HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 90 [090] Another hit song, "Jiangnan"

Just after complaining about the system giving him the "rich woman killer" trait that makes people look down on others, Qi Yuan received a call from Chen Huilin.

"Sister Kelly, what's up?"

"It's nothing. I was just shopping with my girlfriends and suddenly saw a new watch that would suit you perfectly. You wrote such a popular song for me, and I haven't had a chance to properly thank you, so I'll buy you this watch instead."

"That's too expensive."

"It's not expensive at all. It's a 1998 Rolex special edition, only HK$295229. I didn't have to spend any money; I got it from the jewelry store near my home."

"..."

Qi Yuan finally witnessed what true wealth was.

No wonder she's the daughter of a jewelry tycoon; her family controls two-thirds of Hong Kong's jewelry stores—that's quite impressive.

During the call, Chen Huilin said that she had already had the watch packed and would have it delivered to him in Taiwan by a special courier, and it would arrive within three days.

Is this the power of the 'rich woman killer'?
Brother Tongzi, I was wrong. I admit I spoke a little loudly just now.

Name: Qi Yuan

Skills Mastered: Singing (Master 310000/500000)

Guitar (Proficient 3000/10000)

Composition (Proficient 3000/10000)

Acting skills (Proficient 7500/10000)

Hosting (Entry-level 1500/3000)

[Key strengths: 50/50 skill, tea connoisseur, perfect pitch, and a heartbreaker]

Qi Yuan turned off the control panel.

Zhang Hao happened to arrive at the house to pick up Qi Yuan.

He also gave Qi Yuan a briefing on some recent developments in the Taiwanese music scene: "Na-young's 'Conquer' is a smash hit in the Taiwanese market. Our company predicts that the final sales of her 'Conquer' album in Taiwan will reach 60 to 70 copies."

Besides the high quality of her album, another important factor is that there haven't been many strong singers releasing albums recently.

Only PolyGram singer Chen Xiaodong's "Feeling Intimate" released in February and Jung Joong-ki's "Heart Like a Knife" sold well.

They're only selling well; they're far from being a blockbuster.

Zhang Hao didn't mention Li Wen's "Di Da Di Hints" because that album was released in early January, almost half a year ago.

Na-young was really lucky; there were no strong opponents for a month or two before and after the release of "Conquer".

By June, when Valen Hsu of Shanghua Records releases "I Still Love You" and Karen Mok of Rock Records releases "I Say," Nayoung will have had her fill of music, and their new albums will pose no threat to her.

Moreover, the only songs that can be considered hits from the two albums are Valen Hsu's "I Still Love You" and Karen Mok's "The Reason to Be Strong".

The rest of the songs were just average; they really couldn't beat Nayoung's "Conquer".

"So, all the big names are releasing albums in the second half of the year?" Qi Yuan asked softly.

“That’s right. According to what we know, you have a new album, Richie Jen has a new album, and Li Wen, who’s been very popular recently, has a new album coming out in the second half of the year. Andy Lau, Alec Suet, Wang Fei, Wakin Chau, Amy Cheung, and others will also be releasing new albums in the second half of the year. I’ve only mentioned a part of them; I haven’t finished counting them all. I’ll make a table for you later,” Zhang Hao said solemnly.

The second half of the year will truly be a golden age for top artists, a time when the Chinese music scene is bursting with stars.

If someone's album is even slightly inferior, it will be mercilessly crushed by a strong artist from another label.

Although Qi Yuan's second album contains hit songs such as "Unavoidable Love", "Twilight", "East Wind Breaks" and "Yellow Race".

But only "Twilight" and "East Wind Breaks" truly became massive hits. So Qi Yuan started to feel a little anxious.

After thinking about it, he added "Dong Feng Po" written for him by Zhou Jielun and Fang Wenshan, and his second album already has 11 songs.

Just to be on the safe side, let's add another Chinese-style song.

