Lan Li has not lost his mind, even if "Fast and Thrill/Love 5" was a box office success in the summer, even if "Cleopatra" is still on the Billboard singles chart, but Lan Li knows that after two years of rolling in Hollywood, in essence, he is still not much different from the newcomer, and his current attention and popularity are just bubbles accumulated in a short period of time.

The number of his fans is not much, and as for the fans, it is estimated that they can't talk about it.

From the beginning to the present, music has always been just a hobby, and the kindness of recording "Cleopatra" as a gift has not changed to this day. Such a hobby, in Lan Li's view, is very personal, self-contained, and special. Collaborating with George on the album "Don Quixote" was not so much an album release as it was the self-amusement of a small group of dreamers.

Not to mention that someone would specifically support an independent album like "Don Quixote", even if someone came to the pioneer village to support his performance, Lan Li felt incredible and fantastical. But at this moment, all this is really playing out before your eyes.

Pushing the door open into the pioneer village, there was a hot scene inside, and Stanley Charleson was shouting, "Move away, move away." Directing everyone to move all the tables and chairs in the bar to the warehouse and stack them, emptying the entire venue, Neil Tucson and his friends in the kitchen are coming in with a large wooden barrel of beer, and their mouths are still yelling, "Get out of the way, get out of the way." ”

On the stage, George Shrand was waving his hands vigorously and shouting loudly, "Don't, don't ......" without beginning or end, and he didn't know what he didn't want, and then Ed Sheeran, who was sitting at the front of the stage adjusting his guitar, looked focused, out of tune with the noise around him, but natural.

In the line of sight, there are no large posters, no deliberate decorations, and even obvious signs, even if it is said that the ballroom dance competition is about to be held, this is convincing. This made Lan Li wonder again: William, are they sure they are not looking in the wrong place? Or is it just an April Fool's Day - or a super early version of Halloween prank? Otherwise, this is Ed Sheeran's fan meeting, and lo and behold, isn't Ed tuning the strings?

"Hey, Lan Li!" Ed raised his head, in the brightly lit bar, he saw Lan Li who was still in a dazed state after coming in, and the joy between his eyebrows burst out instantly, and he didn't even have time to put down his guitar, he stood up directly, and trotted all the way towards Lan Li, "Hey, why are you here!"

Ed gave Lan Li a big hug with a happy eyebrow, but the obvious height difference made him have to stand on tiptoe and try his best to reach up, so he reluctantly patted Lan Li on the back. The picture looks very joyful.

Lan Li came back to his senses a little, "So, what the hell is going on, can someone update me on the information?"

Ed's eyes widened, his furry face was like a popping kiwi, exaggerated and vivid, "Of course it's for the album 'Don Quixote'!" Today's Ed seems to be less restrained, and the whole person has become light and lively, "Jesus Christ, although I have known it for a long time, this is really a/perfect album! I can't describe my mood, I can only say, you really made me completely surrender." ”

"I thought you had said that when we first met. Seeing that Lan Li still had the heart to joke now, he knew that he had completely come to his senses, but jokes aside, he looked up at the noisy bar, "Are you sure? They didn't come for your new album?"

Ed's debut single "The-A-Team" was released in April, and upon its release, it quickly reached number three on the UK singles chart, almost rocketing. Although Ed's main area of activity is still in the United Kingdom, the headquarters of Atlantic Records, which he signed a contract with, is in the United States, and he will not let go of the development of the American market.

If the protagonist of today's party was Ed Sheeran, then Lan Li felt like a natural fit. Whether it's Atlantic Records' deep pockets or the sheer popularity of the "top", including the attention Ed himself has gained on YouTube's page, today's pomp and circumstance can be explained by reason.

"No, my album 'Plus (+) is going to be released next Monday, but only in the UK. I'm going back to London next week to start promoting the new album. Ed summed up his recent situation in a simple sentence, and there was an irrepressible excitement in his expression, "Lan Li, until now, I haven't officially said 'thank you'. If I hadn't met you, I don't know what my music career would have been. ”

"You're still going to be a singer, a great singer. "Lan Li told the truth, in the last life, Ed Sheeran's popularity and achievements were not compromised at all.

