Although Girls' Generation experienced a significant decline in their performance and data after experiencing various turmoils last year, their fame and national popularity are still there. The golden signboard of the most successful girl group is still shining brightly, and as a girl
As the first solo member of the era, SM Entertainment attaches great importance to Kim Taeyeon's first solo album.
After all, not only Taeyeon, but all the remaining members have more or less added solo requirements in their contract renewals, and if Taeyeon's solo is successful, it will also be a very important and good start for the entire team.
In addition, because of popularity, singing skills and other reasons, SM company is most optimistic about Kim Taeyeon.
Therefore, in addition to arranging Ji Kyung-won to serve as the producer, Lee Soo-man also personally served as the album producer to coordinate. In addition, he also specially invited a professional British composition and production team who had cooperated with the company to partner with them. Several songs
The songs that have been selected for selection are all purchased from well-known European and American musicians, and the resources and budgets provided in various aspects can be said to be very abundant.
To be honest, some of Chi Kyung-yuan's current professional skills, including production experience, are still inferior to those of these music producers who have been immersed in music for many years. In the past few offline and video meetings, various matters regarding Taeyeon's solo were discussed.
During this time, he actually learned a lot from other people.
However, when it comes to artistic creation, compared to standardized processes and sophisticated experience, in many cases, accidental bursts of inspiration may be more important.
Following the feeling that surged in his heart, Chi Jingyuan was operating the music synthesis equipment in front of him, while writing and drawing on paper from time to time. The general melody of the music room emerged intermittently, and he remembered it continuously for a while, and suddenly interrupted for a while.
But they slowly and harmoniously came together unconsciously.
"Well……"
After working for several hours, Chi Jingyuan raised his head, looked at the half-finished piece of music in front of him, and breathed out softly.
Although it was only a half-finished first draft, he was quite satisfied with the melody he had just composed.
However, he is only satisfied with one aspect, and it has to be OK with the owner.
He casually flipped through the notebook that Kim Taeyeon had given him next to him. After thinking about it for a while, Chi Jingyuan took out his cell phone and looked at it. It was already afternoon.
Not knowing whether Kim Taeyeon was in the company at this time, Chi Jingyuan thought about it briefly and then found her number and dialed.
…
"P,A,R,T,Y~~~~ P,A,R,T,Y!"
In Girls' Generation's practice room in the SM company building, eight members are facing the mirror and rehearsing seriously for their upcoming comeback.
The only sounds that could be heard in the entire practice room were the music playing, the footsteps on the wooden floor, and the sounds of some tired breathing. They had been practicing since they finished eating at noon. By now, they had spent a lot of energy and everyone was tired.
no.
However, they are all veterans who have been in the industry for seven or eight years. They have long been accustomed to this kind of work intensity and know what they should do now. Although the eight of them did not speak much, their footsteps and body shapes cooperated very smoothly.
The interspersed movements also showed the tacit understanding accumulated through years of cooperation and hard practice.
"...Okay, let's take a rest."
When everyone was exhausted and sweating profusely even if the air conditioner was turned on in the practice room, they finally heard the fairy voice announcing a break. This sound was like a flood valve being opened. Just now, I was still full of energy.
The SNSD members who were dancing immediately fell down, and several of them lay facelessly on the floor.
After a brief rest, people got drinks, people blew air conditioners, and...
"Taeyeon, do you want to go to the bathroom together?"
Huang Meiying wiped her sweat with a tissue, and then sent an invitation to Kim Taeyeon opposite.
"I……"
Kim Taeyeon, who was sitting there, was just about to reply when the phone in her hand vibrated at the right time. She frowned and glanced at the caller, then immediately blinked with her brows stretched, made a gesture to Huang Meiying and answered the call directly.
"What's wrong with Jingyuan?"
She didn't even say a polite "Hey, don't worry." She directly called the other person's name and got down to the topic. Both the title and the tone seemed very familiar.
After hearing this, the sisters nearby couldn't help but glance at Kim Taeyeon.
"now?"
"Okay, I understand. It's in your music room, right... I'll go there now."
