Respawn Entertainment: Days of Glory

Chapter 937 "Persistence"

Guo Sichu was incredibly adept at handling such occasions, not only managing her own affairs flawlessly but also dealing with those of Bian Lang who didn't want to socialize. This made Bian Lang, who was quite clueless about pure business flattery, feel exceptionally relaxed in this setting tonight.

It wasn't until the latter half of the banquet, when most of the irrelevant people had left and only the majority of the attendees remained, that Gibson's Mobeck appeared carrying a violin case. Despite having drunk a bit too much and speaking somewhat slurredly at the end, he was anything but sloppy when it came to getting things done.

“Wave, I’ve seen the video of you playing and singing with a Gibson Firebird, but I heard that the guitar wasn’t yours, so I brought this gift with me this time.”

Giving Bian Lang musical instruments is much more effective than giving him money, luxury cars, or beautiful women. In any case, Bian Lang himself likes to accept them and has no pressure.

Seeing Bian Lang smilingly accept the violin case without any intention of opening it, Mobeck feigned anger and said, "Wave? Aren't you going to open it and take a look?"

Even if Bian Lang saw through this level of provocation, he would still obediently comply: "Okay!"

Upon opening it, Bian Lang felt a pang of anxiety. It seemed to be the Firebird, but something seemed different! And this difference made him feel that it might be very different... However, he wasn't a professional guitarist, so his assessment wasn't very accurate.

Fortunately, at that moment, the guitar enthusiast Dili came over. He took one look and laughed, "I heard that the Gibson-Firebird was modified specifically for guitarists in Asia. But it didn't work well, so only 200 were made. I have one!"

Upon hearing this, Mobeck's previously pleasant mood instantly soured. Naturally, he catered to Mobeck's tastes, having the factory's most knowledgeable violinist select the perfect instrument.

The knowledgeable person at the time even patted his chest and said, "Mobeck, don't worry, the chances of you finding this violin on the market right now are almost nonexistent..."

But now, Dili just jumps out and says he has one, which is simply...

But Bian Lang didn't think the gift was shabby because of this; he still felt that Mobeck had put thought into it.

So Bian Lang directly retorted with a laugh, "There are probably very few people in the whole world who can rival you in playing the piano, and you still want to compete with me?"

"It's a professional habit, a professional habit! I just feel like commenting when I see something..." Dili knew he had offended the other person, but there was no way he could say anything to make amends.

Mobeck was quick-witted; seeing some Rolling Stones musicians improvising, he immediately suggested, "Wave, want to give it a try?"

Bian Lang nodded noncommittally, closed the violin case, and walked towards the stage.

The party was held at the outdoor area of ​​the hotel where Bian Lang and his friends were staying. Playing rock music all night on an open-air stage would normally have been met with a barrage of complaints from the guests.

But today, without exception, every room with a window facing this side had someone looking out, and every now and then a whistle could be heard.

Because at least tonight's guests, those in the rooms facing this side, are all Rolling Stones fans. They booked the rooms hoping to bump into Bian Lang at the hotel, take a photo, get an autograph, and that would have been enough for them. Who would have thought they'd get to see a free impromptu performance of Rolling Stones music?

This is such a rare opportunity!

Some people, for some reason, brought binoculars and had been keeping a close eye on Bian Lang. Now that they saw Bian Lang move, they immediately started shouting at the top of their lungs, "Wave's moving! Get ready!"

Under the watchful eyes of these music fans with their keen eyesight, Bian Lang walked directly to the edge of the stage. Liangzi and his friends were up there improvising when they saw Bian Lang approaching; the brothers immediately exchanged glances and prepared to stop.

After walking eight more short distances, everyone stopped. Liangzi then asked Bian Lang, "Brother Lang, are the brothers going to provide you with supplies?"

"Either of you is fine. The others don't seem too lazy to move, so it'll be you guys!"

"Got it!"

After saying that, Liangzi put down his guitar and went straight off the stage to help Bianlang tinker with the instrument.

After Bian Lang handed the task over to Liang Zi, he started thinking, "What should we sing?"
Since they had the firebird, Xu the young man was the obvious choice. And here he was, in a foreign land, singing "Hometown," it seemed...

