Chapter 94 "I Live Alone" (Part 2) GD will come to pick me up in person...
"This is the music production equipment area, with MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, drum pads, guitars... all used for arranging music, but actually I don't arrange as much music as I used to."
"I want to emphasize the MIDI keyboard. It doesn't make any sound itself. It has keys and various knobs and faders, which are like a remote control. Pressing the keys can input melodies and chords into the computer, while the knobs and faders are used to adjust the parameters of the virtual mixer and synthesizer in the software in real time. In short, it is an essential tool for music production."
"Then there's the computer, recording equipment (N words omitted)... There are too many to list. If I want to write songs, I usually have to get to the company at eight or nine in the morning and stay until three or four in the morning before going back. Even if I get there early, I often don't have any inspiration before ten o'clock at night."
When talking about her area of expertise, Jiang Tinghan's eyes sparkled as she looked at the camera, speaking at length as if sharing something wonderful with a friend.
[Haha, it feels like unnie is just padding the runtime. Does this essential equipment for producers really need such detailed explanation?]
No, I found it quite fun listening to my unnie talk about it. I knew absolutely nothing about song production, so I learned something new!
[Same here. I just feel like my unnie is trying to come up with more topics to talk about with us, which helps me understand her daily life better.]
Why does Coldy always look at the camera with such encouraging eyes? When he told me about the equipment needed to produce songs, was he trying to get me to try it too?
[Me? Can I?]
At least Coldy thinks you're capable; you're always a girl full of hope for your fans, who seem to be omnipotent in Coldy's eyes.
[Unnie is so relatable. Although I don't write songs, my main job is copywriting. I don't know why I can't write anything in the morning, but I have a burst of inspiration at night, especially late at night.]
“I remember that the song ‘Crazy Kingdom’ was created around midnight, right here at this table.” Jiang Tinghan recreated the scene, with “Für Elise” playing on his phone and screenshots from fairy tale movies on the screen.
She frowned slightly, scrolling through the photos and scribbling on the paper, seemingly having a headache.
After closing his eyes, Jiang Tinghan suddenly tapped the table a few times, hummed a melody for a few seconds, and then changed a note or two, altering the rhythm of his tapping.
Afterwards, seemingly satisfied, she opened her eyes, picked up a guitar and began to play. At this point, she had already started singing the lyrics. Even though most of them were replaced with "oh oh oh" sounds, the a cappella singing was still incredibly beautiful.
"I've omitted some steps, but that's pretty much it." Jiang Tinghan put down his guitar.
The guests in the observation room were shocked again.
Lee Jang-hoon: "Dear, this creative speed is too fast. It looks like you can finish a song in just over ten minutes."
Jun Hyun-moo: "It seems that creating songs is a piece of cake for Coldyxi. How can you create a hit single in such a short time?"
Today's daily chart number one is still "Crazy Kingdom," which has been at number one since the album's release and has now won the monthly chart number one for January.
If Coldy's creative speed is real, wouldn't she be able to generate a staggering number of hits at an alarming rate? She could come back anytime she wants and sweep all the awards—she'd be the "Crazy King"!
Seeing the way the regulars looked at her as a "creative goddess," Jiang Tinghan explained, "Ani, it takes at least a week to write a song. That night, I probably finished the first part. Even if it takes two or three days to write the whole song, it's still the first version. After the arrangement, it will continue to be revised until I am satisfied."
“Writing the original song without arrangement is relatively simple. There are more problems when arranging it. When I was writing a section, the instruments I thought I should use didn’t fit properly when I put them on. At worst, I might have to go back to the first step and modify the original song as well. This process is quite torturous.”
The regular cast members listened to the producer share his production experience, which was a rare occurrence for them, and all showed expressions of having learned something.
Qi An 84 suddenly said, "Wow, but at least a week is already a pretty amazing creative speed. To write songs like 'Crazy Kingdom' and 'Cold' in just one week is almost like releasing a new song every week, right?"
Park Ye-na: "Our Coldy is absolutely amazing! In my mind, she is already the No.1 among young producers and singers. How did she come up with such a beautiful melody in such a short time with her eyes closed?"
Lee Jang-hoon: "It's so amazing that even if you saw it with your own eyes, you would find it incredible. If I closed my eyes, I would probably just fall asleep."
“Clay, I see,” Key agreed, picking up on the joke, “If you close your eyes at this time, you’ll sleep very well.”
Jiang Tinghan's long, narrow eyes curved slightly, her gaze like rippling lake water: "It's not like I haven't fallen asleep in the studio before."
Code kunst: "Sleep straight until dawn and then continue creating?"
Jiang Tinghan: "Ah... I've had similar experiences, maybe once or twice."
Code kunst: "It's like treating the studio as home. It seems like all the producers I know have had this experience. Apart from one or two times, are you always suddenly awakened?"
Jiang Tinghan: "Sometimes I'll wake up after sleeping for an hour or two. If I still want to finish writing, I'll continue writing. If I'm tired, I'll go straight home."
