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In 2004, a dark horse emerged in the Chinese music scene. A song called "Life'sAStruggle", with its unique style and profound lyrics, swept the major music charts, and even left Jay Chou, Faye Wong and other kings and queens behind, and won the Golden Melody Award for Best Composer that year. For a while, fans were frantically asking: Who is this mysterious creator? However, when the truth was revealed, people fell silent, because the musical genius had long since passed away, leaving behind only a sad life story and a piece of music that hit the soul. He is Song Yueting, a genius who was tricked by fate, and a legend who wrote music with his life.
1. The birth of a genius and a lonely childhood
Born with a golden spoon in his mouth, it is the beginning of life that many people dream of, but for Song Yueting, this is the beginning of his tragedy. Born into a wealthy family, he was supposed to enjoy his childhood carefree, but Song Yueting's parents devoted all their energy to their careers, leaving him alone in a mansion with material abundance but emotional deficiency.
The young Song Yueting was like a canary trapped in a cage, with a gorgeous body of feathers, but he couldn't fly freely. He is sensitive, introverted, and longs for the love and companionship of his parents, but reality pushes him into the abyss of loneliness again and again. In the absence of his parents, painting and music became his only solace. At the age of three, he began to pick up a paintbrush and sketch his imaginative world with immature lines. Amazingly, he was able to create paintings full of childlike fun and spirituality without copying, showing amazing artistic talent. When he was nine years old, he was invited to participate in an exclusive interview by TV because of his imaginative paintings, and was called "the future Van Gogh".
In addition to painting, Song Yueting also has a natural sensitivity to music and dance. He likes to dance to the rhythm of music and express his emotions with his singing. However, in the eyes of the parents, these are just "not doing their job" play, they have never listened carefully to their son's voice, let alone given him the encouragement and support he deserves.
In the neglect and neglect of his parents, Song Yueting's childhood world was like a barren desert, with no warm sunshine, only endless loneliness and loneliness. He poured all his emotions into painting and music, trying to fill the emptiness in his heart with art. However, this forced precociousness also laid the groundwork for his future tragedy.
2. Seeking medical treatment in a foreign country and the confusion of youth
At the age of fourteen, fate dealt Song Yueting a heavy blow again. He was diagnosed with severe sinusitis, and in search of better treatment, his parents sent him to the United States across the ocean, where he stayed with a distant relative.
Leaving the familiar environment and coming to a strange country alone, Song Yueting's heart was full of uneasiness and fear. The language barrier, cultural differences, and the indifference of the host family all made him feel extremely lonely and helpless. At school, he was a stranger who didn't fit in, because of his language barrier and introverted personality, he was often ostracized and ridiculed by his classmates, and even bullied on campus.
In the face of all this, Song Yueting felt confused and helpless, he didn't know how to relieve the bitterness in his heart, so he could only pour out all his grievances and thoughts to his mother on the other side of the ocean. His letters are filled with longing for his homeland, longing for his parents, and the injustices he has encountered in United States. At the same time, he also sent his comics and songs to his mother, hoping to get her understanding and support.
These days in the United States were the darkest time in Song Yueting's life. He was like a small boat lost in the middle of the ocean, unable to find its way and to see no hope. However, just when he was about to despair, hip-hop music opened a door to a new world for him.
He was introduced to the work of hip-hop superstars such as Tupac and Biggie, and was fascinated by their authentic, direct, and powerful music. In hip-hop music, he found an outlet for his emotions and a way to talk to the world. He began to try to create his own hip-hop music, incorporating what he saw, heard, thought and felt in the United States.
In order to better integrate into the United States hip-hop culture, Song Yueting worked hard to learn English, imitated the rap skills of black singers, and even gave himself an English name - M80. He began to frequent various underground hip-hop music clubs, writing and performing with a group of like-minded friends, and finding a sense of identity and belonging in music.
During this time, Song Yueting's musical talent was fully released, and his musical style gradually matured. However, just when he thought he had finally found the direction of his life, fate played a cruel joke on him again.
3. Misguided and the pain of imprisonment
In the United States, hip-hop culture originated on the streets and is inextricably linked to gang culture. Many hip-hop singers themselves come from gangs, and their music is full of social dissatisfaction, a struggle against fate, and an exaggeration of violence.
