Respawn Entertainment: Days of Glory

Chapter 879 Olaf's Thoughts

Cigar's studio is located in his own home, a small manor house in the suburbs of London.

Olaf was also visiting for the first time. Looking at some of the antique equipment from the last century that he found very tempting, he felt his mouth watering at any moment.

For Bian Lang, a Chinese person who has lived two lives, many of the recording devices here were things he had only heard of but never seen before. This trip was truly an eye-opening experience.

"Olaf, I'm sure you're wondering why I even rejected the song Kleiber wrote for me?"

Olaf had discussed this question with Bian Lang on the way here, and now that the person in question was offering the answer, he naturally wanted to know: "Why?"

"These are all old relics left by Heinkel. The songs Kleiber gave me are actually quite good, but I always feel like something's missing when I use these old relics to produce them..."

Both Bian Lang and Olaf agree with this point.

The music of every era, especially the timbre of the instruments, is based on hardware compatibility.

Equipment from the last century certainly cannot produce the same sound as today's equipment. Just like many master cover artists abroad who strive for a 1:1 reproduction of the original sound, once their playing skills have reached an impeccable level, they can only focus on improving their equipment.

For example, many great cover artists went to find the equipment from that era to record Metallica's "Enter Sandman" in order to pursue that elusive 100% accuracy!

To the average listener, an accuracy of 8% or higher is considered a near-perfect recreation.

However, to professionals like Bian Lang, they can discern even minor details such as beat, tempo, and timbre.

Just like in a past life, Bian Lang heard about a music enthusiast who could not only tell whether the music was played using hydroelectric, thermal, or wind power, but also supposedly could tell how abundant the water was when the hydroelectric power station was generating electricity.

Cigar's goal was definitely to completely stick to the previous style, but Kleiber's songs were definitely arranged based on the current equipment and sound, so even if the overall style and direction were very close to the original album, there were still many differences in the details.

To put it more concretely, it's the spirit of the times.

These devices all look like products from the 1970s and 80s, so when Heinkel was composing, the arrangement and timbre must have been based on these old devices.

For example, Cigar is like a well-maintained engine from an old era. If you want to restore the retro feel of that era, the limit you can achieve is to completely restore the hardware.

If you're talking about finding oil from that era, you're just dreaming.

But, there really is such a thing as a wanderer!

Isn't "Every Grain of Sand" a product of the late 1970s?

Taking all these factors into account, Bian Lang had already made up his mind: if "Every Grain of Sand" didn't pique Cigar's interest, then he wouldn't take the job.

Sometimes, regret isn't necessarily unacceptable. It's foreseeable that even if Cigar didn't manage to release the album while he was still alive...

So once he's in heaven, this album might be re-released and produced, potentially creating even greater value than it did while he was alive.

The tour took almost an hour, during which Cigar didn't rest at all, and by the end, you could feel his physical exhaustion.

After all, he's almost 70, so these are normal bodily reactions: "Let's rest for a while. What would you like to drink? I'll have someone bring it over. Tea, coffee, or wine?"

"Whiskey..." Bian Lang didn't stand on ceremony, while Olaf ordered a cup of coffee.

After the servants brought the drinks, the three chatted about this and that for a while before Cigar cautiously asked Bian Lang, "Wave, what did you think of Heinkel's work?"

Bian Lang replied without hesitation, "It's like a cigar that has survived from the last century to the present day; the tannins and bitterness have become milder."

"Wave, I never expected you to use such vivid adjectives!"

Bian Lang didn't dwell on the issue but continued, "I think neither new wine in old bottles nor old wine in new bottles will satisfy your taste. Perhaps only old wine in old bottles will offer a glimmer of hope?"

"Putting old wine in new bottles" is a Chinese linguistic art, but it fits perfectly here. Cigar, who understood immediately, paused for a moment in surprise before clapping and saying, "Wave, if I had enough time, I would definitely move to China and be your neighbor..."

"It's not too late. Spring City is a great place to retire... I've already bought a villa next to Wave. Compared to your estate, that lakeside villa, it might only cost you half a year's royalties!"

Olaf, a real beneficiary, spoke from his own experience, almost as if he wanted to become a real estate sales consultant for Dianhai.

"Forget it, Olaf, I'm too old to take too much of this. If you guys can finish this album, my next wish is to go on another tour. Not a big one, just a small live show with a couple hundred people, and try to visit as many places as possible. If I could die on the road during a tour, I think that would be the best ending for me!"

If an elderly Chinese person said such a thing, their children would definitely criticize them, saying that they didn't give them, the younger generation, any face, that their parents were still working at such an advanced age, and then died far from home.

However, in most Western families where each member manages their own affairs, this doesn't seem like a particularly unconventional thing. Besides, it aligns with the persona of many musicians.

After all, that was Bian Lang's idea too.

In this life, he would never allow himself to die in a hospital bed. Even if he was terminally ill, even if he was very old, he would die on stage!
Just like Aunt Qiong, while you still have the dignity of being a human being, wave goodbye to this world in a dignified way that you like!

“Cigar, I do have a song here. I don’t know if you’ll like it, but I think it’s quite suitable for your album.”

Upon hearing this, Cigar began to feel conflicted.

Logically, he should be happy that Bian Lang gave him an answer so quickly, but at the same time, he was also afraid of being disappointed again. Moreover, he was quite aware of Bian Lang's character.

If he doesn't like it this time, then Bian Lang will never try it a second time.

But if he refused to listen to this song first and instead asked Bian Lang to bring out a few more... perhaps... However, he immediately put this greedy thought out of his mind.

Music composition is a type of artistic creation, and it's not like cabbage at the market, something that can be mass-produced and picked over. At least, not a creator of Bian Lang's caliber.

