The program schedule for the Year of the Monkey Spring Festival Gala was finalized and announced just a few hours before the broadcast, immediately sparking heated discussions.
"Jay Chou! This year there's actually Jay Chou! I want to see Jay! I want to hear 'dragon fist'! It's definitely going to ignite the whole venue!"
"There's also Karen Mok and Chyi Chin singing 'The Outside World' together. I'm really looking forward to this performance. Karen Mok's legs are absolutely stunning, so beautiful."
"Mingming, help me see who's performing in the skits and crosstalk this year?"
"Grandpa, don't worry. There's Zhao Benshan, Fan Wei, and Gao Xiumin, as well as Guo Da, Guo Donglin, Huang Hong, and all those familiar faces from the Spring Festival Gala. Oh, and Yan Shunkai is there too. Aren't you really fond of that old man?"
"Yan Shunkai is there? Oh, let me tell you, Yan Shunkai was Grandpa's childhood idol and memory. His 'The True Story of Ah Q' was so well-acted. He's a national first-class actor. I forget which year's Spring Festival Gala it was, but he performed 'Zhang San's Story,' and I still remember a few lines from it."
"Alright then, why don't you get some sleep first? I'll wake you up when those acts are on so you can watch."
A middle-aged man took a bottle of wine from the cabinet, sniffed it, then smiled and nodded. This was what he'd be drinking tonight.
The old man glanced at him and asked curiously, "How come you're willing to bring out this wine? Isn't it your treasured collection? Aren't you reluctant to drink it?"
His son laughed, "Times are different now. This year's Spring Festival Gala has invited a global superstar, my idol. I never thought I'd see him on the Spring Festival Gala one day. It's like a dream come true, so we must celebrate."
"Dad, who are you talking about? You're still a fan?"
A middle-aged woman walked out of the kitchen: "Why wouldn't he be? Don't think your mom and dad are country bumpkins. We were also fans when we were young."
"But back then, being a fan wasn't as convenient as it is now. We couldn't fly everywhere or attend concerts. It was mainly through cassettes and videotapes."
"Your dad is talking about Michael Jackson. Back then, your dad got a videotape from somewhere, and after watching it, he started collecting all of Jackson's audio-visual materials and learning to do the Moonwalk like him."
"Moonwalk? What's the Moonwalk?"
"A dance created by Michael Jackson. It looks so cool when you do it. Back then, everyone around us was learning it. But not anymore, I've gained weight, my belly's gotten bigger, so I can't do it."
His son, who was in junior high, shook his head, clearly having no impression of his parents' idol. After all, when Michael was at his peak, he was less than ten years old, so how would he understand these things?
His dad twisted his ankles a few times, seemingly trying to recapture the feeling from back then, but after trying, he gave up.
"Oh, by the way, do you remember that song you used to listen to a lot a while ago? It's called 'Rolling in the Deep.' Michael sang that."
"What! That was him!"
His son's eyes widened in surprise. He had heard that song too many times. Not only did he listen to it on his MP3 and online, but for a period, record stores and barbershops were also playing it. Walking on the street, it was impossible not to hear it.
"The song is great, but I still think Jay Chou is a more impressive singer. You guys just wait and see."
This scene, occurring in an ordinary family in Yanjing, was simultaneously playing out in thousands of households across China.
Each era has its own idols. A celebrity's influence lasting a decade is already a rarity.
It's normal for the younger generation, especially the non-Western younger generation, not to know Michael. Eric didn't know him when he was a child either.
But after tonight, his name will spread across the entire land of China.
In the CCTV studio, as the exciting background music began, the black and red lights immediately captured everyone's attention. People who were about to get up to use the restroom were involuntarily drawn back to their seats.
Ten backup dancers, five on each side, dressed in black suits, white shirts, red gloves, and black top hats, walked onto the stage.
At the same time, five red ropes suddenly dropped from the ceiling, and five more black-suited dancers descended from above, striking various poses.
Just the opening alone instantly stunned both the live audience and those watching on television, their eyes seemingly glued to the stage by a magnet, unable to look away.
