Hong Kong Entertainment: The King of Kung Fu

Chapter 10 Preparing for the Concert

In 1974, Xu Guanjie published his first Cantonese album "Ghost Horse Double Star". Taking advantage of the popularity of the movie, it sold 15 copies throughout Southeast Asia and became the biggest contributor to the creation of contemporary Hong Kong Cantonese pop songs.

Now, this position needs to be replaced.

After "Under the Lion Rock" became a hit in Hong Kong, major record companies immediately searched frantically for Yang Ye to record for him.

In the end, the strong Polydor Records came out on top.

In this era when Mandarin songs are on the decline and English songs are popular, a Cantonese song suddenly appears and becomes popular in Hong Kong. Other record companies are somewhat unable to react.

Only Zheng Donghan from Polydo had the sharpest sense of smell. He immediately found Yang Ye through Zhang Minyi and interviewed him.

Who is Zheng Donghan?
The head of PolyGram Hong Kong Company has single-handedly made superstars such as Teresa Teng, Xu Guanjie, Tan Yonglin, Zhang Xueyou, Beyond, Faye Wong and others famous.

Well, he is also Cheng Zhongji's biological father, which is how Cheng Zhongji got his nickname "Prince Ji".

When Zheng Donghan found Yang Ye, Yang Ye immediately played ten classic songs, which almost stunned Zheng Donghan.

These songs are all classics in the next ten years or so, and every song can make a singer famous.

Zheng Donghan himself is a very powerful musician. He formed a band with Teddy Robin and is a well-known guitarist. Xu Guanjie's classic songs such as "Ghost Horse Double Star" and "Genius Idiot Dream" were written by Zheng Donghan.

Seeing the song Yang Ye threw out, how could he not know the goods?

However, Yang Ye then put forward a series of harsh signing conditions.

The general content of these conditions is that he is only affiliated with the record company to record records. Other than that, the record company has no binding force on him.

Moreover, Yang Ye will also take a 5% share.

5% may not seem like much, but it’s actually a bit outrageous.

Because according to convention, 55% of the income from a record must be divided between the record company, 30% to the record store, and 10% to the producer.Then the publisher, lyricist, composer, singer, and music association share the remaining 5%.

But to be specific, Yang Ye's request is not particularly outrageous.

Because he is the author of all the lyrics, music and singing, and he doesn’t sing other people’s songs.The three items added up can reach 4%. He just asked for 1% more.

In fact, singers do not make money from records, but from live performances and endorsements.

For Zheng Donghan, he doesn't care much about an extra 1% share, but Yang Ye refuses to sign a long-term contract with the record company, which he cannot accept.

Who wouldn’t want to have such a talent under his command?
Zheng Donghan said: "Mr. Yang, with all due respect, your talent in music is the only one I have ever seen in my life. If you can cooperate with us for a long time, I will definitely make you a superstar."

Yang Ye shook his head and said: "I don't like to be restricted. If you are worried, we can add a clause to the contract: within five years, if I release a record, I will only cooperate with your company."

Zheng Donghan thought about it and decided that Yang Ye was a person who could create trends. Since he couldn't control him, it would be good to form a good relationship.

Finally gritted his teeth and made an exception and agreed to Yang Ye's request.

After the two parties signed the agreement, Zheng Donghan personally served as the producer and began recording records for Yang Ye intensively.

In this era, tapes and CDs had not yet become popular, and record companies recorded Bakelite records.

This kind of record is relatively expensive. At the current level in Hong Kong, an ordinary person's monthly salary is only a few hundred yuan, and a record costs about 30 yuan.

As the first serious Cantonese record, Zheng Donghan had high hopes for it. He started playing songs on radio stations early, and major video stores also released advertisements in advance.

The results were gratifying. "Under the Lion Rock" sold out as soon as it was released. It achieved gold record sales within three days and exceeded [-] copies in just half a month, achieving platinum sales.

In the Hong Kong market, records exceeding 2.5 are considered gold, 5 are platinum, 10 are double platinum, and so on.

