Chapter 506: The Righteous and Loyal Master Zhou

If one were to pick a hall-of-fame-level pop singer in Japan, Nakajima Miyuki would absolutely be the first name that springs to mind for many people.

Born in 1952, she has been hailed as a treasure of the entire Japanese pop music scene since her debut, and has remained hugely popular from 1975 all the way to the present—

A true evergreen who has solidly spanned four eras: the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s.

Just last year, when she appeared on the 2002 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, Nakajima Miyuki single-handedly pulled in a terrifying 52.8% viewership rating during her segment — a testament to just how deep her influence runs in Japan.

Her ties to the Chinese music scene run just as deep.

Take, for example, the last Mandopop Heavenly King of the late last century, Richie Ren — several of his biggest hits were covers of Nakajima Miyuki's songs, and she herself affirmed his covers, saying he brought out a different flavor in them.

Precisely because of this, when word spread within the industry that Nakajima Miyuki was about to collaborate with Zhou Yi — personally writing lyrics and covering one of Zhou Yi's Chinese songs — quite a few people found their feelings turning a little complicated.

They cover Nakajima Miyuki's songs, yet Nakajima Miyuki is covering Zhou Yi's…

If it were an English song being covered, fine — but of all things, it's a Chinese song by Zhou Yi being covered.

When you stack those two side by side, there's inevitably a whiff of being a step beneath in there.

"David, I still think you'd be better off going with Warner — they've got more experience than Sony right now."

Taiwan, E Generation Entertainment Company building, Tao Zhe's lounge.

The agent, who had also heard the news, watched Tao Zhe, still deep in thought, and laid out the pros and cons: "On Sony's side, Wang Lihong's failure inevitably means they're carrying a lot of uncertainty about the next Chinese singer going overseas.

"And on Warner's side, if you can secure Zhou Yi's backing, then the exposure you'd get starting out in America would be on a completely different level from what you'd get at Sony."

No matter how many people's paths Zhou Yi has blocked in the industry, no matter how many pies he's taken a bite out of, it has to be admitted — Zhou Yi is a myth in the current Mandopop singer circle—

A myth that every creator flocks to, a myth they all yearn to replicate.

And Tao Zhe, naturally, is among them.

This year, domestically, he plans to release what amounts to a greatest-hits collection summing up his musical journey, with the focus placed entirely on English songs.

The English version of "I Love You, Simple";

The English version of "10:30 at the Airport";

The English version of "Melody."

Three songs, compiled into an EP.

As a musician not skilled at writing Chinese lyrics, many of Tao Zhe's demos start out as English versions he makes himself, which he then hands off to WaWa or others to fill in with Chinese lyrics.

The three songs he chose for his foray into the American music scene are tracks he put together after polishing up English demos he'd created in the past.

He'd originally planned to try it with just two songs, but to play it safe, he added "Melody" at the company's suggestion.

Now that the EP is done, the release has become the headache—

Wang Lihong's failed overseas push has caused Sony, who were in talks with Tao Zhe, to lower the terms they were offering; EMI is the same.

As a singer from a small record label, with no overseas release capability of his own, he can only seek distribution through these major international labels.

With Sony and EMI both revising contract terms one after another, Tao Zhe had no choice but to turn his gaze toward Warner, who had never approached him.

To be fair, he and Zhou Yi are, in a certain sense, competitors right now.

"Alright, I'll give Zhou Yi a call and ask."

In the end, Tao Zhe scrolled through his phone contacts until he found Zhou Yi's number and pressed dial—

"Hello?"

The Imperial Capital, Warner building.

Zhou Yi, who was wearing monitor headphones and putting Sun Yanzi through her paces, noticed his phone vibrating on the desk, took off the headphones, and chose to answer—

"What? Warner for distribution? I'm not sure about that, but I can introduce you to my manager and have him help you map things out."

Contrary to Tao Zhe's expectations, Zhou Yi — without any beating around the bush — immediately offered up the experienced Qian Jiang, and even tossed in a few heads-ups.

Tao Zhe, who hadn't received this kind of treatment in his negotiations with Sony and EMI, felt a certain stirring in his heart.

Zhou Yi didn't have any of that arrogance; instead, he kept the same even keel as the first time the two of them had met.

