Melody Journey

2026-05-21

Melody Journey is a show that invites established singers to find fresh new music by introducing them to songwriters and producers. The singers have to convince the songwriters to pick them and I think it elevates the show by changing the power dynamics. Like give your baby to me, I will take care of your song! The singers audition and joke around with the songwriters for a really lighten the mood. Some of the songwriters flip to being singers and vice versa to show that they have flexibility in their show format and skill sets. One singer can be chosen by the songwriter but the singers can choose to perform the song as well (to a maximum limit of one additional singer), it is SO sweet to see how excited the singers are to claim a song. I think Melody Journey shines a light on the hidden talents and producers behind singers because there is the myth that the singer does it all. A singer does not write all their songs, produce, and develop them all alone, they have a hard working team that contributes too.

Compared to the competitor's show on WeTV called HitSong2024 they are unerringly harsh on the song writers and do take on their position of power to discern which songs they want to perform. For example one judge stated that the "song was simple [...] was not rich" or "it sounds good at first but I can't grasp something more meaningful". It's not comradery but a music machine churning these writers out. The songwriters in Melody Journey work collaboratively with singers to adjust lyrics, styles, and tailor the song to the singers. Especially since some songwriters that showed up on Melody Journey also showed up on HitSong2024 with the same songs too. The songwriters also only perform 1 minute of their song on HitSong compared to a full performance by in Melody Journey. They are just farming their sadness and disappointment for the show!

I watched this show for Zhou Shen and Joker Xue they seem friendly and love joking together for the cameras. Otherwise, Lars Huang and Liu Duan Duan pleasantly surprised me. didn't realize but I knew Lars Huang from when he performed on Super Vocal, and Liu Duan Duan is an actor by trade but wanted to try singing. I also ended up loving Mooney who was invited as a songwriter at first but ended up performing as a singer (someone released his concert on YouTube)

Songs I liked from Season 1 based on when they show up in the official playlist starting from episode 1

• Episode 1
  • 口头禅 Catchphrase written by Yang Moyi, sung by Jane Zhang -
  • 来，走 Come, Go written by Liu Lian, sung by Liu Lian and Essay Wang - I have this one for my car commute, I think the beat is so chill
  • 只字不提 Not mentioning a word written by Bao Anquan, sung by Zhou Shen
• Episode 2
  • In Between the Upside Down (顛倒之間)written by Wu Hewem, sung by Zhou Shen
  • Nothing Left (没有了) written by Mooney, sung by Liu Duan Duan and Duan Aojuan - Duan Aojuan's voice serves such a nice contrast with the high notes compared to a solo, I really liked the raw emotion Liu Duan Duan puts into his voice as well.
• Episode 3
  • Wait for You (等你) written by Chen Shengyu, sung with two versions I like, Liu Duan Duan and Zhou Shen
  • Give It A Try (試試吧) written by Chen Tongyan, sung by Li Jiage and Mooney. I find the tune of this song so cute and rustic! I think their voices really complement each other too.
• Episode 4
  • Probably my favourite cluster of songs, I liked both versions of many of them!
  • I Want to Forget You Right Now (我好想現在就把你忘了) written by Zhong Wanyun, sung by - Jane Zhang. Probably my favourite performance of hers where the song uses her belt! I like Liu Duan Duan's version of this too!! He follows up really tough acts.
  • Rent, Purchase written by Dong Jiahong, sung by Joker Xue - Probably the biggest hit from the show, Dong Jiahong wrote it specifically for Joker and it really dazzles.
  • Only Related to Me (只與我有關聯) written by Zhong Tianli sung with two versions I like, Li Jiage and Zhou Shen
  • Whenever I (每當我) written by Zhou Fujin, sung by Lars Huang
• Episode 5
  • Lifelong Loneliness (終身孤獨) written by Ye Qing Sai Lan, sung by Shan Yichun
  • I Don't Care How Absurd the World Is (我不在乎世界如何荒唐) written by Cai Youqi, sung by Ayunga
  • Black Hole (黑洞) written by Yi Zeyu, sung by Chen Zhuoxuan and Liu Duan Duan
• Episode 6
  • The Cicadas' Chirping on the Eighth Day (八日蟬鳴) written by Wei Luyao, sung by Ayunga and Cai Guoqing
• Episode 7
  • Love in Blue (愛在藍) written by Ma Zihao, sung by Bibi Zhou
  • This Blue (這蔚藍) written by Zhou Fujin, sung by Liu Yuning
  • Do You Dare? (你敢嗎) written by Ding Yu, sung by Liu Duan Duan. It's pretty crazy to me that I prefer this one over Liu Yuning's version. A professional singer has such good control, but it's the emotion that wins out in my books every time.
  • There was an AI song in this episode. It was the only song that was skipped up until now.
• Episode 8
  • THREE songs were passed over this episode woah
  • I didn't like the songs much this episode either >.>
  • Here is a link for those curious - Gold Rush had cool set dressing and dancing but that's it for me.
• Episode 9
  • Put Pen to Paper (落筆成書) - Shan Yichun and Liu Xijun - This one is worth mentioning because it was partially written by Vincent Fang who was the main lyricist to Jay Chou's traditional songs and Yanis Huang, the producer. Shan Yichun sings this song very cleanly, but I think Liu Xijun sings it with the phrasing for the verses I would hope for a traditional song.
  • Farewell My Concubine (霸王別姬) written by Joker Xue, sung by Yao Xiaotang and Liu Duan Duan. However, I liked the version that was not performed on the show with Jane Zhang and Joker Xue also the snippet that Zhou Shen sang as a demo
• Episode 10
  • Colony (菌落) written by Wang Zi, sung by Bibi Zhou.
  • Hertz 1520 (赫茲1520) written by Luo Jingwen, sung by Lars Huang
  • The Years That Were Good to Me (對我好的那些年) written by Fang Wenshan and Huang Yuxun, sung by Lil Ghost - Honestly I don't like Lil Ghost much because my first impression was of him on Our Song and how he steamrolled Luo Qi for stage production, but this song showed some good stylistic range.

Looking back through the songwriters, there were not enough Pop Punk or Rock songs on this show but I'm glad Bibi still got some great performances singing ballads. They had some big alternative musicians that Melody Journey did not get enough range out of, like Liu Yuning mainly sings pop now but he started off in a Rock duo or Lars Huang and Zhou Shen who are classically trained in opera. The second season had Curley Gao but I don't think any of the songs she ended up singing matched her very well, not alternative enough :(