Respawn Entertainment: Days of Glory

Chapter 977 A new beginning

In South Asia, Bian Lang ultimately just sang "Summer Finale" one more time for the audience. Thinking about his past on Earth, he broke down in tears and his voice cracked during the final chorus.

The rock music fans at the scene were also moved to tears, as if they were saying a unique farewell to this season of "The Big Band".

Liu Zhizhi nestled in Yang Kai's arms, crying like a little kitten. After a long while, she muttered, "Bian Lang must be heartbroken right now, right? He put together such a great show, and in the end, he couldn't even show his face on the final stage... If it were me..."

Yang Kai patted her head and said in a helpless tone, "There's nothing we can do. Idealists always have to be taught a lesson by reality. But with the support of us fans, I believe he'll get better soon. Let's go downstairs and see if we can get a photo together..."

Liu Zhizhi shook her head and said, "There are too many people, I can't squeeze in. Let's just bump into him at the Rolling Stones Music Festival. Although he can't go on stage, I reckon he'll definitely be there."

Meanwhile, at the other end of the second floor, a livestreamer on Douyin (TikTok) switched his camera back to the front, pointing it at the table full of food he was eating. After showing his face, he started grumbling: "Ugh, what is this singing? It's like everyone owes him something, even shedding tears to gain favor. It's so noisy and disturbs my meal... Come on, guys, let's continue, let's see what this so-called Yunnan-style hot pot tastes like..."

This food streamer didn't originally intend to ride the coattails of Bianlang's popularity; she just occasionally turned the camera to the big screen during her live stream. But who knew that after Bianlang appeared, a large number of people inexplicably flooded into her live stream, asking her to stream Bianlang.

At first she was quite reluctant, but she gave in because of the tip.

I probably only said those words after the big spender who gave me the tip left, but who would have thought there were still rock music fans here who hadn't left and were recording the whole time.

Within minutes, two extremely different situations emerged in her live stream. On one hand, an unknown big spender was showering her with virtual gifts: "I just don't like these rock musicians. On this day of national celebration, can't they sing some cheerful songs?"

On the other side were the rock music fans, who launched a barrage of sarcastic remarks. He was originally just a mid-tier streamer with decent viewership, but this sudden surge propelled him to the top of the trending charts.

Although she didn't know why, she knew she was about to become famous. If she could capitalize on this surge in popularity, her livestreaming fees would skyrocket. As for which side to choose, well, she'd side with whoever was donating, since she didn't like rock music anyway.

Therefore, she unleashed all her lifelong skill of cursing without using foul language, launching indiscriminate attacks directly at Bian Lang and rock music fans.

As for rock music fans, they were already furious and couldn't possibly tolerate this:

"You're all about whoever feeds you, right? Why didn't you refuse when that big brother tipped you and let you stream while you were having fun?"

"Anyone who hires a two-faced streamer like you for promotion is unlucky. You praise someone when you're paid today, but you start making sarcastic remarks when you're not paid tomorrow, is that it?"

This streamer has the kind of personality that gets carried away and goes wild. The more people are cursing in the live stream, the better she seems to be: "Is it any of your business? I'm not taking this wave today. Anyway, the tips I've already given are enough for me to splurge for a while. I just can't bring myself to recommend this bland and uninspired way of eating to my family in the live stream."

"So what if I can't stand you rock musicians? You actually dare to challenge my idol Liu Xingwu, what is Bian Lang anyway..."

Just as she was about to continue her passionate encounter, Liu Zhizhi, who had been eavesdropping for a while, couldn't stand it anymore and went straight to the boss.

Yang Kai was even more direct, walking right up to the stage and shouting, "Rock and roll will never die! The Big Band is awesome! Long live the Rolling Stones!"

Before the streamer could even process what was happening, the store manager arrived. Less than a minute later, the live stream ended with a series of action-movie-like scenes…

The accounts that just gave the most generous tips were all controlled by the same team. As soon as the live stream was cut off, the person in charge sighed, "What a pity. Yunnan Province is indeed the lead singer of Bianlang. If they want to make a bigger splash, they really can only go to those outspoken big V's."

