Xiao Li Qiong's love for music is not limited to Chu opera, she also has a special love for Teresa Teng's songs. She was deeply fascinated by Teresa Teng's unique voice and strong ethnic customs.
When she was in school, Li Qiong often secretly imitated Teresa Teng's singing alone, and her singing skills were not inferior to the original singing, so that many people mistakenly thought that she was from a remote mountainous area.
In order to cultivate Li Qiong's musical talent, her father developed a strict training program for her. One of the most impressive is the training to improve lung capacity - blowing rice grains. The father would put a bowl of rice on the table and let the young Li Qiong blow it vigorously to see if she could blow the rice grains to the specified position.
This kind of training often made Li Qiong feel exhausted, and every time she finished blowing a bowl of rice, her shoulders ached and she had to sit on the ground to rest, however, her father shouted mercilessly: "Get up and continue!" The young Li Qiong could only endure her fatigue and start again obediently.
Under such rigorous training and cultivation, Li Qiong's musical potential has been fully developed. Her hard work paid off and at the age of 14 she became the youngest student at the Hubei Provincial Music School.
This rich learning experience at a music school has helped her accumulate more professional knowledge and further improve her singing skills.
Li Qiong's childhood was full of artistic atmosphere and rigorous musical training, an experience that laid a solid foundation for her future music career. Although the training process was full of hardships, it was this experience that shaped her dedication and love for music and planted the seeds for her future success.
Li Qiong's musical journey was not all smooth sailing, and her early career was full of ups and downs. During her studies at music school, Li Qiong developed a strong admiration for Zhang Chi, the host of Chutian Music Station.
When Chutian Music Station went to Wuhan University for announcer recruitment, Li Qiong actively participated in the interview with the hope of working with idols.
Li Qiong successfully passed the interview and became the announcer of Chutian Music Channel, and she was overjoyed. However, fate seemed to be playing tricks on her, and a serious slip of the tongue forced her probationary period at Chutian Music Station to end after only half a month.
This setback left Li Qiong very frustrated, because she loved her job and appreciated the musicians she came into contact with.
However, by a coincidence, Li Qiong's musical talent was discovered during a military-civilian celebration. She sang "China's Moon" at the event, and her outstanding singing skills were amazing, and she also won the attention of the leaders of the troops.
The leader's discerning person invited Li Qiong to join the art troupe, and in this way, Li Qiong became an important member of the army, responsible for bringing laughter and beautiful singing to the team.
In the art troupe, Li Qiong made great efforts to be promoted. However, during a dishwashing session, a mistake that not only made all her allowances go up in vain, but also made her doubt about her future.
At this low moment, an opportunity to participate in the Youth Song Contest gave Li Qiong new hope.
In 1998, with the support of the leadership, Li Qiong participated in the Youth Song Contest on behalf of the army. This competition is different from the previous competition system of selecting contestants by region, and college students are selected to participate. Li Qiong signed up for the popular amateur group as a player in the amateur group.
In the competition, Li Qiong shocked the audience with her amazing voice, which caused a warm response, and everyone applauded her. She was hailed by the media as the "top golden voice" and became quite strong, becoming the most powerful player among the gold medal candidates.
The famous singer Li Guyi even said that the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe is willing to accept her no matter what the results of the competition are.
Although Li Qiong only won the Excellence Award, CCTV decided to hold another competition for Li Qiong and six other winners to compete for the grand prize. This time, the contest uses a vote from the audience.
Li Qiong once again shocked the audience with her outstanding performance, and her singing "Three Gorges, My Hometown" won warm applause and support from the audience, and finally won the special prize with an absolute advantage.
Li Qiong's experience in the Youth Song Competition not only won her honors, but more importantly, made her stand out in the music industry, paving the way for her to reach a bigger stage in the future.
The Spring Festival Gala in 1999 became an important turning point in Li Qiong's life. That night, she wore a red ethnic minority costume, carried a small bamboo basket on her back, and sang "Eighteen Bends of the Mountain Road" with a high-pitched and bright voice, which touched countless audiences.
For the young newcomer Li Qiong, being able to appear on the stage of the Spring Festival Gala is a huge breakthrough.
Her performance was excellent and unforgettable. Li Qiong's unique voice and passionate singing instantly attracted the attention of audiences across the country. This petite girl in red, she used her singing voice to express the twists and turns of the mountain road and her deep feelings for her hometown, which moved the audience.
In just one night, Li Qiong has gone from an unknown singer to a well-known star. Her song "Eighteen Bends of the Mountain Road" spread at an astonishing speed and became a pop hit of the year.
The natural scenes and love for her hometown depicted in the song are very infectious, and quickly resonated with the public, and Li Qiong's name became a household name, and her singing voice became the most beautiful melody of that spring.
Li Qiong's outstanding performance not only won the love of the audience, but also was highly recognized by the military. As a result, she won the honor of the army's "one dime two" rank, which is undoubtedly a great honor for a young singer who has just become popular.
After that, she was transferred to the Armed Police Art Troupe, and thus directly became a soloist in the troupe.
In the Armed Police Art Troupe, Li Qiong became one of the pillars of the stage very quickly. Together with Jiang Tao (the singer who sang "Always Go Home to See"), she became the most popular singer in the group. This sudden success made Li Qiong feel both excited and apprehensive.
She knew that she was already standing on the stage of her dreams, but at the same time, it also meant that more pressure and challenges were coming.
After the success of the Spring Festival Gala, Li Qiong emerged on a broader stage. She frequently appeared in various important theatrical evenings and TV programs, and her singing voice spread all over the country, this stage can be said to be the most brilliant period of her career, and she seems to be getting closer and closer to her musical dream.
