In any competition, there are winners and losers. Chen Jin and his friends chatted and waited for their turn while observing the various emotions of the participants around them. Some were happy, some looked dejected, and others pretended to be nonchalant. Chen Jin noticed that among the dozens who went in, only one came out beaming, while the rest had gloomy expressions, casting resentful and unfriendly glances at others. Those who left calmly seemed to be merely holding back their sadness.
Generally, the audition involved just belting out a few notes. If the judges were polite, they would let you leave gracefully; otherwise, they might bluntly ask you to leave. Some persistent contestants, despite lacking talent, tried desperately to salvage their performance.
Despite the large number of participants, the process was quite efficient. Soon, it was the turn of Li Guoxian, who had arrived just before them.
Chen Jin glanced at his watch, noting that Li Guoxian had spent a relatively long time inside. When Li came out, he triumphantly showed Zhang Weixiong a small object in his hand, "See, Xiong? I got the first direct advancement today!"
Getting a direct advancement badge was indeed impressive, especially since Li's talents seemed average. It suggested his soft skills were quite strong, eliciting envious looks from other contestants.
Zhang Weixiong scoffed, "Qiang, that's nothing for our Ah Jin. If there were direct advancements to the top 32, Ah Jin would easily get it."
Li Guoxian, proudly twirling the badge tied with a red ribbon in his hand, replied nonchalantly, "Well, let's see you get your direct advancement first." It was clear he was staying to watch the drama unfold.
In less than ten minutes, the participants before Chen Jin had left dejectedly. Then, the auditorium's loudspeaker called the next contestant: "Number 183, Chen Jin."
Realizing that nearly two hundred contestants had already been evaluated, Chen Jin walked to the stage with determination. For someone accustomed to performing in various venues, this scenario didn't faze him.
Guided by a staff member, Chen Jin entered the audition area, a space about four meters wide and ten meters long, with five judges seated at tables. The judges, four men and one woman, looked tired after evaluating nearly two hundred contestants. However, the female judge's eyes lit up upon seeing Chen Jin, clearly impressed by his appearance.
Chen Jin greeted the judges respectfully: "Hello, I am contestant number 183, Chen Jin, from Lamma Island. I will be singing Leslie Cheung's 'The Wind Continues to Blow.'"
The male judges just glanced at him, but the female judge encouraged him to start. Chen Jin, unfazed by the judges' reactions, positioned his guitar and began playing.
His guitar skills, honed through persistent training and his sensitive senses, were of a professional level. Even before he started singing, the judges were captivated.
Chen Jin's voice, a sexy and magnetic baritone, was long-breathed and controlled. Although there were minor flaws in his singing technique, it was exceptionally good for an amateur. Most importantly, his singing conveyed emotions, capturing the sorrow, regret, and helplessness inherent in the song.
Singing is about expressing emotions and engaging the audience, a key factor in a singer's success and a reason why truly great singers are rare.
Singing a widely known song like "The Wind Continues to Blow" is challenging, as listeners compare every note to the original. Yet, Chen Jin's performance stood the test.
The judges, fully absorbed by his guitar and vocals, applauded him enthusiastically. The female judge complimented his looks and singing. It was a rare moment for the judges to be so excited after a long day of evaluations.
Before Chen Jin could respond, a male judge asked about his background, mentioning Leslie Cheung's connection to Lamma Island. Chen Jin confirmed his island origin.
Another judge inquired about his age, family situation, guitar training, and whether he had received formal vocal training. The questions felt like an investigation, but they showed the judges' interest and belief in his potential. Chen Jin respectfully shared that he was twenty, an orphan, had learned guitar for a couple of years, and had honed his singing for the competition.
The female judge, surprised to learn Chen Jin was an orphan, asked about his background and reasons for participating. Chen Jin explained he used to fish and decided to compete at his friend's encouragement.
The judges were amused by his story, realizing the potential loss had his friend not recognized his talent. The lead judge, intrigued by Chen Jin's mention of his friend, Zhang Weixiong, who had failed in five previous attempts, acknowledged Zhang's good eye for talent.
Then, confirming with the other judges, the lead judge announced, "Chen Jin, congratulations. You have earned direct advancement to the top 32 semifinals."