RBCT Chapter 63 The First Battle is Ready
Chapter 63 The First Battle is Ready
the next day.
Lin'an, Xiaoyi Culture Recording Studio.
It was nearly 10 p.m., but the shed was still brightly lit.
Wang Bo sat on a high stool, holding a wooden guitar. Opposite him was Chen Mo, whose eyes were wide open like copper bells. On the sofa next to him sat the Su sisters, who had come especially for the occasion.
"Hey Wang Bo," Chen Mo rubbed his hands together, looking impatient, "you said you'd prepared a new song, perfect for opening the competition, and you've been holding it in for days. Come on, play it for us!"
Although Su Xiaoxiao didn't speak, her posture was more upright than usual, and her eyes held scrutiny and expectation.
The great success of "Your Answer" gave her more confidence in Wang Bo's creative abilities, but it also raised her expectations.
The first song in the competition is extremely important.
Su Yiyi sat quietly next to her sister, her gaze gently fixed on Wang Bo, holding a thermos cup in her hands—containing the honey grapefruit tea she had brought.
Wang Bo smiled, didn't say much, just adjusted the position of the guitar slightly and looked down at the strings.
Then, his fingers plucked the first set of chords.
The prelude is simple yet powerful; a few notes create a spacious, longing, and slightly melancholic tone.
Her voice was a bit hoarser than when she sang "Encounter" normally, but it had a penetrating power that struck straight to the heart.
There are no complicated techniques, just the simplest way of speaking, but every word seems to strike the listener's heart.
Chen Mo's forward-leaning body froze, and his eyes widened even further.
Su Xiaoxiao unconsciously straightened her crossed knees and softened her breathing.
Su Yiyi's hand holding the thermos cup tightened slightly.
The imagery of breaking free from constraints and pursuing one's inner desires immediately comes to mind when the second line is uttered.
The melody moves with a sense of unwavering strength, neither too fast nor too slow, yet each step is solid.
Wang Bo was completely immersed in his singing and playing. He closed his eyes slightly, as if he could see the days before he traveled through time, when he struggled, persevered, and finally returned to peace for music.
Those hardships, those passions, and that undying yearning for freedom have all been transformed into melodies flowing from fingertips and lyrics rolling from the throat.
The lyrics and melody gradually unfold, with emotional ups and downs, as if telling the story of the inevitable confusion and low points on the road to discovery.
Wang Bo handled the situation with great restraint, without overemphasizing the sadness, simply stating it calmly, yet accumulating even greater strength within that calmness.
Chen Mo couldn't help but clench his fists, letting out a silent "Damn it."
As a producer, he knows all too well how precious these seemingly simple yet extremely difficult-to-write melodies and lyrics are!
This isn't a love song, nor is it an inspirational slogan; it's an expression of a state of being!
As the chorus approaches, Wang Bo slightly increases the intensity of his strumming.
In the chorus, he used some chest resonance, making his tone open and bright, like a ray of light that suddenly broke through the previous low and hesitant tone.
It wasn't a desperate shout, but a sudden, enlightened declaration—firm, hopeful, and imbued with the calm and vastness that comes after weathering countless storms.
It was just an a cappella performance with a guitar, without any arrangement or accompaniment, but the impact of those few lines of the chorus gave the three people in the recording studio goosebumps instantly.
Su Xiaoxiao let out a long sigh of relief, her slightly furrowed brows relaxing, replaced by an undisguised look of amazement and relief in her eyes.
Steady!
The song's scope, artistic conception, and unique melody are more than enough to support a stunning opening.
She even had a feeling that the spirit of pursuing freedom and transcending the ordinary in this song was purer and more powerful than that in "The You of the Past".
Su Yiyi was completely stunned.
As a music teacher, she is better able to appreciate the song's ingenious structure and the perfect harmony between the lyrics and music from a professional perspective.
But what moved her even more was Wang Bo's immersive state during the performance, as well as the vibrant vitality and indomitable aspirations flowing from the lyrics.
Looking at Wang Bo singing and playing instruments under the lights, she felt that he was shining, a kind of light that came from his heart and could not be faked.
In the final, repeated chorus, Wang Bo's voice became even more engaged, as if he had poured all his emotions into it, completely imprinting the imagery of eternity, purity, and freedom into the melody.
As the song ended, the lingering notes slowly faded away in the quiet recording studio.
There was a full five seconds of silence.
"Clap! Clap! Clap!" Chen Mo was the first to jump up, his face flushed with excitement, clapping his hands so loudly it shook the heavens. "Awesome! Wang Bo, you're a genius! This song is amazing! It's absolutely perfect as your first song on stage. The imagery is incredible—freedom, purity, eternity, transcendence… Damn, how come I can't write lyrics like that!"
Su Xiaoxiao also stood up. Although not as exaggerated as Chen Mo, her face couldn't hide her smile and ease: "Very good, Wang Bo. This song has a lot of texture and power, which is very suitable for the competitive stage. It can instantly grab the ears of the audience and judges. And..."
She paused, then unusually praised him so directly: "The idea is very high-level, and it doesn't fall into clichés."
Wang Bo put down his guitar, took the grapefruit tea that Su Yiyi silently handed him, and took a sip to moisten his throat: "If you think it's good, that's good. I was thinking that the first song should have some attitude and some power."
"More than just a little!" Chen Mo was still pacing excitedly. "I already have ideas for the arrangement. We can add some ethereal wind chimes or electronic effects to the intro to create a sense of space. The guitar will provide the foundation in the verses, and the drum beats should be clean and crisp. The strings can come in during the chorus, but they shouldn't overshadow the vocals. The key is to highlight the vocals..."
He has fully entered work mode.
Su Yiyi looked at Wang Bo and asked softly, "Was the inspiration for this song also from... insights gained from life?"
She remembered that Wang Bo had always given the same answer before.
Wang Bo looked at her: "I guess so. I always feel that there should be a place in a person's heart that is clean, free, and will never wither."
Su Yiyi seemed to understand but not quite, but touched by the sincerity in his eyes, she smiled and nodded.
Su Xiaoxiao checked the time: "Alright, the song is settled, everyone feels relieved. Chen Mo, the arrangement is yours, get to it quickly. Wang Bo, practice your singing these next few days and get yourself into top form. The first recording is a do-or-die situation."
Wang Bo nodded.
After the two sisters left, only Wang Bo and Chen Mo remained in the recording studio.
Chen Mo couldn't wait to sit down at the control panel and start brainstorming music arrangements.
Wang Bo walked to the window and looked at the peaceful night outside, where the city lights were still twinkling.
What is Starlight Media up to?
What kind of challenge will Qin Xiao, the "predetermined champion" whom we have never met, bring?
The competition on this stage may not be that great, but I've heard there are big sponsors or even big sponsors involved, so it's going to be tough.
But it doesn't matter anymore.
What he's concerned about now is whether Zhou Yuji is sleeping soundly under the snow-capped mountain.
Winter seems to be just around the corner.
Wang Bo was somewhat expectant.
Whether it's a competition or someone's promise of a warm bed.