Chapter 10

"Today, we definitely have to record it." Lin Zai Shan also knew that this free opportunity was rare, so he was determined to finish the DEMO tonight no matter what.

Sun Yuzhen gently advised Lin Zai Shan, "Why don't you rest a bit and find your state?"

"I can't rest; if I rest, I'll get sleepy."

Seeing that Sun Yuzhen was holding a hot coffee, Lin Zai Shan suddenly thought of using coffee to stimulate himself.

Sun Yuzhen often bought coffee for her seniors at the station. Lin Zai Shan glanced at her coffee cup, and she immediately thought of something, asking Lin Zai Shan, "Do you want me to buy you a cup of coffee to perk you up?"

Zhang Pengfei quickly said, "Don't move, Zhenzi, let Song Peng go! ... You have to make another trip, right? Bring two cups of coffee back for Uncle Lin and Gezi."

Song Peng had just made a trip and spent his own money to buy seven cups of coffee. Now, he was a bit reluctant to go again.

Lin Zai Shan said, "No need to trouble you. I'll go myself. It'll be good to get some fresh air. You guys keep practicing; don't waste this precious time."

"I'll go with you, Dad."

Lin Zai Shan went out to buy coffee with Bai Ge.

As soon as this father-daughter pair left the recording studio, Zhang Pengfei immediately sighed to Sun Yuzhen, "Lin Zai Shan is completely different from what I imagined! Is this the Lin Zai Shan who sang 'The Wheat Field'? How could he be so mature?"

"I don't know why he became so mature. Maybe life has given him too much hardship. But his musical talent hasn't diminished at all. I think after so many years of obscurity, he has a deep reserve of potential. If he can participate in our station's program this time, there's a good chance he'll make a stunning comeback." After experiencing Lin Zai Shan's musical charm up close, Sun Yuzhen was even more impressed by his talent.

Zhang Pengfei nodded and said, "This uncle's skills are really top-notch. His fundamentals are incredibly solid."

"He's not just solid in fundamentals; his voice is outstanding. I think he sings better now than when he was young. Don't you guys think this uncle's singing is very moving?" Sun Yuzhen asked the Believers band.

Zhang Hao said with a resigned smile, "This uncle's singing is indeed impressive, and his song is well-written. But isn't he a bit too pretentious? The two times he recorded just now were so moving, and he said it was dry? Feige, do you think his singing was dry?"

"Don't worry about whether he's being pretentious. His professional attitude is something you should learn from!"

Zhang Pengfei actually thought Lin Zai Shan's recording was perfect, a top-notch unplugged live performance. However, since Lin Zai Shan said it was dry, he didn't want to say much.

He changed the topic and instructed the younger members, "Remember what Feige said: In the path of music, never be satisfied. Always keep seeking, and only then can you reach the true peak."

Holding a warm paper cup of coffee, Sun Yuzhen smiled and teased Zhang Pengfei, "You're pretending to be a great philosopher. Your face is really thick."

"Hehe."

Zhang Pengfei laughed and urged Zhang Hao and the others, "Don't be lazy. You've rested long enough. Get back to recording."

Seeing that Lin Zai Shan was not around, Zhang Hao and the others quickly entered the recording studio and started recording their own songs.

...

It was almost eleven o'clock at night, and the campus of Dongyi University was very quiet.

The fiery phoenix trees, the brilliant stars, and a few couples were still romantically strolling around the campus, reluctant to return to their dorms.

Lin Zai Shan and Bai Ge ran to the 24-hour coffee shop outside the east gate of the school to buy coffee.

To save money, they only bought one cup of coffee for Lin Zai Shan.

Bai Ge didn't drink it. She didn't have the habit of drinking coffee.

"Dad, you have to hold on today. No matter what, you have to finish this recording. Once this free opportunity is gone, there won't be another one. If you can't record it today, we'll have to bleed to record it tomorrow."

"I know. Even if I die in the recording studio tonight, I'll finish the recording before I die."

Bai Ge smiled sweetly, "Your recording just now was already very good. Why are you still not satisfied?"

"You might think it's good, but in the ears of a professional music director, my performance just now might not be enough to move him."

Lin Zai Shan's thoughts were a bit extreme, but he was also thinking more comprehensively.

The notorious reputation of that uncle had long been deeply ingrained. The production team of "The Strongest Singer" would certainly think twice before inviting him to the show.