Many people suddenly had a feeling that this performance was not a simple song and dance; it was fundamentally different from other acts.
More than a dozen backup dancers performed various movements, their feet shuffling, suits flying, incorporating ballet-like postures.
Under the black and red lighting, the stage appeared chaotic yet incredibly aesthetic, highlighting the professionalism of the backup dancers.
Suddenly, the music abruptly shifted to a higher key, and all the backup dancers fell down in unison.
And the backup dancer in the very center of the stage sparkled with countless fireworks. After he fell, Michael, also in a black suit and white shirt, was revealed. The difference was that he wasn't wearing red gloves.
Michael had told Eric that after he understood the significance of the Spring Festival to the Chinese people, he originally wanted to wear a red jacket and perform a joyful upbeat song.
However, after communicating with CCTV, they still suggested he adopt the black suit and white shirt attire, because this outfit was simply too classic.
Besides him, no other singer could wear it with such an aura.
After accepting CCTV's suggestion, Michael chose to recreate his classic performance from the MTV Awards on the Spring Festival Gala stage.
On stage, a close-up shot instantly focused on Michael. The stirring background music faded, replaced by a quiet hum and crisp finger snaps.
Snap!
Snap!
Snap!
Accompanied by each snap, the music for his hit song "Dangerous" began. Michael gently swayed his body, slowly moving forward while subtly shaking his head.
"The way she came into the place I knew right then and there."
"There was something different about this girl."
"The way she moved her hair her face her lines."
"Divinity in motion As she stalked the room."
A few murmured whispers, seemingly not loud, yet clearly reaching every audience member's ears.
Without needing to understand the lyrics, one could already clearly feel that mysterious and dangerous sensation.
Bang!
Michael's hand slowly rose and then sharply dropped. The moment his hand touched his body, a fierce drumbeat suddenly sounded in the background music, perfectly timed.
At the same time, the black-suited dancers who had fallen around him seemed to be activated, elegantly rising from the ground and standing behind Michael.
Despite all being tall men over 1.8 meters, they danced with the soft, fluid grace of water snakes, exuding freedom and naturalness.
"The girl is so dangerous, take away my money throw away my time."
"You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me."
"She came at me in sections with the eyes of desire."
"I feel trapped into her web of sin a touch a kiss a whisper of love."
The soft singing and low chanting continued, with robotic dance, jazz dance, locking, breakdancing, tap dance...
Countless dance styles were incorporated by Michael into this song. His posture was extremely graceful; every dance step landed precisely on a beat, as if adding a finishing touch to the song.
For typical singing and dancing performers, music and dance steps are two separate systems. Being able to perfectly synchronize them is already rare and commendable.
Moreover, to achieve graceful movements makes it even more difficult.
But Michael's dance was seamlessly integrated with the music. When the music reached its climax, the dance steps inevitably reached their climax.
When the dance steps reached their climax, the music inevitably reached its climax; the dance steps were equivalent to the rhythm.
When the music arrives, the meaning arrives; when the meaning arrives, the dance steps arrive!
Below the stage at this moment were Jay Chou, Xie Xiaodong, Chyi Chin, Karen Mok, A-do.
All professional singers, regardless of their genre—folk, pop, bel canto—
Everyone watched the person on stage intently, watching him confidently and calmly execute dance steps and movements.
Before, there was a hierarchy of contempt in the music world: classical looked down on jazz, jazz on rock, rock on folk, folk on pop, and pop on rap.
In a few more years, rap would look down on 'Hǎnmài' (a type of online live performance), and 'Hǎnmài' would even look down on Pang Mailang.
But at this moment, none of that existed. No one felt superior anymore, no one felt their own singing was better than anyone else's.
Because the person on stage had already conquered the entire audience. Before, they had only heard his name but never seen him, carrying a certain sense of superiority, but today they were all completely captivated.
Karen Mok looked at Chyi Chin beside her: "Fortunately, we performed before Michael Jackson, otherwise, nobody would have watched."
Chyi Chin nodded in deep agreement. Although he wasn't a singing and dancing performer, even just listening to the song, it was incredibly precise.
