'Journey to the West' composer's bucket list

The man who created the soundtrack of the most popular TV series "Journey to the West" has had a dream to hold a theme concert for years but is still seeking sponsors.

Xu Jingqing. [File photo]

Xu Jingqing, 74, never gave up his dream. The "Journey to the West" TV series, a proved classic adapted from a 16th-century novel with the same title, first hit the small screen in 1986, starring Zhang Jinlai as the "Monkey King." It has been aired more than 3,000 times on China Central Television (CCTV) and other local TV networks and is a cornerstone of the nation's pop culture and lives in the memory of generations.

Xu was the one who created the original score and songs by using very fashionable and complicated instruments at that time, including the electric guitar, electric bass, synthesizer, drum kit, orchestra ensemble, guzheng (zither), pipa (Chinese lute), harp and xylophone.

In the 1980s, these musical elements were so fresh, groundbreaking and bold in China that some conservative TV executives could not accept them. However, director Yang Jie stayed strong and maintained Xu and his music after leaders asked him to replace Xu.

The scores and songs he composed for the TV series then became timeless classics and the soundtrack of many people's youth. However, the music didn't bring him enough exposure, fame ormoney, Xu told Chinese Business Morning View at end of January. At one time, when a traffic policeman asked what he did for a living after a small traffic violation, he said he was the composer of "Journey to the West," the policeman said he never heard of him.

Even in an award show held by Beijing Satellite TV to honor the top 10 best TV series theme songs, the song "Dare to Ask Where is the Road" won an award, "even the singer and lyricist received award trophies, I, as the composer, didn't," he said with a laugh, bittersweetly. He later called the organizers and they sent a trophy to his work place as compensation.

"Everyone knows the iconic melodies, but only a few people noticed my name," Xu said, he created 14 songs and 33 scores for the TV series and now he wants to do a "Journey to the West" theme concert based on his compositions.

The only problem is there's no money. "This hope was ignited time and time again, but I also became disappointed time and time again," he said. Now, he still has to wait.

The year 2016 is the Year of the Monkey according to the Chinese Zodiac, and is also the 30th anniversary of the TV series’ first airing. The composer hopes he can manage to find some sponsors to complete one of his last dreams on his bucket list.

In his vision, the theme concert would be a perfect and fresh fantasy musical with actors playing the Monkey King and other iconic characters while his music is playing in sections. "I have everything in my mind, but without the money, I can do nothing," he said.

Xu's first try was in 2008 when he met the big boss of a company, but the entrepreneur turned out to not really be interested in music and have no faith in making money back from his investment. "I cannot promise the concert will be profitable, and the entrepreneur will calculate the input and output to see if the project makes money. So, I understand their cold feet."

One year ago, someone suggested the heated concept of crowdfunding to him, but he refused, "If the crowdfunding isn't successful, I will feel so embarrassed." Xu added he needs at least a 5 million yuan (US$760,000) budget to make the concert decent for fans.

He also posted this on his micro-blog. With wild clicks and retweets, however, it didn't bring in any investment. "Some fans even helped me to contact many concert promoters," he said, "everyone in this industry knew my story but no one reached out their hands. Maybe they think this concert will not make money."

"At my age, I should retire and enjoy my twilight years," he added, "but I feel I still have something unfinished in my life. I have made something musical in my life; I should put a perfect stop on it before I leave the world."

On his bucket list, the concert is one of his last three wishes. The other two are to publish a book about creating the "Journey to the West" music and write an opera based on the novel’s chapter of the Women's Kingdom.

"These are my dying wishes," he said. The music works which made him proud all his life have encouraged anobsession overalast pride, "If I eventually cannot get a sponsor I will still make the concert happen. I can mortgage my house to get a loan to hold this concert no matter what."