Respawn Entertainment: Days of Glory

Chapter 916 Music Review
Although Olaf's Chinese proficiency is good enough to understand the lyrics, he wasn't born in China; he was born into a middle-class family in Europe. So, while he could understand the meaning of the lyrics, he couldn't empathize with them.

But after he shared it, seeing the overwhelming praise from his Chinese fans, with comments like "tears welling up," "deeply empathetic," and "his grandpa will always be his grandpa," he felt it wouldn't be right not to say something.

Then he quickly pinned a comment to the top of the comment section: "I'll oversee the arrangement and the recording! I need your support!"

Whether his actions constitute defection is unknown, but seeing his attitude, the "Update urge party" immediately decided to recruit him as a key member!

Liu Ziyang, one of the two core members of Rolling Stone Records, was listening to this song for the fourth time.

He knew perfectly well that the melody of Bian Lang's song wasn't anything special, but the lyrics were incredibly poignant. Countless movie scenes flashed through his mind: "If this song were the theme song for some realistic film, it would truly be a masterpiece!"

Since joining Rolling Stone, he hasn't written a single music review of Bian Lang. It's not about avoiding any appearance of impropriety; he just feels that he becomes less objective when faced with Bian Lang's music, so he hasn't written any more.

But after reading the lyrics over and over again, he felt that if he didn't write something down, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep that night.

Two hours later, Liu Ziyang posted a long article on his main account, the content of which is as follows:

I won't go into the background of this matter, but because of this incident, I feel it's necessary to talk about this new song that Bian Lang released.

This is an ordinary song, so ordinary that it could be lost among the many good and new songs on the show. It has no fancy lyrics, no beautiful melody, and even the singing is plain and unremarkable, with nothing noteworthy or heart-stirring.

However, the fact that it stood out and became Bian Lang's response to everyone's song means it must have something extraordinary about it. Let's take a look.

Firstly, the title "The Nameless Man" alone evokes a sense of equality, allowing many who have left home or are striving for success to feel a sense of belonging. Indeed, the lyrics reflect this; it can be said that the song was truly written, sung, and cried out for these people.

Bian Lang and the Rolling Stones were virtually unknown a year ago, but a year later, they're already touring Europe. If it were any other singer, they'd probably be inundated with endorsement deals and appearances, right?

But Bian Lang is different; he can still write songs for us from the perspective of ordinary people like us.
"I am a nameless person on this road... wandering aimlessly, just trying to make a living..."

Personally, I believe that as a means of identification and distinction, or as any existing thing in the world, nothing exists without a name. Even the same object may have more than one name depending on the place, language, and understanding; how much more so a person?
Among the masses, everyone is different, not only because of their appearance but also because of their status. However, from a higher perspective, everyone is also the same. In this world, a person exists in only three states: birth, life, and death.

Leaving aside theology or metaphysics, a person's birth is unpredictable; the only things that can be determined are the remaining two states. Death, needless to say, is nothing more than the end of one life, but in reality, it is also the beginning of another life, that is, "resurrection."

Compared to life itself, we pay far less attention to birth and death, except under certain circumstances or at a certain point in time. Even so, life remains our entire existence. This entirety is life.

Life, the activities of living.

No one can exist in isolation from another person. Even Robinson Crusoe, stranded on a desert island, had Friday for company. And everyone inevitably has interpersonal relationships, which in today's world seem to consist mainly of competition. Of course, there are also partners, but it depends on whether we want to build vertical or horizontal relationships; the results are obviously different.

Even so, living in today's society has become merely survival.

Life is about how to survive and how to make a living. In order to survive, we have to join this society, choose a group to join, and become an unknown member. We don't need to know each other well, and it doesn't matter if no one remembers our names. It's just that we all struggle, compete, and succeed together in order to make a living and survive.

Everyone carries their own script, yet envies the scripts others hold. To live out someone else's script, we spare no effort, giving our all, just to obtain what we perceive as a better script, while others see it as ordinary.

Everyone in this group was like this, and so were those in the adjacent groups, some even more enthusiastic. More and more people joined in, and all of this was driven by the desire to make a living, to survive better, and to live a better life.

Bian Lang didn't start out at the pinnacle of rock music. Back then, he drove for ride-hailing services to make a living, a world apart from what he's doing now. But he can still write lyrics from the perspective of that ride-hailing driver, something those high-and-mighty men can't do.

Some people, relying on the legacy of their parents and the networks of friends and cliques they built up in the first half of their lives, are still living quite respectable lives. Their works are frequent guests at major galas, and there are even special slots reserved for them on the Spring Festival Gala.

But what about the memorable aspects of those works? Probably no one except the authors themselves will remember them!

Bian Lang's song shares the journeys of countless unknown individuals from different perspectives and scenarios:
"I am someone who left the small town... a silent presence in the urban landscape..."

Of those who leave home, how many have moved from villages to cities, from mountains to cities, or for some, from one city to another? No.
Regardless, their presence can be found among the nameless crowds, on city streets, construction sites, in skyscrapers, and while toiling outdoors.

To them, the city is an arena for competition, a means of survival, and a place to realize their dreams. Behind them, however, lies a supply depot, a healing sanctuary of love, and a warm home. In this world of nameless people, no one wants to know their names; simple code names or their clothing reveal their jobs, and they indeed perform the essential tasks that keep the city running. To them, this is a way of making a living, the price of competition. Even if they dislike it or are unwilling, what does it matter? The purpose of life is first and foremost to learn how to survive.

