Flying over the bubble era

Chapter 798
People have deeper memories and longer attachments to activities they have personally participated in.

Television stations, broadcasting bureaus, and music magazines rushed out to report and quote the band's new album long before the album hit the shelves.

Although the previous turmoil has passed, the heat is still there.

I wrote the feature "MUSICA" for the band first, and this time I got an exclusive interview with the band.In the magazines that were released after that, the old story was repeated, starting from the incident, to the trip to the United States, and the new album.

However, Shinichi Iwahashi made a special request not to talk about the termination of the contract between THE BLUE HEARTS and Meldac Records as much as possible.Again, if you want to talk about it, talk about "creative freedom".

It is because of propriety that we can maintain a good relationship with Meldac Records and not offend Mitsubishi.

The readers of "MUSICA" are the first to spread the fire for the band.When I read the report again, the previous events are still vivid in my mind.I recall complaining about the band, even going to protest outside the Meldac record, and seeing TV Asahi airing a documentary about the band, I was moved by the spirit of the band...

One thing after another until the band signed to GENZO and now releases their first album.

"I supported the band at the beginning, how can I fall behind now?"

Readers who have read the report of "MUSICA" recalled the enthusiasm they had for the band, and the good results of this incident being known to the world through their efforts and helping the band get out of the predicament. .

In a sense, the turmoil of THE BLUE HEARTS ended with a happy ending of "Running to the Sea of ​​Stars", and started with the successful release of a new album by signing with GENZO, which made readers who have participated in it more willing to continue participating.

If it weren't for their united efforts, the band might have been refrigerated.

The sense of accomplishment of helping the heroic band get out of danger and start again made readers of "MUSICA" and even people in the underground music circle willing to promote and support the band spontaneously after the album was released.

Of course, without the underground music scene, THE BLUE HEARTS would not be where it is now.Even without mentioning the band's own understanding of this matter, Iwahashi Shinichi himself is very clear about it.

Therefore, this important part will not be forgotten in the promotion of the new album prepared for the band.Before the release of the album, Fengdao communicated with the underground music circle, contacted the band for a performance, and first seriously did an underground tour.

……

The part of the people who cared about the band's affairs and worked hard at the beginning is the basic set of this new album.In addition, there are ordinary viewers who only understand the whole picture of the matter after watching the documentary program.

Among them, there are young people who shouted "BLUE HEARTS is so handsome!", the band's spirit of resistance and uncompromising, and the ending of "Running to the Sea of ​​Stars", both agitating and encouraging young people.

Especially among the students in the rebellious period, "I'm Standing Here" has become the repertoire of the campus light music club during this period.

Now, the news that the band is going to release a new album is spreading, and the students are all thinking, "Just wait for now!"

Among them, there is not only the vanity of buying THE BLUE HEARTS albums, but also using their own power to send the supporters to the most dazzling place.

There is even some kind of ridiculous and naive idea: THE BLUE HEARTS album is selling very well, maybe the TV station will interview everywhere, and then there may be a chance to be on TV.

And in this bubble era, students are not the only ones who are eager to be noticed.There are also thousands of people who cannot be the protagonists of their lives in this unprecedented era.

THE BLUE HEARTS, an unknown band, became famous in one fell swoop with their tenacity.And set sail again in a wave of enthusiastic attention.

Watching an ordinary band become "the protagonist" seems to draw some kind of pleasure from their success.In the hearts of those who have a heroic dream, THE BLUE HEARTS is like a banner.

People who support THE BLUE HEARTS have their own ideas.

At the beginning, when the program preview came out, it was not that there was no sound that the band was trying to gain fame.However, after the show was broadcast, I saw the most genuine uneasiness of the band members when they sang "I'm Standing Here" for the first time. Those who had such thoughts in their hearts couldn't help but change.

To be able to stand up and say "no" even if you are trembling, to refuse loudly even if you are afraid, even if you are really trying to gain fame, making this decision requires courage that no one else can show.

We must support those who have stood up bravely, and those who have courage that they do not have.

People who have personally been involved in supporting the band, people who have seen them on TV, people who have called the TV station after the show aired.