Moreover, Michael was dancing, yet there was no sign of his breath being disturbed at all. Considering his age of over forty, it was simply illogical.
"The King of Pop, truly lives up to his reputation. I suddenly feel a great sense of regret."
"Regret what?"
"Regret not flying to see Jackson's concert back then. That was his true peak. And I also regret not getting an autograph and a photo during the rehearsal. I'm afraid there won't be a chance once the show ends."
Jay Chou's lips curved into a smile as he leaned over and boasted, "I got one! Signed on my clothes, a limited edition!"
As singing and dancing performers, George Lam and Xie Xiaodong understood the difficulties involved even more, and the clearer they understood, the more they admired him.
"He just exudes a kingly aura. How on earth did he train this group of backup dancers? Why are they so perfectly synchronized?"
George Lam kept shaking his head, thinking about his own stage effects, which were simply reduced to dust in comparison.
The Spice Girls and Sweetie Girls already had stars in their eyes, like fangirls.
Han Lei, Tian Zhen, Song Zuying, and other singers were equally impressed, bowing down in admiration.
At the same time, everyone felt sorry for the singers performing later, following Michael Jackson.
The contrast was too stark; it was destined to be a tragedy.
"Dangerous, The girl is so dangerous!"
"Take away my money, throw away my time."
"You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me."
"Dangerous, The girl is so dangerous!"
"I have to pray to god cause, I know how lust can blind."
"It's a passion in my soul."
"But you're no damn lover friend of mine."
Singing and dancing, Michael was like a king leading his guards on a tour.
One moment, the movements were so intertwined that it was hard to distinguish the main from the secondary; the next, they were clearly defined, with sharp, distinct twists.
With his hat brim pulled down, Michael's feet moved like butterflies through flowers, shifting back and forth, left and right, at an incredibly fast pace.
This kind of footwork puts a heavy strain on the ankles; most people could never perform it with such natural flexibility.
"His rhythm changed again, what incredible adaptability!"
"It's more than just incredible. Fast and slow, dynamic and static, oblique and straight, violent and gentle—all elements in his performance rapidly move towards their opposites, and then quickly return to themselves."
"This dance is simply too pleasing to the eye. Is this the king who conquered the world?"
"Nicholas, compared to Jackson, we're still miles behind."
"It's nothing. I don't plan to sing anymore; I'll focus on acting. Edison, you're a two-sided singer, so study hard."
"Aaron, can you tell how many dance styles Jackson's footwork incorporates?"
Aaron Kwok shook his head: "I'd need to watch a replay; his range is too broad."
"Husband, I feel like I've suddenly become a fan of Michael. He sings so well, and his dancing is even cooler!"
"Better than my singing?" Wang Feng retorted.
"Mm, much better." Ge Huijie nodded.
"Old Cui, this song clearly incorporates elements of rock."
Cui Jian hummed in agreement: "Michael Jackson is a top-tier music master. I've heard his songs; 'Beat It' and 'Give In To Me' blend rock very well. Impressive!"
The singers and audience inside the venue were stunned by the performance, and those outside were no different.
From the moment the program list was announced, singers across China were paying attention, all glued to their televisions, ready to witness the prowess of the King of Pop.
And now they had seen it. From that moment on, all they could express was admiration.
Crash!
Crash!
Amidst the sounds of shattering glass, every time Michael waved his hand, the backup dancers lying on the ground sharply lifted their upper bodies.
The perfectly precise timing made the movements full of power and impact.
By this point, the performance had already lasted over 5 minutes.
It's important to know that the Spring Festival Gala's program is very tightly scheduled. If one segment runs long, other segments can only be shortened.
Typically, if a singer performs as part of a group chorus, they might get a bit more time.
But for a solo performance, let alone 5 minutes, even 3 minutes is considered very generous.
However, after watching this show, everyone would surely be silenced.
No one complained that Michael took too much time; they only wished he would take up even more. A free, world-class performance, an unparalleled audio-visual feast—what more could one ask for?
Ooh-woo!
With a signature scream, all the backup dancers fell down in unison.
Only the king remained standing on the stage!