This Tuesday night, as usual, I listened to some music and played on the computer.
But in that moment, I was captivated by an image that flashed on the homepage of the music app, "The Street Before the Summer... Youth," by Zhao Lei.
In the deep of night, when people cannot be calm, Zhao Lei, who accompanied my seven years in Beijing, has finally released a new album after so many years.
1
I remember the first time I listened to folk music was in the winter of 2014, when I had just arrived in Beijing, alone in Beijing.
The first folk song I listened to was "Nanshan Nan." I can still imagine the scene when I first heard this song. I had just finished class, put on my backpack, wore my gloves, and rode an "Old Fashion" bicycle with a "vegetable basket" from our East Campus back to the main campus.
The lyrics start with "You are in the southern sun while snow falls, I am in the northern cold night where it's spring all year round," which made me feel warm while cycling in the biting cold wind, perhaps because I heard "the southern sun," or maybe because I heard "spring all year round."
The part with the intermittent opera is my favorite; I found it a bit abrupt at the time because it was the first time I heard opera mixed into a song, but it also felt very Beijing-like, and the rhythm changes were well connected, a bit excited at the front and then gradually calming down, creating a storytelling feeling.
Coincidentally, I am now working in Nanshan[Doge], which I was reminded of back in 2014.
2
Although I didn't get into folk music because of Zhao Lei, most of my time in Beijing later was accompanied by Zhao Lei's songs.
Every time a new semester started, I would take the "train to Beijing." In the first few years, I bought a 15-hour sleeper ticket, solving two meals on the train and arriving after a nap. In the later years, with the introduction of the Harmony and Fuxing trains, I would solve one meal on the train and arrive in 6 hours.
When I arrived in Beijing, it was the place to realize my "dream." I reminded myself that dreams are always young, and whatever I want to do, I should do it immediately.
If I got bored, I would ride my bike to "Gulou," a place that sells many trendy brands, but I could only look. The only time I spent money was on a pair of AJ30s, which were the most suitable sneakers I ever wore, but now the soles are worn out.
The place in Beijing that looks most like a "painting" is Houhai. This was the first place I found in Beijing that resembled my hometown, with water, boats, and neon lights highlighting the prosperity.
Whenever I had free time, I would ride my bike to Houhai to stroll around and listen to the music playing there (there are many bars and live singers).
"Beijing's winter" is too cold; generally, around nine o'clock in the evening, the streets are empty, unlike the south, where at eleven o'clock, you can still hear the sound of bottles downstairs.
"Beijing's winter" is too cold, but a few meals of lamb spine hotpot can warm you up; I even got a bit overheated after eating two meals in a row.
"Beijing's winter" is too cold, but southerners can enjoy the snow to their heart's content.
Later, I also found my "southern girl."
We went to "Chengdu" together, passing by the small taverns on Yulin Road, walking on the streets of Chengdu. But to wake up early for Xiling Snow Mountain the next day, we didn't wait for all the lights to go out.
Listening to a song from "the 80s," please light another cigarette for me.
Now I have said "goodbye Beijing," leaving with all my emotions. If I really cried, it would be because I couldn't bear to leave Beijing.
Finally, I send myself a line from "Little People," "Do not confront greedy people, do not shed tears for the ungrateful; there are many who laugh at me in this world, you are just one of them."
3
Now I listen to folk music less often; I don't know if it's because the cold north is more suitable for listening to folk music, or because I started to like listening to folk music in the cold north, so I associate the cold north with folk music.
This time, I listened to all the songs in the "The Street Before the Summer" album, and my favorite is a song that echoes "Thirty-Year-Old Woman," called "Girl." I love the melody in it, gentle yet full of power (even I, a big man, felt it). So, what is your favorite?
That's it for the weekly journal～ (quickly going to prepare for "App Knowledge Sharing")
Music not only brings me strength but also helps me preserve memories of certain times. Is there a folk song that moves you? Feel free to leave a comment and share!
Also, today is September 18th; I hope we do not forget our national humiliation and strive for progress!🐛