Lyrics that are fit for a hero

On March 5, 1963, an article by Chairman Mao Zedong was published in the newspaper, People's Daily, paying tribute to a young soldier, named Lei Feng, who died in an accident in 1962 at the age of 22. Since then, March 5 has been marked as "Learn From Lei Feng Day" and Lei has become a cultural icon, symbolizing selflessness, modesty and dedication.

Right after studying the article along with his colleagues that day, Wu Hongyuan, a songwriter who was then 33, was commissioned by the performing arts troupe that he worked for to write a song, echoing Mao's article and encouraging people to participate in the nationwide campaign to learn from the young soldier's spirit.

Within two hours, Wu, who is better known by his pseudonym, Hongyuan, finished writing the lyrics and gave it to his colleague, composer Lou Shengmao (1928-2007). The song, titled Xue Xi Lei Feng Hao Bang Yang, or Learn From the Role Model Lei Feng, soon became very popular in the country and has been performed by professional singers, as well as hitting a note with the general public.

On March 3, two days before the annual Learn From Lei Feng Day, Wu, 93 now, appeared in Beijing to announce a new project, calling for people to write their own versions of lyrics for the song, as a way to remind people, especially the younger generation, to keep the spirit of Lei alive.

"When I wrote the song, I was a young songwriter. I was very excited about the commission, but I didn't know where to start. So I took all the materials about Lei Feng that I could think of, such as newspaper reports, and I soon came up with the lyrics. The process was smooth and natural," Wu recalls.

"Like me, the composer also finished the song with ease. We had similar admiration and respect for the young soldier.

"After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the country began to develop quickly. There were many ordinary people making contributions to the country's development, whose stories became well known and made them role models," adds Wu, mentioning that, besides Lei, he was also touched and inspired by the stories of many people, such as Jiao Yulu, a county Party chief, who sacrificed his life in pursuit of poverty alleviation.

"As a songwriter, I wanted to write songs to express my respect and love for those heroes. So, when I started to write the song for Lei Feng, I was full of ideas and passion."

The songwriter has written more than 100 songs during his career and he regards the song about Lei as one of his favorites.

"I didn't expect that the song would be enjoyed by so many people and performed for 60 years. The longevity of the song proves that the spirit of Lei Feng has a lasting influence on people of different generations," he adds.

With the new project, Wu calls for people from all walks of life to interpret their understanding of the spirit of Lei, which received warm feedback. People, who work in different fields, such as transportation and delivery drivers, as well as young students, shared their versions of songs.

Wu's son, Wu Jiading, a renowned theatrical director and songwriter, supports his father's idea of sharing the song and giving it free to everyone who participates in the project. Moreover, he is working on an original Chinese musical, titled The Story of Lei Feng, in which his father's classic song will be featured.

"I've listened to the stories of Lei Feng and to my father recounting how he wrote the song since I was a child. It's a collective memory of many Chinese people to learn from Lei, one which has lasted since 1963 until today," says Wu Jiading, 62.

"I have been writing songs for over four decades and now I am working on the songs for a musical about Lei Feng, which is also a tribute to my father."

He notes that Lei is an enduring household name, and one who exists in people's daily lives, even though he died a long time ago.

"There are songs, movies and plays about him. His image can be found on cups, T-shirts and bags, which are popular among young people," he says.

For the musical, Wu Jiading visited the Lei Feng Memorial Hall in Fushun, Northeast China's Liaoning province, where he saw photos of the young soldier as well as his diaries.

"He had the habit of writing diaries and he was good at writing. It allowed me to get to know this young man, as a human being and a role model," Wu Jiading says.

Lei was born on Dec 18, 1940, in Wangcheng, Central China's Hunan province. He graduated from middle school in 1956 and then worked as a tractor driver on a local farm. In 1958, he started working as a bulldozer driver at an iron and steel factory in Anshan, Liaoning, and in 1960, he became a Party member and joined a transportation unit of the People's Liberation Army based in Northeast China.

Lei died on Aug 15, 1962, when a telegraph pole fell, injuring his head.

In the musical, Wu Jiading will tell the story of Lei through three vehicles that Lei drove: a yellow tractor, a red bulldozer and a green Jiefang truck. "Those three vehicles carried Lei's life and dreams. His dedication to his jobs and his kindness for people will be portrayed through songs in the musical," he says.

One of the highlights will be four young people, all aged at 22, singing songs as if having conversations with Lei.

"Since musicals are very popular art among contemporary young audiences, I hope that they will learn the story of Lei Feng again from a fresh perspective. The lovely young soldier will always be remembered," says Wu Jiading.

Supported by Beijing Culture and Arts Fund, the musical will premiere in November.