"Xiao Gong always surprises me," Su Yu said, raising an eyebrow.
He could hear the improvement in Gong Juren's vocal technique. Moreover, his interpretation of the song's emotions was more natural and unrestrained.
The emotions conveyed in each line of the lyrics were perfectly captured.
For an emotional flow song like "Luzhou Moon," which differs from technically demanding pieces, emotion plays the most significant role. To perform such a song well, both enunciation and breath control, as well as emphasis, require a deep understanding of the song's sentiment.
After Gong Juren finished the first stanza, Su Yu knew he must have spent considerable time understanding this song.
"In March, clouds of mist unfurl, birds sing and grasses grow,
Amidst the falling willow catkins, I see my homeland.
I wonder if you, in my heart, still remain in Luzhou,
A strand of dark hair treasured for a lifetime..."
As the first line concluded, those bird chirps echoed.
Many eyes were filled with astonishment!
The arrangement, paired with the lyrics, was simply magnificent!
Longing had always been the most profound emotion for literati.
On stage, the backdrop displayed picturesque landscapes of Luzhou.
Small boats swayed on the water, and willow catkins drifted by the water's edge.
Gong Juren, dressed like a scholar, looked up at the moon, his gaze seemingly reaching back to his distant homeland.
He held a sachet in his hand, the strand of dark hair within symbolizing the deep affection he cherished in his heart.
"Lovers on the bridge, paired and inseparable,
Red flowers by the bridge sigh at the long night,
The moon sways, the person hesitates,
From the covered boat, a song of parting drifts..."
On stage, Gong Juren walked onto the covered bridge. He turned slightly, gazing at the small boat on the lake.
With a voice tinged with a hint of tears, a sense of melancholy rose from his singing, stirring a subtle ache in the heart.
This immersive performance made the audience feel as if the melody of farewell was resounding in their ears, and deep longing surged like a mighty river.
As the emotions accumulated to a certain point, the song reached its climax.
"Luzhou moonlight, spills upon my heart,
Beneath the moon, you are no longer the same.
Too much sorrow, hard to voice my feelings,
Sighing that in those days, it was merely ordinary..."
As if traversing thousands of miles through the moonlight, the scholar saw the face of the person he longed for.
Beneath the moon, you are beautiful, just like the image in my heart.
So illusory, so ethereal.
Easy to part, difficult to reunite.
It is regrettable that the time spent together then was taken for granted.
"Luzhou moonlight, pear blossom rain so cool,
By whose side are you now?
The moonlight of home, deeply etched upon my heart,
Yet no tears flow as they did in those years..."
The emotional resonance was not solely about love, but also about homesickness.
As this line was sung,
The song's meaning instantly shifted.
Mo Yan's eyes widened in shock: "Pear blossom rain so cool, what exquisite lyrics!"
Moreover, he realized that this song was not simply centered around romantic love.
If the earlier lines spoke of longing for a beloved girl, then after the line "The moonlight of home, deeply etched upon my heart," another interpretation emerged.
Could the person in his heart possibly be this "homeland"?
Then the meaning of the entire chorus could also be understood as:
When in one's homeland, the scenery and people seemed ordinary.
But when far from home, one yearns immensely for their homeland.
And the dark hair in his hand could also represent the soil of his homeland.
After experiencing so much while being away from home, even tears no longer held the innocence of youth.
Then, why leave parents, friends, and home to come to a strange city?
Life, dreams.
The heavy burden that weighs upon countless young people who leave home.
"Such exquisite description!" Upon realizing this, Mo Yan exclaimed in admiration once again!
Meanwhile,
In the barrage of comments, those far from home heard the profound emotional sentiment.
Especially for the people of Luzhou, the sense of immersion was immediate!
"Wuwuwu... I miss home!"
"I miss home too, I really want to taste my hometown's luosifen again!"
"Ahhhh! On this cold winter night, I just want a mouthful of authentic Hulatang!"
"Having been away from home for so many years, hearing that last line, I instantly broke down and cried like a fool..."
"Waiting for the bus at the bus stop, watching people come and go, I suddenly felt out of place in this city. I miss the small mountain village where I was born and raised!"
"How ironic, leaving home is for the future ability to return home..."
"My defenses are broken!"
"I miss home, I miss my parents. It's almost Lunar New Year, I must go back this year!"
Sometimes, listening to a song is like this: a single line touches an emotion deep within, and tears flow uncontrollably.
While the lyrics at the beginning, resembling ancient poetry, were somewhat difficult to grasp, the final line, "The moonlight of home, deeply etched upon my heart, Yet no tears flow as they did in those years..." resonated with many people.
Especially with the approaching year-end, many migrant workers were eager to return home.
They were instantly moved by the lyrics!
...
The interlude was cold yet melancholic.
Gong Juren had already walked down from the covered bridge.
His face was illuminated by the moonlight, his brow slightly furrowed, and he shook his head with a sigh.
As a competent singer, after the interlude, he needed to amplify the emotion to make the subsequent climax more moving.
Gong Juren was naturally aware of this. He had simulated scenes of homesickness and the feelings of missing a loved one countless times.
He strived to blend these two emotions into the song and began singing the second verse.
"In March, clouds of mist unfurl, birds sing and grasses grow,
Amidst the falling willow catkins, I see my homeland..."
Perhaps because he had entered the zone,
Many in the audience were immersed in this mournful and poignant song.
"Young friend Ting Yu's mastery of ancient style has far surpassed ours," Mo Yan said to Su Yu, patting his thigh in direct praise.
"I rarely write ancient style songs, but every time I listen to Ting Yu's songs, I want to try. However, I always delete what I write," Jiang Qian said, unwilling to lag behind, defending her status as a "Rain Fan" (a fan of Ting Yu).
"Heh, if I'm not mistaken, this song has an abundance of rhymes, all ending in 'ang.' Young friend Ting Yu is truly a talent praised even by literary masters," Mo Yan, being the undisputed number one "Rain Fan," would not show weakness.
"In fact, I noticed it long ago, and this rhyme scheme isn't just any rhyme; it maintains the artistic conception while being precise in every line. Ting Yu, you're too much, you're simply a rhyme demon!" Jiang Qian continued.
What could Su Yu do?
Facing their praise, he could only nod repeatedly.
Previously, on stage, he couldn't hear their discussions about him. Now, with the two great "Rain Fans" sitting beside him, not only did he have to listen to them praise him, but he also had to respond. Su Yu suddenly felt a bit awkward.
Lin Yanyu, seeing his thoughts, couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth with amusement.
However, Zhao Yihua, upon hearing the explanations from the two music gods, realized how many amazing aspects this song possessed.
In his heart, his admiration for Su Yu was like a mighty river, ceaseless!
...