Chapter 145: I'm Buying This Song!
Zhou Yifeng was taken aback. "Oh? The song is actually decent?"
His agent nodded. "Yes, they sent over the lyrics, composition, and even a demo. They originally had an ordinary lead singer perform it, but the client wasn't satisfied with the result, so they came to us."
Zhou Yifeng was already annoyed and initially wanted to turn it down, but hearing his agent say that, he decided to give it a listen.
In reality, it's quite common for many TV dramas, movies, and even games to hire singers for theme songs. In Chen Mo's previous life, for instance, "Dou Zhan Shen" had Lin Xi write the lyrics and Eason Chan sing, which significantly boosted the game's prestige.
However, overall, most game companies can't afford big stars, nor is it necessary. Hiring a big name is mostly a gimmick to stir up buzz for the game.
As soon as Zhou Yifeng heard it was a game company, his instinct was to refuse.
Game companies definitely couldn't write their own lyrics and compositions. Even if they found some industry insiders, the resulting work would likely be mediocre at best, probably not up to Zhou Yifeng's standards.
If the lyrics and music were poor, then singing this song would be like taking on an ad—just using his popularity to boost the other party's profile, with little benefit to himself.
But since his agent said the song was decent and had sent the demo, Zhou Yifeng decided to listen. It would only take two or three minutes, and he could decide afterward.
Zhou Yifeng put on the headphones.
The opening arrangement was good, and the melody was excellent, catching Zhou Yifeng's interest.
When the lyrics came in, Zhou Yifeng's eyes widened involuntarily.
"My sword, where shall it go? Love and hate, the heart can't settle on one."
"My blade, cuts through the sky. Right and wrong, understood yet not understood."
"I'm drunk, a blurry haze. Favor and resentment, illusions or emptiness."
"I wake, a spring dream. Life and death, all turns to nothing."
These lines seemed simple, but the feeling of a martial world dream instantly stood out! Whether it was the bloody storms or the chivalrous tenderness, it was all packed into these few short lines!
Not only that, but it also vividly portrayed the sensation of a lone wanderer traveling the martial world, drunk and leaning on a sword!
The melody shifted, and the song entered its climax.
"Coming in haste, leaving in haste, regretting not meeting."
"Love in haste, hate in haste, everything goes with the wind."
"A wild laugh, a long sigh, a joyful life, a sorrowful life!"
"Who will share life and death with me?"
"Who will share life and death with me?"
Zhou Yifeng felt his blood boil, his hands trembling slightly. He had an uncontrollable feeling, as if every cell was cheering and leaping!
The climax of this song—he remembered it firmly after just one listen. There was no way around it; the song was too good!
Zhou Yifeng turned up the volume and listened a second time!
At first listen, the song seemed ordinary, with no high notes or complex vocal runs, as if anyone could sing it. But the feeling of this song wasn't something just anyone could deliver.
Though Zhou Yifeng was excited, he could also tell that the singer couldn't quite master the song. The singer's emotional buildup was decent, and the effort was there, but they just couldn't capture that specific vibe.
Zhou Yifeng guessed that might be exactly why the client wanted to switch singers!
This song was neither rough nor soft, neither masculine nor gentle. If he had to describe the feeling it gave, it would be "carefree."
So, the song needed to convey the sensation of a chivalrous traveler journeying alone, meeting friends over wine, passing by like a fleeting guest, and facing life and death together. It had to give a sense of freedom and ease, but without sounding too casual.
The more Zhou Yifeng listened, the more excited he became. He said to his agent, "Quick, tell them I'll sing this song. Ask them how much they want for the copyright—I'm buying it!"
...
Guo Feng dialed Chen Mo's number.
"I have two pieces of good news. Which one do you want to hear first?" Guo Feng said.
Chen Mo: "..."
Guo Feng continued, "First good news: Zhou Yifeng really likes the song and agreed to sing it. Second good news: Zhou Yifeng really likes the song and wants to discuss buying the copyright with you."
Chen Mo said, "Oh, not selling."
Guo Feng was speechless. He had thought Chen Mo would be thrilled, but instead, Chen Mo refused so bluntly!
If it were just Zhou Yifeng singing the song, Chen Mo would have to pay a lot. But now that Zhou Yifeng had taken a liking to it and wanted to buy the copyright, it would become a cooperative relationship. If it sold well, Chen Mo might even make a small profit from the exchange.
Yet Chen Mo wasn't interested?
Guo Feng said, "...Don't rush to refuse. Their attitude is quite sincere. They also said it's not a buyout; they're offering a share of the new album's royalties."
Chen Mo asked, "What's the difference?"
Guo Feng thought for a moment. "Royalty shares pay much more than a buyout—it's not even the same scale."
Chen Mo said, "In any case, whether it's a buyout or royalties, it all comes down to money, right?"
Guo Feng nodded. "Yes, it's just about money."
Chen Mo said, "So, do you think I'm someone who's short on cash?"
Guo Feng: "...No."
Chen Mo said, "Then why would I sell it?"
Guo Feng was exasperated. "If you don't sell it, what are you going to do with it? Keep it to hatch chicks?"
Chen Mo said, "I like this song. Keeping it for myself makes me happy."
Guo Feng sighed. After a moment, he said, "Well, there's another point. Zhou Yifeng said he plans to make this song the lead track on his new album. He has a huge influence in the mainland. If the song becomes popular, it should also boost your game, right?"
Chen Mo thought about it. "That's true. Alright, I might consider selling it to him, but only if his performance satisfies me."
Guo Feng said, "Fine, I'll give you his agent's number. You can negotiate yourself. If you're not satisfied, find someone else. But there aren't many male singers in the country with better vocal skills than him. I hope you'll be pleased."
...
After some back-and-forth, the deal was finally struck. Chen Mo sold the copyright of the song to Zhou Yifeng, with a share of the album's royalties. Chen Mo didn't demand an exorbitant cut, as this collaboration was a win-win.
For Zhou Yifeng, he gained a great song. For Chen Mo, it was an excellent promotional opportunity.
In his previous life, this song, "Sword and Dream," was sung by Wakin Chau. Like "The Unyielding Sutra," it was a timeless classic of Chinese martial arts songs.
Chen Mo actually liked "The Unyielding Sutra" too, but since it was in Cantonese, it would feel odd as the theme song for "Martial Heroes Chronicles." So he chose the Mandarin version of "Sword and Dream" instead.
Initially, Chen Mo had been considering how to get "Martial Heroes Chronicles" more widespread attention.
The previous methods of making animations or CG cutscenes were no longer effective, given the different genre. Martial arts focused more on atmosphere than specific visuals, so after much thought, Chen Mo decided that releasing the theme song was the most suitable approach.
As for whether the players in this world would accept it, that could only be known after the game launched.
A genius remembers this site's address in one second: