“The Next” Season 2 (天籁之战第二季) - Singing Competition
From October 2017 to January 2018, Hua Chenyu participated in Dragon TV’s singing competition/show “The Next Season 2”.
1. About the show
“The Next” (also known as “Sound of War”) is a singing competition/show where anyone can challenge mature singers, and fight for dreams to reach the top. From the start of each episode, 7 ordinary people from all walks of life will choose a singer to challenge, and each singer warrior (singers) would choose to accept a single challenger.
The song the challenger chose for the singer warrior will then be revealed, and the singer warrior must compete with their challenger by singing the chosen song. The singer warriors have 24 hours to rearrange to chosen songs, and after 24 hours, they will face their challengers on the stage with 400 audiences who would cast their votes to decide the winner.
On average, the rearrangement of a song goes along the lines of choosing a style, composing a demo, rearranging, settling the music sheets, rehearsals, etc. This process usually takes 1 week, but in “The Next”, the time is shortened to only 24 hours, with 4 singer warriors sharing one music band.
In the second half of the competition, each of the surviving challengers form a combination with a singer, and compete against other teams by performing together.
In addition to Hua, singers in the Season 2 also includes Karen Mok, Fei Yu-ching, Yang Kun and Jason Zhang.
Karen Mok, whom Hua met in Season 1, asked Hua to compose for her new album. Coincidentally, a few years ago, Hua wrote down a DEMO suitable for Karen to sing and named it “Karen Mok”, so he gave the DEMO directly to Karen. The DEMO later became “Half a Lifelong Romance (半生缘)”, which is included in Karen’s new album.
This was Hua’s first compose work for Others.
2. Playlist
“The Next S2”Full Version
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGjsh-EBqdUMxcbGDww3a6FZy-hp2Sep8
Collection of Hua Chenyu performances
3. Detailed information about each episode
EP1: Maiden Of Alisan (阿里山的姑娘)
Original Singer: QingshanOctober 15, 2017
In the first episode of Season 2, Hua Chenyu sang the Taiwanese folk song “Maiden Of Alisan” by adapting it to his own style.
EP2: HEAVEN (天堂)
Original Singer: TenggerOctober 29, 2017
Hua Chenyu adapted a Mongolian folk song that praised one’s hometown into a New Age style.
EP3: The Phantom Lover (夜半歌声)
Original Singer: Leslie CheungNovember 5, 2017
The recording of the show was on the second day of the “Mars Concert 2017”. Hua Chenyu suffered from severe tinnitus due to overwork, and even worried that “I might never be able to make music again in the future.”
But he gave the song 100 percent respect. He did not make drastic changes, conveying all the emotions to the audience through just a piano and his voice.
EP4: Endless Embrace (深情相拥)
with Zhao Youqiao
Original Singer: Leslie Cheung ft Winnie HsinNovember 11, 2017
EP5: I’m Ugly, But I’m Very Gentle (我很丑可是我很温柔)
Original Singer: Chief ChaoNovember 18, 2017
Hua Chenyu thinks of herself, “Although I’m not handsome, I’m not ugly either.” So in order to prevent the audience from focusing on his appearance, he chose to wear a black mask.
EP6: Code Name Contra (代号魂斗罗)
Derived from the theme melody of the game “Contra”November 25, 2017
Since there aren’t any instruments or vocals in the game’s MIDI soundtrack, it’s fair to say Hua Chenyu created an entirely new song in 24 hours rather than just rearranging it.
EP7 No Performance
December 2, 2017
Draw a bye. Rest for one episode
EP8: Dad, I’m Home (爸，我回来了)
Original Singer: Jay ChouDecember 9, 2017
The theme of this song is domestic violence, and Hua Chenyu perfectly played the image of a boy who suffered domestic violence in the form of the narration.
After the show aired, many viewers who didn’t know the truth assumed that this was Hua’s real experience.
EP9: Drunk As Lonely Hero (一人饮酒醉)
December 16, 2017
“Drunk As Lonely Hero” is a representative work of the “喊麦 (shouting mic)” music category popular among Chinese folk. To put it simply, it is similar to rap freestyle.
Hua Chenyu created a new song using Chinese classical music style, adding a poetic and beautiful melody to the original rap-like lyrics.
EP10-11 No Performance
December 23, 2017
Draw a bye. Rest for one episode
EP12: Idiot (白痴)
with Ma Lu
Original Singer: Faye WongJanuary 6, 2018
Hua Chenyu’s adaptation used the musical form of polyphony and a highly ceremonial stage design.
EP13: Insignificance (渺小)
with Geng Sihan
Original Singer: Hebe TienJanuary 13, 2018