The opening of China Entertainment Group gave Jay Chou a head-on confrontation

Chapter 912 English Major (Part 1): 25
In the Western music scene, it is not uncommon for an album to have 15, 16, or 18 tracks.

Some singers, after releasing a wildly successful album, will reissue it with a few new songs as a celebratory edition and release it again.

The former includes Shakira, while the latter includes Mariah Carey's Platinum Celebration Edition of "The Queen of the Rings," which, including the newly added bonus tracks, brings the total to 18 tracks.

Some singers even include as many as 20 or more tracks in their first album release, such as Zhou Yi's old rival Eminem.

Of course, having so many songs on an album has both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage is that it will make some people feel it's a good deal, but the disadvantage is that if there are too many filler songs, it will affect the listening experience and inevitably impact the singer's reputation.

This requires a professional producer to strike a balance.

Therefore, even the biggest stars will more or less seek out and collaborate with current big names or up-and-coming producers when producing a new album.

It's incredible that he can handle everything himself, especially the I Ching, and succeed every single time.

"A new album with 16 songs? Doesn't that mean there are 16 great songs?"

Kevin never expected this surprise to be waiting for him. When he thought of Zhou Yi's inhuman creative ability, his dissatisfaction with Zhou Yi's evasive and unresponsive approach to helping Shakira sell tickets instantly flew from Earth to Neptune.

It is widely known that Zhou Yi's albums have no bad songs—this is a compliment that is entirely literal.

Songs like "Baby," which Zhou Yi himself now disdains as mere pop songs, represent his lowest point. Yet, this lowest point is still the upper limit that over 90% of musicians in the North American music scene aspire to reach but find difficult to achieve.

The albums were already so good when they had 10, 11, or 12 songs. Now that they've suddenly upgraded to 16 songs, they're bound to take off!
Zhou Yi's professional ethics and excellent reputation, built up over the years, meant that none of the audience members, including Kevin, would consider whether he would follow the example of those music industry veterans and cram in a few mediocre songs to fill the number of acts.

They would only think that the Book of Changes is amazing, that this time it actually had a burst of inspiration and wrote 16 poems.

"But thinking about it, it makes sense. It's said that artists who have experienced life and death often burst forth with inspiration that is hard for ordinary people to imagine. Maybe Spike's inspiration just came out like a torrent because he was shot, which is why he suddenly wrote 16 great songs that he could include in his new album."

"Yes, Stephen, you're right."

This time, Kevin did not refute his friend's speculation; instead, he nodded seriously.

In fact, it's not just the two of them who think this way.

After Shakira's concert ended, the headlines of major North American newspapers were filled with speculation about how much inspiration the shooting had given to the I Ching.

Spike's new album is in preparation! The album title was revealed at Shakira's concert!

Is this Spike's new album with the most tracks in his musical career?

An American shot and killed a music legend!

Will Spike's new album involve a shooting?

Shakira's concert turned into a promotional event for Spike's new album!

"A Nightmare for Western Singers, a Boon for Music Listeners - Spike"

When an artist encounters hardship, he may unleash a surge of creative inspiration: Spike

"..."

The front pages of major North American entertainment newspapers were filled with a sense of crisis. Zhou Yi's new album, which has only had its title announced so far, has already become an invincible opponent in their eyes, and no one can refute it with a straight face.

It's been over four years, almost five, and Zhou Yi has been relentlessly beating him to the ground for so long. Anyone would be traumatized by such a beating.

The Book of Changes is ruthless and merciless.

Now that so many songs have suddenly been added to the album, it would be absurd to say there wasn't an impact from the shooting, especially considering the album title...

For a time, everyone who had a grudge against the Book of Changes was in a state of panic, fearing that they would be written into this unpublished book, "25," and then be infamous for eternity.

Seriously, given the success of Zhou Yi's albums, this is highly likely.

"Do these journalism students think I'm some kind of cannibalistic monster? I've always been very refined and easy-going."

In the hotel suite, Zhou Yi casually closed the newspaper and said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Do I look like that kind of person?"

