. However, most areas still do not restrict the use of fireworks and firecrackers.

Starting from midnight, thousands of lights shone brightly, dotted the night sky like stars. At the same time, thousands of cannons roared, and the deafening sound broke the tranquility of the night.

The sound of firecrackers carries people's farewell to the old year and their warm anticipation for the new year. The atmosphere of "New Year's Eve" is fully displayed in this splendor and noise.

When the noise has passed and the tide-like excitement has gradually receded, everyone calms down and begins to reminisce about the Spring Festival Gala that just passed.

The "Water Delivery Man" sung by Zhao Benshan, Fan Wei and Gao Xiumin lacked some of its hilarious flavor; the "Wind, Rain, Rainbow and Steel Rose" sung by Tian Zhen and a group of female athletes was very lively; the blessing brought by astronaut Yang Liwei at the midnight ceremony was one of the few surprises of the Spring Festival Gala...

Among the many programs, after careful consideration, it seems that the only program that is imprinted in my mind from this year's Spring Festival Gala is Shen Lang's "Where Has the Time Gone".

This song seems to have a magical power. At that particular moment, with its sincere emotions, moving melody and profound theme, it still reverberates in people's hearts, like the lingering sound of a beam, which will last for a long time. Filial piety, this ancient and eternal virtue, is like a bright pearl, shining brightly in the long history of the Chinese nation.

From ancient times to the present, almost everyone, regardless of gender, age, or social status, has received the grace of being born and raised by their parents.

For parents, hearing this song fills their hearts with comfort and joy. They feel warm at heart when they see their children being sensible and filial.

This song also reminds children that time is ruthless and they should cherish the present, spend more time with their parents and be filial to them.

Just like that, "Where Has the Time Gone" became like "Gong Xi Fa Cai" and a strong spring breeze, blowing to every corner of the country.

However, the song does more than that.

The next day, which was the first day of the Lunar New Year, it was broadcast on CCTV News Network, and the performance was shown visually, not just verbally.

This debut further expanded the song's reach, and it was easily reported in newspapers. Entertainment and news newspapers all made it their headlines, attracting the attention of countless readers.

One of them was particularly eye-catching. Jiangjiu Morning News reported that the song "Where Has the Time Gone" on the Spring Festival Gala stage not only moved thousands of audiences, but also touched the heart of Zhou, a criminal suspect who had been on the run for more than three years, prompting him to surrender to the local police station.

"Where Has the Time Gone" seems to have a magical power. It can touch the softest part of people's hearts, arouse people's cherishment of family affection, their feelings about time, and even help lost people find the way back.

This is not the most amazing thing. On January 1, Yi Ge was interviewed by Russian TV in Sochi, Russia. He said: "During the Spring Festival this year, there was a song in China called "Where Has the Time Gone". For me, the question is where has my personal time gone? Of course, it has been taken up by work. What I can often do is reading. Reading has become a way of life for me."

Subsequently, it sparked a nationwide discussion on the topic of "Where has the time gone?"

This is exactly what Shen Lang expected. He once said that he wanted to perform songs with stories and meaning on the Spring Festival Gala. Now, his goal has been achieved.

However, he didn't have time to enjoy the excitement brought by this song. After spending a few warm days with Gao Yuanyuan, he immediately started preparing for his world tour.

This year, that’s been his main focus.

Why do I say that? Because plans have changed.

Originally, Shen Lang planned to hold 20 concerts. However, his English album "Shen Lang Towering Waves" became a global hit, not only winning 12 Grammy nominations, but also sweeping the three major European and American music awards ceremonies, the Billboard Music Awards, the Brit Awards, and the German Echo Awards. Such dazzling results have led to many countries sending invitations and willing to give the green light to his concerts, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who directly paid for his support.

So, after discussing with Chen Yaochuan, Shen Lang reached a cooperation with Universal Music and increased the number of concerts to 50. This means that there will be an average of one concert per week this year. Such a high frequency is undoubtedly a huge challenge to physical strength and energy.

Moreover, he likes to make things happen and plans to sing new songs in some shows to promote his two Chinese and English albums in the first and second half of the year. This innovative move not only adds more surprises and highlights to the concert, but also raises the audience's expectations.