According to information he gathered from various sources, Bian Lang's "feeding" of people has been consistently successful, with no mishaps so far!
So how could this picky old man treat Bian Lang and his works with the same attitude he has towards other musicians?

"Does that mean..."

As Cigar was carefully choosing her words, Bian Lang suddenly interrupted her, as if remembering something: "Cigar, do you have any religious beliefs?"

If someone else asked Cigar this question, she probably wouldn't even bother answering; she'd either give them a cold shoulder or end the conversation abruptly. After all, as a "service provider," you've already presented the results to the client, and if you don't even know their basic beliefs, how can you expect them to believe you can do the job well?

But the person in front of him was Bian Lang, a mysterious musician from mysterious China. It was normal that he didn't know the basic information about him, the client. Besides, he himself wasn't very sure about this matter.

Cigar replied without any sign of displeasure, “I am Jewish and a Christian. But my sense of identity with my origins and faith has always been somewhat uncertain…”

"Isn't this a coincidence?"

Bob Dylan, this grand slam artist, is a prophet in a motorcycle jacket, a mysterious vagrant, a ragged Napoleon, a Jew, a Christian, a collection of countless contradictions. Completely unknown, like a rolling stone.

He has been analyzed, graded, classified, crucified, defined, dissected, investigated, examined, and rejected... but he has never been understood.

So before Cigar could speak again, Bian Lang got up and went to find a guitar and harmonica, as if he didn't want to give Cigar any more chances to regret it.

Cigar immediately stood up and said, "Wave, what kind of violin do you want? I'll go find it for you..."

After listening to this, Bian Lang thought for a while and then replied, "Both Gibson and Martin acoustic guitars are fine. If it were Heinkel, what would he choose?"

Gibson and Martin are both guitars that Dylan loved to use, but Bian Lang really doesn't know what guitar he used when playing "Every Grain of Sand".

Moreover, the differences between the various versions of "Every Grain of Sand" are vast, so Bian Lang didn't want to dwell on those details.

After thinking for a moment, Cigar nodded and said, "Wait for me a moment. Is there anything else you need?"

"Harmonica stand..."

Less than 10 minutes later, Cigar returned carrying a Gibson harmonica case. As for harmonica stands, there were one or two readily available in the workshop, and Bian Lang could simply pick one that looked suitable.

When Bian Lang opened the violin case, he laughed.

The Gibson SJ200, known as the king of strumming guitars, has been produced in many different versions over the years. Coincidentally, Dylan, George Harrison, and Lennon were all loyal users of the SJ200.

Bian Lang recalls that the SJ200 also had a Dylan-signed commemorative edition...

Thinking of this, Bian Lang joked with Cigar while working on the song, "Cigar, if you choose this song, you'd better go and say hello to Gibson first..."

"Thanks for reminding me, I will! It's much harder for us folk singers to keep a custom-made guitar than for you rock musicians. This can also be added to my unfulfilled wish list..."

At this point, Bian Lang felt as if he had become the old man's wish-granting machine.

But none of that matters. The moment Bian Lang started playing the simple melody, Cigar was a completely different person:

“In the time of my confession,

When I repent
in the hour of my deepest need
At my deepest need

When the pool of tears beneath
In the pond of tears

my feet flood every newborn seed
Every newly sprouted seed was submerged beneath my feet…

This unexpected turn of events completely cleared away all the negative emotions he had felt before listening to the song!

It's like a Discipline Priest casting a dispel on you, instantly restoring you to your cleanest state!
"I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
I hear the ancient footsteps, like the movement of the sea.
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there,

Sometimes I turn around, and there's no one there.

Other times it's only me
The remaining time is just me

I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man
I am suspended in the weight of human nature.
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand
Like a falling sparrow, like every grain of sand…

Listening to Bian Lang's gentle narration, Cigar felt as if she had gone through a process of self-examination along with the song. She not only rediscovered many things that Heinkel had gradually forgotten in the years since his departure, but also felt able to confront her own heart more directly!

Accompanied by Henō's harmonica playing, Cigar began to drift into her memories...

Heynckes and he were high school classmates, formed a band together and then disbanded, but neither of them left music. When they met again after many twists and turns, they were already 24 years old.

Two frustrated young men worked during the day and spent their evenings studying music.

The songs they initially wrote together were performed at The Vault of Heaven during George's father's era. It was only after they gradually gained an audience and popularity that they were noticed by a European record company controlled by CAA, and then their luck began to improve.

Later, after learning about some things behind the company and CAA, the two were asked by the company to write songs according to CAA's wishes and to make some statements that they did not agree with.

The two were determined to break free from control at any cost.

This process took four years, during which time Heinkel deliberately forced himself to write many bad works to mislead the record company and make them mistakenly believe that he had no value.

However, this came at the cost of causing significant mental health issues for Heinkel. After gaining his freedom, he relied on alcohol and drugs to prevent a mental breakdown.

Heinkel's unexpected death was less an accident and more an inevitable outcome...

When the music stopped completely, Bian Lang and Olaf looked at Cigar, who was in a daze, and did not disturb him, but just waited quietly.

However, Olaf had basically figured out Cigar's intentions. Indeed, the old guy would definitely not refuse again, so he had to think about how to help Bian Lang gain benefits.

His previous advice to Bian Lang to take on the project stemmed from his genuine belief in him as a fellow musician and from his respect for the older generation of musicians.

But when it comes to profits, there's no need to hold back. Cigar, a wealthy old man who's accumulated royalties his whole life, certainly doesn't lack money, and of course, Bian Lang isn't short of cash either.

But Cigar has so much to offer in exchange, some of which Rolling Stone and Sidewalk can't get from anyone else. Only Olaf truly knows how to assess the value of these things…

(End of this chapter)