Chapter 67

With Cao Zhan's arrival, a bass performance that left everyone speechless quickly got the rehearsal back on track. After running through it five or six times, when Li Qian felt that the band's coordination was no longer a major issue, he promptly had Wu Xing Wu Su start singing. At the beginning, the coordination between the band and the singers was bound to be a bit unfamiliar, but after two run-throughs, they quickly became familiar with each other.

Thus, Li Qian decisively cleared the room and began the test recording.

To his surprise, the first attempt was quite successful!

However, considering the need for perfection, they recorded it two more times before declaring the demo of "Sisters and Brothers, Stand Up" complete!

And at this point, it was not even four o'clock.

The next song, "Let's Row Our Boats," required fewer instruments, so there were fewer people in the recording studio. However, because it was a slow song and Li Qian was very particular about the details, it was actually more difficult to record.

However, after nearly three hours of hard work, they successfully completed the recording of this song.

And at this point, it was only six thirty.

It could be said that although there was a small mishap at the beginning, the recording session went extremely smoothly overall.

Thus, that evening, Li Baolong hosted a banquet to thank all the musicians and sound engineers involved in the recording, and Li Qian and the Wu Xing Wu Su sisters also participated. Even Cao Zhan made an exception and attended, although the private room in the hotel was filled with two tables of people, he could only really chat with Professor Wang Huaiyu, as they were old friends. With others, he mostly just nodded. Apart from that, he occasionally whispered a few words to Li Qian.

"Why did you decide to write songs for them? I heard from Fu Zhenbang that you're even going to produce their entire album?"

"Nothing else, just to make money! I need to eat and support my family! You, with your large family business, can afford to do nothing, but I can't!"

"Do you really expect me to believe that?"

"Alright, the truth is, I just think they're all very beautiful, so... are you satisfied now?"

"Hmm, that reason is a bit more plausible."

"..."

"A few days ago, Bingbing told me that you were saying bad things about me behind my back?"

"Sure!"

"Do you really think my recent works are becoming more artistic?"

"Isn't that what you think too?"

The person smacked his lips, "So, are you suggesting I should go busking?"

"That's not necessary! But... you've seen, we have five young and beautiful girls here. They need a lot of youthful, upbeat songs, so could you find some time to write a couple of songs for them?"

"Like your 'Sisters and Brothers, Stand Up'?"

"What? Don't tell me you can't write them?"

The person looked a bit embarrassed, "Not really, but... as you know, I'm getting older... the style of young girls, I... definitely can't grasp it well!"

"Come on! How about this, take a week to pick up and drop off your son and daughter from school every day, chat with them more often, and even spend a couple of days at the kindergarten, playing games and singing with the kids. Then come back and write a couple of children's songs, okay?"

The person looked as if he had heard something astonishing, "Pick them up from school?"

"Can't you put aside your pride for this? No wonder your sister-in-law told me that your son is afraid of you like a mouse is afraid of a cat!"

"Hey, strict father, kind mother, are you not afraid of your dad at home?"

"No wonder you're so quick! Brother, if you don't change, you'll really be left behind!"

"..."

Around nine in the evening, the banquet ended.

Li Qian and Li Jinlong stood at the door to see off the musicians, and Cao Zhan unexpectedly lingered behind.

Li Qian finally noticed something was off.

He walked over and asked in a low voice, "Is there something?"

Cao Zhan looked a bit awkward, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Actually... nothing much, let's talk about it another day!"

Li Qian smiled, looking at him without saying a word.

Sure enough, Cao Zhan couldn't hold back and said, a bit troubled, "A friend, who knows from somewhere that we're on good terms, asked me to request a song from you... Hey, stop laughing, it's quite embarrassing for me!"

Li Qian continued to laugh, "Who? Male or female? You can't give it to them, but they want it from me?"

Cao Zhan shrugged, expressionless, "I owe them a favor... You're the most popular!"

Li Qian sneered, "Female?"

The other person nodded helplessly.

Li Qian continued to sneer, "Old flame?"

This didn't make Cao Zhan uncomfortable, "During the years I did rock in Shuntianfu, we dated for two years. She's now at Sony, and she's currently He Runqing's manager."

Li Qian raised an eyebrow, "Sweet songs? Are you sure she's asking for a song for He Runqing?"

Cao Zhan shrugged, looking distressed, "Does she need to specifically ask for a sweet song? She wants a Chinese-style song."

Li Qian's heart stirred, and he immediately smiled mischievously.

To say that the most popular in the current domestic pop music scene is definitely Liao Liao. The most popular and well-received songs by Liao Liao are definitely the three light rock songs led by "Persistence." So it's said that many musicians in the country are now studying these three songs, trying to find the reason for the sudden popularity of this so-called light rock ballad, and hoping to grasp the essence of light rock to write other works. However, those who are truly focused on the market can't miss the fact that in Liao Liao's album, there are also two other songs that have made it to the Golden Melody Chart!

"The Hometown I Love" is still understandable, after all, it's a country song, and it was once very popular. When this song came out, many people eagerly proclaimed the revival of country music, showing its strong listener base.

But the other song, "Unfinished Love," which follows a Chinese style, although the theme is not new in China, where Chinese style is nothing new—no matter how Chinese it is, can it be more Chinese than traditional opera records?—its Chinese style, whether in lyrics and music composition or arrangement, is extremely fresh and unique.

Although this song initially doesn't seem as popular as the three light rock songs in "Persistence" or "The Hometown I Love," it's important to note that before its appearance, no Chinese-style song had ever made it to the Golden Melody Chart! Now, as a not-so-new Chinese-style song, it has made it to the chart, and although its ranking is not very high, in the eyes of true experts, its significance is no less than the great success of the three songs in "Persistence."

To some extent, if there can be successful follow-up works to continue expanding the market's acceptance and popularity, this new Chinese style can independently create a small category in pop music!

Of course, currently, only the top few people in the entire pop music industry can see this, while more people might think that Liao Liao's album is so popular that it has brought other songs along with it, and "Unfinished Love" is one of the beneficiaries.

Clearly, whether it's He Runqing's own idea, or the suggestions of her manager, producer, or friends, she has noticed this and seen the true market demand.

With He Runqing's musical素养 and the advice of so many professionals around her, she would easily understand that with her sweet voice, it might be difficult to transition to other genres, but singing a gentle Chinese-style song like "Unfinished Love" would absolutely ensure that both old and new fans would accept