As the final note of the song lingered in the air, the melody slowly faded, leaving behind a faint echo.
The remnants of the music and lyrics swirled around like smoke, with sparks seeping through pores into the bloodstream. The rushing blood and pounding heartbeat collided fiercely in the depths of the soul, filling it with excitement and emotion too powerful for words.
Unconsciously, someone stepped forward, only to stop abruptly, feeling nervous, and stared blankly at Anson, standing still.
Though Anson sat at the piano, and they stood watching, at that moment, it felt as if the roles had reversed. They looked up at him in awe.
Passion surged through them.
Lily was flustered, hurriedly closing her eyes, trying to catch her breath, seeking a bit of rationality amid the overwhelming rush of emotions.
Miles, unable to contain himself, took a bold step forward but stopped short when Anson glanced his way, as if standing before a forbidden boundary, too intimidated to cross.
"Uh, Anson, may I ask... what was that song just now...?"
His voice trembled slightly with excitement and anticipation, revealing his genuine curiosity—he still loved music, still loved creating, and still hoped to see the cello integrated into pop music.
Anson didn't respond immediately. Instead, he was caught up in the inspiration swirling around him.
Then he spoke.
"'Viva La Vida.'"
Lily opened her eyes again, though she didn't quite understand, her curiosity still piqued.
Miles immediately made the connection. "Frida Kahlo?"
Connor finally snapped out of his shock. "Who?"
Anson was about to explain that it referred to the biography of Frida Kahlo but then remembered the film "Frida" wouldn't be released until later that year. Most people still didn't know much about the Mexican woman with the iconic unibrow.
Miles, however, was an exception. "She's a Mexican painter, a woman with a free spirit. She has a painting titled 'Viva La Vida, or Death and All His Friends.'"
But why Frida?
Their eyes returned to Anson, waiting for more.
"Frida contracted polio at six, which left her with a limp. At eighteen, she survived a tragic accident that shattered her spine, taking away her ability to have children. Her life was filled with pain and suffering."
"Yet, she didn't give in."
"She kept creating, kept fighting, kept pursuing her passions. She loved fiercely, and she faced all her challenges with unwavering courage."
"Was she perfect?"
"No, of course not. A lot of what we know about her has been romanticized after her death, imagining her as a symbol of perfection."
"But does that matter?"
"No, because what truly matters is that despite her broken life, she lived fully. She embraced her struggles, her pain, her sorrow, because they were what made her life so brilliant and dazzling."
From Louis XVI to Frida Kahlo, to Brad, and finally to Lily, Connor, and Miles standing there—they all faced their own struggles, their own choices, and Anson was no exception.
Viva La Vida.
This time, Anson hoped he wouldn't have any regrets, that when this borrowed time ended, he could open his arms and embrace his fate.
In the present moment, Anson sat quietly in the storage room, but the cramped space couldn't contain his spirit. It filled the entire world, the entire universe.
Miles, finally unable to hold back any longer, stepped forward eagerly. "Anson, can you play that first verse again?"
"Oh, wait... I forgot about the cello..."
"But it doesn't matter. Here, right here, just like how the cello comes in. What do you think?"
They were already deep into their work, Miles and Anson bustling with energy.
Clearly, "Viva La Vida" was completely different from "Wake Me Up" and "Hero." Not in terms of theme but in the complexity of the arrangement.
"Wake Me Up" and "Hero," though intricate, were fundamentally built on four instruments—cello, guitar, keyboard, and bass, with drums serving as support. The arrangements emphasized layering and cooperation between band members, but they weren't overly elaborate.
"Viva La Vida," on the other hand, was on a whole other level.
The grandeur and vastness could be felt from Anson's composition of the main melody to the lyrics. A single piano couldn't do it justice.
Miles, with his professional insight, suggested they should fully utilize the strengths of an orchestra.
It wasn't just about using a symphony orchestra, though. While classical grandeur was important, their band was about breaking musical norms, pushing boundaries with pop, electronic, and other elements. They needed to layer different instruments and tracks to enrich the arrangement.
Music and art, like life, are about balance. Simplifying complexity and making simplicity profound are equally challenging, and it's easy to stray off course.
Now, Anson and Miles were trying to enrich the music, not by simply adding more instruments but by finding harmony between them.
This was Anson's weakness.
To be honest, Anson had never formally studied music. When his passion turned into a profession, he hit a wall.
How to arrange, how to coordinate, how to balance, how to achieve harmony—this was a whole new world for him.
"Wake Me Up" and "Hero" had clear layers and straightforward arrangements. Anson had relied on intuition and inspiration. But now...
It was a mess.
Luckily, Miles was experienced. His systematic knowledge and quick thinking helped connect the dots.
Clearly, this was going to be a huge project.
Lily and Connor were left dumbfounded.
Had they skipped a few steps in this process?
They exchanged bewildered looks. So, what now? Were they just going to go along with Anson's proposal?
But... why not?
Without Anson, they would've had no hope from the beginning. No "Tonight Show," no record deal, no "Wake Me Up" or "Hero." Now that Anson was willing to help continue the band's journey, why refuse?
Besides...
Connor glanced at Lily and gave a helpless smile. "Can you say no?"
Though he didn't say it outright, Lily immediately understood. Could she say no to "Viva La Vida"?
Such a grand, moving, beautiful song.
A smile crept across Lily's face. She wanted to try. She wanted to believe in her passion again. She wanted to chase her dream one more time, even if it meant ending in disaster.
"I couldn't say no to 'Wake Me Up,' and I couldn't say no to 'Hero.' Do you think I can say no to 'Viva La Vida'?"
Lily said, then looked at Anson and Miles, who were already hard at work, and joined them in the small storage room. Connor followed suit, and soon the entire group was working together, drenched in sweat and driven by their shared passion.