America: Child stars start with The Shining

Charles raised an eyebrow, walked to the vicinity of the mixing console, and gently placed his hand on it.

[Already equipped: Music producer's mixing console (high-quality)]

[Entry: Golden Record (Passive) is activated]

"Hey, Ciel, we're all ready here, let's begin."

Charles nodded and walked into the recording studio with MJ.

If he remembers correctly, "Someone in the Dark" will not only be included in the movie's spin-off audiobook album, but will also be included as a bonus track in one of the re-releases of "Thriller".

Furthermore, it seems that recording this single somewhat delayed the release of "Thriller"...

I wonder if his involvement this time will cause a slight shift in the timeline, helping this amazing album to be released sooner.

The two stood in front of the microphone, and MJ raised his hand, giving an OK sign.

They decided to go through the whole process first and do a test recording to get a feel for it.

After all, this isn't a live performance where they can try and fail repeatedly to find the most suitable studio version for release.

"Someone In The Dark..."

"All alone wishing on stars..."

This is a song that perfectly fits the theme of the movie. Before producing it, Quincy Jones had already talked a lot with Spielberg about the lyrics, and almost every line is filled with a fairytale-like tenderness.

After all, this is originally a children's song.

MJ's voice is highly distinctive, possessing an almost innate stage presence that draws people in. Even in the closed recording studio, his voice still evokes vivid images in those around him.

It was as if the lyrics emerged along with the melody.

That's the charm of MJ—full of flamboyance, with a unique charisma that's hard for others to imitate.

Next, it was Charles's turn to be in charge of the chorus, where he was responsible for adding a layer of harmony for MJ.

"When someone in the dark reaches out to you..."

As soon as Charles opened his mouth and sang that lyric, MJ couldn't help but turn and glance at him.

The timing of the entry was so precise, it didn't seem abrupt at all.

Moreover, this was their first time working together, yet it already felt like a formal recording.

MJ couldn't help but recall the scene of him and the other person singing together on the stage of a club in New York.

He was right; Charles, just like him, was practically born for the stage.

Staying in Hollywood would be such a waste of his talent!

A flicker of surprise crossed MJ's eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips, as he continued singing along with Charles's harmonies.

"And touches off a spark that comes shining through..."

Charles naturally joined in the harmony without the slightest hesitation.

He had a very steady grasp of the beat, and his timing was particularly accurate, neither suppressing MJ's main melody nor falling too far behind.

The two voices, one after the other, complemented each other perfectly, creating an exceptionally natural harmony.

Behind the glass of the recording studio, Quincy Jones had subconsciously raised his head, casually pushed up his monitoring headphones, and his gaze became noticeably more serious.

The original estimate for the test recording time was less than a minute, but he showed no intention of stopping it.

Quincy Jones raised an eyebrow. The little guy's voice was indeed as MJ had said—very good, very outstanding.

Unfortunately, he was too young and hadn't gone through puberty yet.

Otherwise, he really wanted to poach Charles directly from his record label and give him a good polishing.

The recording was still ongoing, and when he sang the part where the emotions gradually rose, MJ's body would instinctively sway gently to the rhythm.

Charles stood beside him, his voice steadily following the other's, perfectly synchronized each time.

When the first take ended, the accompaniment stopped, and the recording studio was briefly silent for two seconds.

MJ first took off one earphone, then turned to look at Ciel, and said:

"Fuck, Charles, is this really the first time you've ever heard this song?"

Charles smiled, pointed at him, and said:

"No, MJ, it's because you sang so well that I was drawn into the story too."

"Haha, you're too modest."

MJ's smile widened. Both of his collaborations with the other person had given him a pleasant feeling; the two were simply a perfect match.

Through the glass, Quincy Jones' voice finally came from the control room.

He clapped his hands and spoke with a hint of excitement:

"Fuck, boys, you guys sang that fucking perfectly! Come on, let's do it again! No need for a rehearsal, let's start right away!"

Quincy Jones had a strange feeling that the final product of this song would definitely surprise everyone, and might even help him win another trophy.

......

Pleasant times always pass too quickly; the recording ended soon after, and everything went very smoothly.

Quincy Jones emerged from the control room, a clear look of satisfaction on his face.

He shook hands with both of them, then his gaze fell on Charles, his expression revealing undisguised admiration. He began to speak:

"Charles, your performance just now was excellent. In my opinion, you are definitely much better than those professional child singers."

Quincy Jones paused, then continued:

"MJ and I will be collaborating on a new album, which will feature a lot of children's voices. How about it, are you interested in collaborating again?"

Charles was taken aback.

Could Quincy Jones be talking about... that movie, Thriller?

"Beat It," "Billie Jean," and those music videos that almost rewrote the history of pop music...

If he could participate in the production of even a few of the songs, or even just sing a portion of them, the subsequent profits would be unimaginable.

Don't forget, singers these days earn money much faster than actors!

The thought flashed through his mind, and Charles quickly nodded, readily accepting Quincy Jones' invitation.

Then, he said goodbye to the two men and turned to leave the recording studio.

As for the subsequent mixing, mastering, and other production stages, those are not his concerns.

However, as soon as he stepped out the door, he saw Ovitz sitting in that beat-up Ford, his expression showing barely concealed anxiety, as if he had been waiting there for a long time.

As soon as he saw Charles come out, he immediately raised his hand and waved vigorously, signaling the other to get in the car quickly.

Charles frowned, but didn't ask any more questions. He quickly walked over, opened the car door, and got in.

As soon as the car door closed, Ovitz turned his head and spoke very quickly:

"Fuck, Charles, things aren't looking good."

"Sinclair Oil Company has contacted numerous media outlets, and today, negative news about you dominates the headlines of newspapers large and small!"