DAEYTT Chapter 033 Recording Begins, First Appearance
Wang Qian stayed in Xihu City for a few days.
The first episode of "The Sound of China" officially began recording! Weibo has been filled with topics about this season of "The Sound of China" these days. The program team has been pushing hard behind the scenes, starting the promotion and hype.
"The 10th season of 'The Sound of China' officially begins recording, starting the journey to find the world's best voice."
"This season opens the competition to contestants from different countries."
"Who are the mysterious mentors?"
"This season of 'The Sound of China' features the strongest contestants in history."
"Take you on a journey to explore the world of 'The Sound of China'..."
Under the promotional rhythm, many people have been piqued with curiosity. After all, this season of "The Sound of China" is the largest in scale. It's actually the "World's Sound of China." So, discussions about "The Sound of China" can be found everywhere on Weibo, WeChat, and other major social platforms.
Early in the morning.
Wang Qian still rode in He Dongming's car to the shooting base. He Dongming tightly gripped the steering wheel, appearing a bit nervous. "The mentors all arrived yesterday, but I didn't see them. It's all very mysterious this time. You're the first to take the stage. Are you nervous?"
Wang Qian leaned back in his seat, eyes watching the bustling road outside, and answered softly, "Not really."
He Dongming widened his eyes, "What do you mean 'not really'?"
Wang Qian replied, "I mean, there's nothing to be nervous about. Your show is just one option for me. If I fail here, I have other ways. So, I just need to do my best. Failure doesn't matter, so there's nothing to be nervous about."
He Dongming said, "You've always had several backup plans."
The car quickly arrived at the shooting base. He Dongming led Wang Qian into the recording venue. Today, the program team was noticeably busier and more nervous. Recording was about to begin, and no one wanted to make mistakes. So, everyone was cautious, focused on their tasks. He Dongming took Wang Qian to the contestants' lounge and went busy himself.
Knock knock...
A knock sounded on the door. Then, the door of the lounge opened. Wang Qian looked over and saw Huang Tao, whom he had met the other day, along with his assistant. Huang Tao was dressed very fashionably, his hair still shiny, and his face heavily made up, with bright red lips standing out. However, he was very polite, greeting Wang Qian as he walked in, bending slightly and extending his hand, "Hello, I'm Huang Tao. You must be Teacher Wang Qian?"
Teacher Wang Qian? Wang Qian didn't want to take advantage, so he stood up, shook hands with the other party, and immediately sat back down, saying, "I'm Wang Qian, but not Teacher Wang Qian."
Huang Tao smiled and sat opposite Wang Qian, "No, I've downloaded a few of your songs, they're very nice. Calling you teacher is appropriate. I heard you're the first one on stage?"
Wang Qian nodded, "Yes."
Huang Tao said, "I'll be right behind you, teacher."
Wang Qian said, "Good luck!"
Wang Qian's indifferent attitude left Huang Tao unsure of what to say for a moment. His assistant spoke up, "Our Tao Tao is preparing to release his first album next month. Do you have any possibility of collaboration with Teacher Wang Qian? We can offer the highest song invitation price in the industry."
Huang Tao nodded at Wang Qian with a humble attitude.
Wang Qian smiled apologetically, "Sorry, I don't have plans to collaborate with anyone at the moment. I've said on Weibo that I won't sell songs or full copyrights. The money isn't meaningful."
Huang Tao said, "That's a shame we can't collaborate, teacher."
He and his assistant exchanged a disappointed glance, but they had anticipated it and it wasn't unexpected. After all, anyone who cared enough could find out that Wang Qian was worth hundreds of millions, and his two hot pot restaurants made a fortune every day.
Wang Qian smiled without saying a word.
He was somewhat surprised by Huang Tao's attitude. After all, young idols tend to have some flaws in their personalities. Those who become famous at a young age tend to have an arrogant attitude, looking down on everyone and generally not getting along with anyone, which results in no one willing to work with them, only continuously harvesting brain-dead fans in various ways without having better works to improve their strength and reputation, and they gradually cool down over time. Of course, there are also very few who are relatively friendly to everyone, even respectful, so their reputation in the industry is very good. Huang Tao, for now, seemed to be the second type. However, Wang Qian wondered if he could maintain this humility after becoming famous.
Wang Qian continued to look at his phone, not chatting much with Huang Tao.
Qin Xuerong: "Recording starts today? Good luck! I support you!"
Wang Qian: "Thank you."
Qin Xuerong: "I signed up for a cooking class today. I'll invite you to my house next time and cook for you."
Wang Qian: "I have a bad feeling about this."
Qin Xuerong: "Haha, it's okay, I'll let Jiang Jiang and Xiao Yue eat for a few days first, then cook for you."
Poor Jiang Yu and Murong Yue.
Wang Qian chatted briefly with Qin Xuerong.
On the other side!
The four mentors have already taken their positions. Three men and one woman. Most of the program team only found out now that the mentors were these four. The secrecy was well done. He Dongming was shocked and excited after seeing this. He looked forward to how the program he produced would develop. How these four mentors would perform with the contestants. Qin Han, now 45 years old, debuted from Zhejiang Conservatory of Music at the age of 20 and became popular immediately. In the past 25 years, she has released nearly 50 albums, sometimes releasing three albums in a year. She has released over 500 songs, with over a hundred of them being widely sung. She has influenced several generations and is truly a generation's queen. Her influence is still great now, with over ten million followers on Weibo. She holds several concerts every year, and each one is sold out. Qin Han has been invited to the past few seasons of "The Sound of China" and singer programs, but she has always refused.
