Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

After the recording was completed, everyone returned to the conference room and began the audition work synchronized with the movie screen.

Chapter 51: Attitude in Pursuing Art

2024-07-13

"Sure enough, the monitor's performance was not good enough."

Watching the movie on the screen and listening to the song in the headphones, Xia Fan frowned.

With the assistance of Xia Fan and Keizo Horie, the recording quality this time is far superior to the previous audition version in terms of both emotion and technique of the two voice actors.

In accordance with the requirement of animated films that "the singing voice should fit the character as closely as possible", Horie Tsubasa used the mature voice of the character "Queen of the Cursed Spirits" for the recording this time.

Based on her solid singing skills, her interpretation of songs is in no way inferior to that of the popular voice actor Sakura Inori, and she even surpasses her in terms of vocal range.

But in this recording, Sakura Inori gave an exceptional performance. Although her technique was slightly flawed, she was very emotionally invested in the singing, and her voice burst out with an even stronger sense of indomitable spirit and passion than Horie Tsubasa.

"I think Ms. Sakura Inori's version is more emotionally consistent with the presentation of the climax of the plot."

As expected, the first person to express his opinion, Haruo Tsuchiya, shared the same view as Xia Fan had guessed.

The theme song was not first released as a standalone song, but as background music to set off the climax of the movie. The requirements for emotional appeal far outweigh the singing skills.

"Due to physiological limitations, both singers were unable to completely resolve the problem of range and gaps in their vocal range, but they have tried their best to cover it up with skills and emotions..."

"I also think that the emotions expressed by Ms. Sakura Nozomi better portray the surging flame of this song!"

Keizo Horie also expressed his agreement with a blank expression.

After these two expressed their opinions, the other staff members had no objections.

"Hey, why aren't you talking, Miss Kurokawa Tsubasa? Where did that arrogance of challenging your seniors go?"

In a corner of the conference room, Sakura Qi smiled somewhat smugly.

In order to sing "Red Lotus", she has put a lot of effort in this period of time, and her performance just now was her best one so far.

"My performance does have many shortcomings, and I fully respect the opinions of the two supervisors."

Horie Tsubasa lowered his head, not revealing much emotion, and remained as polite and calm as ever.

"Then, let's decide..."

Just when Director Haruo was about to announce that the recording of "Gurenge" was finalized and was preparing to start post-production...

"I'm sorry... I suggest that the voice actor Kurokawa Tsubasa re-record the video."

Xia Fan, who had remained silent, stood up with his eye-catching fringe.

"What? Isn't the result obvious?"

"Such a suggestion, even if you are the producer of this song, is a bit too..."

When this proposal came out, everyone was a little confused.

"Let her re-record? You are obviously biased..."

Sakura Nozomi was about to retort...

"Sorry, I refuse to re-record. I have already shown my best level."

Horie Tsubasa, who was next to her, had already stood up and calmly refused.

"The best level? I don't think so. If I must use an analogy..."

Xia Fan suddenly grabbed his smooth "forehead" with both hands...

"Hello, hello, the producer who came down to earth..."

"There's no need to do this..."

Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, he was like a character possessed by a ghost in a horror movie, pulling and deforming his "scalp" and twisting it into all kinds of strange shapes...

“Huh…Huh…How can I possibly perform at my best when I’m wearing this sticky headgear that even my hair can’t breathe?”

After pulling hard for a long time, Xia Fan finally defeated the "special glue for action scenes" and slapped the deformed and swollen hair limply on the table.

"and……"

Xia Fan suddenly took a step forward and got very close to Horie Tsubasa.

"So close, you..."

The strong contrast between before and after taking off the hood instantly magnified Xia Fan's already exquisite appearance several times.

Looking into his agate eyes, Horie Tsubasa felt shortness of breath, chest tightness and lack of oxygen.

"Even if Horie Tsubasa thinks he played at his best, what about Kurokawa Tsubasa?"

"Will she recognize that under her father's watchful eye, she is unable to unleash her nature and perform at her so-called 'best level'?"

The next second, Xia Fan reached out and took off Horie Tsubasa's glasses and whispered in her ear.

"Yes...I..."

“I don’t agree.”

After a slight dazed look on her face, Horie Tsubasa suddenly narrowed her eyes charmingly and smiled with pursed lips.

"I'm sorry, everyone on the team. I was too restrained just now because I couldn't adapt to the atmosphere of 'working with my father' and I couldn't perform normally."

Without her glasses, she seemed like a different person. She bowed and apologized to everyone in the conference room calmly and confidently.

"The producer who descended to earth, did you just call her 'Horiie Tsubasa'?"

"Father? Could it be that she is..."

All the staff members looked at Keizo Horie silently with gossipy eyes.

"Yes, the voice actor Kurokawa Tsubasa, whose real name is Horie Tsubasa, is indeed my daughter. It was only today that I learned that she is working as a voice actor."

"However, I didn't have any bias during the recording process, so if the producer didn't have a more compelling reason than 'not performing well', I don't think it's necessary to re-record."