"To be honest, they do look quite similar."

After lighting the incense, Shakira flicked the lighter and strode over, draped only in a black net veil, her body slithering across the man like a snake: "Because of you, so many people have become a laughingstock."

"hiss……"

As a top dancer in the Latin American pop music scene, Shakira's core strength is undoubtedly the strongest among all the women Zhou Yi has encountered over the years—without exception.

He was shaken so badly that he almost lost control prematurely.

"Tell me honestly, how many people do you plan to include in '25'?"

"not a single one."

"Huh? You're serious?"

"Of course, because none of them deserve it."

Having personally experienced the activation of Shakira's top-tier electric buttocks, Zhou Yi gasped, his back instinctively arching backward: "Since it's named after my age, it will only write my own name..."

He wrote about life, about everything he experienced.

Unlike his previous albums, "25" is not an album that uses A and B sides to complement each other. In fact, in Zhou Yi's plan, this is an album that will not have any contrast from the first song on side A to the last song on side B.

The first song: "Perfect".

Ed Sheeran's number one Billboard chart hit tells an incredibly romantic love story through vibrant folk music.

A US number one single, a UK number one single, the seventh best-selling song in the US in 17, and the best-selling song in 18—these titles alone are enough to demonstrate the song's impact.

Love, an eternal theme in the music world.

Drawing inspiration from a classic and widely popular theme for the album's opening is both to attract listeners and to establish the album's initial concept of time.

I found my love.

I never imagined you were the one waiting for me.
"We were both young and naive when we first fell in love with each other..."

Young and inexperienced, young.

Without explicitly naming the age, the use of "young" in these lyrics is somewhat of an understatement.

When applied to Zhou Yi, a well-known playboy today, it's hard not to think of his first love—the young Zhou Yi was once a sunny and cheerful boy who viewed love through a sweet lens, believing he had found his life partner the moment he met a girl.

Standing at the age of 25, this song is Zhou Yi's way of recalling his first love in his youth and the beginning of that sweet romance.

But how can love always go as planned? Therefore, the second song on side A is "Teeth".

5 Seconds of Summer is a triple platinum single from the Australian pop band, ranked number four on the Billboard charts, and was a Rolling Stone Top 100 Single of 2019-2020.

This is a song about heartbreak, yet it's rather unconventional.

Or rather, this is a love song about a love-hate relationship.

After the initial sweetness of youth, the impetuous young Zhou Yi and his girlfriend faced various problems in life, and their relationship began to falter.

Sometimes you feel more like a stranger sharing a bed; I don't know if you love me or if you just want me to disappear.

"They pushed me away again and again, and then repeatedly begged me to stay."
"I received your apology call this morning, but every lie you've told has left me feeling uneasy. The way you look at me is inscrutable..."

The young Zhou Yi's first love (puppy love) was unsuccessful, with both sides experiencing a love-hate relationship—the lyrics also fit the descriptive vocabulary unique to that age group.

So, the third song on side A is "Maps".

A hit single from Maroon 5.

It ranked sixth on the Billboard chart, first on the Adult Songs chart, second on the Pop chart, and second on the UK chart. It also entered the top 20 on charts in over 20 countries worldwide. In South Korea, it dominated eight major music charts, making Maroon 5 the first foreign artist to simultaneously top eight charts in South Korea with this song.

This is Zhou Yi recounting his experience of breaking up for the first time, describing how he supported her during her darkest time, but felt abandoned when she no longer needed him.

Nevertheless, he still held onto the hope of reuniting with them and “moved along the map leading to [them].

The song tells the story of Zhou Yi's heartbreak, his longing for communication, and his heartfelt hope to overcome obstacles together.

At this time, the young Zhou Yi was still a pure-hearted war god.

Next, the fourth song on side A: "Attention".

The single sold over six million copies in the United States alone, achieving six-times platinum certification. It topped the charts in over 20 countries worldwide, reached number five on the Billboard charts, and became Charlie Puth's second most popular song in his career.