People who cheer for the band's rebellious spirit.People who are moved by the persistence of the band.From the band, people who see the pure spirit that has gradually dissipated in today's era of luxury and money.And at the end of the show, when the band stood on the American stage and performed in front of Westerners, and saw this scene, they were both proud of the band and relieved for them.

When the information about the release of THE BLUE HEARTS' album was widely publicized, everyone discovered that this matter was not far away.

It's still close.The feeling is still in my heart.

There is still a fire that is burning with flames, and if you add a few more firewood, it will be a raging fire again.Taking advantage of the heat of previous incidents, TV stations, broadcasting bureaus, and music magazines that are always paying attention to this matter—

Not only "MUSICA", other music magazines will not miss the protagonist of this annual memorabilia in the music world.

Under such a background, the support of the band was high and the crowds who supported it were wide. On the day the album was released, there was a long queue in the TOWER record store in Shibuya.

Not only TOWER, but TSUTAYA in Shinjuku is also full.Another one, same thing.

What's interesting is that the big record store is crowded with people, but the small record store is not much different from the usual record release day.Obviously, you can easily buy it in a small store, but the public still has to queue up.

To some extent, this is also a manifestation of "the essence of human beings is to follow the trend, and the essence of the Japanese is to follow the trend twice."

People who were still hesitating at first, seeing so many people fanatical for THE BLUE HEARTS, couldn't help but think in their hearts, most people support that band, if they are the only ones who are indifferent, isn't it inappropriate?
No matter when, no matter where, the long queue is a billboard for publicity——

The effect of this billboard in Japan is automatically increased.

The record market was sluggish in the past few years. Although it has recovered in the past two years, it is still rare for the store to be overcrowded and come for the same singer.

Only popular and top-notch singers can have such a battle.

But there is no doubt that the current THE BLUE HEARTS is top-notch in terms of fame and attention.

……

The album of THE BLUE HEARTS went on sale. Before the first week's sales came out, Iwahashi Shinichi put this matter aside and waited for adjustments based on the first week's situation.

Anyway, this album is selling on the basis of topicality and attention - there is nothing wrong with admitting this.Therefore, the sales in the first week reflect how much of the previous attention has been converted into actual sales, and there is no need to pay special attention to it.

What really needs a strategy is after the attention has been consumed.

This week's album list includes THE BLUE HEARTS, and on the singles list, the newly released planned single is an Okinawa folk song by Deng Lijun and Kariyushi.

A single that has long been psychologically prepared, and may not sell so "explosively".Of course, if you only want to sell well, then simply make something that suits the taste of the public instead of trying it.

However, record sales are like the ratings of a TV series. Even a well-received TV series will experience a drop in ratings before the show reaches its climax.

And as long as word-of-mouth does not collapse, even if it declines, it will rise again if hot spots appear later.

To be honest, whether it is the album of THE BLUE HEARTS or this collaborative single, what Shinichi Iwahashi cares about is word of mouth.

As long as the feedback from buyers is good enough, then there is a chance of long-term sales and more opportunities in the future.

……

Iwahashi Shin put aside the sales in advance, but Watanabe Mayumi is very concerned about the sales of THE BLUE HEARTS album.

On Friday night, the two were going to the same party.In the evening, Mayumi Watanabe called him and agreed to come to the record company.When the time comes, let's go together again.

"It feels like a gamble."

In the reception room, Watanabe Wanyumi said while chatting with Iwahashi Shinichi about the band's album after sitting down.

"The 50 copies?"

"The handwriting of 50 copies is incredible." Mayumi Watanabe said, "This time your words carry more weight, and even I can't say anything."

Iwahashi Shinichi won the bet earlier, which made fewer people in the record company raise objections to THE BLUE HEARTS.Even this time, some people think that 50 copies is too risky, but they have nothing to say about the previous 15 singles.

"However, it's not just the 50 cards that are being gambled."

Watanabe Wanyumi reminded him, "There is also a management appointment for the band."

"Indeed." Yanqiao nodded cautiously.

