Chapter 2
After the second group finished their performances, it was time for the third group.
The Masked Knight versus Scissors Hand, a substitute singer.
The substitute singers this season were all quite skilled, but none were as stunning as in previous seasons.
Scissors Hand performed a classic foreign rock song, well-known in China. Even those who didn't understand foreign languages were familiar with its melody, and his vocal delivery and pronunciation leaned towards a Western style.
In contrast, the Masked Knight sang a classic love song by Mo Yan, which also elicited a significant response from the audience.
This was his third time reaching the winner's group, yet he had yet to win the Singer King title.
This time, he had a secret weapon. He felt the online analyses were correct: Ting Yu would likely perform two love songs, meaning Night Rabbit would sing two love songs. Thus, he deliberately seized this opportunity to know his opponent's hand and chose a particularly difficult song within the love song genre.
He believed he had mastered Ting Yu's love song style. Whether it was "Gentleman" or the recent "What Else Do You Want From Me," both focused on emotional delivery and relied on live emotional interpretation. His choice was different; it required not only emotion but also exceptionally challenging high notes.
He was confident that the high-note barrage of this song would captivate the entire audience!
At that point, even if Night Rabbit performed at the same level as in "What Else Do You Want From Me," he was confident of winning the Singer King title.
"This time, I will become the Singer King!" The Masked Knight imagined himself on the winner's podium and couldn't help but chuckle, "Heh... heh... *sniffle*..."
...
The Singer King for this episode would be chosen from Black Knight, Masked Knight, and Night Rabbit.
These three were already familiar faces on the show. Black Knight had a unique stage style as a foreign language singer. Masked Knight was powerful and steady. Night Rabbit was miles ahead, having won the Singer King title for three consecutive episodes.
From an achievement standpoint, Night Rabbit was naturally the most impressive.
But who could be sure that the other two hadn't held back their best?
"It seems Night Rabbit's luck isn't great this episode; he always performs first," Black Knight said with a smile.
Generally, the person who performs first had to be more cautious.
They were unsure of the trump cards the other two singers held, leading to anxiety and potential errors. On a stage of this caliber, even a minor mistake could be fatal.
While no one was eliminated from the winner's group, everyone wanted to win the Singer King title this episode.
Therefore, it seemed performing first did put one at a slight disadvantage.
"This is a blessing from heaven! Night Rabbit performing first means I'll have a better understanding of his capabilities after he's done. This episode is definitely in the bag!" Masked Knight also revealed a smile.
Both were extremely pleased.
They seemed to have overlooked the cameras in the lounge.
Interesting moments from the lounge would also be edited into the show.
The host called out Night Rabbit's name.
Su Yu, who had been waiting backstage, stood up and walked towards the stage.
The prop crew reset the piano.
He sat before the piano, just as he had last time.
Piano and strings were always the classic combination for love songs.
And this song, "Can't Learn," was a masterpiece crafted by Lin Junjie using his highly refined classical music knowledge. It was said that Lin Junjie's later works possessed a greater sense of sophistication than his earlier ones, with more academically structured compositions, richer melodic development, meticulously chosen notes, and more refined vocal performances.
This song was a testament to his maturity and an outstanding work.
As Su Yu played the first note,
another beautiful prelude began.
"The prelude is a very important part of a love song. Both songs today are excellent," commented Mo Yan from the judge's panel.
"Teacher Mo Yan is right..." Yin Na, sitting beside Mo Yan, felt obliged to respond, adding casually.
However, whenever Night Rabbit sang, she listened intently, regardless of whether she fully grasped it. She had learned her lesson; it was best not to blabber about things she didn't understand, lest she be severely criticized.
"Your pain, I feel it all,
Wanting to resolve it for you.
Shielding you from gossip, holding your hand tight,
Wanting to rush forward..."
A poignant and delicate voice resonated on stage,
as if offering gentle reassurance to a beloved.
It caused the audience's breathing to calm down.
The stage was bathed in a slightly dim, yellowish light. Su Yu, seated at the piano, projected a sense of solitude that created a visual and auditory impact on the audience.
The melancholic atmosphere instantly took hold.
"I believe love can prove everything,
Being sincere enough will transcend time,
The more you give, the more joy there is,
Letting happiness spread..."
As the performance continued,
the smile beneath the Masked Knight's mask grew brighter backstage.
He realized this love song still followed the mainstream lyrical style and was primarily emotion-driven.
Was it possible that the overall structure of the song was similar to the previous one?
If that were the case,
he had a great chance this episode to surpass Night Rabbit in song choice and win the Singer King title!
"There's hope, great hope!!"
He was so excited he almost jumped, quickly suppressing his inner elation.
He clasped his hands together, praying internally, "Please follow the usual pattern, no more surprises, ugh! Shocks!"
