Who said this top flow is crazy! This top flow is awesome!

Chapter 181 These dragon scales, however, once fell to the ground with a clang like shattered ice.

Friday, 7 p.m.

After a two-week hiatus, "Singer" returned to the airwaves, but it was still caught in the storm and failed to escape the terrifying wave of controversy.

The audience entered in a bustling crowd.

Lin Yuan didn't come, and neither did Chen Mo, because the Western supporters and popular young celebrities went crazy this time and snapped up a lot of tickets. Those lucky enough to get tickets several times in a row were still a minority.

Liu Xiaoxiao has arrived.

She is 28 years old this year and has already entered the workforce as a designer at a decoration company.

At the same time, she is also a fan of Hua Yichen.

The most hardcore, passionate kind.

Even when Chi Ye rose to prominence recently, with "Full Power" sweeping the internet and the Golden Eagle Male God becoming a "top idol," and many of Hua Yichen's former fans choosing to switch allegiances, deleting their accounts, registering new ones, and transforming themselves into members of the "Coconut Army," she never wavered.

Unlike younger female fans who lack a firm "stance," she was already an adult and had entered society. She had been a fan of Hua Yichen, the "Martian boy," ever since he debuted on "Super Boy."

This fandom has lasted for nearly ten years.

She is older than the other fans and has a certain level of financial means, so she is very generous with money when it comes to Hua Yichen. She collects almost every album, attends every event and concert, and cheers for Hua Yichen live.

She participated in all sorts of competitions between Chi Ye and Big Brother (fans' affectionate nickname for Prison Flower). During the "Reboot" period, she spent a lot of money to help Hua Yichen win against Chi Ye, but unfortunately... she still lost.

—This doesn't stop her from liking Hua Yichen.

The same applies to the current situation. You don't need a reason to like someone. No matter how good Chi Ye is now, he is still not the person who "accompanied" you when you were down.

"Sister Xiaoxiao, over here, over here!"

In a certain area, a companion waved to Liu Xiaoxiao.

This area is a "gathering place" for Hua Yichen's fans.

Although the program team has never made such a rule, in order to better support their idols, any fan group of a certain size will spontaneously choose a good support area and location.

Liu Xiaoxiao walked over, put down the large bag of support items she was carrying, and smiled: "I'll distribute them to everyone. We must make sure everyone wears the same support color later. Big Brother's popularity has been declining recently, so we need to give him a surprise today."

"Uh-huh!"

My companion, a student, eagerly took the bag and began organizing people to distribute it.

They chatted while receiving their items.

"Has the eldest brother really lost that much popularity?"

"It's all Chi Ye's fault! He's been stealing Big Brother's resources!"

"...Don't mention names, just use C instead."

"C is really no good. He just likes to play the confidence card. Confidence, that's confidence, haha. I've seen so many people online laughing at him. It's become a meme. Have you seen it?"

"I saw it too."

"+1, that's hilarious, so low-class."

The group of girls chatted and laughed uncontrollably when they talked about things like "confidence" and "firepower".

Because people their age, or even younger, have no concept of so-called "cultural confidence." They only have eyes for their favorite older brothers; as for things like Chinese style or cultural invasion…

What does it have to do with them to hack this or hack that?
To put it bluntly, after "Firepower Ikeno" and "This is confidence" became memes, people even felt that being a fan of Ikeno was a bit shameful.

It's not just them; many passersby aren't actually supporters of the West. They simply think that constantly talking about "confidence" and "patriotism" is a very low-class thing.

This is related to the reserved way Chinese people express their emotions, as well as the education system of the past ten years or so. For example, when it comes to their parents, children often find it difficult to say "I love you" directly, feeling that it is too cheesy, too old-fashioned, and embarrassing.

Liu Xiaoxiao is this type of person, but because of her age, she is not as radical as younger girls.

Yes, she didn't dislike Chi Ye, but because she liked Hua Yichen, she was indifferent to Chi Ye.

She is not a supporter of the West either, and even despises the sheepdogs, thinking they are just too well-fed. However, she will also join in the "this is confidence" meme and can't help but laugh at the phrase "firepower in the pond".

This represents the most authentic "stance" and thoughts of at least 80% of netizens across the internet at this moment.

They follow the trend, enjoy the spectacle, and criticize the sheepdog, but they also criticize Ikeno's "confident diss style."

They belong to the type of people who will never lose; true "outsiders".

"Those people are really an eyesore."

Liu Xiaoxiao saw a group of radicals holding up signs that read "Diss Confidence, Firepower Chi Ye" not far away. Soon, security came over and "invited" them out.