However, IFPI, the Hong Kong Recording Industry Association, has not yet organized gold record awards at this time, so platinum or something is just a term here and has no official certification!
"Under the Lion Rock" was a hot seller in Hong Kong and caused a huge sensation. Yang Ye directly dominated the popular song charts of Radio Hong Kong and Hong Kong Commercial Radio, ranking from No. [-] to No. [-].

The media in Hong Kong are going crazy. In the [-] years since Hong Kong was opened as a port, there has never been such a phenomenal singer.

People were everywhere asking for news about Yang Ye, but... they couldn't find anything.

Logically speaking, if a person is so famous, the Hong Kong media can even pick out his underwear.

But it was better to die than to die, and Yang Ye was born in Kowloon Walled City.

Even the policemen dare not enter that ghost place. Which reporter dares to inquire about the news? Are you tired of living?People could only wait outside the walled city and interview people who came out of the walled city, but these people couldn't tell anything. They only knew that Yang Ye had a house in the walled city and lived by collecting rent. They didn't know anything else.

Why does Yang Ye write songs and novels? If you ask me, who should I ask?
The only person who could contact Yang Ye was Ming Pao, but Yang Ye refused Ming Pao's request to interview him.

Without him, we have to maintain a sense of mystery.

Yang Ye will do many things and demonstrate many skills in the future, and people will definitely inquire into his past.

But because of his special birth, no one can easily find out about his past.

This is very interesting. Anyway, he himself is silent, so you can take a guess!

Yang Ye is very busy now, he is...preparing for the concert.

In September this year, Xu Guanjie held the first solo concert in Hong Kong history at the newly built Hong Kong City Hall, and the scene was very popular.

Yang Ye came a little late and couldn't make it, so he had to be the second person.

But it doesn't matter to Yang Ye in this regard, as long as he can make money, the first and second place can't be used as food.

He still owes a lot of debt.

Yang Ye's album only has ten songs, which is not enough for a concert. He also has to learn some popular songs now.

There are several songs in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, and two disco songs are also included.

I have to say that it is really tiring, but these preparations are necessary.

For a popular singer to hold a concert in later generations, it would take at least half a year to prepare, coordinate and communicate with all parties, have various stage designs, and practice various dance steps, etc. It is very complicated.

But now there’s no need to go to that trouble, just get a guitar and sing and that’s it. People nowadays haven’t seen the concert anyway.

……

Zhao Yazhen's recent obsession with Yang Ye has reached the point of fanaticism.

The reason is that some time ago, in order to promote the record, Yang Ye appeared on a TVB program and sang three songs live.

Yang Ye was fully prepared for this appearance, and his look was carefully designed. For example, his hairstyle was the classic Aaron Kwok hairdo.

He himself is somewhat handsome. He has been practicing martial arts for a long time and has a very strong body.Coupled with a well-designed look, as soon as she appears on TV, she immediately looks handsome to countless young girls.

As soon as Zhao Yazhi returned home, Zhao Yazhen announced excitedly: "Fourth sister, Yang Ye is going to have a concert."

"concert?"

"Yes, last night he was a guest on Radio Hong Kong and said he would hold a solo concert at the Hong Kong City Hall. Can you accompany me to buy tickets tomorrow?"

Zhao Yazhi said helplessly: "The Hong Kong City Hall is on Hong Kong Island, and the poplar leaves are so red. Do you think we can still buy tickets if we go there?"

"Alas!" Zhao Yazhen sighed.

Suddenly he said: "Then I go a day early and stay up late waiting in line for the door to open. I don't believe I can't buy a ticket."

Zhao Yazhi hit her on the head and scolded: "You are crazy. A girl went to Hong Kong Island to line up in the middle of the night and let mommy know about it and broke your legs."

"Then what should I do? I will go crazy if I can't hear Yang Ye's concert."

Zhao Yazhi was frightened by the stubborn look on her little sister's face. She thought for a moment and said, "Don't be impulsive. I'll find a way."

"What can you do?"

"Don't worry about it, I have a solution anyway."

"Then I depend on you!"

After sending the little girl away, Zhao Yazhi frowned and boasted, "Where can I get the tickets?"

(End of this chapter)