Reporter Zheng Na
“Forever Together” song poster
Screenshot of the MV for “Tribute to the Warriors”
“The world is so big, the reunion is in Beijing again, and in the blink of an eye, summer turns to winter, and snow and ice are all over the land…” On the occasion of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Propaganda Department of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Beijing The Musicians Association jointly launched the Winter Olympics-themed single “Forever You and Me”, which was created and performed by Chinese and Italian artists. It has recently appeared in major music media and attracted attention.
Expressing the theme of a community with a shared future for mankind
The song “Together Forever” was co-created by songwriters Zhang Heping and Shu Nan. Chinese soprano Lei Jia and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang together, and pianist Lang Lang played the piano. As a gift from Chinese and Italian artists to the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing, this song conveys to the world a simple and simple narration, a soothing and warm melody, and a combination of Chinese and Western styles. The belief of helping each other and creating a better future together.
“Before we started writing, we decided to express the theme of a community with a shared future for mankind. The title of the song ‘Together Forever’ also closely revolves around the Olympic spirit that symbolizes world peace, friendship and unity.” National first-class screenwriter, “Together Forever” “The lyricist Zhang Heping told reporters.
In 2008, Zhang Heping was the head of the opening and closing ceremonies work department of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee. This time, he is a specially-appointed expert for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee. He is a veritable “double Olympic person”. After receiving the songwriting invitation on November 4, 2021, “the fire in his heart was burning”, and he drafted the lyrics on November 7.
“The sky is still the sky, the earth is still the land, I’m still here waiting for you, you’re still you…” The language and words of “Together Forever” are simple and simple, reflecting the traditional Chinese philosophy of “The Great Way to Simplicity” , and also in line with the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympic Games “simple, safe and exciting” requirements. The interspersed interaction between Chinese and English, and the alternate singing of Chinese and Italian artists, directly reflects the dialogue between the East and the West.
The fusion of “the most national” and “the most cosmopolitan”
“The past ten years have been a decade of great changes in our country. Beijing is the first city to host the Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics. How can our music better present the changes and reflect the demeanor of a great country? How to embrace the world?” Composer and composer of “Forever Together” Shu Nan had been thinking about this question at the beginning of writing.
Shu Nan has created excellent works such as “Don’t Forget the Original Heart”, “Pursuit”, “Believe in Love Will Win”, and “China in the Lights” that are well-loved by the public. He and Zhang Heping are old partners. song. This time, after some thought, the two decided not to use the trendy style, but to take the classic route, to combine the “most ethnic” and “worldly” music, and invited the singer Lei Jia, who represents Chinese folk music, and the world. The well-known Italian singer Bocelli and the world-renowned pianist Lang Lang performed this song together.
After receiving the invitation, Bocelli readily agreed and was pleasantly surprised to be able to collaborate with two outstanding Chinese musicians. He said: “As an artist, it is my duty to talk to everyone’s heart. It is an honor to make a modest contribution to the world-class sports event held in China. China is a country I love, with an extremely rich history and profound culture and art. Culture and art help people understand each other, provide valuable support for world peace and development, make people like brothers and eliminate any possible mistrust.”
Singer Lei Jia is also deeply honored for being able to use singing to help the successful holding of the Winter Olympics. She said: “This song seems to be a memory and echo of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and it is also a full demonstration of the new look of Beijing as a ‘city of double Olympics’. The lyrics are majestic, the tune is warm and moving, and there are Chinese elements everywhere. , embodying our firm strength to work together with people all over the world, achieve peace, and move toward the future together. I believe this song will surely enter the hearts of audiences all over the world.”
Helping Winter Olympics with Excellent Music Works
“The song “Together Forever” contains the integration of the Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympics, the integration of the disabled and the disabled; the Beijing Winter Olympics and the Summer Olympics are together, the inheritance of the dual Olympics; the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the 2026 Milan-Kole Tina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics together, Winter Olympics relay and other multiple connotations. Through music, it conveys a spirit to the world, that is, whether disabled or able-bodied, East or West, past or future, nation or world, forever Together, let’s go to the future together.” Chen Ning, director of the Cultural Activities Department of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, said in an interview with reporters.
It is understood that since Beijing’s successful bid to host the Winter Olympics, the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee has held three Winter Olympics song collection activities, which have received positive responses from the majority of songwriters and the public. A total of 39 songs stood out from more than 1,000 works. In addition, a number of works were launched at important time points to welcome the Winter Olympics and assumed the functions of the event, such as the theme slogan promotion song “Together to the Future” for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics, the volunteer song “Burning Snowflakes”, The award ceremony promotion song “Salute to the Warriors”, the 100-day countdown song “We See You in Beijing”, the Beijing Winter Olympics Torch Relay promotion song “Flame of Hope” (“Fire of Hope”), etc., have become household names through popular singing. These excellent musical works are linked together, and it is a picture of the times when more than 1.4 billion Chinese people are looking forward to the Winter Olympics, welcoming the Winter Olympics, and hosting the Winter Olympics well.
“Music is an integral part of the Olympic culture, and it is also a bright business card of an Olympic Games. During the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, “Me and You” and “Beijing Welcomes You” and other movements full of Olympic spirit have been sung by people for a long time and turned into passion and dreams. , the classic melody of hard work and yearning. The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics will definitely leave behind a world-class and classic musical work. This is the artistic crystallization that Chinese creators dedicate to the Winter Olympics in the world’s language. It will also be the cultural heritage of the Winter Olympics for China and the world.” Chen Ning said.
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责编：李宜蒙 ]