Chương 79: presentation

A woman arrived to make the required adjustments, formalizing everything necessary, while she worked, applying a bit of styling cream to Billy's long hair, along with a touch of makeup. She also organized the wardrobe for each band member, focusing on their styles; for example, Spencer was the orderly one, opting for checkered patterns on all his suits, while Jack Sauce preferred to stick to traditional punk style with his combed eyelashes.

-Thanks, Patricia, you're the best, -Billy commented as he listened to Beyoncé's presentation and Prince's performance. The audience was animated, especially by Prince's flamboyant presence, with his detailed, soft songs that had a beloved frugal touch in the United States.

-I hope you can do your best to enchant the audience, and my salary increases by 100%. You know, most of the time, I'm dying for a higher salary, - Patricia commented, observing Billy, who was well-groomed.

-Even if I sing like an angel, it won't matter at all because I'm the singer, not the boss who pays the salaries, - Billy replied, glancing at his status as a quick way to maintain reality.

...

Status: Billy Carson.

Vocals: (1204/1280) Level 8: Expert.

Piano: (60/640) Level 6: Novice.

Guitar: (90/1280) Level 8: Expert.

Rating: Global.

18/8,340,000

Followers: 19,693,030

...

-Oh, cream, I'll sing in a way that people will scream for sure. The country will know who the rock boss is, - Billy commented. It was his first time singing for the Grammys, and he was inspired. He had his second audition for the role of Cedric Diggory in "The Goblet of Fire"; he had to be at least 17 years old to show his face to the public. For two years, he had at least six tutors, each one demanding. Even now, his acting skills are being polished in one way or another because that's where he could have the most fun.

-We're up in three minutes, - Egg Sugar commented, nervous. He was always nervous before a concert; you could see him biting his nails or playing with drumsticks in a friendly way.

-Stop being afraid of such irrelevant things, - Billy commented, combing aside the blond hair that fell over his face.

-Friend, you're Billy Carson... the damn guy who jumped off the stage and ended up singing with the crowd while a burly woman held you on her shoulders. You're a damn lunatic, - Egg Sugar commented.

Billy just smiled as he watched Egg Sugar play with the drumsticks, spinning them quickly, with a hint of fear. Meanwhile, Connor was lost in pills, a person with many problems, and his nervous breakdowns always made him nervous too, causing him to do crazy things like drinking alcohol, which was strictly prohibited. The doctor prescribed this after learning about his history.

Spencer just focused and stayed in the shadows.

-Let's go. -

-Billy Carssonnnn! - someone shouted into the microphone, introducing him.

Billy walked out dressed in a suit as people cheered loudly. The cameras zoomed in, capturing the moment. The lighting illuminated him.

As usual, the band stopped, as Billy was somewhat talkative in these scenes. He always found ways to mess with everyone with his ego.

-Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to thank you for keeping silent while I sing. We don't have good sound, and on occasions like these, it's better for people to enjoy, -he said to the audience.

-But, -the crowd chorused.

-Just a little noise then; they're difficult people, - Billy commented.

-We'll sing 'Youth of the Nation.' It belongs to the album 'Fall: About Loneliness'... an album written about the purest love I've had, my mother. I'm a man of imperfections, - Billy commented into the microphone. He could see Avril not far away, winking at him with a small smile.

When he mentioned - a man of imperfections, - many women cooed in unison.

The drums started to recalibrate forcefully, setting the rhythm for everything to come together... Many in the crowd tapped their feet to the catchy beat, while the bass and guitar sound hit with a painful pressure.

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

Last day of the rest of my life

I wish I would've known

'Cause I didn't kiss my mama goodbye.

I didn't tell her that I loved her, how much I care

Or thank my pops for all the talks

And all the wisdom he shared.

Unaware, I just did what I always do

Every day, the same routine

Before I skate off to school.

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

As he sang, he understood that beyond evoking images, his purpose was to convey powerful emotions that could conquer other generalized feelings. This song was one of the least sad; it aimed to surprise with its forms. Here, it evoked anger, but it was an impotent anger of not being able to satisfy people, which caused anxiety. It was the anxiety caused by anger that made people crave release the most.

It was a disgust that drove people mad. In favor of this, the audience, who had been ordered to remain silent, experienced a collective fever of hatred—a hatred that sought to break all forms entirely. Necks began to break just as Billy started to notice Avril, mixing emotions with madness, with an insinuating madness, partly to depression. Images played there, a fear of being alone, evoking images of a child holding his mother's hand on the way to school.

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest

Instead of taking a test

I took two to the chest?

Call me blind, but I didn't see it coming

Everybody was running

But I couldn't hear nothing.

Except gun blasts, it happened so fast

I didn't really know this kid

Though I sit by him in class.

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

...

In many ways, to portray an image is to embed it in soft emotions, but sometimes anger can turn into nostalgia. That's how the presentation of a child who shares a friendship with his mother from school can stir up the most, conquering the image with sadness and anger. Diluted to end sadness, diluted anger to sadness, in a hopeful way, is when it benefits the most. Looking closely, looking broadly at Avril, who was smiling, the cameras focused. Not long after, journalists would attack both as the young couple of the moment.

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

Maybe this kid was reaching out for love

Or maybe for a moment

He forgot who he was

Or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged

Whatever it was

I know it's because.

We are, we are, the youth of the nation

We are, we are, youth of the nation

We are, we are, the youth of the nation

We are, we are, youth of the nation.

Little Suzy, she was only twelve

She was given the world

With every chance to excel.

Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell

She might act kind of proud

But no respect for herself.

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

...

In the middle of the song, he mixed the music with more sadness, and the blow, the explosion, could quell the people as Billy saw the mood descend. His voice descended like a whistle, quickly contaminating, because that's where the song gained a more lasting impact on people. In a lasting way, the "Fallnes" album was sad, but it didn't seem so; once people heard the songs live, they found the sadness, two different readings.

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

She finds love in all the wrong places

The same situations

Just different faces

Changed up her pace since her daddy left her

Too bad he never told her

She deserved much better

Johnny boy always played the fool

He broke all the rules

So you would think he was cool

He was never really one of the guys

No matter how hard he tried

Often thought of suicide

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

...

Sadness could be represented in three images. One of them was acute sadness—multiple images, rain against the window, desolate parks, deserted places, weeds contaminating, clouds in the sky, tears.

The onslaught came; it was a resource he continued to use for some songs, and its repetition was always powerful.

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

It's kind of hard when you ain't got no friends

He put his life to an end

They might remember him then

You cross the line and there's no turning back

Told the world how he felt

With the sound of a gat

We are, we are, the youth of the nation

We are, we are, youth of the nation

We are, we are, the youth of the nation

We are, we are, youth of the nation.

Who's to blame for the lives that tragedies claim?

No matter what you say

It don't take away the pain.

🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶

...

The silence was eternal, as he always liked it when his songs hit sharply, and that's where the strength lay. Then, after finishing, the audience fell into happiness upon hearing "Take Me Out" in a powerful way. The song only alleviated the old sadness with a stereotypical rock. Though ironic in lyrics, it was the perfect form.

The Grammy gathering had only just begun.

...