In short, the same thing applies: other singers make money by holding concerts, but with Shen Lang, the fans’ tickets are definitely worth it.

Although there are not many concerts, the scale is definitely the largest in Asia. At present, there is indeed no Asian singer who can hold concerts on four continents.

What is meant here is not just meeting people from one's own country living abroad, but really going deep into the local area and attracting the local people.

After this tour, such large-scale concerts may become less common in the future, and at most there will be small regional concerts.

The next big concert may be his farewell concert before retirement.

First of all, the first concert was scheduled to be held in Chengdu.

Last time, Yan Jing got the first opening of his tour, and this time it was put at the end, as if it was a reincarnation, from the starting point to the end point.

In order to allow as many fans as possible to attend the concert, all shows on the tour adopt a four-sided stage design.

The venue for Chengdu Station is still the Chengdu Sports Center Stadium with 4 seats. After all, this is the largest venue in Chengdu.

Domestic cities also chose the largest local venues, such as the 7-seat Yanjing Workers' Stadium, the 8-seat Shanghai Stadium, the 6-seat Yangcheng Tianhe Stadium, etc. Foreign cities chose medium and large venues with 3 to 6 people. After all, it was the first time to hold a concert in Europe and the United States, so it was necessary to be conservative and fully consider box office appeal and safety. Such a choice can not only ensure the smooth progress of the concert, but also reduce risks to a certain extent.

The number of domestic cities has also increased from the original 6 to 12, and the total number of tickets sold is approximately 45.

Considering the terrifying attendance rate of 99% in his previous concerts, this amount of tickets is really a drop in the bucket, not even enough to fill the gaps in our teeth, and can only satisfy % of our fans.

Chengdu Station started selling tickets on January 1st, and arranged two methods of ticket sales: telephone and offline. But no matter which one, the 1 tickets released every day were sold out on the same day. The speed is so fast that it is amazing.

In order to get tickets, fans tried every possible way. Some of them stayed by the phone early and kept calling the ticket hotline; some of them came to the offline ticket sales points in advance and lined up in long queues. Whether online or offline, they had only one goal, which was to be able to be there in person and feel the musical charm of Shen Lang.

Tickets that originally cost several hundred yuan each were sold for several thousand yuan on the black market, and the price of tickets to the VIP area has even exceeded ten thousand yuan.

The scalpers tasted sweetness at Shen Lang’s concert last time, so they will naturally not miss the opportunity to make money this time.

Even though Jingtao Music and Universal Music jointly hosted the event, the possibility of the organizers secretly collaborating with scalpers was reduced, but it still could not completely stop the reselling behavior.

This is indeed frustrating, because as long as there is profit to be made, some people will take risks.

Prior to this, "The Lotus Lantern" acquired by CCTV and "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 7" acquired by seven provincial satellite TV stations including Taiwan Province's Central Television, Chongqing TV's Film Channel, and Shanghai TV's TV Drama Channel premiered on the same day.

Shen Lang was a little surprised when he heard the news. He really had never thought that the two dramas produced by his company would actually start a special "competition" in this way.

Mainly because he is not the leading actor, he is not afraid of confrontation.

But what they don’t know is how strong these two dramas are. When they were first broadcast in their original time and space, they were both annual-level shows.

Now that these two dramas are premiering at the same time and in this space and time, they are bound to trigger a TV drama viewing craze.

This is indeed the case. Although Shen Lang is not the lead actor in these two dramas, his name is listed in the screenwriter column, which undoubtedly adds huge appeal to the two dramas. The TV station mentioned him every other sentence during the promotion, and he was extremely popular during the Spring Festival. As a result, naturally more people paid attention to these two dramas.

But problems also arise, which is a happy trouble.

The audience was in a dilemma. Which channel should they watch?
Whether you choose the mythological "The Lotus Lantern" or the romantic "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1", both dramas have their own merits, with wonderful plots, outstanding casts and excellent production.

"Ahhhh, I'm going crazy!"

Yao Jingyi is one of them, sometimes she watches CCTV and sometimes she watches Shanghai TV.

(End of this chapter)