After a few quick exchanges, Kim Taeyeon hung up the phone. The expression on her face suddenly became much clearer, and she quickly jumped up from the ground.
"You can go to the bathroom by yourself... Jingyuan asked me for something, I have to go there... If you don't come back later, you can practice first..."
Kim Taeyeon stood up and briefly explained to Huang Miying and the members next to her, but she did not say what was going on in detail.
They are already very familiar with the dance of the prelude song "Party". They have practiced it for so long from noon to now. Missing her will not have much impact, because it is quite common for one or two people to be missing from practice occasionally due to personal matters or schedules.
For example, before YoonA sunbaenim finished filming two months ago, there were only seven people practicing dance in SNSD.
"Are you in such a hurry?" Huang Meiying curled her lips curiously as she looked at the back of her friend leaving the practice room with her short legs.
Several other members were silent for a few seconds after Kim Taeyeon left, and then looked at each other:
"What do you think she is doing in such a hurry? Or Chi Jingyuan is looking for her."
Although Kim Taeyeon didn't say it clearly, the members are actually not stupid, and they can probably guess a thing or two.
"It should be a solo thing. Isn't Jingyuan the producer of her solo album? You can tell by looking at her expression."
"I also think...Jin Taiyi didn't even ask us to guess. It's really boring..."
"How can you attract men if you are not sultry..."
"Short body can only rely on this."
"ah!"
…
"Nuna, why are you sweating so much?"
Seeing Kim Taeyeon walking in directly after knocking on the door, Chi Jingyuan looked at the glistening sweat stains still remaining on her forehead and asked with some surprise.
This girl came back from the TV station?
"We were practicing just now, aren't we going back soon?"
After Kim Taeyeon came in, she smiled and waved hello, and then she probably knew that she had a bad image now. She looked around as soon as she came in, and then walked to the table next to her and took out a few tissues while talking.
He wiped the sweat off his face bit by bit, and moved gently, which looked very sense: "When you called me, I happened to be resting after practice. I came as soon as I heard what you said.
After taking a look at this girl, who had her hair tied into a braid, wearing a white shirt, denim shorts and white sneakers, which was very suitable for practice in ordinary private clothes, Chi Jingyuan nodded and asked casually, "It won't affect you."
"
"It's okay." Kim Taeyeon waved her hand, looking very grand and majestic as a captain.
Then her expression immediately changed and she looked over with twinkling eyes: "Did you say on the phone that the song was written?"
"Well, I just felt good about it, so I tried to write a little bit. I think it's pretty good."
Chi Jingyuan nodded and motioned for Kim Taeyeon to sit next to him while operating the equipment in front of him: "But it's not completely finished yet. I want Noona to listen to it first and then give me some opinions."
"Put it up, let it go!" Kim Taeyeon slid down and sat next to Chi Jingyuan. Her small body was huddled in the rather large stool, her hands were placed on her legs, and she happily patted her legs continuously.
Piapia's voice and face looked very expectant, just like a very hungry primary school student waiting for the food to be served.
Does this sister know that she was born in 1989?
Chi Jingyuan couldn't help but complain when he saw her reaction, but he didn't stop moving and turned on the player.
"..."
The song that was just completed seems a bit crude. It is just a tune produced by a synthesizer and some drum beats. As for the complicated arrangement and rendering, there are no lyrics or the like.
But the most important melody and rhythm have already come out, and you can already feel the main style and the dream world built through the music that is matched with the notes.
Kim Taeyeon was very engrossed in listening. She closed her eyes as she listened, nodding her head to the rhythm, tapping her fingers lightly on her legs, opening her mouth slightly, and seemed to follow in a very low voice.
Hum.
"Nice, play it again." After listening to it for once, Kim Taeyeon opened her eyes and immediately made a request.
After playing it three times in a row, she was satisfied. She looked at the player in front of her with some unfinished content, her eyes without much makeup shining brightly: "It's really great, just the style I want!"
