The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 1468: Elegance and Vulgarity
The singing has ended.

However, the melody and its aftertaste still linger in my heart, shocking me and causing ripples.

So simple, just a piano and a voice; yet so majestic and so rich, layer after layer, until your scalp is completely numb.

Is this a folk song? Or a pop song?
But does it matter?
The type of music is never important, what matters is the music and the emotions hidden in it, and the resonance and power they evoke.

The room was a little quiet.

Mike and Dustin are well-informed and neither of them is a rookie; but at this moment they are still uncontrollably caught in the storm.

Distracted and distraught, he just sat there in a daze.

No sound can be made.

Like a fool.

Music is music. The chemical reaction between notes and lyrics is one thing, and the graceful and appropriate singing is another.

There is no doubt that this is worthy of recognition; but considering the sudden emergence of "Wake Me Up", Mike and Dustin would not have such an attitude.

What is really shocking is that Anson once again shows a new look.

Here, we don't mean to look down on Anson, not at all, on the contrary, it is a compliment; but no one can deny that the emergence of "Midsummer Midnight" is more due to innovation.

Miles' cello undoubtedly plays a key role, and there is also the fusion of multiple instruments in songs such as "Ho Hey" and "Long Live Life" -

As in Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Every era has its own subversion and innovation. These music and creations appear with a kind attitude of breaking rules and traditions. People’s first reaction is instinctive rejection; however, once accepted, the uniqueness brought by the freshness and innovation can easily destroy all cognition.

Therefore, they worship him and even deify him.

Innovation is indeed a feat.

But at the same time, amidst all the praise, there is inevitably another point of view: the so-called innovation is not as good as being unable to win in the position of tradition, classics, and the right way, so choosing unconventional ways, unconventional doors, and shortcuts to achieve breakthroughs in a pleasing way is not a real skill worthy of recognition.

Anson?

An actor, and a mere vase at that, whose so-called musical talent is exaggerated, Anson still relies on gimmicks. He needs to use a variety of instruments, fancy arrangements and gimmicky performances to play to his strengths, which is the same as Anson's film works:
Publicity. Marketing. Momentum.

Rather than saying that Anson is a genius, it is better to say that Anson is an excellent product manager. He knows how to package himself and how to package products. Most importantly, Anson knows how to position and promote. This is the key to Anson's success so far.

It's just a business operation.

This is true for actors and singers alike.

The above statement exists objectively.

Although it is not mainstream, in the eyes of some high-level Hollywood executives and professionals, this is the case.

No disdain meant.

The point is, the success of Tom Cruise and Will Smith all follows this pattern, and Anson's rise to the top also follows the same rules.

Therefore, true professionals admire Anson's success very much, but they will not deify Anson, let alone worship him.

To some extent, Mike and Dustin agree with some and disagree with others. In their opinion, Anson is indeed talented, and the music of "Midsummer Midnight" is not simply "patchwork, gimmick". People who really understand music know that innovation is not that simple. Apart from other things, before meeting Anson, Miles and his friends had studied for several years, trying to integrate cello into rock music, but they never succeeded. This is direct evidence.

But from another perspective, Mike and Dustin also believe that this is what Anson is good at and this is where Anson's talent lies, so Anson should continue this path. When he transitions from a band to an individual, he will continue to explore on this path, and the use of musical instruments should be the focus.

However, they were wrong.

So far, the three songs played by Anson have all been about stripping away the complexity, reducing the effects of instruments and arrangements as much as possible, and returning to the instruments themselves; and also simplifying the instruments as much as possible, and then through the collision of singing and melody, trying to make the audience seek resonance from the lyrics.

Both of them are professionals, and they can immediately sense Anson's intention:

Lyrics are crucial.

Or to put it another way, the resonance created by the lyrics and notes is the key point.

This was definitely something they had not expected. Who could have thought that Anson's personal music would take such a direction? If the first two songs were still unclear, the power conveyed by the third song was convincing enough. This was what really shocked Mike and Dustin.

Most importantly, now they finally understand Anson's creative style.

Genre is not the point; pop, folk, rhythm and blues are all included to a greater or lesser extent, just like the music of the band August 31st.

The melody, the lyrics, the emotion, these are it.

Moreover, Anson is not prepared to explore the music on an artistic level, as he did with The Beatles' "White Album" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Anson still has not lost the delicacy and sincerity that awakened the resonance of the market, and even on the basis of "Midsummer Midnight", it is more approachable.

Music can be elegant or vulgar, and it can be appreciated by both the elite and the masses. After stripping away all the fancy gimmicks, the music seems to be able to truly touch the soul, allowing the audience to seek a moment of peace in the night after a tiring day of busyness and noise, listening to the melody and the voice of the heart, and the soul can find a place to rest.

At this moment, after calming down a little, the two songs that Anson had played before came back to my mind. The delicate and rich emotions lingered on the tip of my tongue, and the quiet and elegant melody actually awakened in my mind.

Originally, they disliked those melodies as being decadent, but now it seems that they are the frogs in the well.

But why didn't Anson play this song at the beginning?

Whether it is the melody, the lyrics, or the climax arrangement of the chorus, this song fully demonstrates Anson's accomplishments as a musician——

Just like “Wake Me Up”, it packs a punch that not only impresses but also lingers, ensuring that no listener will forget his presence.

After a slight pause, Mike realized what was going on:

I'm afraid that's what Anson is aiming for.

As a solo singer, after leaving the band's creative form, Anson is not without ideas about his own musical form and path.

Anson is ready to return to basics, explore the resonance of instruments and notes, and use lyrics as a bridge to establish connections between different souls. The listeners will not only look up to the performer, but also use the music as an opportunity to enter their own world and explore the ups and downs and ravines deep in their souls.

Music can transcend all kinds of boundaries, including race, gender, age, culture, language, etc., and find the same feedback in different people.

Ultimately it's because of its melody, its rhythm and its emotion.

Anson, prepare to return to the starting point.

(End of this chapter)