But Ed thought that Lan Li was being humble, looking at Lan Li in front of him, and wanted to say something more, but he didn't know how to express it after all, so he could only let out a long breath, all the thanks, all the emotions were hidden in the depths of his heart. "Today, today's protagonist is you. Trust me, the rabid fans out there, they're all here for you. Do you remember what you told me at the beginning? Maybe not much, but it does exist. ”

"Lan Li!" A cry of surprise pierced through the noise and bustle of the bar, instantly casting everyone's eyes on. Nathan Preece walked over quickly, still carrying a case of red wine in his hand, forgetting to put it down, and just carrying the weight and straight up to meet him, "When are you back? Why don't you call me? I'll pick you up at the airport in advance?" Nathan's forehead was oozing with sweat, his face was blooming, and his whole body exuded a light breath.

Seeing Lan Li's figure, everyone nodded, waved, smiled, and greeted Lan Li in their own way, Stanley and George both temporarily stopped what they were doing and walked towards Lan Li, but before their footsteps could get closer, Neil rushed over as if he was stepping on Hot Wheels, and gave Lan Li a big hug on a rampage, and kept shouting, "Crazy, crazy, crazy!"

Lan Li rolled his eyes speechlessly: who is the madman, the one who stands innocently trying to figure things out, or the one who screams like a circus clown?

Neil immediately understood the meaning of Lan Li's expression, but he didn't care, and jumped excitedly, "I told you, I told you!" It seemed that two years ago, he had foreseen today, and the joy and pride of that achievement were rampaging through his chest, almost bursting out.

There was no need for Lan Li to ask, Neil took the initiative to say, "I knew that if the music was really made with heart, someone would definitely be able to hear it." After the release of Don Quixote, I just mentioned on Facebook and YouTube, do you know how many albums have been sold in the past two weeks?"

Neil grabbed his hair, and even now, he still finds such a number unbelievable. Even Blue Rite is no exception.

The downturn in the North American music market is a common phenomenon. Although it is true that the top popular singers sell 500,000 or more albums in the first week of release, and albums that sell more than 100,000 in a single week still exist, but after all, these are only a few, a minority.

If you look at the sales statistics of the Recording Industry Association of America, you can see the truth: the average weekly sales figure for the top 20 is around 20,000 to 30,000 copies, and as long as 10,000 copies are sold, there is no doubt that they will be in the top 50.

Of course, the current album sales must also be counted in digital sources, streaming and other data, and the cumulative sales figures will be higher, which will then be reflected in the album charts of Billboard. However, overall, the average sales figure for the entire market is at this level.

Now, "Don Quixote" has sold 4,000 copies in a single week?

Without any publicity, without any radio distribution, without even any official news, a silent album can quietly sell 4,000 copies in a single week, and a cumulative sales of 6,000 copies in two weeks? If this is not a miracle, then nothing can be called it.

Subconsciously, Lan Li turned his head to look at George and cast a gaze of verification. George's stern and rigid face shone with a resolute and bright light, and he didn't nod or shake his head, but just raised his voice and said, "True music never dies." Maybe it will go into a trough, maybe it will be shrouded in darkness, maybe it will fade away, but it won't go away, never will. Dreams are so, and so is freedom. ”

There is no positive response, but it shows the passion and heat in George's heart to the fullest. Lan Li knew that Neil was telling the truth. Lan Li couldn't help but open his mouth slightly, but found that he couldn't say anything, and there was a heat wave flowing in his chest, gentle, but surging, gentle, but surging, indifferent, but crazy.

Dreams don't die. Such a simple sentence, but it is as heavy as a thousand pounds, and it is heavily pressed on the chest, making people crazy, intoxicated, and moving. Don Quixote's ethereal knightly dream has finally come true in the absurd and uninhibited reality.

The heart trembled slightly, and the sight couldn't help but start to be colorful.

“…… Lan Li, Lan Li, Lan Li!" Neil's excited voice was still ringing noisily, and he forcibly drew Lan Li's attention, "You see, look at the crowd outside, you know? They are all here for you, more precisely, they are all here for Don Quixote, these are real music lovers, and real dreamers! Incredible, clams, but it really happened!