RBCT Chapter 44 School Song
Chapter 44 School Song
"What I mean is," Chen Mo stood up, placing his hands on the console, "this song's scope extends far beyond just one university; it belongs to all young people, to everyone who is feeling lost. We can make two versions: a simplified version as the school song, and a full version as your new single."
He became more and more excited as he spoke: "And the timing is perfect. You currently have the popularity of 'Once Upon a Time' and the persona of a poet. If you release another song like this that is both profound and catchy, it will definitely solidify your position in the music industry!"
Wang Bo pondered for a moment: "But President Su... she told me to take my time and not rush to release a new song. She's been keeping 'Encounter' under wraps and saying to wait a little longer."
"Taking time to reflect doesn't mean not creating anything!" Chen Mo retorted. "Besides, the quality of this song is absolutely worthy of release. Here's what we'll do: we'll make a simple demo with a basic arrangement now, and show it to President Su tomorrow. We'll have two in stock. If she still doesn't agree to release one after hearing it, I'll eat this mixing console!"
Wang Bo looked at the expensive Neve mixing console and laughed: "Brother Chen, you can't just say things like that."
"I'm serious!" Chen Mo had already sat back down at the control panel, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "Come on, let's work overtime tonight and get the basic arrangement structure right. Guitar as the main instrument, piano as the foundation, strings in the second verse, drums and bass in the chorus... Oh, and for the last part, we can make it feel like a large chorus, and get a student choir to record it..."
Seeing Chen Mo fully immersed in his work, Wang Bo smiled.
He picked up his guitar again and, as Chen Mo requested, began recording a cleaner guitar track.
Late at night.
The lights in the recording studio were still on.
Two musicians, one busy at the control panel, the other repeatedly playing in the recording studio, occasionally arguing about the progression of a chord, and then reaching an agreement.
Outside the window, the city's neon lights flickered.
Inside the window, music is being born.
At 2 a.m., the simplified sample was finally finished.
Chen Mo clicked play, and the two put on their headphones and listened quietly to the demo, which only featured guitar, piano, and vocals.
Even with such a simple arrangement, its power is still overwhelming.
"How is it?" Chen Mo asked.
Wang Bo took off his headphones and thought for a moment: "Something's still missing."
"What's missing?"
"It's lacking..." Wang Bo walked to the window, looking at the sleeping city outside. "It lacks realism. This song can't be too refined; if it's too refined, it loses that raw power. I think... the first half of the arrangement could be simpler, even retaining some of the flaws from the recording. The vocals don't need to be overly polished; a little breathing, a bit of a grainy texture, would actually be better."
Chen Mo pondered for a moment and nodded: "That makes sense. Then let's record a new version tomorrow."
"Okay." Wang Bo nodded.
As the two packed their things and prepared to leave, Chen Mo suddenly asked, "Wang Bo, what do you think college students will think if this song is released?"
Wang Bo stood at the door and glanced back at the silent equipment in the recording studio.
"I hope," he said softly, "that after they hear this, they will feel... that they are not alone, even if the world is like this, even if there is no one to talk to."
Chen Mo looked at him for a long time, then smiled: "You really are someone who writes 'big' songs."
Wang Bo laughed too: "Let's go, or it'll be dawn soon."
As the elevator descended, Chen Mo suddenly said, "Wang Bo, do you know? I've been a producer for over ten years, managing many artists. Some became famous, some faded into obscurity, and some changed careers."
"Um?"
"But you are the first person I've ever met," Chen Mo turned his head and looked at him seriously, "someone who, even after becoming famous, is still thinking about writing songs for ordinary people."
Wang Bo paused for a moment, then laughed: "Brother Chen, don't forget, just half a month ago, I was just an ordinary person too."
"Oh, right," Chen Mo suddenly remembered something, "what are you planning to do with the copyright of this song? The school song version and the official release version..."
"Let them use the school song version for free," Wang Bo said without hesitation. "Let's donate a portion of the profits from the release to a student aid fund."
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow: "Have you thought this through? If this song becomes a hit, the copyright revenue won't be a small amount."
"I've thought it through." Wang Bo nodded. "The inspiration for this song came from their needs, so it's only right to give back to them."
Chen Mo looked at him for a few seconds, then patted him on the shoulder: "Okay, I support you for your intention. When you talk to President Su tomorrow, I'll put in a good word for you."
"Thank you, Brother Chen."
"No need to thank me, I also have my own selfish reasons." Chen Mo smiled, "It's an honor to be able to participate in the production of such a work."
The two parted ways at the intersection.
Wang Bo was walking back to his apartment. The streets were quiet late at night, with only the occasional taxi passing by.
He put on his headphones and replayed the demo he had just recorded.
He recalled the abandoned stages in the original owner's memories, his bar singing career before he transmigrated, his busy commercial performances these past few days, his father lying in the hospital, and his mother's helpless voice on the phone.
Then I remembered Zhou Yuji's dashing figure, the bank card Su Xiaoxiao pushed towards me, and the soup Su Yiyi brought me every day.
I think of those who listened to him sing in the rain and refused to leave.
My phone vibrated; it was a WeChat message from Su Xiaoxiao: "The recording studio lights are on until 2 a.m.? Wang Bo, I'm telling you to settle down, not to cultivate immortality."
Wang Bo typed back: "President Su, I'll play you a song tomorrow. If you still feel unsettled after listening to it, I'll make my child take your surname."
A few seconds later, Su Xiaoxiao replied: "Oh, so confident? Okay, tomorrow morning at ten o'clock... never mind, you sleep a little longer, come to my office in the afternoon, I want to hear what song makes you so high."
Then she sent another message: "Also, my sister asked me to remind you that staying up late is bad for your voice. She's going to make stewed fritillaria and snow pear tomorrow and deliver it to your apartment before noon."
Wang Bo smiled and replied, "Thank you, Teacher Su, and thank you, President Su."
Su Xiaoxiao: "Come on, I'm going back to sleep. You should go to sleep early too!"
Wang Bo put away his phone and quickened his pace.
At 2 p.m. the next day, he appeared on time at Xiaoyi Culture Media.
He was holding a USB drive containing the demo of the school song that he and Chen Mo had worked on until 2 a.m. last night, as well as the full version of "Encounter".
In front of the CEO's office, Wang Bo almost let out a burp. He had drunk too much of the fritillaria and pear soup that Su Yiyi had brought him at noon, and he was a little bloated.
From inside the door, Su Xiaoxiao's voice could be heard as she spoke on the phone, her words coming out at a rapid pace, like a machine gun.
"Yes, it has to be in the top three trending topics... What? Not enough budget?"
"Did you think the 500,000 yuan I approved for marketing last week was worthless? I don't care how you handle it, I want to see #WangBo'sNewSong"# trending on Weibo tomorrow morning!"