Respawn Entertainment: Days of Glory

Chapter 968 The Ins and Outs of Half a Wall

At this moment, in the Berlin Hofmann Audiovisual Room, a group of foreigners, although they could not understand the lyrics, were also excited by the music and arrangement.

After asking about the song title, Thor exclaimed, "It perfectly captures the spirit of this song—a crying fist, the power that bursts forth from helplessness, that's the most powerful!"

Speaking of this, Bian Lang couldn't help but think of Wang Banbi.

His musical talent, it seems, is as formidable as his tendency to attract controversy. To summarize, here are the key points…

Let's talk about where the "Wang Banbi" meme came from. Many people may think it originated from the time when singer Lao Lang called on everyone to sing "Gift", but that's not actually the case.

The reason for this was an article posted by the studio one year, which stated that 47% of the increase in box office revenue for mainland concerts that year was driven by Wang Banbi, hence the metaphor of "half the country", with the emphasis on box office revenue.

However, the media later misinterpreted the meaning, suggesting that Wang Banbi was half of the mainland music scene. But if you think about it, Wang Banbi wouldn't say that about himself. This whole thing was an absurd carnival from beginning to end.

At the time, Brother B was interviewed and asked what he thought about Wang Banbi's claim to be half of the music industry. Li Zhi said: "Did you even read the article carefully to see what it meant? The reason I'm angry about this is because this kind of thing will happen to you and me sooner or later."

People don't know the truth and don't want to know the truth, just like the meme on Toutiao. Wang Banbi never wanted to be on the front page; he was just being targeted. This is just entertainment for netizens. It's normal to use a meme a few times, but it gets boring after a while.

For example, there's the "Rain God" label for Jam Hsiao and the "Headlines" for Wang Banbi. They say that something big happens every time Wang Banbi posts on Weibo. These are all fabricated. If you want to fabricate something, any celebrity can post on Weibo and you can find some "big event." It's too easy in the internet age.

Once, Wang Banbi posted on Weibo that his album, which he releases every two years, could not be released this year for some reason and would probably be released next year. A singer who is about to turn 50 has maintained the habit of releasing an album every 1-2 years for more than 20 years. Nobody cares what he wants to say. They just frantically say that he wants to be on the front page and frantically "hahahahaha".

Bian Lang found it terrifying to see Weibo flooded with "hahahaha" comments. When people get caught up in a group frenzy, they almost completely lose their ability to think independently.

Perhaps on Planet Blue, Bian Lang himself might encounter this situation someday. At his pace of releasing more than one album a year, if he maintains this for 20 years, perhaps one day he'll feel tired and want to rest, and those who are used to it might think he's starting to put on an act.

Let's talk about Wang Banbi's most talked-about personal relationship issues. It's true that Wang Banbi experienced a failed marriage, but the cheating chain is really ridiculous.

To summarize every relationship of Wang Banbi as cheating or infidelity is absurd. In fact, the mother of Wang Banbi's eldest daughter ran away abroad with a photographer back then. Wang Banbi was the one who was cheated on. Wang Banbi begged her to come back and see her daughter, but she wouldn't come back. In recent years, as Wang Banbi's career has developed better, Ge has started to act up on Weibo every now and then.

The link also mentioned Junzi, who committed suicide years ago. Wang Banbi's poem "Orphan of a Beautiful World" was written for Junzi.

In 13, Wang Banbi made a confession to Zhang Ziyi at a concert, which became a major headline in the media the next day. This memorable year also led to Wang Banbi being universally disliked online.

Wang Banbi's refusal to bow to the media over the years finally provoked the media to erupt. People who had long been dissatisfied with him also began to take action. That year, the terms "Wang Banbi is a scumbag," "Yunzi committed suicide because of Wang Banbi," "Wang Banbi cheated," and "Wang Banbi's cheating chain" appeared online at that time.

Rumors circulate online that Yunzi committed suicide because of Wang Banbi, or was driven to suicide by him. However, it's true that Yunzi was in a relationship with another person before dating Wang Banbi, and that her epitaph was personally written by Wang Banbi at her mother's request.