Manyumi Watanabe spoke clearly.The band's album is also a touchstone.If the album doesn't sell well, the band will depreciate accordingly.

"So," Iwahashi Shinichi looked at her, "Manyumi-san will bet with me?"

Hearing what he said, Wanyumi Watanabe stopped the coffee, glanced at him, and showed a small smile, "It's still a big gamble."

Prepare 50 copies, win the bet, and gain both fame and fortune.The band has also become a gold nugget to be scrambled by firms.

Wanyumi Watanabe, she would never agree to something that she nodded just because "it's hard to say anything".

"If you think about it this way, it's not a bad thing that the band's management appointment hasn't been released yet." Shinichi Iwahashi is optimistic, "Once the album is released, it will be easier to bargain afterwards."

In the worst case scenario, the gold nugget turns into a rock—Watanabe Mayumi didn't say anything.

But what didn't go further was about what firm the band's management contract would be handed over to.Whether it is a big established firm or a young and energetic medium-sized firm.

The brokerage appointment of THE BLUE HEARTS was an introduction, and Shinichi Iwahashi's stubbornness put the matter on the "table" that only the two of them could see.

Watanabe Wanyumi brought up the matter of the band's management appointment again, and wanted to hear something from Iwahashi Shinichi.But he didn't say anything about the brokerage appointment, which made Wanyumi Watanabe difficult to speak for a while.

This matter is about to be shelved until the band's album results are settled.

However, neither Iwahashi Shinichi nor Watanabe Mayumi were impatient.Both of them were calm and relaxed, as if they had reached a consensus from the very beginning, after this first album, they would decide what to do next.

Or, it's the tacit understanding along the way that makes everyone feel calm.

……

For the year-end reception, Shinichi Iwahashi and Manyumi Watanabe were busy with each other.But there are also some that want the two of them to go together.Ordinarily, the record company's external face is Iwahashi Shinichi, but if it involves a TV station, or an office that the two of them are familiar with, that's another matter.

For example, AMUSE, who was the first to reach out when making the music festival, and Kenne, who has a relationship with Wanyumi Watanabe both in public and private...even the Star Office, which co-produced ZARD, is also in the scope of this "different story" inside.

At the beginning, if it weren't for Watanabe's face, Star Agency would not send models to their audition.

I went to the reception of Xingchen Office tonight.

In this reception, the relevant parties from the TV station and the office were present, and some famous artists from the Star Office also participated.

Sachiko Uchi and Keiko Utoku were also involved.

Needless to say, Sachiko Puchi, ZARD is now very popular and well-known, and its debut album is still on the list as a long-seller.

Utoku Keiko, on the other hand, has not debuted since she transferred to Iwahashi Shinichi, and is still a rookie.

During this period of time, she first completed her work as a salesman for the queen of karaoke, and completed all the work contracts signed as a model, and now she has nothing to do.

In his spare time, he received training.Singing, writing lyrics and composing music, needless to say, and additionally learning musical instruments.In addition to the piano she is already good at, a guitar teacher was also arranged.

Even so, she studied hard, but she didn't hear the letter from Iwahashi Shinichi letting her debut for a long time.

While preventing her from debuting, in order not to make her life difficult, the record company also gave her an extra salary in addition to the fixed salary given by Star Agency.

Not only that, during the period, she was arranged to go to the recording studio to help sing harmony and other jobs, and she was paid.In contrast, the tuition fees for the courses she studied before her debut were paid by the company first, and then deducted from her income after her debut.

Yude Jingzi waited for so long, the opportunity fell from the sky, and she caught it.At this time, he was not in such a hurry, and waited for Yanqiao Shinichi to make arrangements.

Compared with herself, the Star Office paid more attention to the progress of her debut.

It's been a year since Puchi Xingzi's debut, with such achievements, the Star Office has tasted the sweetness, and it's just waiting to see how Iwahashi Shinichi will arrange for Utoku Keiko, and add another way of making money.

Tonight, Shinichi Iwahashi and Wanyumi Watanabe arrived at the scene, and they were warmly welcomed by the cadres of Star Office.

(End of this chapter)