I’m Really a Superstar

Chapter 1228: Recording begins!

Translator: Legge Editor: Legge

The next day.

It was a rainy morning.

At Central TV Department 1, in the recording studio for Sing!

"Camera 1."

"Ready."

"Lights."

"They're all working fine, Director."

"Is Teacher Fan Wenli here yet?"

"She's getting her makeup done."

"Good, get ready to roll the cameras!"

The audience had already entered the studio. In the huge venue, there were no empty seats. Many of the audience members could not calm themselves as they kept looking at the stage and exchanging whispers from time to time. It was still very much the same setup that Zhang Ye had created back during the first season of The Voice. However, the logo had been slightly modified and the colors of the stage were also a little different. The four guest coaches' chairs also no longer looked like the rotating type of seat. They were now blocked at the front with a screen so that whatever was happening on stage could not be seen by the guest coaches sitting in them. It also looked like the screen could be raised or lowered. As for the rest of the structures, they were virtually untouched.

"Are they recording yet?"

"Hurry up, I can't wait any longer!"

"I'm really looking forward to it. I hope there'll be more contestants similar to the common folks we saw in Season One, like Qian Pingfan, Luo Yu, and Old Master Zhou Danian. Those contestants on Zhang Ye's The Voice were all shockingly good!"

"Yeah, brilliant talent walks amongst the common folk!

"I don't find the ordinary people who sing to be any worse than pro singers."

"Right, some of them can sing even better than pro singers."

"Ah, it's starting. Someone's coming out!"

"Is that the host?"

" Murong 1 ?"

"Murong is the host?"

"She's that really popular Spring Festival Gala host for Central TV!"

"But speaking fast isn't really her style, is it?"

"I don't think she can speak at Zhang Ye's speed."

"Hai, what a pity. Sing! can replicate everything except for the hosting role. They really couldn't find anyone to stand in for Zhang Ye. That fellow is simply too unique in the field of hosting. This is probably what I find most regrettable about Sing! After all, that image of him reading those advertising messages of a few hundred words in a single breath left a very deep impression on everyone. I don't think that most people can accept it now that that has changed."

"Yes, that's true. Hai."

"I find it weird that the guest coaches will no longer be turning around in their chairs too."

"Sing! isn't the same as The Voice after all."

The cameras started and the recording officially began.

As everyone discussed the show while recording happened, Zhang Ye's name kept coming up. It wasn't that they insisted on bringing him up, but that his name was just unavoidable whenever The Voice was mentioned. It was like an eternal monument.

…

Meanwhile.

At Beijing Television.

Recording for I Am a Singer also began. In fact, their filming for the show had started ten days earlier. As the show consisted of reality TV elements, they had to follow the singers around with cameras, as well as document the behind-the-scenes activities at the television station and the program team's planning. For example, it was depicted in the program team's meeting how they invited the singers to the show and how the competition's rules were drawn up. Then there was also the assignment of tasks to Dong Shanshan and the others during a meeting between the seven host-managers. All of it was completed earlier and would be edited into the final broadcast cut to inform the audience about the rules so they would be fully familiar with how the show worked and understand the course of the competition.

And today was the official live studio recording of the show.

The staff members were standing by in their positions between 4 and 5 AM. Those who had worked with Zhang Ye before knew very well that he was usually very nice to others and an easy-going person who rolled with the punches. But when it came to work, Director Zhang was extremely demanding and paid very close attention to the details of a show. This was why no one dared to be careless with their roles.

The walkie-talkie beside Zhang Ye crackled.

"Director Zhang, Director Zhang, Singer #1 has arrived."

"OK. Follow them and document the arrival in video. Ensure that everyone sticks to the route."

"Director Zhang, Singer #3 is almost at the station."

"Get Singer #3's car go around again and wait for ten minutes."

"Understood, we won't let the singers bump into each other."

"How's the prep work going at the studio?"

"Everything is A-OK here!"

"Check again that the equipment is all set to go."

"Roger."

"In half an hour's time, let the audience into the studio."

"Copy that, Director Zhang."

The singers gradually arrived, albeit separately, in order to keep things confidential. This wasn't just a formality that they were preaching as the singers were really clueless about who the other participants were. Whether it was the contract talks, the rehearsals before the competition, or arriving at the station, all of it was carried out in isolation of the others. It was only when the singers got onstage that the other singers would know who they were through a television in their waiting rooms. This was done to increase the entertainment of the show.

Backstage.

This area had been redesigned into a very welcoming two story activity zone. On the second floor were seven rooms, with the logo of I Am a Singer and a room number pasted on the door. There was no indication of the singers' information, and only Zhang Ye knew which singer was going to be behind each door.

Room #1 was Xiaodong, the group leader of Spring Garden.

Zhang Ye pushed the door open and stepped in. "Hey, Sister Dong."

Xiaodong was just looking around the room when he came in. "Director Zhang, there are cameras everywhere in here?"

"That's right." Zhang Ye smiled and said, "Are you feeling OK?"

Xiaodong forced a smile. "I'm a little nervous."

Zhang Ye said, "But you're an Asian star. What big occasions have you not seen before?"

Xiaodong said, "I've never been in a competition with so many peers before! Tell me, who else joined? Hurry up and reveal a little to me. I walked around earlier, but why didn't I see anyone in the other rooms?"

Zhang Ye chuckled and said, "You're the first to arrive and also the first who'll find out who the other singers are. I Am a Singer will be using the competing singers as show hosts as per what we have discussed beforehand. So unless you get eliminated, you'll keep hosting until the finals begin, OK? But of course, with your ability and popularity, even if anyone gets eliminated, it won't be you. The other singers aren't as good at singing as you and less popular as well, so you can perform without any worries. Just let yourself go." He had said this before to Xiaodong. Otherwise, she couldn't have possibly agreed to join the show so easily.

Letting Xiaodong host the show was something Zhang Ye had given some thought. Whether it was her image, popularity, or eloquence, Xiaodong was the most suitable candidate for this role.

Xiaodong felt a little more at ease. "That's good then. I'm just afraid of losing. That'd be really embarrassing."

Zhang Ye handed her the hosting cue cards. "Here's the information about the singers. The host lines are also in there. Look through it and don't go outside the room anymore. The other singers will be arriving very soon."

"Don't worry." Xiaodong giggled as she took the cards from him.

After she did that, Zhang Ye turned around and closed the door. Then he quickly walked away.

But before he was even gone for five seconds, Xiaodong let out an angry roar from inside Room #1. "Zhang Ye! Get back in here! What's with this list of singers?"

In the activity zone, a few cameramen looked at Zhang Ye.

Xiao Lu blinked in confusion, not understanding what had happened to Xiaodong. She even gave Zhang Ye a look to indicate to him to get back in there to find out what was going on.

But no one expected Zhang Ye to not even turn around. When he heard that angry roar, this fellow even picked up his pace and walked away like he did not hear a thing!

In Room #1.

Xiaodong was so shocked she nearly fainted!

Seeing all of those names on the list of singers!

Chen Guang!

Amy!

Zhang Xia!

Xue Kaiqi!

He Huan!

Zhao Wuliu!

Xiaodong felt like she had just died!

What were all of these famous singers in the music scene doing here?!