Chapter 611: The CMG

"Waiting for the blue-gray rain, while I wait for you~"

"The taste of grilled mackerel, even the cat wants to know~"

"I write poems for you, I stand still for you, I do the impossible for you~"

"Who will I meet, and what words will we exchange~"

"Once upon a time, someone loved you for a very long time~"

"……"

Listening to songs blaring from the neighboring shop, the video store, and the hair salon, breathing in the mingled stench of cigarette smoke and foot odor inside the black internet cafe, Wang Weilun grabbed his friend's lighter from the next seat, clicked it twice to light a cigarette—

After a satisfying drag, he bent his right knee and propped it up on the seat, casually slipping the lighter into his pocket.

"Fuck, these bastards really have thick lips—even with Zhou Yi's albums selling over four million copies, they still won't shut up."

"Says who? You gonna crawl through the internet to slap their mouths?"

Wang Weilun flicked his eight-god-style haircut, nearly covering his right eye, dismissing the online flame war with contempt—

He was already an 18-year-old adult, having spent three years away from home, struggling in society; he had zero interest in such meaningless bickering.

Better to play two more rounds of Red Alert.

"True enough. Forget it. Time's up—I've treated you to internet access, so hurry up and sign for me. Whether Jay Chou makes it to the CMG Gala hinges on this."

"Alright, alright, students are so naive. What's it to you if Jay Chou gets on the CMG Gala? Seriously."

Wang Weilun impatiently flicked his mouse, glanced at the time, then didn't launch his game. Instead, he opened the cafe's Qianqian Jingting, selected shuffle: "Both surnamed Zhou—Zhou Yi just wants to get on the CMG Gala and it's no hassle at all. No need for petitions like this."

When December 2003 arrived, the CMG Gala—the most-watched annual program across China—naturally began its rigorous selection of performers.

Unlike previous years, Zhou Jielun, who held second place in popularity among youth, only behind Zhou Yi, finally wasn't being left out of this year's CMG Gala.

This year's director, Yuan Dewang, pushed hard for youthfulness, seeking novelty and higher ratings, and on the official CMG website, he opened a dedicated online petition for the music industry's "second brother," Zhou Jielun—essentially embracing the mass line.

If the final number of petition signatures met the target, Zhou Jielun could erase the regret of three straight years without a CMG appearance.

"How can you compare? Zhou Yi's the Warner Emperor, CMG's own son. Zhou Jielun can't even land a foster son status—otherwise he wouldn't have missed the CMG for years. Sun Yanzi, Xiao Yaxuan, Wang Lihong all got in. He didn't."

"That's because he's weak. He only sold a million copies. If he sold as much as Zhou Yi, wouldn't he have been invited long ago?"

"……"

While bickering, Wang Weilun opened the CMG official website, found Zhou Jielun's petition page, and immediately left his comment and electronic signature—his mouse flew across the screen as he proudly displayed his self-styled "artistic" handwriting, which looked like a dog's scratch.

Perhaps due to the sudden surge in traffic, the CMG website became sluggish, making him wonder if someone in the cafe was downloading torrents.

"Fuck."

As Wang Weilun cursed and prepared to close the page and restart his browser, a pop-up news window from Sohu flickered slowly in the lower-right corner—

"Breaking News! Major Changes Expected for Zhou Yi's Upcoming CMG Gala Appearance!"

?

"What did you say?"

Hong Kong, Warner Training Class.

Zhou Yi, who had come over at Zhou Jianhui's request to visit and energize the signed musicians, received a call from Qian Jiang and was taken aback.

"Really, I'm not lying, Ah Yi—Director Yuan called you directly."

Qian Jiang, in his office, sounded ecstatic: "I think this is CMG's reward for your refusal to back down—two solo songs. Unthinkable. This is the CMG Gala—haven't seen this in over a decade."

"One person singing two solo songs at this year's CMG Gala? No duets to pad it out?"

Zhou Yi was stunned.

This level of treatment was highly unusual.

Since 1989, no pop singer had ever performed two solo songs in a single CMG Gala.

After all, with its massive popularity, the CMG Gala had become a national event where every second was priceless.

And now, this thirteen-year-old "iron rule" would be broken by him in its fourteenth year.

"Yes, reportedly Director Yuan himself proposed it to CMG leadership. They hadn't decided yet, but after his suggestion, they discussed it briefly and agreed."