She then saw another area, a larger area of ​​Ikeno's fans than theirs, waving "Down with Imperialism" banners.

"Fool."

The girl next to him pouted, feeling incredibly embarrassed, but couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy: "They didn't have as many people as we did before."

"They're just profiting from the pink wave; this kind of traffic will inevitably backfire sooner or later, and here it is."

His companion looked on with disdain.

"...Alright, let's not concern ourselves with other people's business. Let's all be well. Our eldest brother is the first to appear today, so we need to show him our enthusiasm."

Liu Xiaoxiao spoke up to stop everyone from continuing to gossip about others.

Meanwhile, in the backstage of the live broadcast, the list of singers for this episode was finalized, with Hua Yichen scheduled to appear first.

……

at the same time.

I'm working overtime today and haven't gone home.

In his office, he frowned and hung up the phone.

The secretary next to me asked softly, "Shall I go downstairs to warm up the car?"

"Need not."

Today, he waved his hand, a hint of melancholy in his eyes—he had just received a call; his superiors ultimately had no intention of continuing to investigate and were prepared to "suppress it to the end," completely ending the increasingly "out-of-control" public opinion controversy.

That's fine. It didn't matter before as long as it didn't involve sensitive content, but continuing to let things develop like this is definitely not a good thing.

only…

This means that the above-mentioned party has "given up" on continuing to pay attention to Ikeno.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, it's clear that if the goal is to suppress public opinion, all the pressure will inevitably fall on Ikeno.

Meanwhile, "Singer," which was once an "opportunity" for Ikeno, may become an unmanageable situation after losing attention.

To put it bluntly, once the authorities get involved, all the controversy will disappear. Then Ikeno will no longer have the chance to "resolve" this matter or "clear his name" from the current messy controversy.

The image of "Firepower Ikeno" may accompany him throughout his entire career.

Is this a good thing?
From the perspective of public perception, this is actually not a good thing.

Therefore, it is inevitable that something unexpected happened today, and things did not proceed as smoothly as he had envisioned.

that…

So be it.

"...Today is the live broadcast day of the seventh episode of 'Singer'."

The secretary seemed to have read Jinzhao's mind and thoughtfully offered, "Shall I pull it out for you?"

Jin Chao paused for a moment, then waved her hand: "Never mind... I'll check on my phone."

"it is good."

……

At 8 o'clock, the live performance of "Singer" began with great excitement.

Hua Yichen was the first singer to appear today, and the style of the song she sang was surprisingly a "Chinese style" song with a slight rap feel... Well, now that people don't recognize the Chinese style, this must be a song that proclaims "positive energy".

Yes, this is an original song—a song that Yue Na spent a huge sum of money to create for Hua Yichen within a very limited timeframe.

However, due to time constraints, and because of the reluctance to actually take advantage of the popularity despite being envious, the overall performance was only so-so.

Even so, Liu Xiaoxiao and other fans at the scene still screamed and applauded with all their might.

The teachers and others backstage also smiled and nodded in praise: "This song... is really good, with a great meaning. Hua Hua's performance today was unbeatable."

Whether Hua Hua is truly invincible is unknown, but he's definitely in a hurry; otherwise, he wouldn't have produced a work in this style to "imitate" Ikeno...

Everyone knew perfectly well what was going on, but no one was so tactless as to expose it.

Sister Pliers couldn't help but glance at the relaxed Chi Ye again, her mind still replaying what Chi Ye had told her not long ago: "Sing a story about the Chinese nation..."

Good heavens, she still can't believe what kind of song could make Ikeno so arrogant.

Sing a story about ethnic culture…

Bro, aren't you afraid of making a big promise and then getting yourself ripped off?
Chi Ye didn't notice the look in Pliers' eyes. He was still talking to Teacher Shi with his head down: "Don't be so nervous this time. If you really can't promote it, just post it on Weibo after the competition."

"...I can do it."

Teacher Shi assured her, "I can do it."

Ikeno: "...Then you can do it."

At this moment, Hua Yichen returned backstage and was greeted by the "praise" of everyone for his new work, who believed that creating such an original work in a week was "almost divine".

Hua Yichen seemed to realize something and glanced guiltily at Chi Ye.

Our second singer today, Teacher Na, has already taken the stage.

Surprisingly, the song performed by Teacher Na today also leaned towards positive energy, but unlike Hua Yichen, she didn't create an original song. Instead, she spent a week adapting an old song.

This shows how shrewd and experienced Teacher Na is. Compared to Hua Yichen's barely acceptable "originality," Teacher Na's well-known work has generated a much greater response.

As for whether people will find it tacky or unoriginal... well, she did her best with the adaptation...