The lyrics also carry a sense of love-hate relationship—

"You're always going around in circles, causing trouble everywhere, and then you pin all the blame on me."
"Because I know that if this happens, I'll call you."

"You're always hanging out at parties in Los Angeles, because we both know I'll be there too..."

The lyrics mention "Los Angeles," highlighting the album's timeline up to this point—Zhou Yi, who has grown up and become famous.

As is well known, Zhou Yi had never been abroad before the age of 20.

After turning 20, Zhou Yi had already embarked on the path to becoming a music superstar.

It was at this time that Zhou Yi met his wealthy first love, who had profoundly influenced his views on love, at a Chinese gathering party in Los Angeles—only this time, Zhou Yi, who had embarked on the road to superstardom, was no longer the innocent boy he once was.

"You're just trying to get attention, you don't really want to win my heart."

"You just don't want to think that I'll be with someone else..."

It's still the same love-hate relationship as before, but Zhou Yi is no longer the naive, love-struck god who taught himself music to get along with girls.

The fifth song on side A: "Moves Like Jagger".

Maroon 5's number one Billboard single, a seven-platinum single that sold over seven million copies in the US alone, and ranked in the top of more than 20 countries worldwide.

Looking back, Zhou Yi once publicly stated when he first debuted that the reason he taught himself music was to pursue girls—now, this foreshadowing has been revisited.

The first CD he encountered when he was learning music on his own was by Mick Jagger, the founder of the legendary rock band Rolling Stones.

This is also the origin of "Jagger" in the song title.

The young Zhou Yi was once a pure-hearted war god, but his career was unsuccessful. After experiencing a series of growth, he is now a playboy who enjoys the pleasures of life, much like his idol Mick Jagger in his youth.

In response to the situation in his previous song "Attention" where his wealthy first love wanted to repeat the same love-hate relationship, Zhou Yi used the playboy attitude and frivolous lyrics of "Moves Like Jagger" to express that he is no longer the guardian of pure love he once was.

Thus, we arrive at the sixth song on side A: "Locked Out Of Heaven".

Bruno Mars' reggae rock single topped the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks.

With sales exceeding ten million, the song achieved diamond certification and ranked in the top ten of music charts in more than twenty countries around the world.

This song depicts a part of Zhou Yi's life after becoming a superstar—singing in front of a large crowd and enjoying private entertainment.

Paired with equally frivolous lyrics, it perfectly embodies the transformation that the I Ching had already completed.

He is no longer the boy he was in his youth.

The seventh song on side A: "Whistle".

From Flo Rida —

A top-selling single on Billboard, a triple platinum single with sales exceeding three million.

Nicknamed the "Whistle Song," it's a song full of "entertainment" implications.

This song is ranked seventh, after "Locked Out Of Heaven," and it undoubtedly represents "private entertainment."

This is a song about indulging in sensual pleasures.

Just as Zhou Yi never hides the numerous scandals and controversies surrounding him since he became famous, his main theme is indulgence.

More women?
Many scandals?
I do not care.

I don't need you to film or report on it; I'll turn my own news into songs.

Now, we come to the 8th song on side A: "Burn the House Down".

A rock song from the alternative rock band ARJ, it reached number two on the alternative rock chart and number five on the radio chart, selling over three million copies in North America alone and earning triple platinum certification.

Among domestic music audiences, he is known by nicknames such as "Bragging Little Tune" and "Storytelling Little Tune".

Always trying to look cool, always acting like a fool, making every step so difficult.
"I've seen the news, and I can completely disregard how you want to respond. Showing off is my specialty."

"Should I stop being so arrogant? Should we just stop arguing? But nobody respects me anyway."
"If I write a hymn that points out the flaws, will my singing become known to everyone?"
"Or should I keep a lower profile?"
"No, hypocrites should be burned to the ground..."

The fight against injustice and lies, and the pursuit of truth and justice.

This is why "Burn the House Down" was placed as the last song on side A—beneath the glamorous exterior, Zhou Yi, who had already achieved great success, also possessed his own unique humanistic concerns.

(End of this chapter)