They both pioneered Chinese R&B with Tao Ze, so it makes sense for them to then create Chinese-style music with Jay Chou and Fang Wenshan, right?

After much deliberation, Qi Yuan found a song that was just as good as "Dong Feng Po".

In terms of popularity, it can even surpass "Dong Feng Po"; this song is "Jiangnan".

In that case, his second album will have three hugely popular hits: "Jiangnan," "Twilight," and "Dongfeng Po," so he won't be afraid of anyone.

After going to Warner with Zhang Hao, Qi Yuan continued to hide in the recording studio to record songs.

Today's recording is "Dong Feng Po". Chou Chieh-lun and Fang Wen-shan came to watch the fun. They wore headphones and listened to Qi Yuan sing from outside the glass.

"A cup of sorrow stands alone by the window. I'm behind the door, pretending you haven't left. It's like revisiting an old haunt, the full moon only amplifies the loneliness... Who's playing 'East Wind Breaks' on the pipa? Maple leaves dye the story's ending. I see through it all. I walked with you along the ancient path outside the fence. In those years of overgrown weeds and smoke, even parting was silent..."

Having drawn the singing abilities of Liu Huan, Zheng Zhongji, Zheng Xiuwen, and others, Qi Yuan's understanding of the art of singing has reached a new level.

He sang "Dong Feng Po" with great charm, conveying delicate and sincere emotions.

Both Zhou Fang and Zhou Fang, sitting outside the glass, could clearly feel the longing and loneliness.

Chou Chieh Lun paid more attention to the details of the song. After Qi Yuan finished recording the song, he asked, "Your arranger is quite amazing. He used classical instruments like the pipa, and the combination with R&B elements really creates a wonderful fusion of styles."

Qi Yuan really wanted to say, "Of course it's good, because I used your music arranger."

Qi Yuan introduced Hong Jingyao and Huang Yuxun to Zhou Jielun.

“I remember you, you were the runner-up in ‘Super Newcomer King’.” Zhou Jielun recognized Huang Yuxun at a glance.

In this life, Zhou Jielun no longer harbors any obsession with Huang Yuxun, because Huang Yuxun did not take away his first place.

After everyone had gotten to know each other, Qi Yuan took out his newly written book, "Jiangnan".

"Actually, I've been researching ancient-style songs recently. I wrote a new song called 'Jiangnan'." Qi Yuan handed the lyrics and music to Hong Jingyao and Huang Yuxun, instructing them to help with the arrangement.

Chou Chieh-lun and Fang Wen-shan saw the new song written by Qi Yuan.

Chou Chieh Lun thought to herself that Chi Yuan's composition was really awesome, absolutely on par with hers.

Fang Wenshan felt that most of the lyrics in "Jiangnan" were well written, but the line "circles and circles" dragged it down, as if it was forced together for the sake of rhyming.

He asked Qi Yuan, "What does this phrase 'circles and circles' mean? Does it have some deeper meaning?"

This lyric has been criticized a lot in the past, with many people thinking that the lyricist was uncultured and couldn't think of any other words, so he just came up with this filler line.

That's not actually the case.

Qi Yuan explained, “Wen Shan, if you have the chance to go to the mainland in the future, remember to visit West Lake in Hangzhou. During the rainy season in Jiangnan, raindrops fall on the lakeside, creating ripples on the water. Also, the Three-Life Stone in the lyrics symbolizes the cycle of love, representing the predestined relationship of the past, present, and future lives. You can also interpret the circles as reincarnation.”

Fang Wenshan was amazed; so that's how it is! The imagery immediately came to mind.

He could already picture the rain falling on the lake.

Now he had no doubts. "Jiangnan" had excellent lyrics and music; Qi Yuan truly deserved to be called a great creative talent.

　Damn, this is awful! The power's been out all day, and my phone only showed a few seconds' worth of data this morning. Neither my phone nor my computer works today. Thankfully, the power's back on now. I'll quickly post a couple of chapters from my drafts to tide me over, and I'll update more tomorrow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)