The unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has
changed everything. With a large portion of the world's population
forced to stay at home or to social distance, the entertainment industry
has become one of the most shattered sectors of the world economy.
With concert halls closed and live events canceled, music fans could
only sit in front of a computer screen and ruminate about the
enjoyment of immersing themselves in a live concert. However, as
we've come to realize, music never went away even during the
pandemic's peak.
From Italy's balcony concerts to the "One World: Together At Home”
live aid in the U.S., musicians around the world have been contributing
in every way they can.
The sound of music: be there for all
As of early June, renown Chinese singer Lin Ping had already recorded
five new songs, all of which express gratitude towards the medical
workers who ran to help the people of Wuhan, consoling people's
suffering during the pandemic, and looking forward to a future when
everything goes back to normal.
hitpssinews.egtn.comnews/2020-06-0Steries-of-musicians-and-thei-music-during-a-pandemic-Rbf2¥uNhKOfindex hil ana+er2000 Stories of musicians and thei musi ding a pandemic -CGTN
Lin's hometown is in Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak. She
started working on her music in late January, when the shutdown
measures were first put into place.
"| started to contact my composers and lyricist almost immediately, and
it did give me some trouble, because many studios were shut down as
well. | managed to find an available studio in the end and have my
song recorded," Lin said.
A man flies a kite along the river in Wuhan amid the citywide lockdown on February 5,
2020. /CFP
"It is the first time | pushed forward a song so actively. In fact, I'm
usually the one that needs to be hasted."
Lin said she was deeply touched that everyone she contacted was so
willing to help, and yet not one of them ever mentioned a word about
payment, from the composer, lyricist, singer to the audio mixing
engineers, even when some of them were also facing unprecedented
challenges.
hitpssinews.egtn.comnews/2020-06-0Steries-of-musicians-and-thei-music-during-a-pandemic-Rbf2¥uNhKOfindex hil ana+er2000 Stories of musicians and thei musi ding a pandemic -CGTN
Lin was not the only Chinese musician who stood out and tried their
best to write a song for everyone who needs encouragement to face
the pandemic. Chinese pop singers including Li Ronghao, Zhang Yixing,
G.E.M, and Hua Chenyu are among those musicians who also rose to
the occasion. The encouraging, soothing rhythms have touched
millions of people and trended on Chinese social media platform Sina
Weibo every time they were released.
"Faced with the disaster, I've never seen the people so united together.
Because everyone believes that music has the power to encourage, to
sooth and to unite,” Lin added, noting that's where the magic of music
lies.
Internet plus: a way out for music, but never the substitution
However, many musicians have been faced with extreme difficulties.
According to a report released by the China Association of Performing
Arts, during the first quarter of 2020, at least 20,000 live musical events
were either canceled or postponed, causing a direct box office loss of
two billion yuan (280 million U.S. dollars).
Meanwhile, a report on the condition of musical companies in Q1
conducted by musical industry think tank Music Business China shows
that the record labels, live event venue operators and sponsors have all
suffered from losses, forecasting that some of them may only survive
for one to two more months.
The cancellation of live concerts forced many organizations and
companies to resort to the internet for a way out.
He Yi, a Chinese soprano and Gugin artist, said that many musicians
have had to take to the internet for musical performances and
expressions in recent months, as it is nearly the only feasible way
during the lockdown. She believes that the pandemic has, to some
extent, promoted the development of online musical events that were
not getting much attention in the past.
hitpssinews.egtn.comnews/2020-06-0Steries-of-musicians-and-thei-music-during-a-pandemic-Rbf2¥uNhKOfindex hil anaStories of musicians and their music during a pandemic - CGTN
Tools to make and publish music online. /CFP
She also had several music-themed lectures moved from campus to the
internet.
"When you get used to it, you'll find that online music has its
advantages, for instance, it has no space or time limit, which means it is
not only available for those who can walk into the concert halls," said
He. She added that online platforms have attracted more international
audiences to her music, mostly Chinese traditional genres.
"As you can see, it can spread across the border. And also, it brings the
audience closer to me; we are only within one meter from each other —
the distance from our phone screens. They interact with me like I'm one
of their friends," said He.
But He doesn't believe live concert events can be replaced. Song Xinxin,
a renowned Guzheng artist in China, shares the same point of view.
Song's live performances in concert halls over the weekend have been
canceled as well.
hitpssinews.egtn.comnews/2020-06-0Steries-of-musicians-and-thei-music-during-a-pandemic-Rbf2¥uNhKOfindex hil sna+er2000 Stories of musicians and thei musi ding a pandemic -CGTN
"The live events can never be replaced, no matter the performers or the
audience. Certain magnificent energies exist between the performers
onstage and the audience that could only be experienced while face to
face," said Song. "And there is the problem of loss of sound without
the facilities in the concert halls.”
Why do we need music and musicians?
Stock image of a man playing guitar. /CFP
Why do we need music and musicians during the pandemic?
"Music definitely has the power of soothing and relieving, especially
during such a time, when people feel depressed and isolated," said He.
"While listening to music, people can feel that they are not alone.
Listening to music brings us the aesthetic enjoyment, and that refills us
with new energy.”
Song believes that during times of disaster, art can boom. It is also a
time for self-reflection for musicians.
hitpssinews.egtn.comnews/2020-06-0Steries-of-musicians-and-thei-music-during-a-pandemic-Rbf2¥uNhKOfindex hil+er2000 Stories of musicians and thei musi ding a pandemic -CGTN
"In recent years before the pandemic, | sometimes felt that music has
been over-commercialized. But while staying at home alone in the past
several months, musicians have been able to look deeper internally,
and their music can get a chance to renew and elevate itself," said
Song.
Playing or singing during the pandemic is a process of contribution
while at the same time absorbing, the musicians said.
Way back to the concert hall
Stock image of a concert hall. /CFP
Now with the pandemic generally brought under control in China,
pubs, concert halls and theaters are also gradually reopening in many
areas, though still with limitations. Each live event can only sell tickets
no more than 30 percent of the whole venue's capacity, and audience
members need to be seated with gaps between each other.
However, for the musicians, it means hope. During our interview, all
three musicians said they have been working on performance
arrangements in the next half year, saying they miss the stages and the
hitpssinews.egtn.comnews/2020-06-0Steries-of-musicians-and-thei-music-during-a-pandemic-Rbf2¥uNhKOfindex hil 74‘0162020 Stories of musicians and their music during a pandemic - CGTN
concert halls.
"The stage is one of the two types of spaces which makes me feel free,
and the other is in the mountains," said He.
Maybe it won't be too long before everyone can walk in to the concert
halls for a live performances, and with a completely new experience,
too.
Deng Junfang has contributed to the article
Cover image designer: Yin Yating
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