The entire team, employed by an unidentified MSN boss, was focused on discrediting "The Big Band" and "The Summer of Music." The bigger the commotion, the hefty the bonus from the client. They realized the recent incident had potential after a rock fan shared a screen recording, so they immediately logged in to provide support to the streamer. But who would have thought…

But this isn't over yet!

Bian Lang, after singing a song, didn't leave immediately. He played with Luo Lin, Ma Yuan, and the dancing team in the square for a while before taking advantage of the chaos to return to Rolling Stone LAB.

As soon as he entered, Lao Tan reported the situation in Shanghai to Bian Lang: "Our Blueberry's art manager took Lao Zhao and the others to drink with Lao Yao. The matter is basically settled."

When Bian Lang gave a weak "hmm," Lao Tan sensed something was wrong: "What's wrong? You've been so energetic all year, what could have happened to make you so down?"

Before Bian Lang could speak, Luo Lin interjected, "Now that 'The Big Band' is over, I feel a little empty inside!"

Hearing this, Lao Tan felt a little uneasy. However, his disappointment only lasted a moment before he pulled out his phone and showed it to Bian Lang: "Look, 'The Big Band' has a rating of 8.6! It's definitely going to be the highest-rated variety show this year! Keep up the good work next year, and try to..."

Upon hearing the 8.6 rating, Bian Lang's mood immediately improved. He remembered that the original "The Big Band" from Earth had a rating that was very close to 9, and it was shortlisted for Douban's "Highest-Rated Domestic Variety Show of 19." The first season was not only a variety show that achieved both critical acclaim and high viewership, but it also became a benchmark program for band culture. It opened up the public's understanding and love for independent music through the format of a variety show. Looking back at the first season of "The Big Band" from today's perspective, its greatest significance lies in bringing bands back into the mainstream spotlight on a large scale. The public heard voices beyond commercialization and saw musical content and performance styles that were different from the past.

This is, of course, one of Bian Lang's original intentions for organizing The Summer of Music on Aquamarine Star, beyond his obsession.

The original "The Big Band" was suspended for two years after its second season. During those two years, even the rock music fans and bands who had criticized it the most began to miss "The Big Band".

Looking back at the current situations of those bands, you'll see how much "The Big Band" changed the band landscape.

Before participating in the show, New Pants was already a band capable of holding their own at music festivals. After the show, with millions of fans, they became the biggest winner on the Big Band stage. Even Re-TROS, who later won the second season, couldn't match the buzz generated by New Pants. As Hua Dong said, Re-TROS's music has a certain barrier to entry, which is why this book hasn't touched on their songs yet—it's simply impossible to know where to begin!
New Pants has repeatedly graced the stages of popular variety shows and become a guest performer at major events, receiving a constant stream of commercial advertisements and media reports. And even two years later, New Pants' celebration continues. After their meteoric rise to fame, they continue to release new albums, wanting to use their music to prove that the band hasn't changed; they are still the same New Pants they were 25 years ago.

However, the new album was not well-received by the public. Even the promotion of offering New Pants albums for just one yuan failed to garner much praise. The album "Love Radio Airplane" received a score of 5.7 on Douban, becoming the lowest-rated album of all their works. Yet, "Summer Finale" happens to be a track from this album.

At the time, there were both pessimists and supporters within Modern Band. But in summary, in the two years fueled by popularity, New Pants had already stepped into the entertainment industry, but for longtime fans of New Pants, the expectations were perhaps much higher.

As for Painkiller, who are returning to the fold for the second time, their actions, such as "donating one million yuan during the pandemic" and "using the proceeds from their new album 'Crossing the Sea' to support projects for people with depression and to help musicians," have garnered praise and shares from countless industry professionals and musicians. As senior figures in the industry, they are not only role models but also inspire more young musicians to believe in the power and hope of music.

Looking back at their new album "Crossing the Sea," this veteran rock band has created an electronic music album. This album purely represents the rock musicians' naive exploration and attempt in a field they are not good at. It is also an unusual breakthrough and attempt for them as veteran rock musicians. Whether from the perspective of sound or production, this work has not disappointed the listeners.