He had a lot of topics, but his negative image was too severe. If the audience were to strongly reject him, the Oriental TV would suffer a loss.

Lin Zai Shan considered the show's perspective and felt that unless he presented a musical work that the production team couldn't refuse, it would be hard to convince them to take the risk of inviting him.

Otherwise, if he submitted a mediocre work, he might lose this chance to make a comeback.

Therefore, he had to be cautious and at least submit a DEMO that satisfied him.

The night wind blew, and Bai Ge shivered, hugging Lin Zai Shan's arm and frowning, "How can you sing more movingly? Is it because there are too many people in the recording studio, affecting you?"

"It's not related to that. The main issue is that 'Listen to the Wind' doesn't feel right when I sing it. I want to change the song."

"Change the song? Are you going to sing 'White Dove'?"

"'White Dove' is not suitable for a competition DEMO. 'White Dove' is meaningful to you and me, but the music director of Oriental TV might not understand it. For a competition song, you can't submit a deeply profound work. Everyone's appreciation angle is different. A music director, when receiving a new work, will first listen to the overall style and feel of the song, and whether it can move him. A deeply profound work might not move him on the first listen, and at that point, your work might be discarded. Therefore, for this type of submission, you must choose a work that can grab the listener's attention on the first listen. If your work can move the music director or at least make him notice something new, then it has a chance of passing. After that, if the music director is responsible, he will dissect and analyze your work to understand the techniques and novelty it contains, and why the song moved him. At that point, he can roughly understand the creator's level. A work that stands up to scrutiny will be more moving the more it is analyzed."

Bai Ge was secretly amazed. Her father had become so thorough in his thinking after "waking up."

After a moment of thought, Bai Ge discussed with Lin Zai Shan, "'Listen to the Wind' should be a work that stands up to scrutiny, right? You've hidden several uncommon scales in this song, and the combination is very flavorful. I think this song is very suitable for a competition DEMO."

"The song is good, but the listener must be calm to appreciate it. With only a single guitar accompaniment, the song sounds a bit monotonous, and my voice isn't in the best condition. I'm worried that if I record it like this and submit it, the listener might not appreciate it if they're a bit agitated."

"Dad, you're thinking too much. They are professionals and won't be so unprofessional."

"Professionals also have good and bad moods. I must record a work that can grab the listener's attention on the first listen, regardless of the situation. That way, the chances of passing are the highest."

"Dad, you look so charming when you're so serious!" Bai Ge was moved by Lin Zai Shan's pursuit of perfection.

"Actually, I already have some inspiration."

"You have more inspiration? Is it for a new song?" Lin Zai Shan's sudden burst of inspiration shocked Bai Ge!

"Yes, I still want to write a song for you. You are my greatest source of inspiration."

"You're making me blush, hehe."

"You don't know how important you are to me."

Lin Zai Shan spoke from the heart, mixed with the emotions buried deep in the original uncle's heart.

He truly liked his new daughter.

"It's you who doesn't know how important you are to me!!"

In Bai Ge's heart, Lin Zai Shan was the belief that supported her to move forward bravely, the foundation of her life, and the hope that she would never lose.

Therefore, in Bai Ge's view, Lin Zai Shan was far more important to her than she was to him!

With a warm smile, her emotions more in tune with the feeling of singing a new song, Lin Zai Shan quickly returned to the recording studio with Bai Ge, ready to create a new song while his inspiration was still fresh.

Inside the recording studio, the Believers band was recording.

Their level was too immature, and Lin Zai Shan saw little to commend in this band.

The lead singer, Zhang Hao, had a good voice, high and powerful, with a bit of the flavor of the band XIN.

Apart from that, the band was quite ordinary.

Seeing Lin Zai Shan return, the Believers band hastily recorded a less satisfactory piece and made way for Lin Zai Shan.

This time, the young people were more perceptive and moved their instruments out of the recording studio before leaving.

Seeing that the keyboardist Liu Yang was about to move the double-keyboard, Lin Zai Shan said through the intercom, "Don't move the keyboard."

Liu Yang paused, turned, and looked at Lin Zai Shan in confusion.

"I want to use your keyboard. Is that okay?" Lin Zai Shan asked Liu Yang.

Liu Yang nodded and moved the keyboard to the center of the recording studio for Lin Zai Shan to use.

"Uncle, what are you going to do with the keyboard?" Sun Yuzhen asked Lin Zai Shan curiously.

