2 . “Pop” stands for popular, and a pop singer has to work very hard to stay popular. He must either give the public what they want, or he must find a new way of singing that will attract their attention. Even when he has succeeded, and his records are sold everywhere, he cannot relax. Then he must work harder than ever to remain popular, because there are always younger singers trying to become famous and to steal some of the popularity.

The life of a successful pop singer isn’t easy at all. He can only relax when he is alone, because everything he does is watched and reported in the special newspaper written for the fans. The fans are the most important people in the world for the singer. They buy his records, they go to his concerts, and they make him rich and famous. But they can be very annoying, too. Sometimes their enthusiasm (热情) is so hysterical (歇斯底里的) that they do anything to get a souvenir (纪念品). They steal handkerchief, they tear off buttons, and they even cut off pieces of unfortunate singer’s hair. Many singers have been forced to hide, and some who have not been so lucky as to escape have been stripped (剥) practically naked by their fans. A pop singer has to spend a lot of money on clothes because he must always look smart, or at any rate, different. He must have a luxurious (豪华的) car. And most importantly, he must always keep smiling for the benefit of his public.

3 . As a child, Liu Wenwen disliked the suona, a “loud, high-pitched” traditional Chinese musical instrument, an ancestral heritage of her family that was to become her career.

Her peers at primary school laughed at her, saying her whole family was engaged only in “weddings and funerals.” Indeed, these are the two major occasions where the horn-like wind instrument is played in China’s rural areas. Liu felt ashamed. People admired things that were modern and international. “Suona, in comparison, was considered an art of the hillbilly.” Her father’s family has performed suona for seven generations.

The music is rooted in Liu’s DNA, but it takes time and hard work to become a skilled musician. The instrument was so loud that it annoyed the neighbors when she practiced at home. “So my parents would wake me up at 4 a.m. every day and take me to practice outside in a park.”

While she followed her parents to play the suona as a child, she only fell in love with the instrument at university. She found suona music beautiful for the first time in 2008, when she entered Shanghai Conservatory of Music to learn the instrument more systematically.

On China’s social media platforms, her name is often followed by a video of her live performance at a concert in Sydney, Australia, alongside award-winning composer Tan Dun in 2017. For her debut on the international stage, she was playing Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix, a masterpiece that often represents excellence in suona performance.

Liu promoted the “hillbilly” music to an international audience, thanks to Tan and his team, who recomposed the traditional music and arranged the piece into an orchestra. “It was a smooth dialogue between a Chinese instrument and a Western orchestra, loved by the musicians and audience alike,” she said. “I felt my hard work had paid off. I trained for over 20 years, probably just to win cheers and applause for traditional Chinese music on the international stage.”

The Spring on Campus Music Festival

Get ready for our school’s upcoming event, the Spring on Campus Music Festival.

8 . Music is a proof to human creativity and expression in a language that goes beyond barriers (障碍). Let’s explore the world of music.

Classical music is a large type that includes music from the Middle Ages to the present day. Known for its rich harmonies, classical music requires a high level of skill and understanding to perform. It’s often seen as the start of many other music types.

Rock music started from rock and roll, and quickly became a force of its own. It’s known for strong and driving rhythms (节奏). Rock music has always been connected with a fight and social comments, and it’s often praised for its raw sound.

Country music is from rural American folk and Western music. Known for its storytelling, country music often features themes of love, heartbreak and everyday life. It’s characterized by its unique style, making use of instruments like the guitar, piano, banjo and fiddle.

Indie music, short for “independent (独立)”, is characterized by its being away from mainstream music rules. It often features nontraditional song structures. The indie spirits of valuing personal creativity over business success and supporting the DIY approach to recording and publishing give this type a unique and different sound.

The lion dance is a traditional Chinese dance performed on big occasions for good luck and prosperity, as     1     is believed that the lion symbolizes power and wisdom. Also, the lion dance is a way     2     (create) a festive atmosphere and bring happiness.

Chinese lion dances     3     (perform) by two “dancers” in a lion costume. Accompanied by the music of beating drums, lion dancers imitate a lion’s various movements or demonstrate martial arts’ agility (敏捷) ,     4     (depend) on the style.

Before the Han Dynasty, only a few lions had reached the Central Plains from the western area of ancient China due to the Silk Road trade. At that time, people imitated the     5     (appear) and actions of the newly arrived lions in a performance,     6     developed into the lion dance in the Three Kingdoms period and then became popular     7     the rise of Buddhism. In the Tang Dynasty, the lion dance was one of the court dances. After that, the lion dance became a custom during the Spring Festival.

The lion dance is     8     excellent example of Chinese folk culture, which has spread across the world with Chinese immigration. Up to now, overseas Chinese in Europe, America, etc.     9     (establish) many lion dance clubs, performing on Chinese festivals or big occasions,     10     (particular) Chinese New Year.