Moreover, this hardcore band did not continue to capitalize on the popularity generated by online traffic; they remained active in livehouses and music festivals, areas familiar to bands and fans.

Looking at Reflector, from the very beginning when they were invited to The Big Band, Reflector expressed that they were "not interested in variety shows and had many concerns." Throughout the show, they maintained a laid-back attitude, so even though they were eliminated halfway through the competition, they didn't capitalize on their popularity to release more songs or do commercial performances.

While maintaining regular performances, they continue to gain a large following of young fans who love punk. It's safe to say that whenever Reflector's music plays, people will still be drawn to their charm and joy.

The band Travel, formed many years ago, gained more exposure and resources after their journey on The Big Band. Although they almost disbanded after the tour, they eventually appeared in the challenge round of Singer 2020, bringing their pure band culture and spirit to a bigger stage and conveying their voice to more people.

As one of the oldest participating bands in the first season, The Faces remained remarkably low-key both on and off the show. However, they remain regulars at major music festivals, and their solo tours continue. Formed in 1989, this 32-year-old band is still as youthful as ever.

Having mentioned the established bands, let's also take a look at the newer ones.

Nine Treasures, a band that's neither "serious" nor "professional," became the biggest dark horse in the independent music scene in the summer of 19. From their debut until now, they have been growing and progressing under everyone's attention. From becoming a regular guest at major music festivals after the show, to releasing their first full-length album "Amin" last year, and then to this year's tour, their popularity, which started with The Big Band, has continued to this day.

Although opinions on the band's debut album are mixed, the sharp edge they once possessed can still be seen in this young band.

Sisi and Fan, like Nine Treasures, sing in dialect, but possess a unique and vibrant quality. Their clear and pure voices sing of beautiful fantasies, and their debut on The Big Band amazed countless viewers. Since the show ended, their Weibo followers have grown to 22. From their initial awkwardness on stage to their current confidence, their growth continues.

Click#15, a funk band with both good looks and talent, has been attracting attention since their debut on The Big Band. Eliminated and resurrected throughout their journey to the HOT5, the band has undergone tremendous changes over the past two years, from obscurity to overnight fame, and then to the departure of keyboardist Yang Ce.

Penicillin has been embroiled in controversy since Da Zhangwei asked them on a TV show, "Has anyone said you guys are pretentious?" The show was full of talking points, and afterwards, several trending topics emerged, including allegations of plagiarism by the band Xiao Le and conflicts with performance venues. Despite all this, Penicillin's popularity remains unaffected. They continue to perform at commercial events and participate in music variety shows, and this highly popular young band remains active in the public eye.

Furthermore, Bian Lang knows that Xiao Le is the same person both on and off the show; whether he's faking it or not is up to you to decide. As for his ex-girlfriend, let's not talk about her…

There are also four Taiwanese groups whose situation is indeed a bit special. After "The Big Band", they seem to be in the same state as before they came.

Cosmos People, the most well-known band among the participating Taiwanese groups, had a disappointing performance on The Big Band. Whether it was their mainland tour after the show, their first concert at the Taipei Arena, or their online live concert at the beginning of the year, every performance they gave was full of sincerity.

As always, Wonfu remains highly active on social media, sharing everything, big and small, with their fans, just like their music, which brings joy to everyone at all times.

Mr.Woohoo relied on their superb skills to revive and advance through the competition on the stage of The Big Band, becoming the only Taiwanese band among the top eight. Despite the considerable controversy surrounding them on the show, their subsequent performances in mainland China have already earned them a place in the hearts of music fans.

After watching Mr.Woohoo's live performances more than once, Bian Lang can only say that their failure to make it into the TOP5 is a matter of timing and fate!
After appearing on the show, Queen Suitcase quickly announced their tour, and their subsequent tour shows were all sold out. But after that initial buzz, they seemed to fade into obscurity.

But Bian Lang believes that the biggest contribution of "The Big Band" is that it has made people accept that music should no longer be promoted solely through charts and online traffic. What's even better than charts is live performance.

After thinking it over, Bian Lang immediately took out his phone and called Chen Shuting: "Sister Chen, reply to those cultural companies, the 'Summer of Music' tour is starting..."

(End of this chapter)