life CHINA DAILY CHINADAILY.COM.CN/LIFE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012 | PAGE 18 Faster than a cheetah, higher and stronger

eah! She won,” was our headline for the fi rst great ‘Ygold medal of the London Games. It was about the record-breaking 400m individual med- ley swim of Ye Shiwen and was drowned out somewhat by all that followed aft er a US coach suggested it was “unbe- lievable” — a well JULES QUARTLY under- stood WEB CRAWLER euphe- mism for drug cheating. Th e suggestion was that a maturing teen with freakishly big hands and feet couldn’t swim as fast she did unless her performance had been enhanced by drugs, or even augmented body parts. Well, my point would be that you’re innocent before guilty and there has been no taint whatsoever despite stringent test- ing of Ye. But actually … do I care? Her double kick in the last 50 meters, which appeared to be the key to her astounding speed, was thrilling to watch. I wonder Liu Yue performs in the popular TV talent show, Voice of China, on Zhejiang Satellite TV. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY when the days of the Augmented Games isn’t far off . I belatedly saw Th e Hunger Games this week, and I guess it would be a bit like that, in terms of TV technology, politics and the limits of humanity. It would also have a science fi ction-laboratory atmosphere and to begin with seem a little freaky. But like Formula 1 racing, A talent for scouting technological improvements would even- tually fi lter down to the masses, making life better for those in need of help or With so many talent shows on television, how does Voice improvement. Th e athletes would be star performers and Arnold Schwarzenegger is our model of China diff erentiate itself? Han Bingbin fi nds out. Augmented Games gold medal winner. He’s good looking and went far beyond the limits of human endurance by pump- aving suff ered failure in several a public announcement that it has signed ing himself full of anabolic steroids to win widely-watched national TV integrity pacts with contestants — those who seven Mr Olympia contests. And we all H talent shows, Liu Yue thought lie will be fi red. know how successful he has been since she would be able to stay cool no In the midst of the dispute, the program is then. Diego Maradona would be a popu- matter the outcome of her next contest. one of the few to win approval from the State lar choice and there would be a place on Th e rock fan participated in Voice of China, Administration of Radio, Film and Television. the podium for Canadian sprinter Ben an authorized reproduction of the Nether- In 2011, it launched a policy restricting the Johnson, a lot of Tour de France cyclists, lands-originated TV singing contest. And number of entertainment programs, includ- and naturally, Michael Phelps, though I when all four celebrity judges gave her the ing talent shows, to prevent TV screens from am not suggesting marijuana is a perfor- thumbs up while she was performing, cool being vulgarized. mance-enhancing drug. Oscar Pistorius is the last word to describe the 30-year-old Speaking at a forum hosted by Zhejiang is another of the ultimate poster boys chubby rocker. Liu cried and had to end her Satellite TV, Gao Changli, an offi cial from the for the coming revolution in sports, and powerful performance prematurely. administration, endorsed the show as a role there are so many more … Her adoring fans posted and reposted her model for incorporating the stories of com- A few weeks back I wrote about the tearful image and sobs on micro blogs, more mon people. case of cyborg pioneer Steve Mann, who than 10,000 times. Many of them described But stories are only a tool to attract viewers. accuses McDonald’s of discriminating Liu’s voice as so captivating that it brought back Culture critic Tan Fei says ultimately, talent against him for wearing augmented spec- memories of their dream-pursuing years. shows’ main aim should be to help the aspi- tacles in a restaurant (probably useful in Th e show, now into its fourth episode, has rants develop a singing career. Rifl e Events). Well, since so many of us become Zhejiang Satellite TV’s most watched In recent years, there have been a growing are held together by metal pins and pace- entertainment program so far. With a rating number of talent competitions in China, aft er makers it won’t be long before we all have of 3.3 percent (the latest episode) and some 30 the Super Girls produced a few star singers. equal rights. Especially those Pioneers of million clicks on China’s leading video web- PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY But none of the other shows has attained equal the Future who really will go far faster, site Youku, it has dwarfed all the other — at The show’s four celebrity judges (from left): Taiwan pop singer Harlem Yu, mainland singer success. When the bustle is over, many young higher and be stronger. least fi ve — talent shows currently available on Liu Huan, pop diva Na Ying and singer Yang Kun. dreamers are again left in the cold. Currently, it appears we are near the China’s satellite TV channels. “But aft er all, TV stations are not part of the end of our natural human limits. Usain Th e last time Liu attained such attention short-listed to appear on television. music industry. Th ey are incapable of taking Bolt was .12 seconds faster than Yohan was in 2006 during Hunan Satellite TV’s It’s defi nitely a luxury Th e arduous selection process results in a follow-up action such as packaging and pro- Blake in the 100m fi nal. Th is tiny margin Super Girls. But back then, her chubbiness to have your own high level of professionalism on the