Chapter 198: Discussion of the New Song

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Discussion of the New Song

Two days later, in the early morning, as the first rays of Los Angeles sunlight pierced through the clouds, the melody of "Roar" followed the airwaves and snuck into every corner of the city.

On the highway during the morning rush hour, Taxi Driver Jon was honking his horn irritably. The traffic jam had lasted for half an hour, and the repeated news reports on the car radio were heavy on the heart.

Suddenly, the familiar DJ’s voice was interrupted, and a burst of spirited drumbeats rang out. Immediately after, Britney’s clear and powerfully firm voice flowed out:

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire..."

Jon’s finger suddenly froze on the horn, and his irritable mood was instantly swept away by this highly penetrating melody.

He subconsciously turned up the volume, and his brow gradually unfurled.

In the next lane, a private car window rolled down, and the owner leaned out, shouting at him,

"Is this Britney’s new song? It’s so hype!" Jon nodded vigorously, humming along lightly with the melody. The anxiety brought by the traffic jam had mostly dissipated. These past few days had been suffocating with the 9/11 news, and this powerful song was like a beam of light piercing through the haze.

At the corner breakfast shop, a radio hung above the cash register. When the chorus of "Roar" played, the waitress Lily, who was wiping the tables, stopped her movements, her eyes instantly turning red.

Her brother was a firefighter with the New York Fire Department who had rushed into the Twin Towers on 9/11 and never returned. She had been in a daze for the past few days until she heard the lyrics, "You can knock me down, but you can’t break me." Her tears suddenly fell, but she lightly clenched her fist to the rhythm.

The boss walked over with coffee and patted her on the shoulder. "This song really speaks to the heart." Several customers in the shop also chimed in. Someone said, "Britney is no longer that little girl who only sings sweet songs." Another sighed, "We need a song like this right now to give us some courage."

On the university campus, students gathered around radios, their discussions rising and falling.

"My god! Britney’s transformation is so successful!" A girl named Emily pulled her friend’s arm excitedly. "The previous ’Baby One More Time’ was sweet, but the sense of power in ’Roar’ literally gives me goosebumps!"

The boy next to her, Tom, nodded. "The lyrics are so poignant. ’When the storm sweeps in, I don’t back down.’ Watching the news these past few days has made me feel uneasy, but hearing this song, I suddenly feel like we’ll always pull through."

Other students immediately took out pens and paper, quickly jotting down the lyrics, intending to share them with their families far away in New York. They needed this kind of encouragement.

In the radio live studio, as soon as the DJ finished playing "Roar," the hotline was flooded with calls.

One listener said with a sob, "I’m in New York, still living in a temporary shelter, spending every day in fear. When I heard this song, I suddenly felt like I wasn’t fighting alone."

Another Black listener left a message: "’Everyone has the right to shine.’ This line really touched me. Everyone is talking about unity right now, and this song is the best manifesto for unity."

Many fans also stated, "I was worried her transformation would fail, but now it seems this is the most successful metamorphosis!"

By noon, "Roar" had already dominated the top of the request charts for all major radio stations.

In every street and alley, people could be heard humming the lyrics "I roar like a lion, breaking through the darkness." In cafes, supermarkets, and gyms—almost all public places—the radios were playing the song on loop.

Someone wrote in a newspaper column: "Britney’s ’Roar’ is not just a pop song. It is a spiritual antidote for this special period."

On social media forums, netizens spontaneously shared their thoughts. Some uploaded clips of themselves covering the song, while others made lyric posters. The topic #Britney Roar# quickly became trending. Everyone was using this song to release their fear and pass on courage.

Irene sat in her office, browsing the discussions on the forums, her lips curling up uncontrollably. She picked up her phone and sent a text to Britney: "Have you seen everyone’s feedback? You did it. Your voice is bringing strength to this city."

Just as Irene put down the phone she used to text Britney, her fingertips still on the desk, her exclusive ringtone rang urgently. It was Shelly’s number.

As soon as she pressed the answer button, Shelly’s voice, unable to hide her excitement, immediately came through the receiver:

"Irene! Great news! Rolling Stone magazine just contacted me. They want to do an exclusive interview with you and Britney! Specifically for the song ’Roar’!"

"Rolling Stone?" Irene was a bit surprised, then she smiled. "That was fast. The song was only officially released today."

"It’s because the response has been so enthusiastic!" Shelly’s voice was full of joy.

"They said ’Roar’ is now dominating the top of every radio request chart in the country. The forums are full of discussions, and even many political commentators are mentioning it, calling it the ’spiritual bugle of the post-9/11 era.’ They want to know how you two created such a song at this juncture and what the story behind the creation is."

Irene walked to the window holding her phone, looking at the distant night view of Los Angeles, and a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

"We can agree to the interview, but I have one condition." Her tone was firm.

"I want to use the Rolling Stone platform to issue a statement: All family members of those injured or killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as the rescue personnel and their families, can watch all movies produced by Echo Pictures for free for the next year. As long as they are willing to take a little time to either call Echo Pictures to register or come to my office for a simple filing."

Shelly on the other end of the line was stunned for a few seconds, then praised her sincerely:

"I really don’t know what your brain is made of. This idea is brilliant! It not only conveys goodwill but also draws more attention to Echo Pictures, and it echoes the positive energy theme of ’Roar.’ More importantly, I don’t know how much publicity cost this will save for the next two movies!"

"It’s not just for promotion," Irene said softly. "I’ve read too many stories of the victims’ families these past few days, and it feels heavy. Being able to do what I can to give them a moment of relaxation in their grief is our response to this era."

After finalizing the interview time, Irene immediately sent a message to Britney, informing her of the interview and the decision for free movie viewings.

Britney replied almost instantly: "That’s awesome! I completely support you! Being able to do something for those families is more meaningful than any promotion."