After offending capital, my songs became more and more popular.

Chapter 171 Run Forward! Facing Cold Stares and Laughter!
"No, it's knocking..."

Backstage, while waiting, a staff member came over with a last-minute announcement. Luo Luo, the assistant who had come with Yao Shuli to cheer on Shen Mingen, couldn't help but swear and curse, saying:

"Does your production team really have to prepare only one drum? It's the very end, why should we give one drum to Zhao Yuan and not Shen Ming'en?"

"They were giving you face by not singing revolutionary songs or folk songs, and they only used one of your drums, but you took it away. Don't you have any shame?"

Let alone Lolo, many of the staff nearby actually felt like cursing at that moment...

The production team just informed us that one of the drummers is feeling unwell and has taken leave to go to the hospital, leaving only one drummer.

Because the teacher wasn't the drummer originally scheduled to accompany Shen Ming'en, he went to accompany Zhao Yuan instead. As for Shen Ming'en...

There were no drums.

Shen Ming'en and Zhao Yuan performed on the same stage, only standing in different positions, facing the same audience.

In this situation, to put it bluntly, whoever has a more attractive melody and singing style will be more likely to grab the audience's attention and win more votes.

In this kind of PvP match, the importance of drumbeats is self-evident...

Compared to heavy metal rock, your gentle, narrative-style piece has absolutely no chance of winning, no matter who the kings and queens of pop or the national team are.

The song that Shen Ming'en prepared today was relatively flat before the verses, and the accompaniment he prepared consisted mostly of piano, drums, strings, and so on.

Leaving aside ethnic-style instruments, there wasn't a single high-energy instrument like the bass or electric guitar.

Under such circumstances, just in terms of melody... well, to put it bluntly, just in terms of "volume," Zhao Yuan would completely overshadow it.

Now, they've even taken away his drum...

you say!

Who would believe that this isn't "targeted"?
"It's said that Zhao Yuan is preparing a really energetic piece..."

Many staff members were also whispering among themselves, saying:

"This is so unfair to Teacher Ming'en..."

"There's nothing we can do, Teacher Ming'en has been going a bit too far lately."

"It's said that their company is already planning to completely break ties with him..."

……

The scenario of "talent triumphing over capital" is exciting and has a lot of appeal, but in the end, without any background and unwilling to cooperate with capital, the scenario is just a scenario and will never become reality.

Everyone sympathizes with Shen Mingen, but few dare to speak up for him like Luo Luo does, since Shen Mingen might leave after this episode, while they still have to continue working on the show.

In the end, all I could do was sigh silently.

The production team, on the other hand, didn't respond to Luo Luo's complaints either. A bunch of sarcastic people just kept repeating the same thing: "There's nothing we can do!"

What can we do if our drummer teacher suddenly feels unwell?
Does someone have to accompany you to the hospital even if they're in pain?

Are your performances more important than the drummer's life?!

Are they willing to risk their lives for a pittance like you?

Even if you're alive to earn money, you still have to be alive to spend it!
With the performance fast approaching and the host already on stage introducing the performers, it was too late to find a drummer, so Shen Ming'en had to go on stage alone...

It looks terrible!
The "Singer Challenge" program is nearing its end, and the way they're doing this is truly disgusting.

When it comes to pulling strings, Shen Ming'en always thought that Niu Zhi, the director of "Chinese Music Awards," was the best. But now it seems there's always someone better.

The sponsor of the show gave Shen Ming'en the mysterious "Little Water" from the East, but he really didn't dare to drink it. It's like there's some kind of mystical power at play; whoever drinks it will die!

"Tsk..."

After thinking for a moment, Shen Ming'en simply said:
"In that case, can I sing it a cappella?"

Upon hearing this, whether it was Yao Shuli, Luo Luo, or the staff member from the production team who came to inform them that there were no more drumbeats, they all immediately thought that Shen Mingen was joking or saying something in anger.

But to everyone's surprise, Shen Ming'en waved his hand at the staff member and said, "Alright, you can go back now. Just tell them you don't need accompaniment. Just turn on the sound system, I'll sing a cappella..."

If what I said just now sounded a bit like an angry outburst, or a joke, then this next one...

No matter how you look at it, it doesn't sound like a joke!
"No, Teacher Ming'en, please don't get agitated, you..." The staff member tried to calm him down.

Shen Ming'en didn't give him a chance at all and said directly, "I just want a speaker, so you can give me a microphone and connect the speakers. You can't even do that?"

If they can't even do the reverse butterfly thing, why are they even on stage?
Shen Ming'en has always been straightforward. The "Peak Singer Challenge" program team has been pushing their luck time and time again. He has already stopped singing revolutionary songs, folk songs, and any other works that give him an advantage or make him stand out. He was already willing to cooperate with their final "curtain call," but these idiots still wouldn't let it go. In the end, they even wanted to add a drum...

how?

