When the Applause Rises

There are some songs you don’t just perform.

You survive them.

掌聲響起 is one of those songs for me.

Every time I hear the opening lines — standing alone on a stage, listening to the applause — my chest tightens. Not because of nerves, but because of memory. This song isn’t about fame. It’s about endurance. About what it costs to stay standing long enough for the applause to come.

Image: Sparring-Johnny, wearing black gloves and shirt, stands with eyes closed, concentrating. Two men in the background practice boxing in a gym setting.

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As a blind and partially deaf musician, a martial arts champion, an athlete, and now a professional artist sharing work on the world stage, applause has never been something I expected. It’s something that arrived only after countless failures, endless waiting, and years of telling myself one simple thing: 忍耐 — endure.

When the crowd claps, the words that echo in my mind are always the same:

經過多少失敗，經過多少等待，告訴自己要忍耐

How many failures.

How much waiting.

Telling myself, again and again, to hold on.

Those lines hit close to home because they tell the truth. Behind every moment of recognition is loneliness, doubt, and a long road no one else sees. The tears that come when I sing this song aren’t sadness — they’re release. They’re gratitude. They’re the moment the armor finally comes off.

Image: A person standing outdoors in front of a flower bed and greenery. They are wearing black sunglasses, a red and black athletic jacket with white stripes on the sleeves, and matching black athletic pants. There is an Adidas logo on the jacket, as well as a patch with a red maple leaf and white text. The person is wearing a silver medal on a green ribbon around their neck and is holding the medal with one hand. The background shows various colorful flowers and leafy plants. The person appears to be proud and happy.

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This music video is my way of standing on that stage honestly. Not as a symbol. Not as inspiration. Just as someone who kept going, who waited, who endured — and who is deeply thankful for everyone whose love made the journey possible.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for the silence before the applause.

And thank you for the applause when it finally comes.

🎥 Watch the video below

or more about my journey, music, and art, visit johnnytiger.com.

To explore my tactile and visual artwork, visit tigertactile.com.

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