"Always failing to learn to be a little smarter,
Remembering to protect yourself, and at necessary times, tell,
White lies.
Always failing to learn,
True love also has a reality,
It's not that whoever is willing,
Can resolve it..."
After the first verse concluded, the audience's faces showed contemplation.
The song's melody was beautiful and grand, with a smooth transition between the chorus and verses.
Especially Night Rabbit's singing style; his vocal color changes were already familiar to everyone, but his delivery was more delicate, employing many subtle vocalizations to enhance the melancholic mood, making the emotional progression of the song exceptionally natural.
However, this song was not narrative; it was more of a reflection on love.
It spoke of the inability to gauge intensity and self-protection in a relationship, the feeling of being unable to extricate oneself once deeply involved.
Although it lacked the emotional resonance of a deeply unforgettable love story, it still managed to evoke emotional empathy in many.
"A quarrel, a knot in the heart.
Accumulating change, yeah...
Inner distance is enough to kill,
No matter how intense the outward appearance..."
From this point on,
Su Yu's singing gradually intensified. Surprisingly, he didn't hide his breaths, but rather made them increasingly noticeable.
Normally, singers try to make their breaths less obvious during performances to ensure smoother transitions between lyrics.
This also gives the audience the impression that the performance is not overly strenuous.
However, his breaths became increasingly distinct as he sang.
"His vocal technique shouldn't produce such pronounced breaths," Yin Na spoke first this time.
Given Night Rabbit's vocal prowess, even with breaths, they wouldn't be this prominent.
"I think it's intentional. The strings are becoming more prominent here, and he's likely preparing a big move for later," Mo Yan said, his voice filled with anticipation without opening his eyes.
His focus wasn't on vocal technique but on the melodic motifs of the song. The song was nearing its latter half, and based on the melody alone, there was no sign of an explosion. However, combined with Night Rabbit's increasingly noticeable breaths, Mo Yan detected something unusual.
Everyone knew that Night Rabbit's displayed vocal ability wouldn't result in such pronounced breaths, yet he deliberately created these sounds throughout the song, and he sounded not strained but very relaxed.
Moreover, these breaths didn't sound like simple inhalations but more like sighs, heart-wrenching sighs!
"Only then realizing love doesn't mean everything,
No matter how sincere, it can be blocked.
This world has hidden mines every day,
Ready to explode at any moment..."
At this point, the song's emotion intensified again.
Just as everyone expected an explosion, it suddenly pulled back.
It was explosive, but not entirely.
The lingering, almost unbearable tug-of-war caused many audience members' expressions to contort.
"Still failing to learn to be a little less romantic,
What you strive for might not bring emotion,
Or be thanked.
Explaining I hurt the most, oh, the most tired,
Dying wouldn't make me blame anyone, oh..."
The emotion continued to build!
The piano in the accompaniment had faded, and the strings gradually brought the atmosphere to its peak!
The subsequent few effortless high notes, coupled with the embellishments,
also gave everyone a new appreciation for Night Rabbit's vocal skill.
He effortlessly hit the notes, and beneath that seeming ease, he captured the audience's emotions, making them suddenly realize how intensely their feelings had built up without them even noticing.
This required the singer to have extremely delicate control over the emotional progression to achieve such an effect!
At this point, Masked Knight and Black Knight could no longer remain calm.
"Damn, no way?"
"Holy crap, could it be?"
Both exclaimed simultaneously.
"Putting every devoted, bitter love,
In this moment laid out before me,
I don't feel resentment, only nostalgia!!"
All the preceding build-up at this moment,
erupted completely!
Without any lingering hesitation, everything felt like a natural progression.
The melodic tension, combined with the final explosive note and embellishment, sent shivers down the audience's spines!
"Always failing to learn to be a little smarter,
Remembering to protect yourself, and at necessary times, tell,
White lies.
Not that I fail to learn,
It's just that love! Is too!!! Beautiful!
Worth getting lost in,
And shedding tears..."
Stunned!
The continuous barrage of high notes at the end
made the audience feel as if they were on a roller coaster, suddenly soaring into the sky!
The feeling was beyond description.
Unexpected, yet inevitable.
Many had a faint premonition of an explosion during the second verse, but they hadn't anticipated such a fierce eruption.
It was a display of frantic emotion yet seemed so nonchalant, effortlessly unleashing both high notes and emotions.
Especially the sigh before the final section, which felt like the build-up before takeoff, causing the audience's hearts to skip a beat. This arrangement earned everyone's unanimous applause!
"I'm blown away. How can anyone possibly win against this?" Masked Knight was dumbfounded.
Why did the singing suddenly take off like that?
Can't learn?
How can anyone learn this!
It's incomprehensible.
It's difficult to understand.
I DON'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND!!!
...
PS: "Can't Learn" Original Artist: JJ Lin, Lyrics: Yao Ruo Long, Composition: JJ Lin.