Chapter 80: CCTV's Own Son

"Although I admit I am indeed very popular right now, isn't this kind of occasion something a junior like me shouldn't be getting involved in?"

Zhou Yi, having put down the invitation, comfortably shifted his bottom on the chair, feeling quite puzzled that he had received an invitation to the China-Korea Music Festival.

The China-Korea Music Festival, held annually since 1999, is organized by China's CCTV and South Korea's KBS television station.

It claims to be a musical feast where top musicians from both countries join hands to perform for the people of both nations, but in reality, in terms of fan influence, this thing's mass impact is even less than the Global Chinese Music Awards Top Ten he won last year.

At the very least, when fans brag, they can bring out the trophy from the Global Chinese Music Awards to compare notes.

If one were to participate in the China-Korea Music Festival, especially in these early years of the new century, the only benefit for Zhou Yi on a small scale would be to polish his credentials, to get to know the real big shots within the system, and to leave a small impression of a young person on them.

After all, in these early years of the 21st century, the official side still placed great importance on the China-Korea Music Festival.

The reason Na Ying could squeeze out Tian Zhen at the official level is that the China-Korea Music Festival is the most obvious marker.

On a larger scale, those who can participate in this gala are at least not called mainland singers or Hong Kong-Taiwan singers; stepping on stage represents China.

Precisely because of this, to seek stability, there wasn't a single young person among the Chinese singers in the first two editions.

"According to the information source I received, you originally had no chance. But thanks to the huge commotion you caused in Taiwan, someone noticed you."

Zhou Jianhui, having spoken to this point, forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and tried to repeat the "gossip" he had heard in a calm tone: "The ban on you by the Taiwan side is entirely due to your mainland identity, after all, your influence among the young people over there is quite large.

"So this matter caused a huge stir; several people who couldn't stand it wanted to counteract, but they were stopped.

"Then, whether it was someone related to your hometown or someone from your hometown, anyway, someone felt they couldn't let you, a half-grown child, suffer such an unprovoked grievance, and directly wrote your name into the reference list for the China-Korea Music Festival.

"Several people from Peking University, who rarely agreed on anything, convinced a few from Tsinghua and Renmin University, and your name was sent up directly."

"..."

Hometown?

After suddenly recalling the other significance of his home province, Zhou Yi understood clearly.

Then there's no problem.

Seeing that Zhou Yi seemed not to take it seriously, Zhou Jianhui then emphasized: "I know you young people might not care much about such serious occasions, but I must tell you that the significance of this year's event is very great.

"First, the higher-ups are trying every means to expand international influence, striving for a stable success in the Olympic bid; carrying out exchanges with South Korea through the China-Korea Music Festival is a window the higher-ups attach extreme importance to;

"Second, South Korea is about to host the World Cup next year, and they are also trying every means to expand their country's cultural influence; the China-Korea Music Festival is directly broadcast during KBS television station's prime time.

"That is why CCTV sent you the invitation nine months in advance, just so you can prepare well; do you understand what I mean?"

The third China-Korea Music Festival in 2001 was held in November, and now it is February.

Normally, even if the personnel were confirmed, singers would not be notified so far in advance; one can imagine how special a node this year is.

"I am not taking it lightly; I am just thinking about what needs to be prepared. Do I choose the song myself? Or does CCTV choose for me?"

Zhou Yi chuckled lightly and asked while chewing on raisins: "Or do you want me to write a new song?"

"It hasn't been decided yet, but I estimate that either your 'Happy Worship' or 'Have to Love' should be selected, and 'Dance Gate' is also possible.

"After all, in your first album, besides these two songs that have data in Korea, the only one left is 'Dance Gate', which is relatively niche domestically; it's the dance track you used as a cushion to set off the main song."

When speaking to this point, Zhou Jianhui's face was also somewhat strange: "They don't understand Chinese songs over there, and because the company gave you the banner of 'Little Guo Fucheng' over there, so your 'Dance Gate' is actually the most popular of these three; many Korean young people are learning the dance you did in the MV.