show, says motion,” Tan says. of error or genius among broadly equal and rock style met with mostly negative Lu Wei, publicity director of Voice of China. But Lu Wei says this year, they plan to follow individuals is the distance between win- responses online. Th e harshest of them, she album. But I’ve learned Voice alone, however, doesn’t qualify. For in the footsteps of their foreign counterparts ning and losing. still remembers, was from a netizen who to be practical. As long a score of fi ve, Lu says, two goes to a singer’s where contestants’ live songs are recorded But this will all change with the Aug- asked her to shut up by posting the picture as more people hear personal story. He adds that to maintain high into albums and sold via app stores. Lu says mented Games, which paints an altogeth- of a pig frothing at the mouth. With too few my voice, that’s good ratings, singers with sensational backgrounds they will produce their young hopefuls’ live er more ambitious vision of the future of audience votes, she was soon eliminated are given priority and encouraged to share performances into paid ringtone music via athletics. “Faster than a cheetah, higher from the competition. ‘‘ enough. their stories onstage. China Mobile. than the stars, stronger than a machine.” She persevered because of her passion for LIU YUE A total of 26 cameras, a high number for a Some songs are expected to be downloaded Th ere will be new world records every singing. In 2011, she participated in a Taiwan VOICE OF CHINA CONTESTANT live TV program, are on standby to capture millions of times. Th ose proven to be popular year. We have already accommodated talent show where she made it to the top 10. But the singers’ facial and emotional expressions on the mobile platform, Lu says, will receive the World Cyber Games and Western critical netizens gave her the nickname “twice- as well as those of their families and the judg- help to produce their own original music Canadian Robot Games on our sporting cooked pork”, referring to her chubbiness and blind choice, where judges sit with their es, as they share their life stories. albums. “Hopefully, some super stars will calendar, but the Cyborg Athlete Games, her repeated failures. Th ose hard-hitting com- backs to the performers, ensures that the Millions are probably attracted to the show emerge from our show,” he says. Cosmetically Enhanced and Transformer ments made Liu, a graduate from Nanjing contestants are judged based on their voices by heart-wrenching profi les such as a blind Th at same ideal used to comfort Liu Yue Games will surely have their fans. University, decide to end her “rebellious life alone. street artist who touches them with her rendi- every time her confi dence was shattered by Naturally, only willing adults will be as a singer”. Winners will have a chance to hold their tion of Teresa Teng’s songs or, a cute little girl failure. But her passion is running thin. More- allowed to participate. Yes, there is risk. But when a director of Voice of China called own concerts or be invited as guest perform- who sings in remembrance of her deceased over, as a concert planner for years, she has Th e fi eld of human endeavor is littered this year, she couldn’t resist accepting the invi- ers at the judges’ concerts. But the contestants father. seen people coming in and out of the revolv- with its fallen. But these people will be real tation to participate because she is a die-hard have to fi ght a tough battle to reach the top. China’s most popular micro-blogger Yao ing door of the music industry. Olympians, possibly partly immortal. Th e fan of the American and British versions of Unlike other talent shows that open doors Chen’s compliments of the show on micro Liu knows that the road to success is steep Augmented Games, I propose, should be the show. to the grassroots, Voice of China contestants blogs were echoed by thousands. She says — these days, album sales are so diffi cult that a strictly heavyweight, no-holds barred She now feels lucky to be part of it because are hand-picked or in Liu’s words, “semi- it demonstrates the most valuable elements singers celebrate when they are able to sell contest for all comers, modifi ed, chemi- of its unprecedented quality: a cast of four professionals”. in life: enthusiasm, optimism, sincerity and 50,000 copies. cally or genetically enhanced. celebrity judges, including mainland pop diva As many as 40 directors travel to all the bravery. “It’s defi nitely a luxury to have your own And just in case anyone cheats and the Na Ying and Taiwan pop king Harlem Yu; as provincial capitals where local market insiders But the show was also besieged by negative album,” she says. “But I’ve learned to be prac- winning athlete is not a modifi ed human- well as a top-notch sound system, supported by are ready to off er their lists of recommended publicity, with netizens posting evidence to tical. As long as more people hear my voice, oid but an unadulterated human, we will Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony sound talents. Th ey also visit music schools and pubs suggest that some stories are false. One such that’s good enough.” remain thankful for the Olympic Games. director Jin Shaogang to ensure a higher quality to scout for qualified singers. Their voices posting claims that a poor countryside singer display of their voices. are recorded and these potential contestants actually came from a rich family. Th e program Contact the writer at Contact the writer at More importantly, she says, the so-called are then put through auditions and fi nally, responds immediately to such allegations with [email protected]. [email protected].