But fate often brings new challenges when people least expect it.
Just as Li Qiong climbed to the first peak of her career, the 2000 Youth Song Contest threw her into the lowest trough. The event became an important turning point in Li Qiong's career, and due to a series of unexpected events and mistakes, Li Qiong fell from a high-profile rising star to a controversial singer.
Li Qiong received the task of the group, and she needed to participate in the 10th Youth Song Contest again. However, she only had a short 10 days to prepare. In such a hurry, she chose the song "The Boatman's Trumpet".
As the first girl to shout "trumpet", even the original singer applauded her Li Qiong took the stage with confidence, but she didn't expect that this song was not recognized by the judges, and she didn't even enter the semi-finals.
On the day of the game, a series of accidents occurred, such as the host Zhu Xun mistakenly reported the "Armed Police Art Troupe" to the "Cultural Police Art Troupe", which caused Li Qiong to hesitate. Although she was only a few seconds late on stage, it disrupted the rhythm of the entire singing and eventually triggered the regrettable "hat incident".
On such a solemn stage as the Youth Song Competition, Li Qiong actually threw her hat directly at the judges, and this faux pas made many judges give her the lowest score. After the competition, the bad comments from the outside world made it even worse, and the audience ridiculed her for floating after becoming popular, questioning her singing ability.
This setback hit Li Qiong hard, and she began to doubt her own talent, which she was once full of confidence. Bad reviews came like a tidal wave, causing her to gradually lose confidence and her career began to decline.
But since then, whether it is the CCTV Spring Festival Gala or other large-scale galas, Li Qiong's figure has gradually disappeared from public view. She is under tremendous pressure, not only facing external doubts and criticism, but also battling her own inner loss and frustration.
This experience gave Li Qiong a deep understanding of the cruelty and ruthlessness of the entertainment industry, and the applause and praise seemed to disappear overnight, replaced by cynicism and disdain.
She had to re-examine her musical path and think about the way forward.
Despite the huge blow to Li Qiong, she did not completely give up music. She chose to say goodbye to the public for a while and then continue her music career alone and silently. During this period, although Li Qiong no longer frequently appeared in the mass media, she was still sticking to her musical dreams and preparing for her return to the stage.
This Youth Song Contest has had a great impact on Li Qiong's music career, which not only changed the trajectory of her career, but also profoundly affected her understanding of music and life.
Although this low period was painful, it was this frustration and pain that planted the seeds of turning point and hope for her future rebirth and transformation.
Time flies, and nearly 20 years have changed many things. Li Qiong, who once became popular with "Eighteen Bends of the Mountain Road", has actually disappeared from the public eye in recent years, but her love for music has never diminished in the slightest.
In 2020, Li Qiong returned to the audience's field of vision with a new image and sang her famous work "Eighteen Bends of the Mountain Road" again.
Li Qiong's concert struck a chord with many audiences, who were surprised to find that despite the years leaving marks on her face, her voice was still high-pitched and powerful, full of emotion.
Her singing reminded many audiences of her amazing performance on the stage of the Spring Festival Gala that year, making people full of nostalgia for that era.
In a personal interview in 2021, Li Qiong sang this classic song again, and once again attracted widespread attention. Facing the camera, she admitted that although she is older, her love for music has never diminished by half a point.
This speech reveals her original intention of sticking to her music career over the years, and also allows people to see a Li Qiong who has gone through vicissitudes but still loves music.
After leaving the spotlight, Li Qiong did not give up her music dream. She often sings for her comrades-in-arms, participates in various condolence performances, and uses her singing voice to bring warmth to people in distress.
In daily life, she will cheer for her comrades-in-arms, guide them to move forward firmly, and often participate in various condolence performances, using her singing voice to bring hope to those in the dark.
Li Qiong's kind of silent dedication shows a more mature and responsible her. During this period of time, Li Qiong no longer only pursued personal fame and fortune, but used music as a way to convey warmth and strength. Although she wasn't as radiant as she was when she was younger, her music took on a deeper meaning and value.
Li Qiong's return to the stage is not only a new rebirth in her personal music career, but also the hope of many people who have suffered setbacks. Her story tells us that as long as there is a dream and a love, no matter when, there will always be a day when it will bloom.
After returning to the public eye, Li Qiong found a new direction in life, no longer just pursuing personal stage performance, but devoting herself to the inheritance of music and social feedback.
Since then, Li Qiong has served as a mentor for new female singers, and she has taught her the theoretical and practical knowledge she has accumulated over the years. With great patience and love, she personally led and taught the young singers how to move forward on the path of music.
This change of role gives Li Qiong a sense of accomplishment that is different from acting, and she also finds new value in the process of helping new singers grow.
In addition to her music career, Li Qiong is also actively involved in public welfare undertakings and has served as an ambassador for several charity activities. Through condolence performances and donations, she brings hope and warmth to people in need, making her music have a deeper social significance.
At this stage, Li Qiong has found a more authentic way of musical expression, compared with those mainstream music that pursues lively and entertaining, she has chosen a more pragmatic and humane path, using music to convey positive energy and realize self-worth.
Li Qiong's transformation shows a more mature and stable image of an artist after the vicissitudes of life. She is no longer obsessed with personal fame and fortune, but gives back her talents and experience to the society, cultivating new people and caring for the disadvantaged. This choice not only enriched her life, but also injected new vitality and meaning into her music career.
Li Qiong's story has become an inspirational example for many people to persevere in their dreams, proving that even if there are setbacks, as long as you don't forget your original intention, then different stages of life can shine.