Seeing her expression, Chi Jingyuan knew that it should be OK. He was also very happy that the song he felt was good could be certified by the owner. He smiled and explained:
"Because Noona, your solo style this time is quite groundbreaking. It is very unique among many SM artists. It is also very different from some of the most popular music styles nowadays, so I specifically lowered the overall rhythm speed.
, and also reduced the frequency of use of electronic music..."
"There is a short melody that I adapted from a foreign language song released last year... Don't worry, this melody is a copyright-free melody and anyone can use it."
"When I was listening, I even started to imagine some corresponding pictures in my mind, which is the style I imagined..."
After listening to Chi Jingyuan's introduction carefully, Kim Taeyeon looked at Chi Jingyuan with surprise: "How do you know this is what I want?"
"Nuna, you told me yourself." Chi Jingyuan pursed his lips and gestured to the side.
Kim Taeyeon turned around and looked, and immediately recognized the notebook spread out on the table next to her that she had given to Chi Jingyuan before, and burst out laughing: "Ah haha."
At that time, she just wanted to have some sense of participation. She hoped that the title song of her first solo would be a song that allowed her to show her true feelings and appearance, so she wrote some messy stuff and gave it to Chi Jing.
source.
She knew very well that her writing was messy, and to be honest, she didn't really have high expectations.
But what she heard today really surprised her.
"If you think it's okay, Nu Na..." Chi Jingyuan went on to talk about the main topic, but was interrupted in the middle of the sentence.
"It's absolutely fine, just use this!"
"Well, that's fine. Do you have any thoughts or opinions after listening to it?"
"I don't understand how to have opinions on composing music."
"I will pay attention to music theory myself. Just tell me some of your true feelings. After all, it is a title song tailor-made for you. It needs to be more in line with your style. Your suggestions and ideas are very important.
of."
Although Chi Jingyuan was still smiling at work, he was obviously much more serious than in private. After the song was approved and confirmed by Kim Taeyeon, he immediately extended the invitation.
Faced with Chi Jingyuan's seriousness, she nodded OK and played the song again. While the two listened, they began to communicate:
"If I arrange the music here with a little more drum beats, and then add some hazy singing, it will definitely feel very good. Should I use a male voice, or a girl..."
"The rhythm of the first section is a little weaker, and some other sounds are added... Well, what do you think of the electric guitar..."
"Here...should there be room for rap? It doesn't fit in with the atmosphere of the whole song, but Kpop songs without rap feel weird..."
It is said to be a communication, but in fact most of it is Ji Jingyuan talking to himself and expressing his opinions. While talking, he operates quickly on the device. The presence of Kim Taeyeon, the real owner, seems to give him a lot of inspiration for his work.
The efficiency and progress are very fast.
Kim Taeyeon, who was very interested and wanted to participate, also tried to make a few suggestions from time to time:
“Can the tempo before the chorus be slower?”
"You can't slow down here anymore, otherwise it will sound very uncoordinated..."
"Oh, do you think it would be better if the pitch of the chorus was slightly higher?"
"Hmm... Do you want to upgrade the key? I'll give it a try... Nu, what do you think about it?"
"..."
Although Kim Taeyeon doesn't know much about composing, and sometimes the expressions of her thoughts and feelings are very general and not very clear, but Chi Kyungwon can accurately understand her meaning every time, which makes this sister very happy.
Even if many suggestions are not actually adopted, there is still a sense of accomplishment and participation.
Chi Jingyuan's progress was very fast due to the burst of inspiration, and Kim Taeyeon seemed to have already forgotten about the members in the practice room. The two of them were busy in the music room until nearly seven o'clock when they were awakened by the uncontrollable hunger.
"Nuna, do you have any plans tonight? Let's go have a meal together?" After looking at the time, Chi Jingyuan packed up the things on the table and extended an invitation at the same time.
"Okay, we can just continue talking about this song... There is a restaurant owned by my friend nearby. It's pretty good. I'll call and make a reservation."
Obviously, seeing her very satisfied with her title song taking shape bit by bit made Kim Taeyeon feel a little bit unfinished.