As for promotion, Zhou Yi hadn't placed any restrictions on him either—

A single "I wish you success" said it all.

"He's not afraid that the unique halo around him will be diluted."

In Taiwan, Tao Zhe, having hung up the phone, slowly let out a breath, and smiled as he handed a reassuring pill to his worried agent: "On the contrary, he's very happy to help me get out there."

As Tao Zhe said this, a few sparks flickered in his eyes.

Having been a police officer in America, he had, in a way, been immersed in that culture — but even so, if he wanted to stay in America, he'd have to accept a long stretch of life behind the scenes.

Clinging to the idea that being discriminated against was worse than coming home, Tao Zhe brought his R&B back to China, and from then on kicked off the era of Chinese R&B going mainstream.

He had no rose-tinted glasses about Europe and America; on the contrary, he often talked about how, back when he was studying in the States, he'd run into racial discrimination and gotten into fights over it.

Going to make his mark in America now is more a case of a "revenge" mentality at work.

"Do you really think Tao Zhe will make it in America?"

Because of this little interlude, Sun Yanzi, who had paused recording to rest, sat up on the desk, swinging her legs as she took a bite of the apple in her hand.

"I don't think so."

Zhou Yi, headphones slung around his neck, shook his head: "But if I can lend a hand, I'll definitely lend a hand. In the domestic market we're competitors, but in the overseas market we're all comrades."

Just like Jackie Chan — back home the competition was fierce, but the moment he went abroad he immediately realized the importance of sticking together.

Besides, his rivals overseas aren't going to be me anyway.

"Can't believe you're actually quite the loyal one." Sun Yanzi, her toes hooked through her sandals and idly swinging them, looked him up and down with great interest.

"Obviously — I'm not one of those overseas Chinese who only know how to fight amongst themselves." Zhou Yi shot a glance at the red nail polish, stretched his back, and was just about to give her a piece of his mind — when, the next second, his phone rang again—

This time it was Elva Hsiao's.

"I'm going to hide out in Japan for a bit, record some songs while I'm there. If Yao Qian calls you or sends someone to ask, just say you don't know where I am."

There was a hint of weariness in Elva Hsiao's voice: "Or you could say I've gone to America to work on an English album."

Zhou Yi was puzzled: "Hide out?"

"Mm, hiding from my dad. He and my mom got into another fight, and I don't really want to deal with their messy business." As for her scumbag father, Watching Xiao Yaxuan wished he would just die of cancer and be done with it.

But obviously she couldn't do that.

Her domineering mother had long since divorced him, but even an upright official can't adjudicate family affairs, and she didn't want to deal with that father who always wanted to point fingers at her.

"Or I could say I went to America to prepare an English album." There was a hint of weariness in Watching Xiao Yaxuan's voice.

"You're preparing an English album too?"

"The way you say that—as if, because of your results, who wouldn't want to release an English album and make big money?"

Perhaps because she heard Zhou Yi's voice, Watching Xiao Yaxuan's tone gradually lightened: "One song on my last album had an English version released, and the response in America was pretty good, so the company plans to let me sing the English version again.

"Plus they're planning to change your song 'Sun Will Never Set' into an English version too, to put together an EP for me, to test the waters in America."

As the top artist of Virgin Records, Watching Xiao Yaxuan's priority within the company is still quite high now. After reporting to the parent company EMI, the treatment she received was naturally very considerable.

"And Sister Li Wen will also help promote through her channels—you might not know, but her former agent in America was Michael Jackson's."

As the diva personally brought up by Yao Qian back in the day, Li Wen naturally wouldn't ignore a request sent personally by Yao Qian. Even though she's at Sony now, with her extremely high degree of freedom, using her connections to help out a little junior sister is still doable.

"Alright, if you need anything, find me, I can help too."

After Zhou Yi hung up the phone, Sun Yanzi, feeling that all her friends around her were making it in America, counted on her fingers—

It seemed only the top guy of Haole Di was missing.

"Now isn't it just Jielun who's missing?"

…………………………

"Achoo!"

Taiwan, Haole Di company, music studio.

Zhou Jielun, who was buried in studying English, couldn't help but sneeze—

"Jielun, focus."

"…Damn it! Why is English so hard! How did Ah Yi learn it!"

(End of chapter)