Is Shen Ming'en really going to lose to that young heartthrob "based on his own merit"?
He's just a nobody!

Since we've already torn off all pretenses, Shen Ming'en can't afford to save face. Since you're going to remove my accompaniment now, then let's just remove it all. We don't need the Reverse Butterfly anymore, let's just sing it a cappella!

Since there are no drums and other instruments don't really help his song much, it's better to omit them.

"Ming'en, you..." The staff member was about to say a few more words of persuasion when they didn't expect Shen Ming'en to be so adamant...

Before he could finish speaking, the voices of the hosts, Shen Ming'en and Zhao Yuan, came from the stage. Shen Ming'en simply waved his hand and said, "Make it clear to your director, I won't sing 'Reverse Butterfly' if there's accompaniment, I'll only sing it if there's no accompaniment!"

After speaking, Shen Ming'en turned around and greeted Yao Shuli and Luo Luo, then went up on stage through the entrance, without giving the staff member a chance to answer.

"This... Oh dear!" The staff could only quickly pull out their walkie-talkies to communicate with director Chen Tao about the situation.

"I told you we went a bit too far..." Chen Tao scratched his head and looked helplessly at a professional woman in a black suit not far away.

This professional woman is Zhou Fang, Zhao Yuan's agent. The company behind them is Feiyang Entertainment, a giant in the Chinese entertainment industry, a pillar that has stood for twenty years. It was she who made the request to "withdraw the drums".

"No, Director Chen..." Faced with Chen Tao's complaint, Zhou Fang shrugged and said innocently, "Well, Shen Ming'en is going to be eliminated anyway. Since he's leaving, let him make the most of his remaining energy to make Zhao Yuan look better. Don't do that 'dignified exit' thing, which will only add unnecessary pressure to our PR team."

This episode was a "behind-the-scenes" elimination of Shen Ming'en. They wanted to create the impression that Zhao Yuan "demonstrated his abilities" and beat Shen Ming'en. Since that was the case, the worse Shen Ming'en's performance was, the better, so that they could shift all the blame onto him.

"..."

Director Chen didn't say anything, but his gaze as he looked at Shen Ming'en's image on the screen seemed to carry a hint of sympathy.

The phrase "being set up by capital" has always been Shen Ming'en's "exclusive label" from the past to the present!

……

"Oh!!!"

On stage.

As Shen Ming'en and Zhao Yuan appeared, and the surprise attack officially began, the enthusiasm of all the audience members at the scene was ignited, and the traffic in the online live broadcast room also soared, with the number of online viewers exceeding ten million at the same time.

The live chat went absolutely wild the moment Shen Ming'en's face was shown; the screen was filled with comments like:

[Thunder Yatarain, the force that drives out foreign invaders and saves the nation! Take that brat down!]

[What kind of Tom, Dick, and Harry dares to try and piggyback on our Emperor Ming'en's fame? Tsk tsk...]

【No way, are these people at the scene shills? Why are they shouting Zhao Yuan's name like that?】

……

What left many online viewers speechless was that while the live stream was almost entirely filled with comments about Shen Ming'en, and when Zhao Yuan's name came up, it was met with insults, in the offline studio, many people were surrounding Zhao Yuan, shouting something like:
"Go Yuanyuan!"

"You're the best!"

"You've finally made it to this stage!"

"This is what you deserve!"

"..."

Those who listened felt both embarrassed and uncomfortable.

In contrast, Shen Ming'en received far less support. Although there were people cheering him on, it wasn't as loud or numerous...

To know!
In the past, when Shen Mingen appeared, there were always waves of cheers and applause. Almost all the cheers and applause were for him, and the audience was so enthusiastic that they wanted to lift the roof off the studio.

But now...

But it's made her seem like she's not as good as that young heartthrob as Shen Ming'en.

Please!

Who is Shen Ming'en?
He!

Shen Ming'en!

Thunder Yata Rayne, Emperor Ming En!
Standing atop the Great Wall, amidst a constellation of stars, is the man who sang and composed "Beijing Welcomes You"!

As another major figure in the Chinese music scene, he is the man who sang "Thousands of Mountains and Rivers" alone at the Temple of Heaven!

He is also the man who stood in the Bird's Nest facing audiences from all over the world and sang "Me and You"!

Shen Ming'en, the spokesperson for revolutionary songs advocating for the salvation of the nation by expelling foreigners!
Not as good as a pretty boy who makes a living based on his looks...

How ridiculous!

Back then...

Many comments were saying:
A sudden sense of foreboding washed over me...

And this premonition soon came true.

After exchanging a few polite words, the two went to opposite sides of the stage, facing different audiences...

The staff began setting up the stage; someone brought in a piano, a drum set, a guitar, a bass...

