Guan Mucun is vice chairperson of the Chinese Musicians Association and chairperson of the Tianjin Musicians Association. During the pandemic, Guan and many other artists have been cheering people fighting the battle against COVID-19 with their paintbrushes and singing voices. Guan has performed the song “Hugging on Your Triumphant Return” (lyrics by Wang Heping, composed by Wang Weizhou), articulating one’s innermost feelings. The song sings the praises of the frontline heroes, expresses the joy of their triumphant return, and hails their courage to brave risks and challenges to respond to the call of the new era. The well-made MV features touching scenes of Party members, officials, and ordinary people who are determined to achieve their goals, working hard in high spirits to speed up the resumption of work and production after undergoing the trial of the epidemic.
Host: You have sung a few songs eulogizing the people fighting the battle against the pandemic when you were still home quarantined. You also mentioned that cultural workers should try to be helpful, and you made an example by cheering up people with your songs. So, what kind of emotions do you want to express, and how do you display the strength of the Chinese people when performing these songs?
Guan Mucun: Back then, I got so moved when I saw on TV so many heroes who devoted themselves to fighting the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. A great number of touching stories were going on during that period, which inspired me to do something and call together the “soldiers” in the literary and artistic circles to engage in activities to fight against the pandemic. Then, the Chinese Musicians Association took the lead because it takes less time to compose a song and then perform it. We’ve included in the album Battle Hymn of the Anti-Epidemic Heroes some 60 songs from the more than 400 songs collected.
Host: This is the album.
Guan Mucun: Yes, it is. And I chose the song “Hugging on Your Triumphant Return” from that album. And we made an MV of the song after recording, which was well received by the audience. People like the song because it sings the praises of the heroes in an affectionate way instead of just chanting empty slogans. This type of song is actually more touching. I am moved so deeply that I sing the song to salute the medical workers and their spirits as a token of my deep gratitude for them. I sing to say “thank you” to them and to show my respect for them. At that time, senior artists, young students, little children, and school students alike were all singing these songs, creating a trend that helped to generate enthusiasm, strength, and confidence in people. People were confident that we could overcome the difficulties when everyone of us was united to respond to the call of our nation and fight against the pandemic.
Host: During the 50 years of your career as an artist, you’ve always been singing for the grassroots and speaking for the ordinary people. And you continued to do so by singing those anti-epidemic–themed songs as if they were the echoes of the hearts of the people during the pandemic. So, what stories of the people would you like to recount from the perspective of an artist?
Guan Mucun: I found amid the pandemic that we Chinese people are united and demonstrate a centripetal force. We did whatever we promised to do. We stayed inside the city when it was in lockdown, and we all wore masks when necessary. We always obey the rules. We are united together by our patriotism. I think the Chinese nation’s cohesiveness is just awesome. I can see that it is the strength and spirit of the Chinese people that are inspiring everyone to fight bravely against the pandemic, and it will occur to you that our country actually is a very cozy home when you see what’s happening in other countries, which makes a sharp contrast with what it’s going on in China.
Host: You have been paying attention to issues related to people’s livelihood during your participation in the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in the past 30 years, and all your proposals were about people’s livelihood. How about this year? And when you talked about the battle against the pandemic in the suggestion and group discussions of the two sessions, what did you specifically say?
Guan Mucun: Well, people often ask me out of curiosity why I, an artist, a singer, am so concerned about people’s livelihood. I would tell them that I am also one of the people, and it’s just natural for me to discuss and report what’s happening in the neighborhood. And I do wish to do something for everyone. If my suggestions can lead to some changes for the better, the people will live a happier and more fulfilled life. That’s why I always talk about people’s livelihood. And during the meetings, no matter big or small, the main topic is like “the fight against the epidemic is going well, and we are united as one.”Those anti-epidemic heroes deserve good treatment and rewards. We all agree on this. Our country is doing very well this time in putting the people and their lives first. I am very moved, and I think we should inspire people in all walks of life with the spirit of the heroes so that they continue to contribute to the Chinese nation to help overcome the current difficulties.
Host: China has developed a national spirit of putting people’s lives first and has united as one to fight the pandemic. Artists also have been making contributions in their own way. So, what have the artists done?
Guan Mucun: Nobody is an outsider. We belong to one nation and one family. So, we all feel that we should try to do our part. Since we are of little use in the hospital, we can only cheer up people, including ourselves, with our songs or writings, to supply “spiritual nourishment.” The musicians in Tianjin have spontaneously composed nearly 70 songs, which are all included in this album.
Host: Yes, and these songs were written in just a couple of months.
Guan Mucun: Yes, that’s right.
Host: The first song in the album is “Chinese Spirit.”
Guan Mucun: And there are also songs like “China is Blessed and Cannot be Defeated” and “Answer the Calls of Motherland.”
Host: Most of the songs were written for the front-line health workers or to cheer the whole nation.
Guan Mucun: Yes, to cheer China. Every one of us has the responsibility to do so, regardless of what job you do.
Host: And this is your song.
Guan Mucun: My song is entitled “Hugging on Your Triumphant Return.”
Host: It was spring when you first saw the lyrics and music of the song.
Guan Mucun: Yes. I just hummed it, and I liked it right away. “With sincerity and earnest expectations, we hug each other tightly, hugging on your triumphant return.”
