Chapter 0034 Voiceover and Theme Song

On Wednesday, after wrapping up the third episode of "The Execution of the Beautiful Woman," Xiao Sheng dragged Yin Jun to the post-production department, showing him the finished version of the first episode.

Yin Jun frowned as soon as he heard it.

"Right? I feel the same way!" Xiao Sheng said with a smile. "Something's off. They made it too..."

"Too simple," Yin Jun finished his sentence.

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Sheng looked at him approvingly. "What do you think we should add?"

"It's simple," Yin Jun said without thinking. "The 'Bao Qingtian' series has a bit of a theatrical feel. Let's ask Wei Ge to bring in some top-notch musicians from the Fenjuhua Orchestra. They can discuss and add some music, wouldn't that be great?"

"That's a good idea!"

Xiao Sheng's eyes lit up. The Fenjuhua Orchestra was quite famous. While they wouldn't be suitable for modern dramas, they were perfect for period dramas, especially those with a strong theatrical flavor. Their grasp of rhythm was top-notch.

Plus, they worked for the theater company, so their salaries were already low. Paying them 30,000 to 50,000 would be enough for them to complete the additional music for 20 episodes. It was a bargain.

However, there was another thing that was bothering Xiao Sheng.

Before he could tell Yin Jun, Yin Jun asked first, "Sheng Ge, how are the theme song and ending song coming along?"

"The music department has written a few, but I'm not satisfied with any of them." Xiao Sheng took a stack of sheet music from the side and gave it to Yin Jun.

Yin Jun scratched his head. "Sheng Ge, they know me, but I don't know them."

"Haha, you have things you don't know too?" Xiao Sheng couldn't help but laugh.

"But if you're not satisfied, I actually know two songs. See if they're suitable." Yin Jun said to him.

"You can't even read sheet music, and you know songs?" Xiao Sheng expressed his doubt.

"Just listen."

Yin Jun didn't argue with him. He calmed down for a moment and started singing.

"There's a Bao Qingtian in Kaifeng, He's impartial and just, judging the good and the bad. The heroes of the world come to his aid, Zhao, Wang, Ma, and Han are by his side..."

As soon as Xiao Sheng heard the first line, his eyes lit up. After listening to a section of the song, he couldn't wait to ask, "Whose song is this? I've never heard it before. How come it's so fitting?"

"I hummed it myself." Yin Jun said without changing his expression.

"Blowing... keep blowing... even Mount Tai will be blown away by you..." Xiao Sheng didn't believe him at all.

"There's a second one, the ending song."

Yin Jun wouldn't be foolish enough to say more. The more he said, the more mistakes he could make. It was better to keep it mysterious.

"Yesterday, like the flowing water in the east, It flowed away from me, unable to be kept. Today, it troubles my heart, With so much worry. Drawing my sword to cut the water, the water flows even more, Raising a cup to drown my sorrows, the sorrows only grow. Tomorrow morning, the clear wind will blow everywhere. From time immemorial, only the newcomers laugh, Who has heard the old ones cry? Love, these two words, are so hard..."

Yin Jun sang the song a cappella, causing Xiao Sheng to close his eyes as he listened. After the song stopped for a while, he slowly opened his eyes.

Xiao Sheng's expression was a bit complex. "Junzai, I thought you had no musical talent. Maybe Heaven didn't want you to be too perfect, but I didn't expect you to create these two songs for me... Are you related to Heaven?"

"I wish I was." Yin Jun smiled wryly. "Sheng Ge, I was just inspired, and the melody came out as I hummed. Then I added lyrics, and that's it. The theme song is called 'Bao Qingtian,' and the ending song is called 'New Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream.' If you think they're usable, then use them for our 'Bao Qingtian.'"

"You're too humble." Xiao Sheng suddenly became excited. "Hehe, the songs are good, and the names are good too. With these two songs that are 100% compatible, 'Bao Qingtian' will be a hit without any pressure!"

No wonder he was excited.

Good songs could definitely make a TV series a success, or at least increase its attention. The direct effect was to spread the word and get more people to watch the TV series.

For example, the "No. 1 TV series of the 1980s," "Shanghai Bund," its theme song was simply amazing. It complemented the series perfectly. How many people sang "The waves rush, the waves flow" and thought of Xu Wenqiang and Feng Chengcheng? How many people couldn't help but sing "The waves rush, the waves flow" when they saw "Shanghai Bund"?

And "Iron Blood Danxin" for "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," "A Thousand Years of Waiting" for "The Legend of the White Snake," "Dare to Ask Where the Road Lies" for "Journey to the West," "The Rolling Yangtze River Flows East" for "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"... etc. In this era where music hadn't completely declined, the theme song played a huge role.

Xiao Sheng didn't know about these songs from the future, but he already knew that there were no songs more suitable for "Bao Qingtian" than these two. These two songs were perfect for "Bao Qingtian"!

"I'll have someone come over to record the sheet music and lyrics later. Then I'll try to get you..." Xiao Sheng pondered. "3,000 for each song! I'll try to get you that price, but it's for the full copyright. No objections, right?"

"Thank you, Sheng Ge."