Yes, she also wants to capitalize on this trend and "imitate" Ikeno, but she's unwilling to admit it.

Ten minutes later, the teacher left the stage, and while the audience erupted in applause, Liu Xiaoxiao and other audience members frowned.

"Another song like this... What's wrong with me today?"

"Everyone wants to be... C?"

"To be honest, it's getting a bit tiresome. Just because this style can win, everyone is using it? C started this bad trend."

"I don't feel any confidence or pride at all, I just feel it's very tacky and awkward."

"Big brother sang very well. It's amazing that he could create an original song of this style in such a short time..."

The crowd discussed how the forced positive energy from two big-name guests had become tiresome and uninteresting, as they hadn't heard any so-called "culture" or "confidence" in their singing. All they heard was an undisguised utilitarianism, which further fueled the atmosphere's aversion to this forced culture.

This feeling reached its peak after Ikeno took office.

——Ikeno, the third singer to appear in the seventh episode of "Singer". He is currently a "top star".

……

The stage lights went out again, and the room fell silent.

Bang, bang, bang!
Suddenly, the prelude of several Chinese drumbeats began.

The deep, powerful drumbeats were like thunder, instantly creating a sense of grandeur and magnificence.

The screen displayed Ikeno's new song performed this episode.

— *Heaven and Earth Dragon Scales*

——Lyrics: Chi Ye, Composer: Chi Ye
——Arranger: Chi Ye.

"As expected, it's another song like this."

Liu Xiaoxiao's eyes showed disappointment. She said the same thing again: she didn't dislike Chi Ye, and even thought Chi Ye had singing ability, but... did she really want to continue down this path?
Are we going to experience that same feeling of "forced confidence" that the previous two people had again?

As she was disappointed, Ikeno walked over from behind the stage.

Everyone's eyes lit up, and they were all captivated by the beauty of that fleeting moment.

Familiar robes, crimson, flames.

The collar, cuffs, and hem are all embroidered with exquisite golden dragon patterns, with the dragon's body winding and the scales lifelike.

He had a delicate and flawless face, an upright posture, and a pair of eyes that seemed to speak under the spotlight.

Those were eyes that would instantly captivate anyone who saw them.

But today, his eyes, like his stage makeup, burned with a fiery intensity, making people feel dizzy and disoriented.

"Isn't it a bit unfair that you sing with your looks like that?"

Liu Xiaoxiao suddenly felt like complaining... Compared to Chi Ye, her older brother's looks and demeanor were like a star and an ordinary person, there was a huge gap between them.

Thump, thump, thump.

Just then, after the beat of the Chinese drum, the melodious sound of the guqin flowed like a gentle stream, and the crisp sound of the pipa, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, intertwined with the sound of the guqin, creating a very unique rhythm.

—"The usual introduction with traditional Chinese musical instruments."

As I stared at the young man on the stage, I thought to myself, but compared to "Huo Yuanjia," the intro melody of this song seemed even more magnificent.

What song is this?

Is it still the same "reluctant" work as the previous two performances?
Ikeno walked to the center of the stage, the wind gently brushing his cheeks. With the rhythm, his signature metallic high-end sound rang out, but it was not the powerful mix he liked to show off his skills. Instead, he used HeadVoice to compress the sound as much as possible to make the sound pressure as stable as possible.

It's as if the song is gently telling a beautiful yet sad "story":
"I begin to paint this landscape."

"The bloodline of our nation stretches for tens of thousands of miles."

"Over the course of six centuries"

"Descendants of the Dragon have weathered many storms."

Liu Xiaoxiao was slightly taken aback, staring at the lyrics on the big screen, and was instantly stunned.

"This central axis of the capital region"

"Just like the unwavering integrity of a gentleman."

"Glazed Tiles on the Nine-Dragon Wall"

History rises again from this decline.

Today, he squinted, almost instinctively, stemming from his upbringing, which instantly gave him goosebumps.

History rises again from this decline...

On stage, Chi Ye looked down at the dense crowd below, his red robe embroidered with golden dragons fluttering in the breeze. He turned to the side, still not resorting to forced mixing, but maintaining his highest level of vocal difficulty as he began to shift to a higher key:

"These dragon scales once..."

"It landed with a resounding clang, like shattered ice."

"A single scale reflects a heart."

"The story is so turbulent I can't bear to listen."

Holy shit! !
Backstage and in the audience, more people finally came to their senses, listening to the song and looking at the lyrics—they felt a chill run down their spines.

Ikeno turned to the audience and all the cameras, continuing to "tell" what cultural heritage means:

"A person who observes propriety keeps their heart at peace."