To outsiders, this is simply a profession, a different division of labor in society; someone has to wear this uniform and do this job. From another perspective, we are forced to do this because it is all our own choice, seeking the approval of others and fulfilling their expectations—expectations that extend beyond the societal level to include the familial level as well.

Only in this way can we feel our own value, find our place in the world, and realize our usefulness. In this pursuit, we look outward relentlessly, rarely considering our inner selves. We plunge into the social currents, becoming the backdrop of the city, silent and nameless.

Among our rock music fans, I believe there are people from all over the country, with all sorts of professions and backgrounds, but I think you are all more upright and honorable than Bian Lang and me, because you are the backbone of our Chinese society. Without you, we who are physically weak and ignorant of farming might even find it difficult to survive!

So Bian Lang continued writing:

"I just want to touch with my own hands every moment I bend over... To all those who stand tall yet remain ordinary!"

We choose this path, we choose that path; every experience is invaluable, a gift from life. We inevitably feel uncomfortable in these experiences, and when things become unbearable, we inevitably ask questions. From a personal perspective, every step we take, every word we speak, every thought we have is an experience aimed at achieving a purpose.

If this experience fails to meet expectations or exceeds them, its worth will be met with skepticism. However, sometimes we don't even have time to question its worth; we either stand still, continue on our way, or turn back. From another perspective, we are all traveling together on this journey, sharing the same experiences; no one is walking alone.

If there were no difficulty in bending over, how would we know the ease of standing upright? If there were no soaked footprints, how would we know the comfort of sitting? If there were no sobbing grievances, how would we know the joy of pride?

And how can one experience these things without the participation of others? So-called friends on the same path are not only those who share the same circumstances as oneself, but also those who help one and those who hurt one.
Chinese rock music has had a tough journey, and Bian Lang's journey has been even tougher. To achieve what he has today, Bian Lang has encountered friends and frequently clashed with enemies along the way. I'm the friend who ultimately surrendered, because I felt inspired to make music with him!

Just like you enjoy listening to Rolling Stones songs, these lyrics are also what I, as a Chinese-language musician and one of the music directors of Rolling Stones, want to say to everyone:
"Nameless one, I raise a glass to you... Under the vast sky, strive to live your life to the fullest."

Regardless of the outcome, those who are ordinary or extraordinary, famous or unknown, are all characters in society, people on the stage of life. We all want to play what we believe to be good roles, neglecting our own. We experience joy and disappointment, silence and anger. We strive and struggle to survive, all for a better life.

All of this we do is to live a meaningful life in our own space, that is, to find a sense of value. Just like the lives of Shao'an and Shaoping, they both wanted to live their own lives, but what seems like a compromise with reality in the end is more like the courage to accept ordinariness.

For them, gains and losses are gifts of life. Ordinary people live out the meaning of life just like everyone else, and the mundane can forge steel. Those who have left home, in the vast sea of ​​people, no one can call out your names, yet on the other side of the mountains and the other side of the sea, there are still people who recognize your faces and call out your names.

So the final ending is:
"Nameless one, the car is here... Go forward, carrying your dreams!"

No further words are needed; every journey is an opportunity to showcase oneself, a tool to experience and understand oneself. This is an essential path of growth, through which we can awaken and rediscover our true identity.

We are part of this marching procession, moving forward together, with a shared goal already established. We no longer need names; all we have is the determination to gain the Grand Experience. Even so, we still have our own names, from beginning to end, just so that at the moment we gain the Grand Experience, someone will remember us and call out our names.

At that moment, the glory belonging to the nameless emerges, and the meaning belonging to the nameless is given. Life is much like this; the lives of most people are much like this. To the nameless, to life.

Inspired by Liu Ziyang's short essay, a prominent writer from a state media outlet was moved to write his own piece:
What is life like for an ordinary person?

My parents are open-minded, there was no domestic violence, I successfully completed nine years of compulsory education, I did not experience school bullying, I did not encounter natural disasters or car accidents, I was not cheated out of my property by fraud groups, I was never so poor that I had to pay rent, and I will not suffer from serious illness.

I happen to be born in the city, know how to use a smartphone, play games and watch dramas in my spare time, have never done anything bad in my life, and if possible, will also have someone I love enough.

This is clearly the life of a minority, yet it's considered the life of an ordinary person. Only after growing up did I realize that such a life is far too luxurious.
It's as if we've given our all, only to end up living an ordinary life.

But should we stop moving forward just because of this? No, we must continue to move forward.

You say life is tough, but sometimes it's sweet too. Why not persevere? The sun will always shine and the flowers will always bloom.

If you're unhappy, just hold on a little longer, and you might be happy in a couple of days, just like the sudden sunshine outside the window right now. The long winter will eventually pass.

This is the rare masterpiece that Bian Lang, a humanist warrior disguised as a rock musician, left us! So I still hold the same view as before: musicians like Bian Lang shouldn't have it too easy, otherwise we wouldn't be able to hear such classic works!

If this music review were written by Bian Lang, he would simply write: Four years later, Mao Buyi's eight cups of wine have been condensed into one cup today, no longer toasting the rising sun, no longer toasting the moonlight, no longer toasting tomorrow, no longer toasting the past...

It is a tribute to those who leave the town, to those who have eaten with tears and laughter, to those who are on their way, to those who support their families, in short, to the nameless, to all those who are upright yet ordinary!
(End of this chapter)