Reborn in America

Chapter 38: Second Record

In the recording studio, the Carpenters are nervously recording their second record. They have been recording for a week, and this record is the same as the previous record, it is also a cover and an original.

The cover is that the song is very famous, it is a classic work by Jimmy Davis, and the song is called "youaremysunshine". The song was recorded on February 4, 1940, and just one month after its release, it sold more than 1 million in the United States. After it was released in the UK, the then King George VI said that this song was his favorite.

As a classic song, many people have sung it before. It is also the team song of the Premier League Manchester United.

When Alex said that he was going to cover the song, Mark also worried that the song was too famous. He was afraid that the Carpenter brothers would mess up, and if the cover was not good, the audience would be disgusted. Alex, who was in full swing, refused to listen to persuasion and insisted on this song.

In desperation, Mark had to give in. Their company is only authorized to sing the song, and does not have the copyright of the song, so they need to pay a fee to the copyright owner.

The reason why Alex insisted on singing the song is that in addition to the good quality of the song itself, he has just heard a children's version, which was launched by Disney. He intends to sing this song with Richard in a children's chorus, it should look good.

This song plus another "yourfriend", these two capitals are relatively soft songs. In the same way, Alex will sing solo for the next song.

Mark wants to record "yourfriend" first, and from the perspective of his many years of producers, the quality of this song is very high. It is much better than Alex's first "original" song "Song for Mom". He wants to record this song first, and then slowly record "youaremysunshine".

"Record the original song first, and then record the cover in the rest of the time. If you don't spend time on the cover song, it's easy to mess up." Mark said to Alex.

Unexpectedly, Alex resolutely refused: "Record the cover first, and the original song can be put later."

The two sides argued for a while, and Alex did not relax. Mark had no choice but to agree, he could not persuade a stubborn person like Alex.

"Listen to me, this cover song, I have already thought about it. It doesn't need much trouble, it may be completed in a few days." Alex comforted Mark in this way.

Mark dislikes listening to this kind of words the least. He believes that he must treat every song with sincerity. You can't have the idea of passing by, so there is no way to record high-quality goods. His style is to strive for perfection, not to mess around.

Unexpectedly, Alex really came up with a solution. He borrowed from the Disney cover version of that song. Highlight the innocence style, simple and interesting, so that everyone who has heard it will have a knowing smile.

Who has never been innocent? As long as he has heard this song, he can remember when he was a child.

The accompaniment in this song is only accordion, guitar, and drums, which is really simple. It is estimated that you can find these in any kindergarten.

Richard happily played the accordion, Alex played the guitar, and a black uncle was beating the drum.

At first, Mark thought that Alex was crazy, and when he listened to it, he immediately felt that such a simple style had an indescribable taste. After listening to it a few more times, he gradually became fascinated by it. He realized that he was wrong and that Alex was right.

In the recording studio, I only heard Alex and Richard sing in childish voices:

You are my sunshine!

My dear, it was another night, and I gradually fell asleep.

I hold you in my arms in my dream.

Honey, but when I woke up, I messed up again.

I cried, and I fell into this emotional dilemma again!

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine!

...

Honey, you never knew how much I love you,

Please don't take away my sunshine!

"Very good, you guys sang very well!" Mark stopped recording after the sound stopped, and then clapped.

Richard was very happy to be praised and looked at everyone with a smile. Only Alex frowned, he stroked his chin and thought about it.

"No, we have to re-record!" Alex said.

Mark asked incomprehensibly: "You guys sing very well, don't need to re-record it!"

Alex shook his head and said: "The voice is too thin, and the duet doesn't show that taste at all. We need to find four or five children to sing together!"

Mark was taken aback: "Want to sing with other kids?"

"Yes, Mr. Mark. You can get someone to do this quickly. We can record another song first." Alex replied.

"Should those children's names be written on the cover of the record? What kind of capacity do they sing as?" Mark asked reproachfully.

Alex thought for a while and said, "Just use it as the chorus of the accompaniment band. Let Richard and I lead the singing. The voices of other children can be used as background music."

Mark thought about it carefully and thought it was okay. So hurriedly asked others to find children who could sing. At the request of Alex, the children found were all around six or seven years old.

Because the people who need it won't come all at once, they will record Alex's original song first. This song was sung by Alex, with Richard choting on the side.

This is a softer song. Even so, the rhythm of this song is still very strong, coupled with Alex's unique voice, children's crisp voice, and the harmony of everyone around, it is still a high-quality music.

Alex sang wholeheartedly:

If you feel lonely,

If someone makes you sad,

no worries!

I will wipe the teardrops from the corners of your eyes,

everything will become better.

……...

No matter where you are, you can find me.

I will always be your good friend!

After Alex finished singing, he felt that he had performed exceptionally this time. He hadn't sung so seriously before, and sometimes he would use the super power of "simulating memory" to fish in troubled waters. When other people heard it, they felt as if they had been in the sun, warm and clear.

"Come on again, Alex! Good job!" Mark asked him to continue singing, thinking that Alex's strength had not yet been shown.

Alex frowned, he didn't say anything, so he sang it again.