Keizo Horie acknowledged the relationship between the two, but showed no sign of backing down on the re-recording issue.

"What if I say that Kurokawa Tsubasa, without using the voice of the 'Queen of Cursed Spirits', can freely express himself and perfectly cover the range of the voice of 'Gurenge' without any gaps?"

Xia Fan's tone was still very calm.

"What? Impossible. The highest record of Kurokawa Tsubasa's voice actor recording is only one octave."

"That's two and a half octaves, with three breathing points!"

"Do you think she is Vitas, whose vocal range is as wide as the piano?"

But what he said shocked the entire music team.

"Please listen to the cover song that Kurokawa Tsubasa released on YouTube as a VTUBER..."

"In this piece, she reached the lowest note of E3 without any skill."

"Look at this song again. Her vocal range spans from G3 to E5."

“And this one, this place…”

Xia Fan took out his cell phone, clicked on the cover video of "Kurokawa Tsubasa VITUBER", and explained it in detail to everyone.

"Xia Fan...could it be possible that he... listened to all my covers?"

"Hey, what should I do?"

Looking at Xia Fan, who was showing off his cover video like a familiar figure, Horie Tsubasa's face turned red as if he was drunk.

Under the table, the long and tight legs swayed silently in the pigeon-toed position.

"Indeed, based on his historical singing works, Kurokawa Tsubasa has the potential to challenge the full range of voice in Gurenjia..."

"However, this is only a theoretical possibility. After all, less than 10% of professional singers can have such a wide vocal range after scientific development."

Listening to Kurokawa Tsubasa's ever-changing singing voice and Xia Fan's insistence, the members of the music team became somewhat shaken.

As the "Queen of Variety" with multiple voices, Kurokawa Tsubasa's cover songs cover a wide range of genres and vocal ranges, and there are few active voice actors who can match her.

"It is precisely because there is a possibility of 'perfect presentation', even if it is 10%, or even 1%, it is worth our try. This is the attitude of pursuing 'art'. Right, Mr. Horie?"

Xia Fan turned his head and looked at Keizo Horie who had not expressed his opinion.

Chapter 52 The True Blooming Red Lotus

2024-07-13

"The attitude of pursuing art..."

Keizo Horie stared blankly at Xia Fan's phone screen...

The virtual cartoon image of "Kurokawa Tsubasa" is shaking his head and singing with joy.

This look reminded him of the happy smile on his daughter's face when he accompanied her in a family choir performance in kindergarten.

Since when did the relationship between my father and daughter become so strained?

"I understand... I hope the second recording session can give me a little surprise."

After a while, he sighed and nodded in agreement.

"Wait, why can she record twice? Just because she is your daughter?" Sakura Qi finally couldn't help it and protested in a low voice.

"We respect the opinions of songwriters. If Ms. Sakura has the potential to perform better, we can record it again together."

Tsuchiya Haruo glanced at her.

Sakura Qi suddenly fell silent.

The version she sang just now was already an "outstanding performance" of hers. Her throat still hurts a little now, and it would be impolite to record it again.

"Then, thank you all for taking your seats and recording another version."

Tsuchiya Haruo clapped his hands, and the staff hurriedly began preparing for recording again.

"Class leader... when you record later, please forget the constraints of the role, follow your instincts, sing in the range that best suits the song, and show your truest self to Mr. Horie."

Xia Fan gave serious instructions to Horie Tsubasa.

"Oh? Are you that confident in me?"

Horie Tsubasa's autumn-water eyes stared at him playfully.

"Of course, you are the 'class monitor', how could you let your classmates down?"

Xia Fan nodded affirmatively.

"So, who do you believe in, Horie Tsubasa or Kurokawa Tsubasa?"

Horie Tsubasa crossed his arms over his chest, leaned forward, and leaned against his chest, with some complicated emotions hidden in his eyes.

"I trust you, Horie Tsubasa, and Kurokawa Tsubasa."

Feeling the "unbearable weight" in front of him, Xia Fan silently took a half step back.

"Then I'll leave this 'switch' with you for now."

"I hope that old man won't be shocked when he hears me singing 'Liberate Nature'."

Horie Tsubasa hung his black-framed glasses on Xia Fan's collar, elegantly spread his pigtails into long black hair like a waterfall, and walked into the inner side of the glass recording room.

"Switch... Captain, is it as I expected?"

Looking down at the pair of black-framed glasses, Xia Fan sighed silently and stood outside the recording studio.

That day, after sending Horie Tsubasa home, he suspected that the other party was suffering from schizophrenia.

Split personality disorder, also known as identity disorder or multiple personality disorder, is a disorder in which a person displays two or more identities or personality states that alternately control their behavior.

The opportunity for Horie Tsubasa's personality "change" is precisely the pair of glasses in his hand.

"Let's get started, old man..."

In the recording studio, Tsubasa Horie gestured "OK" to Keizo Horie who was on the other side of the glass wall.

"Cough cough..."

Veins bulged on Keizo Horie's forehead, but he still played the accompaniment professionally.

"I understand. The reason for becoming stronger..."