Unexpectedly, Qin Han, who is forty-five years old, debuted at the age of twenty and became popular immediately. In the past twenty-five years, she has released nearly fifty albums, with almost five hundred songs, over a hundred of which are widely sung, influencing several generations. She still has a significant influence now, with over ten million followers on Weibo. She holds several concerts every year, and each one is sold out.
On the other hand, Liu Junhua, fifty years old, was a former national team player and champion of the youth singing competition. He graduated from the Central Military Commission Arts Troupe and officially entered the entertainment industry at the age of thirty. He reached the peak of his career with his first album, which became the best-selling album of the year. However, he has always kept a low profile. He rarely promotes his albums and has never held a signing event. In recent years, he has almost disappeared from the public eye and is said to have retired from the entertainment industry.
Wang Jingyu, forty years old, debuted as a talented singer at the age of eighteen. She has a unique voice and strong singing ability. Like Liu Junhua, her first album also became the best-selling album of the year. She has even set a record of selling over ten million copies of a single album, causing a sensation in the Asian music industry and appearing on the cover of Time magazine's Asian edition. She is still active in the music industry, and her latest album sold well last year, ranking in the top five for the year. She is a living legend in the music industry.
Cui Wenfeng, the only rock king in the Chinese music industry. This title says it all. He is nearly fifty years old now and formed a rock band and debuted at the age of twenty. He set the record for the best-selling Chinese rock music album, which has yet to be surpassed. He was once hailed as the backbone of Chinese rock music. Later, he transitioned to behind-the-scenes work and has not been heard from for nearly ten years.
Four mentors! Four living legends.
He Dongming couldn't help but want to get autographs from these four. When he was in school, he was crazy about Cui Wenfeng's rock music, and his room was full of Cui Wenfeng posters.
"Ah, I almost screamed when I saw Qin Han."
"Wang Jingyu is here too, my god! Our program has really spent a lot of money this time. It's said that the price for Wang Jingyu's concert has reached fifty million yuan. Just appearing on one episode of our program would cost at least that much!"
"Last year, I wanted to go to Wang Jingyu's concert, but the tickets were all bought up by scalpers. Even the tickets on resale platforms were selling for three thousand each!"
"The lineup of mentors this time is really strong, all of them are true professionals, and they all have a lot of loyal fans."
"The contestants this time are so lucky to be able to work with them."
The crew members excitedly whispered among themselves.
After Zhou Qinghua appeared, everyone quickly quieted down and took their positions.
"Director Zhou, let's start. I can't wait to hear some wonderful singing," Qin Han joked from her chair.
Wang Jingyu said, "Director Zhou, you did a great job keeping everything secret. I didn't expect you to invite Brother Hua and Brother Feng, who are retired and living a quiet life at home."
Liu Junhua, being straightforward and low-key due to his military background, and Cui Wenfeng, being a rock musician with a self-centered and proud personality, didn't say anything. They just smiled and sat there, waiting for the recording to begin.
Zhou Qinghua smiled at the four of them. No one here was someone he could afford to offend. "Are you all ready? If you are, let's begin. The audience is already seated, and the first contestant is ready in the lounge."
Cui Wenfeng made an OK gesture.
Qin Han tapped the confirm button in front of her. "I just tested this button, and it's working fine."
Wang Jingyu nodded. "I'm ready."
Liu Junhua said, "Let's get started."
Zhou Qinghua nodded at the four of them, then walked to behind the camera, picked up the microphone, and announced, "Attention all units, the recording of the first blind audition is beginning... Contestant, please enter the stage!"
In Wang Qian's lounge, the door was pushed open, and He Dongming waved at Wang Qian with headphones on. "Wang Qian, it's your turn!"
Wang Qian nodded, smiled at Huang Tao and his assistant, then walked out.
Huang Tao and his assistant also smiled and watched Wang Qian leave, but their smiles quickly disappeared.
The assistant said in a low voice, "Wang Qian actually dares to sing an original song. It's rare to get recognition for that. When you go on stage later, it might be easier to get recognition. Do well!"
Huang Tao nodded vigorously, stood up, and paced back and forth in the lounge. "When I go on stage later to sing, should I dance?"
The assistant forced a smile. "During the blind audition stage, there's no audience voting segment. Everything depends on the mentors' choices. They'll have their backs turned to you and won't see you dancing."
Huang Tao regretted, "Well, then I can only sing!" There was confidence on his face. After two years of professional training and practice, he believed that his singing skills were not inferior to any young professional singer in the music industry. Is it easy to win a talent show like this?
The assistant said, "Sit down and watch the live broadcast carefully. See who the mentors are this season, so we can prepare accordingly!"
Huang Tao also sat down eagerly and looked at the screen hanging in the lounge. He could see the recording scene. "Alright!"
The other contestants in the lounge also turned their attention to the screen.
Wang Qian walked from the contestant's entrance to the stage. There was a staff member at the stage entrance who wouldn't let him go up without instructions.
Zhou Qinghua said into the microphone, "Okay, contestant, go on stage. The music is ready!"
The staff member let him through.
Wang Qian walked step by step out of the entrance and onto the stage, under the spotlight.
Looking at the four chairs with their backs turned to him and the dark audience seats around him, Wang Qian felt a little nervous at first, but it quickly disappeared.
He's been through a lot in his life. There's nothing that can make him nervous anymore.
The music hadn't started yet.
Wang Qian picked up the microphone.
NEXT