Hills.
From the song title, not much meaning could be discerned.
However, seeing Dark Night Rabbit sitting on stage with a guitar.
Many audience members speculated if this was a folk song?
After all, folk songs were at a disadvantage on this stage. By this point, everyone was competing with high notes and creating on-stage impact. Folk melodies were gentle and it was hard for them to ignite the crowd.
The prelude was very soothing. The guitar sound was like the sunset casting its glow upon the earth, giving people a feeling of faint warmth, yet also an ineffable sense of loneliness.
The prelude was long. Dark Night Rabbit's fingers flew, striking clear notes. When his fingers switched chords, the unique string-pulling sound of the guitar calmed everyone's hearts without them realizing it. Da Feng Novel Network
"There's still so much I want to say but haven't,
Saved because I want to write them into a song,
So people can sing them softly, remember them faintly,
Even if I finally forget, it's still worth it..."
A very different timbre.
Completely different from the Dark Night Rabbit of the past.
The person sitting in the center of the stage, playing and singing, seemed like someone else entirely, an old man over sixty years old.
Hoarse and deep.
As a producer, the happiest thing was naturally hearing others sing the songs he wrote.
Even at Mo Yan's current status, it was still the same.
This song, "Hills," was composed by Li Zongsheng over ten years.
Those ten years were also a period of turbulent fate and frequent insights.
In fact, Mo Yan was in a similar state, the only difference being the time.
And these years, although Mo Yan lived well, he was still only accompanied by Shen Jinghong.
The loneliness in his heart was known only to himself.
The camera zoomed in on Mo Yan.
Seeing the fatigue in his eyes, the scolding comments in the bullet messages gradually decreased.
Mo Yan naturally noticed the camera. He didn't interact with it but kept his eyes on Dark Night Rabbit on stage, his lips slightly pursed, his expression somewhat complex.
At that moment, he was moved and told Ting Yu about these experiences, never expecting him to write a song so quickly.
Even the first few lines had already drawn him in, unable to break free.
"Perhaps my lifelong drops of thought,
By chance gathered into a river.
Then we, each on our own end, gaze at the winding river,
Finally daring to be bold, facing life's difficulties with a smile..."
Captivated.
Just two verses.
The negative emotions were swept away.
The glow sticks in everyone's hands stopped waving, and a contemplative expression appeared on all their faces.
Especially the final line, sung like a sigh, "Facing life's difficulties with a smile."
Life is like a journey.
Everyone knows that to make this journey wonderful, one must face tomorrow with a smile.
But who can truly achieve this?
"These lyrics are so evocative!"
"This song, seemingly simple and told in a gentle manner, carries a profound realization about life within its melody."
"I thought Ting Yu would write a song to refute those critics, but he wrote a song about life instead. I must say, this is very much like Ting Yu."
"Listening to the song, and then looking at Teacher Mo Yan's slightly aged face under the camera, it's so impactful. It makes me want to do one thing..."
"Brother, do you want a cigarette?"
"Hahaha, does everyone feel the same?"
Some songs are like a bottle of mellow, fragrant old wine; after savoring it, one can temporarily forget their troubles.
And some songs are like a cigarette in a busy life; although bitter, they can evoke memories of the past.
And this song, "Hills," clearly falls into the second category.
It doesn't make you forget your troubles.
Instead, it makes you recall the past and savor its bitterness.
...
"Perhaps we've never matured,
Not yet understanding, and soon to be old,
Even though the young person within is still alive,
Looking back frequently due to anxiety,
Seeking blindly, ashamed to ask for help,
Tirelessly crossing, every hill..."
The entire song, the front part, was Dark Night Rabbit playing and singing.
Without any accompaniment.
Only the sound of a guitar, paired with his weathered voice.
Likewise, his singing style surprised countless people.
It wasn't like singing, but like telling a story.
And the story was none other than his life.
"Over the hill, though my hair has turned white,
Chattering endlessly, the sorrow of time slipping away,
Before I could witness immortality, I lost myself..."
Upon hearing this.
Mo Yan directly stood up.
A look of deep confusion on his face.
This lyric truly resonated with him.
His life had seen too many peaks and valleys, but in his youth, he had the drive. Even when he hit a low, he persisted and pushed through.
At his current age, he didn't want to be so tired anymore.
Seeking too much in life is indeed exhausting, and when it all amounts to nothing, one realizes that the most precious thing is the person right in front of you.
"Ting Yu understands me!"
Mo Yan smiled.
After being embroiled in public opinion for so long, he had maintained a poker face. Today, it was as if he had a sudden epiphany, or perhaps he was touched by the song; a smile graced his lips.
And the颓废 (tuífèi - decadent/dejected) aura that had been with him gradually disappeared, replaced by the incredibly confident feeling he once had.
"Over the hill, only to find no one waiting,
Chattering endlessly, the tenderness can never be recalled,
Why can't I remember who gave me the last embrace,
And when it was..."
Without any pause.
After the chorus was sung.
He directly transitioned into the second verse.
And what was surprising was.
His narrative singing style became even more pronounced in the later part.
"I didn't deliberately hide it, nor do I intend to make you sad,
How many times we celebrated without getting drunk,
Cursing that life is too short, sighing that we met too late,
Making women cry their makeup off, and not caring..."
Different from all previous live performances.
From the moment the song's prelude began.
The audience remained silent for several minutes.
Within this audience, two emotions were present.
The older audience members bowed their heads, various memories flashing through their minds.
The younger ones tilted their heads, with an expression of partial understanding.
Because they simply couldn't grasp the feeling behind the lyric, "life is too short."
Then, everyone noticed.
After entering the second verse.
Dark Night Rabbit's speaking-while-singing feel became even stronger.
"Is this... is this considered off-key?"
"No, because this is a new singing style. At first, it felt a bit strange, but listening to it now, there's an inexplicable sense of emotion."
"Judging by the song's progression, there likely won't be any high notes. Is he fulfilling his previous statement that in Chinese songs, what matters is the lyrics and the emotional delivery, not how high the notes are?"
"It's just unbelievable. To demonstrate this concept, he's even incorporated speaking into the song..."
"Hasn't this gone beyond the scope of singing? Are there any knowledgeable people who can explain this?"
"Who the heck knows about this kind of professionalism? It's possible Dark Night Rabbit just wanted to sing a bit and speak a bit. We'll know when Teacher Mo Yan gives his review later."
"Regardless, I think I understand the meaning of his words now. Singing skill isn't just about high notes. Songs are about conveying emotion. Being able to tell a story and touch the listener is far better than screaming high notes until your heart breaks!"
"Exactly. Listening to his singing style, I can also feel the realization about life in this song!"
This singing style.
Had never appeared in the Chinese music scene.
When people sing, they strive to sing well with melody.
And they are very strict about it; being off-key is a sign of poor skill. This is how many people perceive music.
But Dark Night Rabbit this time, directly came up with a "spoken song." That's right, he sang a bit and then spoke a bit.
Do you call this off-key?
Of course not.
But he was indeed speaking.
And he spoke more beautifully than he sang.