In 2007, I was in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend, and under the urging of love, I wrote the song "Midian". My girlfriend is from Jiangnan and she wanted to open a grocery store after graduation. Mi Dian was the name she gave to her store.
I was at a low point in my life, living in an old-fashioned residential building in Beijing. Sometimes when I look at the busy pedestrians outside the window, I feel like I am stuck in time, and I want to leave Beijing and live another life. Midian wrote in such a mood, longing for love and a new life.
There are two kinds of fruits in the lyrics of "Midian", "apple" and "grape". "Apple" symbolizes love, and "home like vine leaves" comes from the prayer of Princess Arteh in the Serbian novel "Khazar Dictionary" which I loved at the time.
It is the first song I wrote. Someone once classified my songs as northwest folk songs. I felt very ashamed. My first song was about rice, not noodles.
After this song was written, the first official performance was at the opening concert of the photography festival planned by Zhang Xiaozhou in Lianzhou, Guangdong. I didn't finish writing all the lyrics until we were on the bus from Guangzhou to Lianzhou. On the day of the performance, I got nervous and forgot all the lyrics. I sang nonsense for a few minutes and finished the "first song". After I returned to Beijing, a European friend wanted to make a charity album in his country and asked me to give him a song, so he paid to rent a studio and record the first version of "Midian".
The recording studio is at the China Conservatory of Music. It is a studio that can do simultaneous recording of large-scale symphonies. It was the first time I recorded my own song. Before, I recorded accompaniment for a band or a singer. I was standing alone in a recording studio that could accommodate a symphony orchestra, and the recording engineer was a bit arrogant and didn't get along very well. In addition to Guo Long's percussion, I had to record two tracks of guitar, two tracks of accordion, and the lead singer and accompaniment within three hours. At that time, there was no interlude in "Midian". When I recorded the interlude, I almost collapsed and improvised an accordion melody. I never thought that that interlude is still used today.
In short, this is how "Midian" was born. "Our boat is parked on the pier", but when the boat is actually sailing, it is not as romantic as it sounds. Fortunately, God values ??your wishes, not your actions.
Before I wrote "Midian", I was a musician. I accompanied some singers or bands on the accordion live, and I had a wonderful musical time. But being a musician is like flying in other people's dreams. After others wake up from the dream, you have nowhere to fly. So I had no choice but to transition into composing and becoming a singer, creating a dream for myself that I could keep flying.
"Midian" is the beginning of this dream, so the last paragraph of this song is actually an inspirational song.
After a period of hesitation and self-denial, I published "Midian" on Douban Musician, and it started its own path from then on.
For the author, the song is actually like the author's child. Some children are always beautiful, some are honest, some are lucky, and some are born lonely. Each song has its own destiny, and the author has no control over what the people who hear it give it.
"Midian" is the kind of child who is relatively lucky. He grew up smoothly after leaving home. A few days ago, someone compiled a collection of "Midian" covers, including "Midian" covers by Lao Lang, Li Zhi, Song Dongye, Zhao Lei, Wutiaoren Band, and Yishi Band. I listened to each one and was so moved that I stood on the balcony for a long time unable to calm down. They are both excellent musicians, and each of them has many more works that are better than "Midian". What an honor.
Lao Lang performed "Midian" in "I Am a Singer" a while ago. Many people asked about their thoughts on working with Lao Lang. I also shared this in my Zhihu first answer:
Brother Lang chose "Midian" in "I Am a Singer" and invited me to join his band to accompany him. Of course I am extremely honored. To me, this whole thing is normal. Musicians have to face any stage. It was a little awkward when I first went on stage that day, but Brother Lang felt comfortable after he came on stage. He always brought his unique warmth and made people feel at ease.
Brother Lang chose the two songs "Gift" and "Midian" in the finals. He only sang two lines in "Gift" and "Midian" is a song that is completely unfamiliar to the public. This fully proves his attitude, which is to share music and stage with everyone, rather than compete for winning or losing.
"Midian" appeared in the final fierce competition, looking very peaceful and beautiful, reflecting Brother Lang's gentlemanly style.
After "Midian" appeared on "I Am a Singer", some listeners left comments on the Internet such as "Another song is going to be bad." I think this emotion is understandable, but there is no need to worry too much. First of all, we should make the street better, instead of always treating it as "bad" by default. Secondly, "Midian" does not have the factors to make the street popular.
I don’t consider myself a musician. The songs I write are nothing more than normal popular songs. Being popular means being with everyone, neither high nor low. It's popular, not kitsch, so I think it's okay.
Of course I am honored and delighted that a song is loved by everyone. What I’m telling you is just my story. Your “Midian” should still be your story, and it’s up to you to interpret it yourself.
Although I am not a prolific songwriter, I have written some songs since then. To put it bluntly, I never think "Midian" is a song that I cannot surpass.
Or, my next song will be named: "Grain Station".