Chi Jingyuan thought for a while and added: "Call the assistant to avoid any trouble."
The two of them took their assistants and drove a nanny car to a nearby restaurant in Cheongdam-dong owned by Kim Taeyeon's friend.
This place mainly sells Korean food, but there are also many Western food on the menu, giving people more choices.
Chi Jingyuan looked around when he entered. The decoration was quite good. As expected of SNSD. After so many years of debut, he seemed to have some strange connections in all walks of life.
At the four-person table, Chi Jingyuan's assistant Cui Zhichang and Kim Taeyeon's female manager remained silent in a tacit understanding, looking at the two producers and singers next to them who were still communicating before the food was served.
Chi Jingyuan took out a previous manuscript and placed it on the table. The two of them looked at it together, a little close to each other.
"The melody of this chorus is almost like this. I will probably focus on using electric guitar and drums in the arrangement, but I guess I won't be doing the arrangement work alone..." After chatting for a while, I looked at
The waiter brought the food to the side, Chi Jingyuan also put the manuscript away, and several people tidied up and prepared to eat.
Hearing the crunching sound of the dinner plate and the table, he pondered for a moment and suddenly had an idea.
"Taeyeon Noona, how about you write the lyrics for this song."
"Shall I write the lyrics?" Kim Taeyeon opened her eyes and looked at the other party in great surprise.
"Yes, after all, this is your first solo. You write the lyrics, which can not only express your own thoughts and feelings, but also a very good gimmick." After Chi Jingyuan started, he picked up the chopsticks and started to use them.
He didn't eat at noon because of the filming of "Infinite Challenge". If his inspiration and enthusiasm hadn't been supporting him, he probably wouldn't have survived this time.
The four of them ate in silence as cups and cups were crossed. Naturally, the two assistants didn't say much, and the two artists didn't say much either.
This proposal was very sudden, which surprised Kim Taeyeon, but it was obvious that she was very moved.
She has been looking forward to a solo for many years, an album that she has invested a lot of resources into, a very satisfying title song tailor-made for her by her close producer brother, and lyrics she wrote herself to express her mood and feelings.
.
It sounds really perfect, it's the dream of any solo singer. I don't know if others can resist this temptation, but Kim Taeyeon probably can't.
Chi Jingyuan noticed that this sister had been distracted while eating.
Maybe she has already begun to think about how to write the lyrics, or maybe she is worried that her lyrics are not good enough, which will overshadow the title song for which she has high hopes.
"Don't be too anxious. I will make this suggestion when I finish the demo first and confirm it with Teacher Li Xiuman. There will definitely be no problem... Then Noona, you can find a quiet environment and listen to the demo while writing.
"
After almost eating, Chi Jingyuan put down the chopsticks in his hands. He seemed to know what Kim Taeyeon was thinking. He raised his eyes and thought about it before actively encouraging her:
“You don’t have to write all the lyrics for the entire song, just write as many lyrics as you can.”
"And writing lyrics is actually quite simple. It doesn't necessarily have to be very complicated. Kpop songs don't focus on lyrics, they just rhyme a little... In fact, it doesn't matter if it rhymes or not. Many songs even use it perfunctorily.
Meaningless onomatopoeias are repeated over and over again as lyrics... By the way, when it comes to this, Nuna and you girls have the most say.”
"Pfft..."
Kim Taeyeon, who seemed a little dignified just now, suddenly laughed and couldn't help but rolled her eyes at him: "You don't think I can't hear that you are mocking us?"
"How is that possible? I am a fan of Yoona sunbaenim."
Chi Jingyuan looked at her with a smile: "So it's OK to write whatever you want, as long as it can express your true thoughts and feelings. After all, this is a song that expresses your emotions and soul. No
People know you better than you know yourself."
After listening to Chi Jingyuan say so much, I also felt the seriousness of the other party. She had been tempted by this proposal for a long time. Kim Taeyeon no longer hesitated and nodded in agreement:
"Then, let me give it a try...but what if the writing is inappropriate?"
"Don't worry, it won't be inappropriate...just don't use onomatopoeia anymore."