Huayu 1992: Starting with the CCTV Young Singers Competition

Chapter 90 Living Up to Our Youth!

The song reached its final climax.

The massive symphony orchestra held nothing back, unleashing a deafening roar in full ensemble, with timpani striking the pulse of the times and brass instruments playing the backbone of the nation.

At the very peak of this musical torrent, Lin Hanjiang's voice, like an eagle spreading its wings against the wind, soared once more sharply, piercing through the barriers of all instruments, clear and firm, brimming with boundless vitality:

[Youth is unique, youth is wild—]

Almost simultaneously, on the stage, the children's recitation group, who had been prepared all along, began to speak in unison.

That child's voice, still clear and innocent yet full of youthful energy, formed a wonderful polyphony with Lin Hanjiang's soaring singing in an almost solemn tone:

My heart shines like the blazing sun, radiating boundless light.

No matter the difficulties, I will overcome them.

Today, I am the only young man.

The children's clear voices accentuated the depth of Lin Hanjiang's singing.

The resounding rhythm of classical Chinese texts blends seamlessly with the majestic grandeur of modern symphonic music.

This is not just a simple accompaniment or embellishment; it is a dialogue between two eras, a young shoulder bearing the heavy responsibility of history, and a youthful spirit echoing a thousand-year-old cultural heritage.

Below the stage, the dark mass of audience members seemed to be struck by an invisible electric current.

Especially in the area for recent graduates, those young students who are about to leave the ivory tower and go to all corners of the country.

When they heard "Today, only we, the young men, stand up," someone was the first to stand up, followed by the second, the third—like waves of wheat swaying in the wind, one after another, young figures suddenly rose to their feet!

They were no longer just listeners; they became part of this magnificent soundscape. Many clenched their fists, their eyes welled up with tears, and, following the stirring melody and recitation on stage, joined in with all their might:

The sky is high and the sea is vast, stretching for thousands of miles.

[Chinese youth, full of spirit]

Strive hard to become a pillar of society.

The voices of thousands of young people came together, and although they were not as well-organized as a professional choir, they possessed a primal and awe-inspiring power.

That's youth itself shouting, ideals roaring.

The entire concert hall trembled slightly at the sound of these young voices.

Just as the lingering resonance of the mass chanting faded, all the accompaniment and chorus abruptly ceased, leaving only a spotlight fixed firmly on the tall figure in the center of the stage.

Lin Hanjiang took a deep breath and poured all his emotions, all his hopes, and all his sense of responsibility as a youth of this era into the final line of his solo.

Strive hard to become a pillar of society.

His voice was mellow and warm, like the earnest advice of an elder, or the resolute vow of his own heart.

Then, his breath rose again, and his emotions reached their peak.

Live up to your youthful days—

For the last word "few," he used near-perfect head resonance and breath control.

The drawn-out sound soared straight to the heavens.

The sound hovered steadily at its highest point for a moment, then, like a feather ascending to heaven, gradually receded and dissipated under ultimate control.

The symphony orchestra's final, brilliant, and resolute chord, like the tolling of a giant bell, stamped the "Youthful Spirit" with the mark of history.

Then, the music and singing fell silent.

Absolute silence.

Time seemed to stretch out.

One second, two seconds — On stage, Lin Hanjiang maintained the posture of finishing his performance, tilting his head slightly back, his chest rising and falling.

Below the stage, all the audience members, whether standing or sitting, seemed to be frozen in place, forgetting their movements.

The overwhelming emotional impact I just experienced was too intense; I need these few seconds of absolute silence to process it.

then.

"Snapped!"

From some unknown corner, the first, solitary clapping sounded.

It was like lighting a fuse.

"Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Applause is no longer a procedural courtesy, nor is it a joyful expression after appreciating art. Instead, it is like a volcano that has accumulated power for millions of years, which is completely ignited at this moment.

It erupted with a deafening roar, without any reservations!

"Good!" someone shouted at the top of their lungs.

"marvelous!"

"amazing!"

More cheers and applause mingled with the deafening applause.

Everyone stand up!

Whether they were excited graduates, parents with tears in their eyes, or college leaders, representatives of various art troupes, and veterans of the arts in the front row who were used to big occasions, without exception, they all stood up.

Applaud vigorously at the young man in the center of the stage.

