"Your first performance, on such a good stage, I envy you so much!" When I heard that Cao Yuchen was on stage for the first time, the lead singer of the neon garden band, Tan Congchong, said.
The stage they stepped on was Mango TV's latest music ensemble "Youth π Program". Among the contestants are music newcomers like Cao Yuchen who have not been on the official stage, independent singer-songwriters, singing and dancing idols, and band lead singers and rappers who are already regular guests of the festival.
The contestants sing different songs, and the biggest common denominator may be that they are all still young, and they are all "brave enough" - because they are young and "new", and the public recognition is insufficient, they need such a music ensemble to show themselves; Because he is brave enough, he will not be afraid to only make the music he likes.
In this way, "Youth π Project" is undoubtedly a music complex for young people, so that these young musicians can show the independence and freedom of Generation Z on a grand enough stage, and grow wildly with their music.
Sound ensemble, give young people a chance
In recent years, when we mention the combination of the keywords "young people" and "music", it seems difficult to have a clear thread.
The trajectory of music production and popularity has been changed: whether it is "The Lonely Brave", which became popular last year, or "Wumeizi Sauce", which caused controversy this year, it is inseparable from the fermentation and singing of short videos to become popular. The song "Soul Crushed" that Deng Dian chose to sing in the first issue of the "Youth π Program" is also a hot single that became popular through short videos.
The times of music have indeed changed. According to the "2022 Global Music Report" released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the global recorded music market grew by 9.0% in 2022, of which the streaming business was the main driving force for the growth of the recorded music market in 2022.
This means that we need some additional media to show the spark generated by the intersection of "young people" and "music". To solve the problem of "now" and "era", it is natural to care about what kind of music young people listen to, and what kind of programs we present it through.
In this dimension, music ensemble is indeed a long-term demand of the variety show market. In the past two years, retro style has prevailed in domestic entertainment, and it may be more flattering to do a show that gathers the pearls of the record era: the audience wants to extract their childhood memories from it, and they are also willing to see familiar veteran singers stand on the stage PK, leaving enough wonderful scenes.
However, variety shows can't always chase stories from the past. If you just follow the market trend and sell the feelings of the past, it may be touching enough and resonate with more audiences, but you will always lose the courage and courage to look to the future.
As an important stage to show the public the talent and ability of a musician, the music complex can always gain huge attention in a short period of time, and it is easier to attract "calling" listeners than the banner recommendation on the third and fourth pages of the music software. Therefore, there must always be a variety to give young musicians who are not recognized by enough listeners a chance.
The Youth π Program has become a stage that gives them a better chance to be noticed by the public, and also provides an opportunity for them to better show their talents and passions - this is the opportunity and responsibility of the music ensemble.
Generation Z, "Dialogue with the World"
The key words that belong to variety shows are, after all, the "people" who make up the show. Throughout the "Youth π Project", the contestants seem to have the same characteristics - whether it is musical style or personality temperament, they are quite "ego".
The audience can intuitively feel the "personality" of these players in many aspects. Answering questions about themselves, almost all players are reluctant to define themselves. When Shen Chuanqi was asked, he said, "My self-introduction is no self-introduction." Wen Zhaojie reported his name, was asked by the director "then what", and only briefly answered "I make music".
The contestants will not carefully consider the words in their speeches in the back picks. Lu Yanliang directly said that "I will never make friends with people who have too bad music taste", and Deng Dian even broke the news that he would make jokes about "making some good songs to save the Chinese music scene" when he chatted with friends in private.
In terms of musical expression, the styles of the contestants are also quite diverse. Rap, folk, rock and other styles compete on the same stage, and the contestants have designed a stage that integrates the style of opera and musicals, Zhou Junyi likes to sample the sounds of his own life, Shen Chuanqi designed his own stage costumes when he first appeared on the stage, and the headdress was also handmade.
This diversity and self that everyone is different from is actually a commonality of today's young people: they refuse to be the same, and they are only willing to be themselves.
