Chinese Spring Festival Gala Sparks Debate Over Singers' Positions and Wardrobe Changes

The 2021 Chinese Spring Festival Gala, commonly known as "Chunwan," aired on February 12th to millions of viewers worldwide. Among the many memorable performances, one in particular has become the subject of intense discussion and debate among Chinese social media users – the performance of the classic Chinese song "Shang Chun Shan" by singers Wei Da Xun, Wei Chen, and white Tianqu. The performance is discussed in intricate detail, down to the singers' ensembles and stage positions. Some have even coined the term "Spring Mountain School" to summarize the in-depth analysis.

The performance of "Shang Chun Shan" was highly anticipated, as Wei Da Xun and Wei Chen are both popular singers and actors in China, and the song is considered a classic among Chinese audiences. The performance involved the three singers standing on stage in front of a large digital backdrop featuring the titular "Spring Mountain." However, it was the singers' positions and costume changes that became the center of attention among Weibo users.

White Tianqu, who took center stage, was dressed in a black suit. Many viewers noticed that his position and outfit appeared to overshadow the performance of Wei Da Xun and Wei Chen, who were dressed in colors that were more in line with the theme of the song. White Tianqu changed his outfit multiple times throughout the performance, switching from a gray-white ensemble to a red outfit, and finally back to the gray-white clothing. Some viewers suggested that these costume changes were the reason for the imbalanced appearance on stage.

Some Weibo users theorized that White Tianqu's positioning and wardrobe changes were intentional, a strategy to draw attention to himself and steal the spotlight from Wei Da Xun and Wei Chen. Fans of Wei Da Xun and Wei Chen expressed frustration and concern about White Tianqu's actions, even going so far as to create the "Spring Mountain School" in reference to analyzing and critiquing the performance.

However, others pointed out that the singers' positions and wardrobe changes could have been the result of last-minute changes or mistakes made during the live performance. They argued that since Chunwan is a live event, it's possible that these details were not planned in advance and were simply a result of the chaos that often accompanies live performances.

Wei Da Xun and Wei Chen themselves have not commented on the controversy surrounding the performance. However, Weibo users have shared a clip from a post-show interview, where the singers are seen laughing and shaking their heads, seemingly in response to the discussion around their performance.

The discussion around the "Shang Chun Shan" performance is just one example of the intense scrutiny and analysis that Chinese audiences apply to every aspect of Chunwan performances. As a cultural institution, Chunwan is held to a high standard by viewers who expect a level of perfection that is often impossible to achieve in a live setting.

This year's Chunwan has already spawned several long-tail discussions, including one around Wei Da Xun and Wei Chen's performance. It remains to be seen how long the "Spring Mountain School" will continue to be a topic of discussion among Chinese social media users. However, it is clear that every detail of a Chunwan performance is subject to intense scrutiny and analysis, and the singers and dancers who take to the stage must be prepared to face both praise and criticism for their performances.