The drummer, bassist, and piano teachers were all in place.

It appears to be a perfectly normal scene, just like any other...

However, what puzzled everyone was that all the instruments and musicians went to Zhao Yuan's side after they went on stage.

On the other hand, Shen Ming'en's side couldn't even be described as "basically" deserted; it was practically "completely deserted"!
Behind him, there was no band teacher, no musical instrument, not even a bass or guitar, let alone a drum or piano.

This truly embodies what it means to have "no one behind him"!
What's going on here?

Why is everyone going to Zhao Yuan's side?

Does Shen Ming'en not have a band to accompany him?

Holy crap... this must have been a setup by capital, right?

Many viewers in the online live stream were already discussing it, and even the "actors" in the offline studio looked puzzled.

Although the host later went up to "declare" that it was Teacher Ming'en's special request for "a cappella," people still didn't readily believe this explanation.

Are you fucking rigging this?

[They wouldn't really want Zhao Yuan to succeed in his surprise attack, would they?]

[This is absolutely disgusting, such an ugly display of greed!] [You damn gear enthusiasts...]

The online comment section was already filled with angry comments, and voices expressing sympathy for Shen Ming'en were also rising one after another...

Offline, some of Shen Ming'en's fans shouted things like "gear party," which aroused dissatisfaction among a large number of Zhao Yuan's offline fans, and the noise was quite loud.

Then a funny scene unfolded: the young heartthrob Zhao Yuan actually made a "shush" gesture to his fans, appearing very magnanimous.

Then I heard Zhao Yuan's fans saying something to those who were chanting "gear party"...

"Look how generous Yuanyuan is!"

"I won't stoop to your level!"

"Gossip will always exist, but if you don't listen, it won't happen. Your arrogance because you don't need accompaniment has nothing to do with whether others use accompaniment or not, really..."

……

Those solo stans are disgusting...

Shen Ming'en smiled but didn't say anything, only gripping the microphone on the stand tightly.

Whether it's worth it or not, there will always be fans supporting him at the venue. Since there are still supporters, and since it's the last show, Shen Ming'en has to finish this performance no matter what.

Because it was the last show, and because there were still people supporting him, he definitely had to sing well.

That's all...

The performance has officially begun!
"Dong dong dong..."

"Beep beep!!!"

Because Zhao Yuan chose a high-energy rock song, the incredibly cool drum beats and electric guitar accompaniment came out at full volume, instantly igniting everyone's passion.

To be honest, with that kind of accompaniment, the other singers on stage were immediately overshadowed. If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't have dared to sing...

But Shen Ming'en calmly held the microphone, facing the spotlight, the audience, and everyone who supported him, and sang loudly without any accompaniment:

……

"Where exactly is the world filled with flowers...?"

"If it really exists, then I will definitely go..."

"I want to stand on the highest peak there!"

"I don't care if it's a cliff or a steep slope!"

……

It's kind of funny, but Zhao Yuan's accompaniment was really strong, starting the song really high, and then, I don't know if it was because he smoked too much cigarettes, he choked on his phlegm right from the very first note...

I finally caught my breath, but then I hit the wrong shot!
Finally found the right rhythm, huh? His voice just can't keep up with the accompaniment at all. The accompaniment is too loud, too explosive, and he just can't control it.

Rather!

On Shen Ming'en's side, although it was an a cappella performance, he sang very steadily, with a bright and unique voice and strong vocal pressure, as if the entire instrumental accompaniment had suppressed his voice.

【oh!!!】

For a moment, many audience members felt a sense of "turning the tide against all odds," and the entire venue was instantly ignited!
The comments section was scrolling wildly:

[What did I say? Gear enthusiasts are gear enthusiasts!]

[Can you handle it when someone completely crushes you the moment they open their mouth, hahaha...]

[Hilarious! All that gear and he still can't control it? Shen Ming'en was much better off going in light!]

This is a stark example of both positive and negative examples; music isn't just about addition, it can also be about subtraction!

……

"What are you doing..."

In the control room, Zhao Yuan's agent, Zhou Fang, watched this scene with her lips twitching uncontrollably. But what was truly disgusting was that she didn't blame Zhao Yuan for his mistake; instead, she questioned director Chen Tao, saying:

"Why is his voice so loud? Did you turn up the volume on his speakers on purpose?"

Otherwise, why would his voice completely drown out Zhao Yuan's voice, along with the accompaniment?
"What kind of talk is that..." Director Chen Tao was speechless and couldn't help but say in a sarcastic tone, "Zhao Yuan's side has 7 sound systems, while Shen Ming'en's side only has 5."

"Then why is his voice so loud?" Zhou Fang questioned.

