Kingmaker arrives

George Slender entered Village Vanguard and made his way to his usual spot. He ordered a glass of single malt whiskey and leaned back in his chair, quietly observing the performance.

The singer on the stage appeared like an ordinary boy-next-door, devoid of any halo. He seemed like he could easily be swallowed up by the crowd, giving the entire performance an approachable charm. However, a faint sorrow hidden within the melody was so genuine that George couldn't help but close his eyes, savoring the lyrics with deep consideration.

It must be said that George was pleasantly surprised.

In the current era, there was an abundance of singers, yet the standards had been continually lowered. This was partly due to the grassroots fame craze sparked by "American Idol" and the rapid commercialization of the music industry. As music became commodified, factors such as a singer's appearance, commercial value, and market response began to occupy a larger proportion. Essential elements like vocal ability, musical sense, pitch accuracy, and creative capability were being overlooked.

However, the musicality of this ordinary boy-next-door was striking, and even more importantly, the lyrics and melody of this original song were truly remarkable. Singers of this creative caliber were becoming increasingly rare, which was one of the key reasons why artists like John Mayer, possessing notable creative prowess yet subtle brilliance, were receiving Grammy recognition.

Although George had only heard one song for now, he couldn't yet draw conclusions. For instance, the boy-next-door's vocals were somewhat unstable, and the stability of his high notes remained to be seen. Furthermore, the creative outcome of this song deserved acknowledgement, but was it just a fleeting inspiration or the tip of an iceberg of talent?

However, the emergence of such creative singers was indeed a pleasant surprise. The music market needed more of this kind of fresh blood. Otherwise, as music became fast food, the market would dwindle and lose its true meaning.

After the performance concluded, Stanley approached and took a seat in the vacant spot next to George. With a familiar smile on his face, George wasted no time in challenging him, his criticism evident, "Did you call me all the way here just for this young lad?"

Although the previous performance had been decent, it was far from being a showstopper, hardly warranting a special trip. Had Village Vanguard sunk to such a low point? Was the music market truly in such a dire state? Had Stanley's patience worn thin merely because a young singer with creative potential had appeared? Inviting him to the bar repeatedly for evaluations?

"To be honest, I'm somewhat disappointed," George's sharp tongue showed no restraint, unreservedly expressing his grievances.

Stanley was extremely familiar with this old friend and didn't mind in the least. He chuckled lightly in response, "As you get older, your patience diminishes. If even you're feeling this way, what can we expect from the market?"

A retort made George roll his eyes in annoyance, unable to counter, so he picked up the whiskey from the table, took a sip, and declined to respond.

With a smug smile, Stanley raised an eyebrow but didn't dive straight into the topic. Instead, he glanced around and said, "Have you had dinner? The usual?"

"The dinner here, aside from that one dish, isn't fit for human consumption," George's expression displayed clear disdain as he waved his hand, shooing Stanley away like a fly.

The performance of "The A Team" concluded, and Ed finally regained his composure. The fervent applause from the audience invigorated him, and as the following performances progressively elevated, he managed to restore his usual standard. Thirty minutes seemed like an extended stretch, yet in the blink of an eye, it came to an end. Ed couldn't help but feel a bit reluctant, a tad excited, and slightly crestfallen. He let out a long sigh, "For the last song of tonight, with the author's permission, I've adapted the song and hope to express a bit of my respect."

Ed managed to calm the boiling turmoil within him and began to strum the strings once again. As the melody flowed forth, someone in the bar surprisingly started whistling, injecting a touch of liveliness into the otherwise cool atmosphere. This made Ed's lips curl upward.

"Ophelia", Ed chose this song not only because it was the fruit of the night he met Renly, but also because it reignited his unwavering dream deep within. What's more, Renly's creative talent once again broadened Ed's horizons. Be it "Cleopatra" or "Ophelia", the lyrics contained poetic beauty, evoking admiration and wonder. The underlying depth derived from Shakespeare's works deserved repeated, delicate savoring. Ed truly admired her talent.

Clearly, it wasn't just Ed who favored "Ophelia" or recognized Renly Hall's work. The whistling from the audience was the most fitting response, and even Neil and the others at the bar raised their hands, clapping to the rhythm, joining in Ed's performance.