Although Song Yueting loves hip-hop music, he is kind by nature and does not identify with violence and crime in gang culture. However, living in a lonely and oppressive environment, coupled with a lack of understanding of United States society, he mistakenly equated "brotherly righteousness" with true friendship, which eventually led him to make a decision that he regretted for the rest of his life.
In 1997, a friend of Song Yueting had a conflict with someone over a trivial matter, and the other party was outnumbered and threatened to retaliate. In order to "help" his friends, Song Yueting and several friends planned a "prank". They impersonate gang members and intimidate each other in an attempt to scare each other away. However, they underestimated the seriousness of the situation, and the "prank" eventually turned violent, leaving the other party injured and hospitalized.
After the matter was revealed, Song Yueting's so-called friends betrayed him one after another in order to evade responsibility. Song Yueting, who was isolated and helpless, was eventually arrested by the police and charged with robbery.
Although Song Yueting tried his best to defend himself in court, he was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for three years, due to a lack of evidence and a language barrier.
Three months of prison life was undoubtedly a nightmare for Song Yueting. In this cold cage, he saw the darkness and cruelty of human nature. The bullying of his fellow inmates, the indifference of the prison guards, and the pain of losing his freedom were all like sharp knives, mercilessly stabbing his heart.
However, it was in this desperate environment that Song Yueting's musical talent was sublimated. He began to record what he saw, heard, thought and felt in prison with music, and his lyrics became more profound, more real, and more moving.
During these dark days, there was a song that became Song Yueting's spiritual pillar, and that was "Life's a Struggle", which later made him famous in one fell swoop. The song was written by him in prison with the simplest equipment, and the lyrics are full of a struggle against fate, a desire for freedom, and a reflection on life.
Fourth, the swan song of life and the eternity of music
After being released from prison, Song Yueting seemed to be a different person. He is no longer as impulsive and confused as before, but has become more mature and steady. He began to re-examine his life and put all his energy into making music.
He rented a basement, built a modest recording studio with the simplest equipment, and began to devote himself to music. He incorporated what he saw, heard, thought and felt in the United States, as well as his experiences and perceptions in prison, into his music, creating powerful and infectious works.
However, fate doesn't seem to be going to spare the much-ordained musical genius. In 2001, Song Yueting was diagnosed with bone cancer, and it was already at an advanced stage.
In the face of the sudden illness, Song Yueting did not show too much fear and despair, but cherished his time more and worked harder to create music. He wants to leave more and better music works in his limited life to prove the meaning of his existence in this world.
In order not to worry his family, Song Yueting has been hiding his illness. It wasn't until his condition worsened and he could no longer hide it that he told his parents the truth.
Upon hearing the news of their son's illness, Song Yueting's parents were devastated. They put down all the work at hand and took Song Yueting everywhere to seek medical treatment. However, it was too late, and there was no hope for Song Yueting's condition.
In the last days of his life, Song Yueting returned to Taiwan and returned to his mother's side. He lay in a hospital bed and continued to make music until the end of his life.
On August 9, 2002, Song Yueting passed away peacefully in the arms of his mother at the age of 23. Like a shooting star, he briefly streaked across the night sky, leaving a dazzling glow before disappearing into the endless darkness.
After Song Yueting's death, his mother sorted through his belongings and found 18 songs that had never been released. These songs are Song Yueting's last gift to the world, and they are also the truest portrayal of his short and brilliant life.
In these songs, there is a struggle against fate, a desire for freedom, a longing for love, a reflection on friendship, a perception of life, and a dissatisfaction with society... Every song is a life movement composed by him with his heart and soul, and it is worthy of our hearts to listen to and feel.
Song Yueting's music has no gorgeous rhetoric or complex arrangement, only the most real emotions and the most direct power. His singing voice is like a key that opens people's inner world that has been sealed for a long time, allowing people to see a lonely, sensitive, kind, brave, and persistent soul.
His music has touched and influenced countless people. He let more people know about hip-hop music, and also made more people pay attention to the living conditions of the people at the bottom of society.
Although Song Yueting has left this world, his music has forever remained in the world and will continue to inspire generations of young people to bravely pursue their dreams, defy difficulties, and continue to struggle.
正如他在《Life's a Struggle》中唱的那样：
"The path of life is your own choice,
Even if it's heaven, I'm going to go back and see it.
Life is short, why care,
Even if there is no tomorrow, I want to live a wonderful life. "
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