Years have passed, how are you? The indifferent still laugh, the vulnerable still cry, the sun is still blazing, the moonlight still bright, hypocrisy remains hypocrisy, nobility is still wounded, we still hear your voice, but your figure has vanished without a trace. Time flies like the wind, laughing and crying at that beautiful dream, the girl in the dream smiled like a flower, she was an orphan of a beautiful world, returned to the pure heaven too soon, while we are still here, listening to that heavenly song, tears silently falling, our souls cleansed, smiling as we live!

When Wang Banbi was being attacked most severely, many of his close friends couldn't stand it and urged him to come forward and tell the truth. Wang Banbi didn't do that, only saying that she was, after all, the mother of his child. So the matter turned into a frenzy among netizens, and nobody knew how much money his ex-wife had managed to swindle from him when he was still relatively poor.

As for leather pants, all the rock musicians wore them back in the day, and Bian Lang was no exception. Long hair, leather jackets, and leather pants were the standard attire; it's just that when the media wants to smear someone, every aspect can become a reason.

Let's talk about going solo. Actually, quite a few people in the rock scene have left their bands to go solo, including some who are now very famous singers. If you do a little research, you'll find that many people have formed bands, left bands, and even broken up and reunited within bands. This is very normal, just like Dayong from Water Blue Star!
But the most foolish thing was that only Wang Banbi brought it up, because even though the band was already showing signs of disbanding, Wang Banbi still felt guilty because he chose to sign with another band. That's the downside; if you bring it up, the media can use it to completely discredit you.

Everything seemed fine, like the sky and the earth here, except for the most crucial thing, which seemed to have been forgotten in a corner, unless you pretended not to see it. The first album from No. 43 Baojia Street only earned 12000 yuan, which was split equally among the band, manager, and six others. For the second album, Jingwen Records simply sold Wang Banbi's two albums to a Hong Kong company for 5000 US dollars. Then, when it came time to produce the third album, Wang Banbi was informed by Jingwen that the production costs would be reduced again. After unsuccessful negotiations, the band decided to part ways with Jingwen.

Just as winter gives way to spring, a turning point arrived. Warner Music's Xu Xiaofeng took a liking to Wang Banbi. Like all imperfect stories, Warner only wanted to sign Wang Banbi, not the band. Wang Banbi knew he desperately needed this opportunity, but he also didn't want to leave his bandmates. For two months, Wang Banbi tried countless methods, all to no avail. He had a meal with the band members and then left the band.

This incident became a topic of much discussion among outsiders, but Wang Banbi never truly let it go; he was always someone who struggled with himself. Perhaps a statement made years later by the band's guitarist, Long Long, offered some solace to Wang Banbi. Long Long said, "Before that, our entire band was already in a bad state; I even stopped enjoying rehearsals." His musical philosophies diverged increasingly from Wang Banbi's; he had become enamored with the freer world of jazz and lost interest in songs and performances with fixed formulas.

“He felt that I wasn’t putting all my energy into No. 43 Baojia Street. At that time, I was already doing some jazz performances outside, and my playing style was different from before. It became more unrestrained because that’s how it is after learning jazz.”

The past is like a dream, like a shooting star streaking across the sky.

Years later, on the stage of "I Am a Singer", Wang Banbi and Long Long performed "Gift" together again. When Lao Lang introduced the guest singers after the song, he called them "Wang Banbi, the former lead singer of No. 43 Baojia Street" and "Long Long, the former lead guitarist of No. 43 Baojia Street". At that moment, the smiles in the eyes of the two men were the same as they had twenty years ago.

Wang Banbi and Long Long planned to set off at dusk and hitch a ride to a distant place... Later, they were guests on "The Big Band," and almost everyone from Baojia Street was present.

As for Baojia Street, it's all about memories of Beijing.

In those days, boys would ride their bicycles, laughing and joking as they passed through the streets and alleys. Every now and then, they would stand up and pedal a few times to see who could ride the fastest, often startling some old ladies at the corners of the alleys. Occasionally, you could see a boy with a girl on the back, riding away amidst envious glances. The boy would be full of pride, but his palms, gripping the handlebars, would be sweaty.

These scenes, which often appear in movies, did not exist in Wang Banbi's childhood. While other children were playing marbles, hide-and-seek, and laughing and playing, he was practicing the piano in his room.

Wang Banbi's father was a trombone player in the Navy's cultural troupe. When Wang Banbi was five years old, he was given a violin. Knowing nothing about it, he never imagined that for the next ten years or so, he would never put down the violin. The children playing in the naval compound came and went, but he stood like a statue in his room. Sometimes he would gaze absently out the window, then come back to his senses and continue playing.