Many parents clapped while constantly wiping away tears with their sleeves.

Those tears contained the joy of seeing their children succeed, and even more so, the boundless aspirations stirred by the song.

Who hasn't had youthful dreams?

"Old Jin, Old Jin, your student is amazing!"

Fan, the dean of the China Conservatory of Music, was so excited that his face turned red. He clapped vigorously and turned to Jin Tielin, who was sitting next to him, and said loudly. His voice was almost indistinct in the wave of applause.

Jin Tielin did not respond immediately; he was also clapping.

But his movements were somewhat slow, and his facial expression was extremely complex, showing relief, pride, shock, as well as a deep sense of emotion and indescribable感慨.

Looking at his radiant disciple on the stage, he felt as if he were seeing a certain artistic ideal that he had pursued all his life, presented in a way that he had not fully anticipated yet was incredibly brilliant.

In the end, he simply nodded heavily, conveying a thousand words in that nod.

Lin Hanjiang was more outstanding than he had imagined.

Even if they don't become famous in folk singing, they should still have a place in future pop songs.

The leaders of the various performing arts troupes had long since put aside their previous curiosity and were exchanging shocked glances.

"The General Political Department is really going to regret this," the head of the Naval Political Department's Cultural Troupe sighed to his colleague from the Air Force Political Department.

"It's not just the General Political Department." The one from the Air Force Political Department shook his head, his eyes fixed on the stage. "This kind of work, this kind of performance, has transcended the realm of simply singing well. It has created a new paradigm of expression, with the structure of classical Chinese, the flesh and blood of modern symphony, and the spirit of youth. This is a work that can represent the voice of a generation of young people. This Lin Hanjiang, his stage will probably not be limited to any of our troupes."

"I heard he declined the General Political Department's formal invitation?"

"He declined the invitation, but he didn't refuse to cooperate. Look at tonight, look at this scene. This kid has something up his sleeve."

Their conversation was drowned out by applause, but the importance and evaluation in their eyes had already been elevated to an unprecedented strategic level.

However, since Li Guyi had already given prior notice, no one would extend an invitation to Lin Hanjiang.

Even if he produces better works, or even if a higher-level leader comes, it will be to no avail.

This is someone they can no longer touch.

Let's think about how to snatch Zu Hai away after he graduates.

On the side of the stage, Zhou Tao, who was the host of the evening's performance, had already forgotten her lines for the next segment.

She gazed at Lin Hanjiang on the stage, bathed in applause and lights, and at the sea of ​​cheers below, her eyes sparkling with wonder, her heart pounding.

As a reporter and host for Beijing TV, she is more sensitive to the pulse of public opinion than most people.

The excitement surrounding the CCTV Young Singers Competition has not yet faded, and songs like "The Story of Spring" and "Entering the New Era" are still being sung.

The spiritual impact and topicality brought about by tonight's rendition of "Ode to Young China" will surely sweep across the world in an even more powerful way.

This is not just another great song, but also represents the aspirations of a group of ambitious young people for the future.

The only drawback is that it's not mainstream enough.

Those who understand lyrics are certainly not illiterate.

So even if it spreads among college students like them, it won't be very popular.

On stage, waves of applause and cheers surged and crashed against our eardrums.

Lin Hanjiang slowly put down the microphone and bowed slightly.

He could hear scattered but clear discussions from below the stage: "Dad, that older brother's singing gave me goosebumps! I want to be a pillar of society when I grow up!" a little boy being held by his father shouted excitedly.

"Old Li, did you hear that? 'Live up to your youth!' Our son is graduating this year too. If he can have even half of that ambition, I'll be burning incense in gratitude," a parent said to his partner.

"This is the charm of creative talent; this is the direction our music academy should be taking in cultivating students," a professor from the music education department excitedly told his colleagues.

"Incredible! The younger generation is truly remarkable. The arrangement of this song, the combination of its ideological and artistic aspects, is exemplary," a senior figure in the arts and culture world with a full head of white hair exclaimed repeatedly.

Praises poured in from all directions.

Lin Hanjiang stood in the center of the halo, feeling the unprecedentedly enthusiastic response from the school's teachers and students.

He succeeded; he not only successfully performed a piece of music, but also successfully infused this spirit into this era.

Live up to your youth!