"...Didn't you even check if Zhao Yuan opened his mouth?!" Even Chen Tao couldn't help but want to curse, saying, "Are you sure he came back from Berklee? Doesn't Berklee teach students to open their mouths when they sing?"

Many singers nowadays sing in a very soft voice, as if they can't open their mouths wide enough. If they don't turn their voices up louder than the accompaniment, the audience can't hear them at all.

Because Zhao Yuan's singing voice was soft, the production team turned up his vocal volume, not because they were targeting Shen Ming'en...

What left Director Chen speechless was that even though his vocals were louder than Shen Ming'en's, his voice was still so soft that it was immediately drowned out by Shen Ming'en...

What the heck is this...?

And this guy thinks he can eliminate Shen Ming'en "by merit"?

He deserves it too!
hetui!

Compared to Zhao Yuan's hunched posture and "singing with facial expressions," look at Shen Ming'en, who stands tall and straight, using his diaphragm to deliver a powerful and energetic performance!

Plus, his voice is so distinctive and unique...

Why do you think he can completely outshine Zhao Yuan in terms of "volume"?!

Shen Ming'en has a powerful, resonant, and majestic voice, just like the ones used to sing "Me and My Motherland" and "We Soldiers"!

They've already been quite accommodating to you!
Don't be ungrateful!

"This……"

Zhao Yuan's agent, Zhou Fang, was speechless for a moment and paced anxiously in circles.

Meanwhile, on the stage, that very "classic" PK is still going on.

Perhaps he gradually got into the zone, but with his fans cheering him on from the audience, Zhao Yuan, with the added accompaniment, gradually built up the atmosphere of the song...

However strong he may be, the breeze still caresses the mountain ridge, and Shen Ming'en remains completely unaffected, singing loudly:

……

"Live life to the fullest, love with all your might, even if it means sacrificing your life..."

"I don't seek anyone's approval, as long as I'm true to myself..."

"I have never chosen to give up on my ideals..."

"Even on the darkest days..."

……

Unlike most mainstream works, Shen Ming'en's "Chasing Dreams with a Pure Heart" adopts a very inspirational style in its singing. It may not be as fast-paced and high-energy as "Proud Youth", but the process of gradually climbing from low to high has its own unique magic.

If Shen Mingen himself possesses immense magic, then this song is like a powerful collaboration with him, creating a very special emotion at this crucial moment when he is about to be eliminated from the show and it's his final episode.

……

"Maybe I lack talent, but I have the innocence to dream..."

"I will prove it with my whole life..."

"Maybe I'm not very good with my hands, but I'm willing to keep exploring..."

"Give your all to leave no regrets!!!"

……

Shen Mingen had no accompaniment, and the music from next door was really noisy. To be honest, on a stage where people were singing at the same time, it was easy for Shen Mingen to be led astray without even wearing an in-ear monitor.

At the same time, he also finds it difficult to get the audience emotionally involved.

Even so, for some reason, many audience members, including Zhao Yuan's fans, instinctively looked in his direction...

And once you take one look, you feel like you can't look away.

It was as if he possessed a mysterious, magical power.

The song "Chasing Dreams with a Pure Heart" already had an absolute dominance in terms of "sound waves," and it was the kind of song that got higher and higher as it was sung, getting more and more exciting. Gradually, everyone's attention was drawn to Shen Ming'en!
At that time, perhaps because everyone knew that Shen Ming'en was going to sing the chorus, almost everyone subconsciously looked in his direction.

It's funny, because the choruses of the songs are all around the same time, Zhao Yuan's verses have already finished building up and he's getting ready to go into the chorus...

The entire verse was suppressed by Shen Ming'en's "sound waves," and the young man seemed somewhat unconvinced, so he took a deep breath and planned to get back at the top of his game in the chorus.

But he never expected that the chorus of Shen Ming'en's "Chasing Dreams with a Pure Heart"...

It's a style that's almost like a broken voice!
Whoever comes will be utterly crushed and humiliated!
"call……"

Taking a deep breath, at the exact moment the chorus began, Shen Ming'en strained, almost cracking his voice, and sang loudly:

"run ahead!!!"

"Facing cold eyes and ridicule!"

"How can one feel the vastness of life without experiencing hardship!"

"Life cannot force us to kneel and beg for mercy!"

Even if!

"Blood was spilled all over our arms!"

……

That moment...

Although Zhao Yuan has classical guitars, electric guitars, basses, pianos, and all sorts of luxurious "equipment"...

But everyone's attention was drawn to Shen Ming'en and his singing.

To everyone's ears, there wasn't a single trace of Zhao Yuan's voice...

It's all Shen Ming'en's vocals!

At that moment, everyone, even Zhao Yuan's fans at the scene, subconsciously heard one sentence:

"What do you have to compare with Shen Ming'en!"

Oh right, there's another one, it's:
"Disgrace yourself!"

……

(End of this chapter)