After Mark listened to it, he asked Alex to sing from one of the passages, which he thought had not yet met the requirements. So and so, repeated several times. The song has been recorded for several days, and Mark kept saying no.

Alex was almost driven crazy by him. He threw the guitar in his hand to the ground: "No recording, rest today!"

When Mark saw this situation, he knew what Alex was thinking. He recorded the first recording: "Alex, listen. This is the first time you sang. You think it is the same as what you sang just now. Compared to that, what is the difference?"

Alex listened carefully, and it was different, very different. So I quickly took out the songs recorded these few times in my mind to compare them one by one, and then I understood that Mark was helping him correct his bad singing habits.

Generally, everyone has their own singing habits. These habits can be good or bad. Exactly, Alex is a special person. He has super powers that others don't have, that is, he can sing other people's songs by "simulating memory". However, this method is a shortcut, and it will cause problems if you go too much. The singing habits of others will slowly leave a mark on Alex.

Good habits are hard to learn, but bad habits will be learned soon. If you are not an experienced and careful music producer, you really won't find it. Mark discovered that he admired Alex's "talent" very much, but he quickly saw the looming bad habits. So he planned to let Alex change the process of singing over and over again.

After this time, Alex was convinced, he put away the heart of underestimating others, and stopped using his abilities indiscriminately. Honestly listened to Mark's arrangement and learned a lot from it.

When Alex was tortured by Mark every day, all the children they were looking for came. Mark looked at Alex's state and knew that there was no problem now, so he let it go.

"Let's not record this song today, let's record another cover song." Mark proposed.

Alex had no opinion, and Richard wouldn't say anything.

This time, after joining the six children's chords, the song's infectious ability has gone to a new level. After a few cooperations, everyone played very well, and they finished the song within a few days. The rest is just mixing, post-processing and other water milling work.

After finishing this song, it was time for Alex to sing solo again. After Alex sang for an hour or two, Mark finally said: "OK! Great! Alex, you can come out, we're ready to record."

"Huh? It's over?" Alex was a little surprised, he thought he needed to continue recording for a few more days to complete.

Mark smiled and said, "Why, do you like to keep singing? Actually, this song was already available a few days ago. You sing really well. I only need to put together the perfect parts. This song is just fine. Can do it."

It suddenly dawned on Alex that everything Mark did was for him. He said gratefully, "Thank you, thank you everyone."

After the two songs were recorded, Alex did not leave. He followed Mark and studied mixing and post adjustment work. Although I followed Rudy to do it last time, Rudy did it very rough in a hurry. This time there is another opportunity, and he will not miss it.

Just as Alex and the others were busy with the post-recording work, Rudy suddenly called them.

"Hey! Brother Carpenter, your luck is coming." Rudy's voice seemed to be in a very good mood.

It was Alex who answered the phone, and he asked, "What's wrong? Is there anything good?"

Rudy said loudly on the phone: "A TV station wants to give you an interview!"

Alex asked a little surprised: "Really? What TV station?"

"Cbs (CBS)! They want to broadcast this show in New York!" Rudy said excitedly.

He really needs to be so excited. You must know that cbs, abc (National Broadcasting Corporation) and nbc (American Broadcasting Corporation) jointly dominate the domestic television broadcasting in the United States. Being on this kind of TV program means that the popularity will be further increased. For the Carpenters, it is a very good opportunity for publicity.

"When!" Alex did not get confused by the news, he asked again.

"In three days! You are going to be ready now, they plan to interview your family, yes! Your whole family can be on TV, and little sister Alan will also be on." Rudy continued to chatter.

Alex estimated the time in his mind, and then asked: "Did they know Bart?"

"Uh, not yet, I haven't had time to tell them." Rudy didn't understand why Alex asked this question.

"Well, don't tell them. We can't be on TV in three days." Alex explained, after thinking about it and adding: "Unless they are willing to adjust the time to next week!"

Rudy was stunned by Alex's words: "How is that possible? They can't adjust the time of the show just to wait for you."

Alex's answer is also very simple: "Then not go up! We will wait for the next time."

"Why, why do you have to wait until next week?" Rudy asked, he really couldn't understand what could be more important than this.

Alex said calmly on the phone: "Records! Our records need to be focused on, not to distract too much energy from other things."

Rudy said with a grin, "When did you become so nervous about recording! You weren't like this before."

"Recently! I've only been like this recently. I want to understand. Records are what I am now. If my records are good enough, even if I refuse them, they will eventually come back to me. Just in case. , I said in case, our record is messed up, then what if it’s on a TV show? It’s only self-defeating!” Alex explained patiently.

Rudy was speechless by what Alex said, and he finally said viciously: "Then you pray that the record will sell out!"

Alex said: "Sorry, I'm afraid God won't hear my prayer!"

What he meant was that those who do not believe in God cannot communicate with God no matter how they pray.

Rudy didn't understand, but he heard the determination in Alex's words, so he hung up.

A few days later, on Monday, the Carpenter Brothers’ second record was released. They named it "Brothers Carpenter-Second Hit!" ".