In a burst of laughter, the heavy and serious atmosphere relaxed, and Connor also began to smile.
"There were so invitations that specifically sought us out, but we had one condition: we needed to find Anson. I told the record company that the music was Anson's creation, that the soul of the performance was Anson. Clearly, they didn't care; they just wanted to ride the wave of popularity."
"They thought they could just find a new lead singer, repackage the performance, and it would still be a success."
"I disagreed."
Anson was genuinely surprised.
If the band and the record company had different creative visions, leading to a failed contract, that would be expected. After all, Miles and the others had always been a very unique band, with their own distinct edges and colors, and they wanted to keep it that way.
But he hadn't expected this reason.
Briefly, Anson put the talk show aside and looked at Connor with a bit of seriousness in his eyes. "Actually, you should really think it over."
Connor shook his head. "We've tried, both before and after, but we know what kind of chemistry we're missing."
This was the truth—
Even a year after the street performance of "Wake Up," they managed to draw so attention with their fresh performance, but they never could recreate the sa impact.
After going round and round, they finally realized that a band is not just a group of people performing together. It's a unique form of performance created when like-minded friends co together and their talents collide. If any part of that is off, the results can be completely different.
Maybe Anson wasn't an indispensable part, but without Anson, it just didn't feel the sa.
Of course, they could have signed with the record company, no problem; but the outco wouldn't have changed much. They would have just been another independent band with a bit of character but ultimately lacking soul.
Anson was the real reason they garnered attention.
Connor didn't deny that the three of them had argued, had disagreents. They weren't as noble and grand as they might seem; they had their own desires and ambitions. But in the end, they chose to say no.
The atmosphere grew a bit heavy.
At that mont, "The Tonight Show" seed more than just a simple talk show. It allowed a glimpse of genuine emotions and a bit of reality beneath the glamorous surface of the showbiz world.
Applause, whistles, cheers.
The studio audience expressed their respect for Connor, Lily, and Miles in this way—
Even as bystanders, they knew that saying "no" was not easy.
Karen raised both hands high, applauding to show her approval. She knew that in Hollywood, Connor's decision would be seen as foolish and naive. Those record companies wouldn't be moved by their persistence; instead, they would laugh at Connor and the others for their unnecessary arrogance.
After all, this is showbiz.
But reality is what it is. "Everyone else does it, so why can't I?" isn't a valid reason for sothing to be "right." Even if millions choose to go with the flow, compromise, betrayal, and blind following won't beco noble. Those bottom lines and consciences still need soone to uphold them.
Indeed, they were eliminated. Connor and the others weren't rewarded for their nobility, and their musical dreams were buried just like that. But at least they didn't betray themselves.
It was for this reason that they could create sparks with Anson and perform "Wake Up," perfectly recreating it fifteen months later.
At that mont, the applause belonged to Connor, Lily, and Miles.
Uncontrollably, Karen's eyes filled with tears as she clapped and cheered, using all her strength to express her respect.
The whole place thundered with applause.
Connor exhaled lightly, looking at Miles and Lily, the three of them exchanging glances:
Over the years that had passed, they had quarreled, complained, regretted, lanted, and been heartbroken. But looking back now, they knew they had made the right decision. Despite the pain and struggle, they had held onto their principles.
The atmosphere in the studio was a bit subtle, as if "The Tonight Show" was about to turn into "The Oprah Winfrey Show"—
The next scene should have been them hugging and crying, with Oprah starting to hand out gifts: "You get a gift, you get a gift, everyone gets a gift."
Clearly, this wasn't what Jay Leno wanted to see.
So.
Jay Leno spread his hands with a regretful expression, "It's a pity we missed a great show."
"This could have turned into the 'Plagiarism Scandal—Copyright Lawsuit—Friends Falling Out' drama of the year. Clearly, Connor, you don't belong in showbiz."
Touching emotions quickly turned into laughter.
I have to say, Jay Leno's skills are exceptional. He quickly turned the situation around, joking along with Connor's words, and the atmosphere in the room imdiately ward up again.
Connor was a bit caught off guard and didn't quite grasp what Jay Leno ant at first.
Anson turned to Jay Leno and said, "No, that whole lodrama won't happen because I can't prove that I wrote the song."
"No manuscripts, no audio recordings."
"If it went to court, it would be my word against theirs. Hey, Jay, it's three of them against one of —the outco couldn't be more obvious."
Wait… it could be interpreted that way?
Anson turned to look at Connor.
"Guys, maybe you missed your chance to be the next Bob Dylan."
One second.
Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha.
There was applause and whistling, with many in the audience even standing up, shaking their heads and offering Anson a standing ovation as a sign of deep respect.
Even Jay Leno couldn't help but want to clap and cheer for Anson.
Impressive, truly impressive—
In the music world, there's a long-standing rumor that in the early days of his career, Bob Dylan "plagiarized/stole" original works from other folk singers, which helped him rise to fa. Although Bob never admitted it, nor did he deny it, the real folk icons knew it was an open secret.
Of course, Bob Dylan later used his talent to carve out his own path and beca an undeniable presence in the history of folk music.
Brutal, ruthless, indifferent, profit-driven, and unscrupulous.
This is the reality of the entertainnt industry, and anyone caught up in it is unlikely to escape.
Who would have thought that Anson could casually pull out such a reference to tease Connor and the others about their simplicity and innocence? It wasn't a criticism or an attack; instead, the subtle regret in his tone revealed Anson's stance, but his way of expressing it was full of entertainnt value—
The show's atmosphere instantly peaked.
Even Connor and his two friends were left dumbfounded.
Clearly, they hadn't expected to end up on "The Tonight Show," let alone beco the focus of the audience's applause and laughter.
The three of them exchanged glances, and then they couldn't hold back any longer. Smiles crept onto their faces, the tension eased slightly, and they even started to enjoy the process of recording the show.
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