But considering that this song has already been labeled as a gift to Dong Youbian, then he should basically not sing it in front of Guo Sichu in the future. Although Guo Sichu is not Sister Yun, Bian Lang is not as stubborn as Brother Jun!
As he was thinking, Bian Lang remembered an old song, which many people may still not know was written by Xu Shaonian.

This song is called "Persistence," originally titled "Don't Cry Baby!"
Gao Xiaosong once said that when Xu Shaonian first tried to record at Beijing Music Festival, they went to watch the excitement, and Dou Wei was also there.

Xu Shaonian sang two songs, "Two Days" and "Don't Cry Baby". When he sang the second song, Gao Xiaosong and his group were amazed.

However, Xu Shaonian never considered including this song in the album; he felt he could write a better song. Later, the production company gave the song to Tian Zhen and renamed it "Persistence." In 1995, the song became a hit across the country, but no one knew the lyricist and composer behind it, Xu Shaonian.

At that time, the parents of his beloved first girlfriend did not approve of their relationship because Xu Shaonian could not even take care of himself. After serving three years in the army, Xu Shaonian formed a band in Xi'an. Many people went to listen to his songs live, but he earned too little money.

The girlfriend's parents were extremely dissatisfied with Xu, a young man with long hair and ripped jeans. In order to dissuade their daughter from being with Xu, they began to frequently introduce her to potential partners. However, every time the girlfriend went to meet them, she would frankly admit that she already had a boyfriend.

Having a poor relationship with his girlfriend's parents, Xu Shaonian also had a terrible relationship with his own parents.

Xu Shaonian's parents did not want their son to wander the streets and alleys of Xi'an, singing songs they could not understand. They only hoped that Xu Shaonian could find a stable job and live a peaceful life.

Xu Shaonian devoted himself wholeheartedly to his music career, determined to create his own musical empire. Later, his fellow musicians left one after another, and Xu Shaonian went to Beijing to become a struggling artist. One day, he went to see his first love. Seeing her haggard face, the two embraced and wept. Xu Shaonian felt guilty for not being able to provide his girlfriend with happiness and companionship. That night, he wrote the song "Don't Cry Baby".

Xu Shaonian wasn't jealous. He felt that a good song was nothing special; he wanted to stand on a bigger stage and make the best music to influence the most people. To date, besides Cui Jian's "Nothing to My Name," only Xu Shaonian's "Two Days" has been included in anthologies of contemporary Chinese poetry.

However, Xu Shaonian did not think that "Two Days" represented his musical talent. At that time, he was very ambitious and young, and he wished he could wipe out all other rock musicians in China as soon as he made his debut.

In a simple dormitory in Beijing, Xu Shaonian spent two years writing "Elsewhere." Faye Wong's top producer, Zhang Yadong, told everyone that Xu Shaonian was going to be a star. In 1997, "Elsewhere" sold 50 copies without any promotion, but Xu Shaonian still didn't become famous. His work was still a celebration for a select few. He was 29 years old that year.

In 97, Xu Shaonian released his first album, "Elsewhere." To outsiders, it seemed that Xu Shaonian had embarked on a path to great success, but the result was not so.

Some rock musicians gave Xu Shaonian too much praise, but the world poured cold water on "Elsewhere". Because of rampant piracy, he didn't get paid. He is still just a struggling artist in Beijing who worries about making a living every day and has to live with others. But his fellow Xi'an natives say that Xu Shaonian earns several million yuan a year.

In fact, Xu Shaonian did not have a good time at the record company, especially during the last two years when he was producing his second album, "That Year". He was taking medication while creating the album and had a conflict with the company over the termination of his contract. The album was eventually hastily completed.

Just after Xu Shaonian's second album, he was struck by depression. Because of his love for music, he fell into a slump. There were no performances, no stable income, and the contrast between the industry and the market, as well as the gap between dreams and reality, caused Xu Shaonian to fall hard, and depression arose spontaneously.

In 00, Xu Shaonian was completely devastated. Taking advantage of this performance opportunity in Xi'an, he returned to his hometown, put aside his so-called dreams, and went back to Xi'an to heal his wounds.

During his most depressed days, he contemplated jumping off a building multiple times to end it all. At that time, Xu Shaonian lost faith in life and thought he really couldn't go on. Fortunately, he had the support of his family during his lowest point. With his wife's help, he got up on time every day and persisted in exercising. Xu Shaonian eventually redeemed himself from depression and successfully returned to the music scene.