Wang Banbi's obedience brought great joy to his parents. He attended the Central Conservatory of Music's affiliated primary school and middle school, and finally entered the Central Conservatory of Music. Naturally, he became an outstanding violinist, participating in national competitions and winning second place. He also toured with the school orchestra in more than 20 European countries.

But some people's lives are full of drama. Wang Banbi, who was quiet, shy and obedient since childhood, suddenly overturned his image as a good boy after he turned twenty.

On an ordinary day, a song drifted into his ears: "I kept asking when you would come with me, but you always laughed at me, saying I had nothing..."

Great things often start by chance. He learned that this kind of music was called rock and roll, and then one day, he heard "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan.

But when he excitedly told his parents that he wanted to pursue rock music, his father completely rejected the idea. At that time, in many people's eyes, rock music represented slovenliness, decadence, and indulgence. You want to give up a respectable job to pursue rock music with weird hair?
Wang Banbi, having returned empty-handed, did not compromise, nor would he. He recalled those days and nights when the children obediently practiced the piano, and the children running and playing in the courtyard.

He felt that this time he had to do what he wanted to do, and he absolutely had to. A very small number of coincidences can often change the trajectory of a life. Those small sparks that originated from the unseen world and were not originally yours can usually burn incessantly and eventually become a vast sea of ​​fire.

Wang Banbi was straightforward: if you won't let me do it, then I'll do it secretly. During the day, I wear a formal suit and am a refined violinist. At night, I make my rock music. After going through many hardships, he finally formed a band at school, and the name was also very rock-and-roll: "No. 43 Baojia Street," the address of the Central Conservatory of Music.

The days went by in a repetitive cycle, but the young man grew increasingly exhausted. Working during the day and rehearsing at night, he realized he was doing two extreme things: being refined and rebellious, having no choice and refusing to compromise—all opposing forces. He could no longer bear the inner torment and simply resigned, even though he was about to become the associate principal violinist, earning seven or eight thousand yuan a month.

When his father learned of his resignation, he was furious and kicked him out of the house. The money the band earned wasn't even enough to pay his rent. He lived in a basement without heating in the winter, where the water in the basin on the floor had frozen. He wrapped himself in several blankets while writing songs, jotting down his inspirations on paper and riding his bicycle to meet with the band members to discuss rehearsals.

During those difficult days, Wang Banbi gritted his teeth and persevered. He felt that he was not bad, he just lacked an opportunity.

Finally, in 97, No. 43 Baojia Street signed with Jingwen Records, becoming an artist under the same company as rock singers such as Cui Jian, Luo Qi, and Tang Dynasty, and also released an album, "No. 43 Baojia Street".

Their fame in the BJ rock scene was growing. Back then, if you walked down the corridor of a university dormitory, you would definitely see young people holding guitars, shaking their heads and shouting: "I feel a little lonely now, a sad self, a little heartbroken, no love and no savings..."

This is almost identical to Liu Yao's current situation, perhaps the biggest difference being that Sister Yao is still single. Then, Bian Lang, in a less dramatic way, pulled her back into this world.
Then there's the "In the Spring" ban incident. It's all over now, there's nothing more to explain. Those people who say things like "Wang Banbi, you should thank Rising Sun Gang for making your song famous" and "I wouldn't even know who Wang Banbi is without Rising Sun Gang" only exist in the comment sections of news apps like Toutiao.

The matter is quite simple. A video of Rising Sun singing "Springtime" went viral online, and Wang Banbi saw it and was deeply moved, inviting them to his concert. Later, Rising Sun performed on the Spring Festival Gala, and Wang Banbi agreed to let them sing his works there. When they won the finals of "Avenue of Stars," the program invited Wang Banbi to perform, but he refused, feeling it was inappropriate. Why was he ultimately banned from performing?
Once Xu Ri Yang Gang gained fame and money, they were no longer just two migrant workers. They frantically took on commercial performances, singing "In the Spring" endlessly, and making a fortune, but they never mentioned the copyright issue. Indeed, it was such a simple matter, yet Wang Banbi was criticized for a long time back then.

Thinking of this, Bian Lang thought of Cole, who had already been signed by CAA. If the same thing happened in the United States, Bian Lang would show no mercy.

(End of this chapter)