The guitar-led rendition of "Ophelia" seemed slightly fragile, reducing some of the exuberance and carefree nature present in the melody. Instead, the intensity of sorrow and loss grew stronger, dancing within the clear guitar strings. Ed's vocal prowess might not have been astonishing, yet his voice possessed a narrative quality. With the ebb and flow of musical notes, stories naturally unfolded in the mind, breathing life into the song.

"Oh, Ophelia, you linger in my mind since the dawn of the century; Oh, Ophelia, it's as if God made this fool fall into love."

George, holding his whiskey, involuntarily halted his hand mid-air. This song truly brought an astonishing flavor. The seamless melody, the profound lyrics, the contrasting blend of cheerfulness and sadness, and the mature nonchalance that was evident in every gesture and movement showcased a dazzling creative talent.

In terms of commercial value, the previous "The A Team" might have excelled a bit more due to its incorporation of popular elements that made it easier for the masses to accept. Yet, in terms of artistic value and song completion, George personally believed this latter song had the upper hand. It was a song that warranted meticulous appreciation.

Ed's interpretation was indeed impressive, even outshining the earlier songs. The story underlying the lyrics deeply immersed the listener, yet one regret was Ed's lack of stability in the high notes. He smoothed out the edges of the melody, offering an expressive narration, which was touching, but missed a bit of the impactful force that resonates within the heart.

Objectively speaking, Ed's interpretation of the story was more grounded in real life, like "The A Team", with its simple metaphors and straightforward narrative subtly hinting at his life experiences. Yet, the story of "Ophelia" was more poetic and profound, akin to a thick volume of Shakespeare's complete works. One needed ample life experience and a calm mind to truly savor its essence.

The creation of music not only reveals the creator's experiences and talents but also embodies underlying themes, culture, and even class. This is a significant reason why music holds a place among the seven major arts.

What intrigued George even more was what style the original creator would adopt if they were the one performing it. What kind of singer had crafted "Ophelia"? In George's mind, the visage of Johnny Cash emerged – weathered, desolate, somber, seasoned, melancholic, irritable. Perhaps even a poet or a literary creator... This brought to his thoughts even further the image of Bob Dylan.

As the song came to an end, amidst the applause of the crowd, Ed took his bow. He slung the guitar behind him and spoke into the microphone, "My performance for tonight has concluded. Now, I'd like to invite the original author of "Ophelia" to the stage. Hopefully, he can perform the original version of the song for everyone – that would be quite a treat. Personally, I'm beyond excited."

This statement prompted light laughter from the crowd. Ed continued, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome... Renly Hall."

George shifted his gaze towards the side stage and saw a young man dressed in a white T-shirt and black jeans. Quite literally, he appeared to be a young man, his boyish face making him seem wholly like one.

For folk songs that require depth of thought and life experience, age is the greatest treasure. The tumultuous life experiences carve the pathway for melody. People often say that suffering tortures life but becomes a treasure for art – this is the essence.

However, the young man before him now seemed to be no older than thirty, no, probably not even twenty-five. He was astonishingly young, almost unbelievably so.

Though history had witnessed numerous prodigies, such as LeAnn Rimes, who astounded the whole of America with her debut at the age of fourteen and clinched two Grammy Awards the following year, becoming the youngest Grammy winner in history, this feat occurred in the realm of country pop, not folk.

George's immediate reaction was that the young man before him was unlikely the composer. The real creator should be someone else. With this interpretation, things suddenly became much more reasonable. The problem, however, was that even if not the composer, just performing wouldn't suffice. Without enough life experience, a singer couldn't grasp the depth within a song. Ed's performance just now was a prime example of this, making the current situation with this young man... Is he really going to perform "Ophelia"?

This wasn't some young person's "Truth or Dare" game.

George involuntarily began to feel resistant. He didn't like it when people treated music as a joke. Whether Ed's introduction had gone awry, his own understanding had faltered, or even if Stanley's judgment had been off, he didn't know. As he gazed at the young man on stage, an aversion began to swell within George from deep within: the initial impression was becoming progressively worse, even though he knew the individual hadn't done anything yet.

Often, initial impressions were just like that – mysterious. A simple, minor detail or an inexplicable action could lead to judgments being formed within one's heart. Yet, even such a simple judgment often decided myriad relationships between people.

George decided: he didn't like this young man.