"The melodious strains of the guqin evoke the heart of a gentleman."

"I'm sober and waiting for a response."

"The magnificent Chinese civilization resonates within!"

"...!"

The torrent of comments paused briefly.

Pliers Sister was dumbfounded.

How could someone write such amazing lyrics?!

You mean telling this story?!
She was stunned, not only by the song itself, but also by the technical skill and vocal technique of the song, and by the "words" that Ikeno sang next.

Cultural confidence? Or forced cultural confidence?
NO.

no.

Let me tell you what true cultural confidence is.

The pace slowed, but Ikeno's narration continued:

"I pay homage to the past as I put pen to paper, to the vast yellow earth of the East."

"The ink splashes and washes away from the landscape, revealing only the rugged spirit of China."

"The Shenwu Gate of the Forbidden City: How many vicissitudes have forged the spirit of China?"

"I inherit and cultivate the culture, and break through the changing circumstances to turn the tide."

Hurala!
The first wave of frenzied cheers finally erupted at the scene. Ikeno's fans, as well as many other ordinary spectators, felt their adrenaline surge, waving their support items.

Liu Xiaoxiao listened to the song in a daze, watching Chi Ye “telling a story” on stage. Logically speaking, as a girl and an adult, she shouldn’t be so empathetic.

嗏

"These dragon scales once fell to the ground with a clang like shattered ice."

"A single scale reflects a single heart; from small beginnings, great things can be achieved—I firmly believe this."

"To lift the nation's head high and revive it once again."

"Wandering the heavens and earth in search of dragon scales, the dragon's bloodline flourishes into a forest."

I'm impressed, you're awesome.

Liu Xiaoxiao let out a long breath, instantly overwhelmed by an extremely complex feeling…

How can Hua Yichen compare to Chi Ye?
While both are original works, Ikeno has already overwhelmingly surpassed everyone else.

She wiped her eyes, feeling a little embarrassed, but when she turned around, she found that her companion, who had been shouting "Firepower Ikeno" not long ago, was now sobbing.

Liu Xiaoxiao: "..."

On the other side, backstage.

Everyone was silent.

Because of the song, because of the lyrics, and even more so because of the technique.

"He used balanced mixing the whole time... He didn't hit any of the four high notes... Is this guy a monster?!"

Little Phlegm King was shocked: "His singing style is a textbook example of zero-energy-consumption singing!"

"...His singing skills are truly amazing, indescribably amazing."

The others around him nodded, and the overseas singers, including Fansia, let out a long sigh, feeling a sense of oppression.

To the average person, Ikeno's song today doesn't reveal much about her singing skills, but in reality, the song is basically a showcase of her singing techniques throughout.

Take the easiest-to-understand example of heavy mixing: when Ikeno was working on "Full Throttle," it was a combination of mechanical and heavy mixing, a crazy, hard-packed approach.

But this time was different. This time he used the technique of balanced mixing to hit high notes almost the entire time. His pharyngeal voice was compressed, and by the climax of the chorus, it had completely become head voice dominant.

Those who have studied vocal music should understand that this kind of singing technique is significantly more difficult than the "forced mixing" and the "brutal" approach of simply piling on skills. This "balanced" and stable vocalization, which involves subtle switching between chest voice and head voice modes, is essentially twice as challenging.

In other words, this is the style of a top-tier technical player. The song "Heaven and Earth Dragon Scales" is easy to sing, but difficult to sing well. If you can really sing it well, then you can handle any technically demanding song.

What Ikeno is showing now is this terrifyingly technical singing style. Those who don't understand it will feel their scalp tingling just listening to the melody and lyrics, while those who do understand it will be dumbfounded by the skill and technique.

"These dragon scales once fell to the ground with a clang like shattered ice."

"A single scale reflects a heart's essence; the story is so poignant, I cannot bear to hear it."

"To lift the nation's head high and revive it once again."

"Wandering the heavens and earth in search of dragon scales, the dragon's bloodline flourishes into a forest."

Bang, bang, bang!
The drumbeats of the Chinese drum are still resounding, just like the great nation that is rejuvenating. After five thousand years of trials and tribulations, it still marches forward with unyielding steps and rhythms.

After the song ended, the whole room fell silent.

……

A small courtyard.

An elderly man with graying temples listened to this song and sighed, "The story is so turbulent, I can't bear to listen..."

"The words are excellent; they truly reflect the heart of a child."

"To lift the nation's head high and revive it once more..."

He chuckled and joked with his personal secretary, "Even a child knows to hold their head high and rise again. We're all getting old."

(End of this chapter)