One year, when Xu Shaonian was performing at Tongde Square, a girl knelt down excitedly, holding a picture book that read "Thank you, Xu Shaonian!"

It is said that the girl had previously suffered from depression, and it was listening to Xu Shaonian's songs that helped her out of her slump!
In 02, Xu Shaonian once again boarded a train to Beijing, becoming one of the many people who had migrated to Beijing for work.

At that time, he had grown his hair long, wore jeans, and was free of his former gloom and anger. He calmly looked at everything around him and decided to stroll through time. The release of the album "Time. Stroll" made Xu Shaonian an instant sensation. The album swept major music awards, and everything he had ever wanted came true.

To outsiders, Xu Shao Nian, who had once been decadent, finally reached the peak of his career. Some people said that he could write such warm songs because he was living a better life and had money. Some people also said that Xu Shao Nian had stopped being a rock musician. Xu Shao Nian never commented on these claims and did not bother to explain. Xu Shao Nian was once a typical rock youth, wearing a leather jacket, with long hair, and a decadent spirit. But soon, his cool rock dream was shattered by reality.

During those dark years, Xu Shaonian discovered that even the coolest melodies and the most rock-and-roll shouts he used to love couldn't save him. Instead, it was the less intense songs of Bob Dylan and The Beatles that brought him a glimmer of light and pulled him out of the darkness. Having been healed by the music of others, Xu Shaonian also wanted to heal others with his music. His later works were filled with warmth, but the boyish spirit at his core never changed.

In 05 at the Beijing Workers' Stadium, Xu Shaonian held his first large-scale solo concert. On stage, he wore a shy smile, while the audience had waited for ten years. That year, he was already 37 years old.

In 09, Xu Shaonian seemed to have completely left the music scene. He cut his long hair and quit smoking. He told the media that he would not accept awards or walk the red carpet.

Over the years, Xu Shaonian's persistence has remained unchanged. In 2015, an awards ceremony organized by a Shenzhen newspaper invited Xu Shaonian to perform. Xu Shaonian made the request that he would not accept the award, walk the red carpet, or accept group interviews. This caused a headache for the organizers. The organizers felt that not walking the red carpet was a bit unreasonable, and the cooperation almost ended.

He once said that he would only sing songs he wrote himself, and no one else's songs except for Gao Xiaosong.

In 16, "Life Is More Than Just the Present" (生活不止前的苟且), with lyrics and music by Gao Xiaosong and sung by Xu Shaonian, went viral on social media. This was the first time he sang a musical work written by someone else.

Xu Shaonian made many subtractions from the original version, making it sound clearer and more youthful. Some listeners were looking forward to the climax of the song, only to find that there were no high notes at the end. Life is just ordinary, and although it is not just about the present hardships, we should still quietly pursue our own dazzling moments.

That year, someone asked Xu Shaonian a question: If he could travel back 20 years, what would he say to his past self?
Xu replied, "Have fun, who cares!"

Bian Lang's current mindset is basically this: whatever, he doesn't care who he is; the most important thing is to have fun!

Seeing that Guo Sichu had already noticed something and was walking towards him, Bian Lang decided to sing "Persistence" right away. Although it was a bit sad, it was indeed what he wanted to say to Guo Sichu.

Although their relationship hadn't lasted long, he felt that Guo Sichu was the one giving more than him, Bian Lang. Of course, this didn't make Bian Lang feel uncomfortable...

Well, although he didn't know whether marriage was an impulse or a culmination of deep affection, he felt that if he could continue living like this with Guo Sichu, it would be wonderful. They could support each other, and some things didn't need to be said; they understood each other perfectly…

Although it sounds far-fetched, Bian Lang felt as Guo Sichu slowly walked towards him that she was saying, "Man, sing me a song! A new song that's just for me!"

This might be a bit difficult for others, but for Bian Lang, it's just a multiple-choice question. Even if they split up in the future, these songs might become awkward tracks like "Miss Dong," but so what?

Playing rock music is just like practicing swordsmanship; it's about having a clear mind and being straightforward.

Bian Lang took the zither Liang Zi had set up, tuned it to make sure it was working properly, and then watched as Guo Sichu began to strum and sing:
"Every night when

Loneliness is always around me

Waiting for each evening's heartbeat

It's your boundless tenderness...

(End of this chapter)