HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 14 [014] I heard you've become a lucky charm now.

The suggestion from Maitian was for Qi Yuan to choose one or two newspapers to be interviewed.

Firstly, it increases his exposure, allowing more people to get to know him.

Secondly, interviews can reveal some information about the album to the outside world, generating buzz for the album in advance.

Qi Yuan himself thought so too, so he chose a date to be interviewed by a reporter from Music Weekly at the Wheatfield Music recording studio.

Music Weekly's subscription numbers aren't very high compared to other newspapers in Beijing, but it's the only professional music newspaper in the country.

Since its inception in 1979, it has been well-received by music professionals and music lovers, and has a considerable influence in the music industry.

"Qi Yuan, as far as we know, you are a student in the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy, class of '96. What made you decide to become a singer?" the reporter asked.

"Because I heard that boys who play music are more attractive to girls, and I also heard that being a singer earns more money than being an actor," Qi Yuan replied sincerely.

The reporter from 'Puchi' Music Weekly was caught off guard by Qi Yuan's antics and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

This talented student from Beijing Film Academy is more down-to-earth than I imagined.

This is very realistic and relatable. Many high school and college boys study music and play basketball, and their initial goal is often to attract girls.

On university campuses, whenever a pretty girl walks by on the basketball court, the boys playing basketball will definitely use what they consider to be the coolest shooting motion.

Once they've attracted a girl's attention, they feel smug and incredibly handsome.

Little did they know, the girls simply thought they were immature and eccentric, not that they were handsome.

"So, I'd like to ask you, Qi, have you become more attractive to girls since you started playing music?"

"No, I've become more attractive to men. Mr. Song from Wheatfield, Mr. Gao Xiaosong, and some older men from record companies often call to 'harass' me, asking if I have any plans to sign with a company and release an album. For a while, I was really annoyed by it." Qi Yuan casually put on an act.

"..."

The reporter was caught in the act.

If Qi Yuan were to say these words in any of the underground bars in Beijing, he would definitely be beaten to death by the resident singers.

You're just showing off. We've been singing for so many years and haven't even gotten the attention of a record company.

You're so young and you can already release an album, why are you getting annoyed?

Next, the reporter asked about the new album.

"Yes, Wheatfield and I are working hard on my first album, and it won't be long before it's released."

During my freshman year of college, I sent out over 500 emails to various record companies. The songs on my first album were basically ones that had been rejected.

Qi Yuan said very sincerely.

Hearing this from outside the glass door, Song Ke, who was short and stout, exclaimed, "Wow!"

They all wanted to ask the acting department at Beijing Film Academy if they also taught marketing and hype.

These are mostly songs that others didn't want to return. You dare to say that? You lie without even blushing.

It's understandable that songs like "Starry Sky" and "Love at the Corner" were rejected by others, since they were too ahead of their time.

Established singers are hesitant to try new music that hasn't been tested by the market.

You say others don't want classic pop love songs like "The First Time" and "I Thought"?
Isn't that nonsense? Anyone with a basic understanding of music theory can immediately tell it's a fantastic love song.

If Qi Yuan were an artist from another company, the two of them would definitely have cursed him, saying he was shameless and that not a single word of his was true.

Qi Yuan is one of their Wheatfield people, and they'll say that this kid did a great job, he's simply a marketing genius.

If the album becomes successful in the future, it would be such a great gimmick to rehash the interview content.

The interview lasted for more than an hour.

The interview was just a minor incident.

After the reporter left, Qi Yuan drank half a glass of water and went back to the recording studio to continue recording.

They are currently recording "Small Town Girl".

Qi Yuan was responsible for writing and composing the music for this album himself.

He chose to entrust the arrangement to a professional arranger.

It's not that he can't do arranging, it's just that arranging is a very time-consuming and labor-intensive job. If he had to arrange all nine songs himself, he would be worked to death.

If we compare a song to a person, the composer is the skeleton, and the arranger is the flesh and blood that are poured into that skeleton.

Once the basic structure is set, as long as the arranger is skilled enough, it shouldn't go too far off track.

The decision was too far off, and the final say rested with Qi Yuan; he could simply send it back for rewriting.

By outsourcing the arrangement work, Qi Yuan had more time to adjust her mindset and record the song.

"Old Song, I feel like you and I have both been fooled by this kid. This song, 'Small Town Girl,' is much more radical than 'Starry Sky' and 'Love at the Corner.'"

I strongly suspect that "Small Town Girl" was written earlier than the other two songs.

He only brought out those two songs to test us, afraid we wouldn't agree.

Gao Xiaosong belatedly realized that he and Song Ke seemed to have been led by the nose by Qi Yuan all along.

Qi Yuan first tested them with R&B songs like "Starry Sky" and "Love Corner," which are more easily accepted by Chinese audiences.

Once they accepted this kind of music, Qi Yuan laid his cards on the table and dropped the pretense, releasing more authentic R&B songs like "Small Town Girl" and "Everyday".

Song Ke looked at the young man recording a song inside the glass with a wry smile.

It seems that the Beijing Film Academy's acting department not only teaches marketing and hype, but also how to be cunning.

Qi Yuan, that kid, weighs 75 kilograms, but I estimate 70 kilograms of his heart is cunning.

Qi Yuan was about to start singing, and Song Ke and Gao Xiaosong, who were sitting outside, put their headphones on.

The train whistle and drums sounded.

Qi Yuan inside the glass began to scream like a ghost.

"Woo~ Woohoo~ Yay~"

I still remember holding your hand many years ago.

You were so shy you didn't dare look up.

"Just staring blankly at the stars in the sky"

You are so pure.

"We know you received a notification that you've been listed."

My mind became very confused.

I don't know whether to be happy for you or sad for myself.

"I have no choice but to let you go."

"I don't understand, I don't understand why I can't let go."

"I can't bear to let go of this love—you'll never understand."

"I understand, I understand, you will always exist in my heart, yes."

Perhaps one day you will miss it.

But I am no longer here.

……

Song Ke, standing outside the glass, looked shocked.

What? A song can be sung like that?
Genius! This kid has actually found the right way to approach Chinese R&B.

Honestly, if you closed your eyes, ignored the Chinese lyrics, and told them that the person recording the song inside wasn't Qi Yuan, but a black guy from Los Angeles, they would believe you.

The rhythm is so strong, the transitions are even smoother than Dove chocolate.

Especially the last part, "I heard you're now a senior manager~~ Your future is as bright as a shining star."

This part was so enjoyable that their ears were practically pregnant.

(End of this chapter)