"Especially in places like nightclubs, your chair dance is being covered by many nightclub workers."

This can be considered a case of blooming inside the wall but smelling fragrant outside the wall in a certain sense.

"..."

6.

Zhou Yi, with a strange look on his face, somewhat thought of scenes unsuitable for children: "Then I actually feel 'Dance Gate' definitely won't be selected."

"If you have confidence in yourself, you can also write a song specifically for this China-Korea Music Festival and submit it. Otherwise, I see several songs in your second album submission that are quite suitable, the ones you described as Chinese style."

Because of the recent trend, Zhou Jianhui had to run to Warner Music's mainland office to discuss the relevant matters of the second album with Zhou Yi.

When speaking of the second album, Zhou Jianhui's expression visibly became excited.

He didn't understand musical genres, but he knew how much assistance the so-called founding of a school could bring to a singer's status.

Opening up a new musical style in both the first and second albums is truly something one sees only when living a long life.

Once the concept proposed in the second album gains recognition from the mainstream music market, then in the future, whenever the Chinese pop music scene mentions the concepts of hiphop and new-style Chinese style, Zhou Yi will be a monument that cannot be bypassed.

"Can I write a song myself for this kind of occasion?"

This time Zhou Yi was truly shocked.

Zhou Jianhui laughed: "Need I say your luck is good? Look carefully at the three female singers currently fighting fiercely in the music market; whose hands are the songs that form the three-legged tripod from?

"Taiwan suddenly caused such a huge commotion, and you were the first one to be banned, so all information about you will naturally be collected and submitted.

"Your title of creative talent is probably known to many people. Considering someone's high regard for you, combined with the grievances you suffered in Taiwan, what's wrong with giving you some preferential treatment?

"But if you are going to write, you'd better hold back a bit, write something with an easy-to-understand theme, don't write conceptual gimmicks, and the content should preferably be positive and uplifting.

"With your 'Jiangnan' and 'Dongfeng Po', if I didn't look at the lyrics and just looked at the song titles, I wouldn't know what they were talking about."

Zhou Jianhui, who hadn't heard the finished product yet, put forward his suggestion.

Zhou Yi readily accepted: "I understand, how about 'Yellow Race'?"

Hearing this, Zhou Jianhui immediately slapped his thigh: "Good, this theme is good, we are all of the Yellow Race. How do you plan to write it? How much time do you need? What is the song title? I will personally go to CCTV to negotiate for you.

"The song title will be 'Yellow Race', and the content will absolutely be uplifting."

Zhou Yi grinned, smiling exceptionally brightly.

The melody of 'Yellow Race' guarantees singability, and the lyrics are absolutely suitable for this current moment, especially after the Olympic bid succeeds.

Soon, Na Ying, who also received an invitation to the China-Korea Music Festival, learned that the higher-ups were negotiating with Zhou Yi, and her eyes immediately widened—

"Really? Is he CCTV's own son? Going to an occasion like the China-Korea Music Festival at twenty years old?

"If this continues, isn't the next step going to be the Spring Festival Gala at twenty-one?"

The agent beside her immediately corrected: "To be accurate, it is nineteen. Twenty is our domestic calculation of virtual age after the New Year; his ID card shows his birth date as December 13, 1981, and his birthday hasn't arrived yet."

Na Ying: "..."

A few days later, Zhou Yi, completely unaware that he had already become CCTV's own son in the eyes of some people, arrived at the CCTV broadcasting building; before he could see the big leader he wanted to meet, Zhou Yi first saw a familiar figure—

"Zhou Yi? What are you doing here?"

Sa Beinan, holding a stack of case files, could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the visitor.

Seeing this, Zhou Yi immediately joked, "I'm here to produce an episode of 'Today's Law' with you. Well, are you welcome? The material is my recent ordeal."

(End of this chapter)