36: Recording a song

“Alright, alright, it’s a creative girl group after all. Relying on just me isn’t realistic. Everyone, let’s work hard together.”

She was also very happy to teach them to create. After all, she graduated with a major in composition, so teaching them was no problem at all.

“Alright then, Teacher Zoe, please guide us more in the future.”

“Dumpling, go get me a glass of water. I’m dying of thirst.”

“Got it!”

From the beginning, when she forbade her from calling her Dumpling, she had now grown accustomed to it. However, if anyone else called her that, she would still get angry. It truly became Xu Zhiyou’s pet name for her, which was quite magical.

After lunch, she went to Yang Hyun-suk’s office by herself to submit the songs. When she handed both songs to Yang Hyun-suk, he was stunned.

Was this speed really that fast? She had finished two songs in less than ten days, and this wasn't a team effort, but rather she handled both lyrics and music entirely. Very strong.

Most importantly, as a producer, Yang Hyun-suk could see that both songs were very suitable for the group’s definition, and their quality was excellent.

He himself was also a producer and could tell that both songs were very good, especially “Whistle,” which had a refreshing feel.

Unlike traditional hip-hop, as a hip-hop song expressing the hidden, throbbing love between a man and a woman, it was full of fantasy and a sensual atmosphere.

“Both songs are very good, so are you planning on double title tracks?”

“Yes, that way it’s safer.”

“Then do you have any ideas for the MV shooting plan and choreography?”

“Pretty much! I plan to shoot the MV myself. I’ve studied film shooting techniques and acting skills for half a year, so I should be capable.”

“Oh! That confident, considering you’ve only studied for half a year. This is a debut MV, after all.”

“I’ve never done anything I wasn’t confident about, and there’s still plenty of time. One month, I just need one month to shoot it and show it to you. If it really doesn’t work out, there’s still time to revise it in between.”

Since they were called a creative girl group, she would be creative all the way, doing everything herself. That way, if YG treated them badly, it would also be convenient for her to run away with the four of them.

She still had to run away, just with her whole family now. If she did everything herself, fans wouldn't say she was ungrateful or anything. How clever of her.

Yang Hyun-suk saw her confidence and thought that there was indeed still plenty of time. Plus, with her recent acting studies, there shouldn't be a problem, so he let her try it first.

“Alright then, give me the finished product in a month. You can deploy company personnel as you see fit in the meantime.”

“Okay, I guarantee the mission will be completed.”

After she left, Yang Hyun-suk was very satisfied with his decision to make her the leader. This leader was even more versatile than Bigbang’s GD.

She could basically handle all the dancing, music, and MVs. If the company had a few more leaders like her, he would wake up laughing in his dreams.

Returning to the production studio, while they familiarized themselves with the songs, she began to write her MV shooting plan. This required her to ponder it carefully.

Two days later, in the recording studio, “Dumpling, are you ready?”

“OK!”

As the fast-paced melody began, Kim Jennie started singing. Xu Zhiyou felt that it was too dry, like a singing machine without any emotion.

“Stop, stop, stop, are you trying to pick a fight? Too sharp!”

“Stop, you came in on the wrong beat. Start over.”

“Stop, why are you doing a vibrato throughout? Are you cold?”

Kim Jennie was almost in tears. What kind of ears did she have?! She could hear such tiny flaws. After more than ten minutes of recording, the first line of lyrics still wasn't good. Did she have to be so demanding?

“Dumpling Ni, I told you to put some emotion into it, not to be shy. Look at us. What are you doing with your head down?”

“They’re laughing at me, I’m embarrassed!”

“Oh my goodness! They’re laughing at you? Just laugh back at them later, it’ll be fine. The three of them aren’t as good as you, what are you afraid of?”

“You’re right! Let’s try again.”

After more than an hour, her part was finally polished. This was still because Kim Jennie herself was strong enough; it truly wasn’t easy.

“Isn’t this pretty good? Be more open when recording songs and performing. There’s no need for it in private life.”

“Yah! You’re the one who’s open in private life…” She wanted to say more but was immediately silenced by a lyric sheet thrown by Xu Zhiyou! If she spoke again, she would definitely get hit.

“Next, Lisa.”

“Uh!”

“Hurry up, what are you dawdling for? There are still three more to go!”

“Yah! How dare you laugh at others? You even sang the lyrics wrong. If you can’t remember, just look.”

“No, I didn’t!” Lisa remembered it being like that. She didn’t sing it wrong!

“Come out and compare the lyrics. I’m too lazy to even tell you.”

After coming out and looking, wasn’t it just one interjection that was wrong? How could she even hear that? Did her hearing have to be so good?

“What are you looking at? Get back in and start over.”

Kim Ji-soo and Park Chaeyoung looked a little guilty. They regretted laughing just now. Everyone had a bunch of flaws, and they wondered what would be said about them later.

“Stop, be more aggressive here, more edgy, don’t use a cute, baby voice.”

“Stop, unleash your vocal range, why are you holding back?”

...

Another hour passed, and Lisa’s part was finished. Lisa was extremely lively when she went in, but she came out with her head down, looking as if her spirit had been drained.

“Chaeyoung, it’s your turn.”

“Ah!!!”

“Ah what? Hurry up, I originally planned to finish it today, but looking at this situation, we won’t even finish one song.”

“Oh!”

She walked in nervously, placed the lyrics, and got everything ready. She took a few deep breaths, preparing to be scolded.

The music started, and the first sound she made made Xu Zhiyou want to kill her, “Are you trying to die?! Why are you so nervous? Your voice isn’t even steady.”

“I’m afraid you’ll scold me!”

“Who have I ever scolded? Don’t falsely accuse me, okay?” She was quite speechless. When had she ever scolded anyone? She always went straight to kicking.

“Relax, your voice is too tight. It feels like someone is forcing you.”

She adjusted her emotions, gave her an OK gesture. Her original voice was so beautiful, but she insisted on learning the YG singing style, making it sound like a production line.

“Try using your original voice, don’t pinch it.”

“Yes, yes, yes, this is your unique characteristic. Let’s do it again.”

Teaching and polishing at the same time, it took two hours to get it right. Park Bom’s singing style was very beautiful, but that was her unique characteristic.

Park Chaeyoung had only learned the form so far, without incorporating her own unique style. She didn’t want her team members to be called a ‘mini so-and-so,’ how grating that would be, making them seem easily replaceable.

Park Chaeyoung, with her head down, really wanted to thank her. The singing method she had learned for so many years was actually so disliked by her. This was only because she hadn’t heard the finished product yet; after hearing it, she wouldn’t think this way.

“Show Ge, it’s your turn!”

Kim Ji-soo flinched when she heard that. She was so scared!

“What? Hurry up, let’s eat after we’re done.”

“Oh! Okay.”

The first thing she did when she went in was to relax her emotions, then drink some water to moisten her throat, adjust herself, and give an OK gesture.

The music started, “Stop!”

The word Kim Ji-soo feared most now was “stop.” As soon as it was uttered, she was sure to be criticized.

“The pronunciation is wrong, it should be like this, and add a little turn. Let’s try again.”

“Stop, Show Ge, what are you afraid of? This is just a song. Sing with confidence, don’t be such a perfectionist. Try to sing with the mindset of just having fun.”

“Isn’t this much better? Don’t learn from Dumpling, she’s just stubborn!”

“Yah! Why are you talking about me? I’m not the one recording the song.” Kim Jennie was having a good laugh, not expecting to be cued in like that.