Sonic seniors form band and rock out to youthful rhythm

After uploading a cover of a song by Jay Chou on Youku, Dong gained more attention, attracting 270,000 views. Many people were amazed by her performance, especially the rap part of the song.

In March 2011, one of her videos, in which she sang the song Because of Love, garnered over 1 million views within a week.

To her surprise, the video was even reposted by one of the original singers, Faye Wong, on social media. Dong later performed the song again during China's Got Talent show, and dedicated it to her husband.

In 2018, Dong's band received an invitation from the TV program Avenue of Stars, a popular singing competition on China Central Television. Inspired by the show's director, the team members decided to inject more "craziness" into their performance, incorporating rock elements with drums and bass.

Finally, the band performed the Chinese rock song Life in Full Bloom, showcasing not only their meticulously prepared performance but also their own lives in full bloom.

Over the years, the silver-haired band has gradually gained recognition, traveling across the country from the West Lake to bigger stages, stunning audiences on many TV shows.

"Rock is not just for the young!" the band members sometimes shout at the end of their performances. Through each "rocking" experience, they feel the charm of music and the power of life.

In their regular rehearsals, they have also updated their repertoire to include more dynamic songs, building upon the soothing old songs of the past.

"Singing these rock songs makes me feel young and energetic. When we sing and dance, we forget our ages and all the troublesome things and feel joyful," Dong said.

The band also performs for the elderly in nursing homes and children in orphanages.

"We can bring happiness and joy to others. Maybe it is the reason why we are liked by many people," Dong added.

Today, the band has grown to over 20 members from all walks of life including retired teachers, translators and restaurant owners. While some members have dropped out due to health or family reasons, new members have joined. However, Dong is always there, as the soul of the group.

Dong believes that seniors need a sense of belonging to find something they love and to learn new things.

In turn, they often discover joy in these new experiences, living each day with the exuberance of an 18-year-old.

Dong is working on grooming the next generation of the band, hoping to pass on the "forever young" rock spirit embodied by Fenghe.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

chenye@chinadaily.com.cn