However, Generation Z, who only wants to be themselves, actually hopes to dialogue with the world, so that their stories and music can be heard by more people and recognized by audiences outside the circle.
Young musicians sing songs in their favorite style and tell their own stories. Huang Kun, who was doing music planning and promotion, spent his precious annual leave to come to the show, choosing to sing his "Despite This" "Despite this / I want to indulge once / Nearly thirty years old / It's not shameful to still love dreaming", and successfully impressed the judges to receive the last clearance ticket.
Sha Yiting, who came to the competition with a hot single in hand, from "I began to dress clumsily / I want to look good and be praised by others" to "I dare not reveal my sensitivity / Not pessimistic", the lyrics are all things that can resonate with young people.
The lead singer of the Neon Garden Band, Tan Congchong, began to play the piano in junior high school, went to the factory to play screws after graduating from vocational high school, did photography, delivered couriers and takeaways, worked during the day, went to the street to sell singing after work, and then went to the bar to run the venue, from no one cared, was bombed off the stage, to a hundred performances. The song "Answers to the Future" that he sang on the first stage of the Youth π Project: "I will play the guitar in high places / I will not speak in the mirror / I will be born again in the dark / I will also have my own band / There are opportunities to perform all over the world." Every word seems to be talking to the original self.
About the "vibes" of love
The theme of the first press conference of the "Youth π Program" happened to be "myself".
The show asks contestants to show their "self" and introduce "who I am" to the audience on stage - this is an opportunity for music newcomers and self-conscious Gen Z to have a dialogue with the public.
These fledgling young people on the big stage may also be subject to new scrutiny: audiences tend to listen to proven singers sing, and many viewers may wonder if they appear on stage and sing their own songs - I don't know, why should I listen to him/her sing?
But there is always a fresh spark, born from this group of young people from all over the world, who show on a bigger stage in order to reach more listeners who are willing to listen to their own stories.
Music is a strong form of expression, and expressing oneself through music has been something that generations of young people have been doing, but in this generation, the way of expression has been updated.
Even if they have different styles, there will be no communication barriers between young people. In the show, Long Yunzhu, who sings and dances idols, comes on the stage, and the rest of the contestant seats are also praising her dancing rhythm. Wen Zhaojie and Li Daben's musical styles are very different, but when Wen Zhaojie took the stage to perform, Li Daben quickly said that he "get" his talent and music - a kind of tolerance and recognition of multiculturalism, but also a resonance of love for music.
The vitality between them can also quickly infect each other. When Li Jijun was performing, Sha Yiting and Tan Congchong heard the familiar song and sang along with the music, until the "pain mask" appeared because of the high note, amusing the seemingly serious Wen Zhaojie on the side. On the first day of the show, Miosa played music in the hallway, and the girls, who had not known each other for a long time, rushed out the door despite the luggage they were packing, and immediately gathered together to dance to the music.
As Zhang Yadong said: "I think young people are more confident now, mainly because they are very knowledgeable in the field of art, showing their rich spiritual world, and they can feel a very strong personal charm." ”
Shen Chuanqi described his music as "a few smelly children together" in the program, and this self-evaluation with mocking connotations actually corresponds to the reconnection with the audience, corresponding to what the show is trying to use a group of "emerging musicians" of different forms to express and create.
They may not be perfect for the market, but the other side of the coin is fresh, daring to express, they need to be given opportunities, and on the way to the market, the importance of music such as the Youth π Project will be highlighted.
Conversely, even "smelly kids" who focus seriously on what they love can create great music, and they also have touching qualities and charms. When he first appeared, Li Angxing was still quite unknown, but when the stage of "Puppet" was on, everyone present remembered the name.
This is the meaning of the stage, and it is also the meaning of the music ensemble. The soul that the younger generation can inject into the new generation of music ensembles, in turn, may be the biggest gift that a variety like "Youth π Project" brings to audiences who are willing to listen, these gifts are different in style and often accompanied by surprises.