"The guitar's range is too narrow, and using only a guitar for accompaniment is a bit monotonous. I want to try using the keyboard for accompaniment."

Today, his voice wasn't in the best condition, so he needed to rely on external instruments to enhance the effect.

"Dad, are you going to sing a new song? If you do, I'll record it with my recorder."

Zhang Pengfei saw Bai Ge take out a recorder from her old canvas bag and smiled helplessly, "Girl, this is a professional recording studio. Your dad's singing will be recorded on the tracks. You don't need to use the recorder."

"It's okay, I want to record my dad's inspiration." Bai Ge insisted.

Sun Yuzhen was a bit puzzled and asked Lin Zai Shan, "Are you going to create something on the spot?"

"Not exactly. I've had a melody in my mind for a while, a melody I want to write for my daughter. With the feeling of rebirth I have today, I want to try to turn this melody into a song. If I don't sing it well, don't laugh at me."

Zhang Pengfei quickly said, "No, no, everyone's creation starts with simple melodies. Uncle, just go ahead and let it out. I'll record it, and if you're not satisfied with any part, I can help you isolate and refine it."

"Thanks, fatty." Zhang Pengfei's enthusiasm made Lin Zai Shan feel comfortable.

"Go for it, Dad!"

Before entering the recording studio, Bai Ge clenched her small fist and gave Lin Zai Shan an encouraging look.

Sun Yuzhen was very eager to see Lin Zai Shan's live creation ability. In the future, "The Strongest Singer" would have extreme tests of on-the-spot song creation during the elimination rounds. If Lin Zai Shan had strong on-the-spot creation skills, it would mean he was more suitable for the show!

Zhang Hao and Li He heard Lin Zai Shan say he was going to turn a melody into a new song and were a bit skeptical, thinking Lin Zai Shan was just being pretentious.

However, Lin Zai Shan's musical skills, demonstrated just now, proved that he had the ability to be pretentious. Even if they knew he was being pretentious, they were helpless. They just hoped he would be pretentious to the point of being ridiculous, which would make them feel a bit more balanced.

In front of the mixing console, Zhang Pengfei and Sun Yuzhen put on their monitoring headphones to listen to Lin Zai Shan's performance more clearly.

Zhang Hao and the others stood by, waiting to hear the music played out loud.

Bai Ge was ready with her recorder, prepared to record Lin Zai Shan's new inspiration.

Bai Ge was very excited to see what melody Lin Zai Shan would play for her song.

The previous "White Dove" had already moved her, but she didn't expect it to be just the beginning. Lin Zai Shan's sudden burst of inspiration was exhilarating! She wanted to see where her father's limits were!

Inside the studio.

Lin Zai Shan sat in front of the professional double-keyboard with foot pedals, first adjusted the synthesizer to the most natural and piano-like effect.

He tried the sound, found the key positions, and felt it was quite smooth.

He then gave Zhang Pengfei an OK sign, indicating he was ready.

Zhang Pengfei gave an OK sign back with his fat hand and started recording Lin Zai Shan.

Everyone's hearts were on edge, especially Sun Yuzhen, whose bright eyes behind her quiet black-rimmed glasses were fixed on Lin Zai Shan, hoping he would move her with his music and give her even greater surprises, making her even more grateful to have discovered a hidden musical genius.

The studio became exceptionally quiet.

The indicator light turned from red to green.

The melody of the song Lin Zai Shan wanted to sing echoed in his mind. His left ring finger pressed a key, and as the first clear piano note sounded, he immediately began to sing without hesitation—

...

When the world is ready to abandon me~

Like a wounded soldier left in a lonely wilderness~

...

I start to doubt the meaning of my existence~

In others' eyes, I seem to have become invisible~

...

Is failure a permanent downfall~

Who will save the fallen soul~

...

Every time I see you, my heart feels so calm~

Like a butterfly flying over the ruins~

I can live on~ I find my courage again~

Your love is like oxygen, helping me breathe~

I can breathe~

I can breathe~~~

You refuse to give up~

...

Accompanied by the simple piano, Lin Zai Shan's沧桑婉转真假音完美切换的唱腔 completely stunned everyone outside the studio, including Bai Ge!

She didn't expect her father to play the piano and sing a moving R&B song!

Yes!

Lin Zai Shan was singing "Butterfly," a classic R&B song by the Chinese R&B godfather, Tao Jiji, from his previous life!

---

[It's a new week, let's push for the rankings! I beg for recommendations and collections!]

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