Qian Jiang chuckled: "You know Fei Xiang? He sang 'The Clouds of My Hometown' and 'A Fire in Winter' at the 1987 CMG Gala. Director Yuan Dewang was a member of that year's production team."

"Now that he's chief director, he thought of giving you this exceptional treatment."

"……"

He knew that well.

Zhou Yi instantly understood.

So it was the director from the CMG Gala that made Fei Xiang famous—no wonder he came up with this. Classic path dependency.

"'Blue and White Porcelain' was Director Yuan's subtle suggestion for you to sing—I think this reflects CMG's official stance. They're backing you on stage, silencing everyone who criticizes your lyrics. You must sing this song."

The CMG stage is truly national in scope. If "Blue and White Porcelain" airs unchanged, it will instantly end all the noisy rumors.

"As for the other song, my suggestion is 'Swallow Returns to the Nest' from your new album. Its theme of a wanderer missing home fits the CMG perfectly."

Qian Jiang offered his advice.

The CMG doesn't let pop singers just sing whatever they want—only a handful, like Zhou Yi, can perform their own songs. Under these conditions, it's best to choose songs with universal, safe themes.

"Swallow Returns to the Nest" seemed ideal to him.

"What's this year's CMG theme?"

Zhou Yi didn't refuse, but first asked about the Gala's theme.

Every year's CMG had a broad theme—what if there was a song even better suited than "Swallow Returns to the Nest"?

"Oh, this one? It's 'Wishes.'"

Qian Jiang, having already checked the materials, replied immediately: "Also proposed by Director Yuan—the 'Wishes' theme, along with a push for youthfulness, which is why they introduced the online petition, that trendy thing young people like."

Wishes?

Hearing this broad, vague theme, Zhou Yi blinked, then spoke up: "Then skip 'Swallow Returns to the Nest.' I'll write something more fitting."

Qian Jiang: "?"

"Guaranteed to be one hundred percent in line with the theme of 'Blessings'."

Thinking of a certain scene that might appear in the future, Zhou Yi laughed out loud.

In the country, there is a pop song whose popularity is something no other song can even hope to match; only this song could overshadow the 2008 Olympic Games welcome song—

"Gong Xi Fa Cai," the supermarket drift anthem of the New Year.

It swept the entire nation and even the global Chinese community upon its debut on the 2005 Spring Festival Gala; Liu Dehua even used this song to forcefully surpass the other three of the Four Heavenly Kings in domestic fame and status, extending his popularity for another decade.

From the ninety-nine-year-old down to the toddler just learning to walk, anyone with a speaker has heard this song, whether willingly or not.

Since its birth, it has been the unanimously chosen essential New Year track across the country, unlocking at a fixed time every year, eventually developing into an all-out bombardment of the eardrums of all Chinese people worldwide.

A festive tune with auspicious lyrics; once the music starts, it feels as if one is already in a supermarket buying gold-wrapped chocolates. In the era of mobile internet, the New Year flavor of this song is even more intense than the increasingly lackluster Spring Festival Gala.

Most importantly, this song is a blessing song of pure simplicity, perfectly matching this year's Spring Festival Gala theme of "Blessings."

The Imperial Capital, CCTV Building.

Yuan Dewang, who was preparing for the 2004 Spring Festival Gala, soon received a call from Qian Jiang; his expression first froze, then turned to wild joy.

Zhou Yi actually wants to write a new song for this year's Spring Festival Gala theme?

Four years have passed; now, no one doubts Zhou Yi's ability to create musical blockbusters.

And if a blockbuster born from a set topic emerges on the Spring Festival Gala he is directing, that would undoubtedly be of great help to him.

Who was the brainless one who said Zhou Yi was arrogant and looked down on everyone? Isn't that pure nonsense?

Zhou Yi is quite skilled at returning a peach for a plum.

Who doesn't know that Zhou Yi's songs are extremely hard to get?

Overjoyed, Yuan Dewang immediately reported this matter to the leader who had supported him against all opposition; the latter, after a moment of surprise, was also very satisfied.

Undoubtedly, in their view, this was a manifestation of Zhou Yi knowing how to be a person, not at all arrogant or claiming credit for himself.

"The young comrade is still very humble."

It all depends on the quality of the blessing song Zhou Yi can produce; as long as the quality is good, it will score big points in front of those who support him.

In this era, everyone watches the Spring Festival Gala.