Chapter 195 Finals 2

Brian from the United States sat in the audience, initially with a hint of disdain, but as Gao Rong sang, his expression gradually became more and more unpleasant.

For whom is the beaded curtain rolled up?

Ah, Gao Xuan is nowhere to be seen.

The moon shines brightly at this moment, and I feel embarrassed.

A light rain falls on the early spring morning.

Quietly awaken the buds

Listen to the gentle breeze whispering in your ear

Sighing at the flowing water and the fallen flowers.

Who plays the zither amidst the mist and clouds?

The lyrics of the song "Rolling Up the Pearl Curtain" are influenced by Li Qingzhao's version. However, when Shi Shi listened to it before her time travel, she felt that the melody was deeply influenced by the version by Lady Wei of the Song Dynasty. The lyrics depict scenes such as a woman painting her eyebrows, beautifully continuing the classical artistic conception. The Irish folk melody combined with the pentatonic scale in the tune creates a new cultural collision. The pearl curtain always serves as a carrier of emotion.

The song expresses a woman's deep longing for her beloved. It combines imagery from classical Chinese poetry with a poignant melody.

A unique charm.

As the last word of the song faded, the entire audience fell silent.

Who says foreigners can't understand the lyrics and therefore won't be drawn to the song? Immediately afterward, the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause, a wave of applause that surged and lasted for a long time.

Shi Shi was incredibly excited; Gao Rong's performance was truly outstanding. Brian's face grew increasingly grim. He never imagined that this song from the East would possess such power, which meant his confidence in winning with Western pop music was no longer guaranteed.

Yes, as the host just introduced, everyone knows this is Shi Shi's work. And the song performed by the American team this round is also Brian's work…

Gao Rong stood up, bowed to those around him in gratitude, his eyes firm and confident.

Seeing the score on the screen, Gao Rong quickly walked off the stage and hugged the Chinese team members, while the surrounding audience cast approving glances.

At that moment, Brian suddenly stood up and walked over to the Chinese team. He forced a smile and said, "I have to admit, this song is very unique. But I think music is diverse, and we should have more exchanges."

Shi Shi responded with a smile: "That's right, music knows no borders, and we welcome the collision and exchange of different cultures."

The enthusiastic applause from the audience continued unabated, and a musical exchange unfolded in this unique atmosphere, moving in a broader direction.

Meanwhile, Grace, a singer from the United States, took to the stage, influenced by the previous song.

Grace is the winner of the American talent show "American Idol," through which she officially debuted. Despite her young age, she has starred in over 200 musicals! Her incredibly powerful and soulful voice is merely her comfort zone. Her true weapon is her emotionally charged stage presence.

Breaking Myself

A song composed by Brian and sung by Grace.

The moment Grace stood on the stage, Brian and Shi Shi's eyes met.

Brian's eyes held a hint of provocation, while Shi Shi met his gaze with unwavering confidence. As the music began, Grace's powerful voice instantly filled the entire venue. She danced freely on stage, each note seemingly carrying a cry from her soul, perfectly showcasing the song's theme of self-breakthrough.

How can I fix you?

How can I cure you?

If I'm breaking myself

If I am hurting myself

If I'm breaking myself

If I am hurting myself

The audience was captivated by her performance, creating a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere. Looking at Grace on stage, Shi Shi couldn't help but admire her talent; this trip had truly been worthwhile.

As the song drew to a close, Grace ended her performance with a powerful high note, eliciting another round of cheers from the audience.

Brian smiled smugly, walked up to Shi Shi, and said casually, "This is the charm of music from our beautiful country."

Shi Shi smiled and replied, "It was indeed very exciting, but... could you please not act like a villain?"

At this moment, the host walked onto the stage, ready to announce Grace's score, and a tense atmosphere spread through the air.

Gao Rong and Grace each have their own strengths. Neither of them has any major flaws in their singing. Now it depends on the judges' preferences.

Grace's score was 98.45.

Gao Rong's score is... 98.40.

We lost!

Gao Rong tried to maintain a composed expression, but disappointment still lingered in his eyes. Shi Shi patted his shoulder and said softly, "Don't be discouraged. Our music has a unique charm. This is just a minor setback."

"I really love this song, it's a pity I couldn't win the tournament with it. The third round will be all about you and Hua Hu!" Gao Rong said to Shi Shi.

"Our nation, China, will prevail!"

The two clasped hands together, a gesture that seemed both a promise and an encouragement.

The decisive third round has arrived. Hua Hu and Shi Shi exchanged a glance and walked to the stage where the Chinese team was seated.

All the questions on the screen started spinning wildly.

The five questions for the Chinese team were: Buddha, praising history, tea, mask, and high heels.

Meanwhile, the five questions from the neighboring United States were: the sun, the sea, lost love, sports, and ice and snow.

The Eagle Nation's team included: War and Peace, Dogs, Injury, Air, and Obsession.

Instead of focusing on others, focus on yourself.

In this round, each country's team needs to choose three songs from five. The total score of the three songs is the score for this round.

Shi Shi looked at Hua Hu: "You choose first?"

Hua Hu didn't stand on ceremony: "I'll choose the tea. The remaining two are for you, how about that?"

With three songs to be shared between two people, someone inevitably had to take the lead. Shi Shi agreed without hesitation.

"Then I'll choose high heels and Buddha."

After selecting the songs, Shi Shi began to conceive the two pieces. "High Heels" could combine the independence and confidence of modern women, and could be presented with a light and cheerful melody to showcase a unique charm; while "Mask" was mysterious and elusive.

Hua Hu was also seriously pondering songs about "tea" on the side, and the long history and unique charm of Chinese tea culture came to mind.

Seeing their chosen topics, netizens began to speculate about what kind of works the two would bring.

Cherry Little Calf: My favorite color is high heels! I can't imagine what kind of song this will be.

Dinosaurs vs. Wolves: The Decisive Round!! Oh my god, so tense!!

Regardless of the situation outside the venue, all the contestants inside focused their attention on the songwriting process itself.

Now that the competition has reached this point, it's time to see who's truly capable!

To everyone's surprise, the United Kingdom only sent Oliver to participate in this round. That means he had to complete three works by himself within the same time frame.

And his speed was no longer the sluggish pace of the previous two rounds. His hand holding the pen moved with lightning speed. Lyrics were born one by one.