Yin Jun smiled and thanked him.

Although Cantonese songs were already becoming popular in Hong Kong, good Mandarin songs were also very popular.

For a TV series, spending 10,000 on the theme song and ending song was a bit expensive, but considering how excellent the songs were, it was worth it.

As the producer of "Bao Qingtian," Xiao Sheng naturally had the authority to do so.

Yin Jun, who had experienced the ice age of the music industry in his previous life, was also very satisfied with this price.

After all, you're in China. Where can you protect the rights of songwriters and composers?

This wasn't like the US or Japan and South Korea, where a hit song could basically feed a songwriter and composer for life.

Being able to get 500 or 1,000 without being rejected should be enough.

Currently, Huang Zhan, the most famous songwriter, only got 1,000 to 3,000 for a song. Gu Jiahui, the most famous composer, was about the same.

Unless it was something exceptionally good, like "Shanghai Bund," they could get an extra 10,000 bonus. Otherwise, it was just like that.

As for full copyright, that was also normal. The TV station wouldn't tell you, "I'll only buy the film and television rights, you keep the record rights..." Everyone was smart. I spent 3,000, such a high price, naturally, I bought everything. The rest of the profits are mine.

Yin Jun had no objections.

From the previous "Bao Qingtian" script copyright, he knew that before he had enough power, there was no room for bargaining.

"You wrote the song, so who do you think is suitable to sing it?" Xiao Sheng asked again.

"Let Wei Ge sing 'Bao Qingtian.' It's convenient to use someone from our own team, and it saves money." Yin Jun said. "As for 'New Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream,' I think a male singer with a magnetic voice and a lower vocal range would be suitable... Sheng Ge, these two songs, especially 'New Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream,' are definitely going to be popular and sung for many years. We need to find someone from our own team!"

"Got it!"

Xiao Sheng was an old hand in the industry. He knew from Yin Jun's words that he was reminding him that "New Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream" could be used to build relationships.

It wasn't that Yin Jun was stingy, giving the theme song "Bao Qingtian" to Wei Xiaofan to sing and not letting Xiao Sheng get involved. It was obvious to anyone that the theme song "Bao Qingtian" would basically only be associated with the TV series "Bao Qingtian" and wouldn't have much spin-off power.

But "New Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream" was different. The beautiful lyrics and catchy melody could be released separately, making a singer famous with one song!

Xiao Sheng was also a human being, and he had his own interests.

Even if he didn't know a singer who could become famous with such a good song, he could use it to build relationships and get what he wanted.

You could even say that the "New Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream" that Yin Jun sang today, if he used it to build relationships, would at least get him the equivalent of 100,000 Hong Kong dollars in return.

That was the benefit of having power.

However, Yin Jun never imagined that Xiao Sheng would find someone so quickly.

Just the next afternoon, Xiao Sheng brought a very handsome young man to the recording studio.

Yin Jun, who was waiting in the recording studio, saw the handsome young man with a hint of rebelliousness and smiled slightly.

He hadn't really met this person in his previous life. He didn't expect to see him so early in this life.

"Junzai, he's the apprentice of a friend of mine. His name is Leslie Cheung. He won the singing competition last year." Xiao Sheng introduced. "Here, this is Yin Jun, the author of 'New Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream.' Rongzai, call him!"

"Jun..." Leslie Cheung looked at Yin Jun for a long time, unable to call him anything.

"Just call me by my name." Yin Jun smiled and extended his hand. "Mr. Cheung, nice to meet you."

"Oh, me too, Mr. Yin Jun!" Leslie Cheung shook hands with Yin Jun and said a little shyly, "I sang 'New Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream.' The lyrics and music are both excellent. You're amazing! You're so talented at such a young age. I need to learn from you more in the future!"

Yin Jun was only 16 years old, while Leslie Cheung was 22. Even if he was going to sing a song written by Yin Jun, he wouldn't be comfortable calling him "Jun Ge."

At this time, Leslie Cheung wasn't the mature man who could handle anything, nor was he the superstar who had experienced life's ups and downs and returned to simplicity.

So he was still a bit stubborn, but because he was young, he exuded a youthful energy, a sunny aura, and a fearless spirit of youth, completely different from his later gloominess.

In his previous life, Leslie Cheung had this personality. He struggled for a few years without success, then switched to Huaxing Records, with Chan Shuifen as his manager. After two years of operation, he finally got a chance to become famous.

Then, at his peak, he had a conflict with Alan Tam over fans, and in the end, he announced his retirement from the music industry. A great star, he suffered during this turbulent period and ended up with a tragic ending that made people sigh.

Yin Jun hadn't grown up yet when Leslie Cheung left the world.

When Yin Jun grew up and came into contact with Hong Kong entertainment, he discovered that there was such a superstar. After watching his movies, listening to his music, and seeing his ending, Yin Jun couldn't help but sigh. It was such a pity!

Now, he suddenly met Leslie Cheung, and Leslie Cheung was going to sing "New Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream" written by Yin Jun. This made Yin Jun suddenly realize that maybe he could change the trajectory of this superstar's life, so that he could finally have happiness like an ordinary person!