"Sometimes I'm woken up."
Jun Hyun-moo: "Those staff members are very considerate."
Jiang Tinghan didn't hesitate at all and said frankly, "Ani, my manager unnie, and my assistant unnie won't disturb my creation. Usually, it's GD oppa who calls, and I wake up when I hear the ringtone."
Qi'an accurately picked up on the word "GD," but out of the cautious and respectful attitude of a fan, she didn't ask any further questions.
The eldest brother, Jun Hyun-moo, took on the task of responding. Since Coldy had already brought it up, there was no issue of offense. He continued to ask, "Did GD-xi call because Coldy-xi hadn't come home yet, out of concern?"
Jiang Tinghan: "He sent me a text message in the early morning, but I didn't reply for an hour or two. There was a high probability that I had fallen asleep. At this time, he would call me to wake me up and say that the car was downstairs or to come down quickly because he had arrived at the underground parking garage."
She spoke casually, as if stating something perfectly ordinary, but the regulars around her all smiled in surprise, saying, "So, GD sometimes comes to pick you up in person?"
Jiang Tinghan: "Yes, I have."
Code kunst: "So Coldy isn't using Do Not Disturb anymore, right?"
Jiang Tinghan couldn't help but laugh. This is such an old joke, why are you still calling it back? You can't get over it!
"I haven't turned on Do Not Disturb for a long time, and besides, there's no connection between Do Not Disturb for calls and messages."
[Hahaha, he was on "Knowing Bros" once and has been talked about for a lifetime ever since. How come even Teacher Zhao knows this joke? Is it really that popular?]
GD won't be muted by Coldy; he'll just be blocked.
【kkk sounds even more tragic】
[What's wrong with this? Your GC is stickier than I ever imagined!!!]
Is this the first time Coldy has brought up GD on a variety show? He's being very open and easygoing, which is quite endearing.
[They have the feel of an old married couple!]
[This woman is a quiet one, but when she does, it's a bombshell. In the past, G-Dragon would always reveal the sweet moments himself, but now she's going all out to pick up her partner at 3 or 4 AM, when they're probably already washed up and in bed. How many people would actually go out to pick them up?]
[You guys are so GC... I'm speechless. As long as GC exists, this world is a beautiful place!]
Oh my god, why are you so captivating? When your boyfriend calls to wake you up and says, "I'm already downstairs waiting for you," ahhhh, my heart is already pounding!
[It wasn't a "come downstairs in a few tens of minutes, I'll come pick you up" message; the message was that the person was already downstairs. They really didn't want Coldy to wait even a minute; if anyone had to wait, it was Coldy who had to wait.]
This is what a perfect boyfriend is like.
[He's a textbook example of a fatherly lover!]
[Those one or two times when unnie slept until dawn in the recording studio, could it be that GD initially didn't realize unnie was asleep in the recording studio and thought unnie was just ignoring him?]
[Perhaps because they weren't living together, he wouldn't know if his unnie had gone home; he would only go to pick her up if he knew she hadn't returned.]
[Unnie's mouth isn't actually that tight-lipped, she answers every question!]
This is called walking the paparazzi's path, leaving the paparazzi with nowhere to go.
G-Dragon, while sleep is important for unnie, considering your age... you should really try to avoid staying up late.
[It still feels so unbelievable! Such a high-quality song was produced so quickly. No wonder her comeback is so fast too!]
[kkk Actually, this comeback speed isn't that fast. Lumera only had one comeback last year, and there's no news of a comeback this year. In 2023, they had one solo comeback and two group comebacks, so it's just a normal frequency.]
[Yes, we are a self-made group. Unlike other groups that are promoted by companies but remain unknown without a company, we are different. Those groups can have many comebacks a year, but Lumera can only have one comeback a year, which is already quite good. Not to mention that Coldy released three albums in her first year, and she wrote 80% of them. If you include her participation in the writing, it's as high as 100%. Lumera and Coldy have been very diligent.]
[It's amazing that we've waited just over a year for GD's second solo album. We're so happy. GC's workaholic tendencies are all similar. I remember GD released a mini album in 2012 and a full album in 2013. He also led the group's comeback in 2012. The leaders really shouldered so much.]
Those two years of GD's schedule were a nightmare! Not only did he have group tours, but he also had solo tours, and he didn't slack off on variety shows either. Waaah, we shouldn't be complaining about Coldy not doing enough variety shows now; she should be allowed to rest properly.
[Even if Coldy's last variety show appearance was "Knowing Bros" in 2023, I wouldn't have any complaints (crying) (crying)] (Good day BSS episode airs in March~)
[It's a dilemma. I want my unnie to have an easier time, but I also want to see her on variety shows more often. They're really interesting; I feel like I could chat with her for two hours and never get bored.]
Just let things take their course; our opinions won't sway her.
In the short film, Jiang Tinghan is still searching around her recording studio, looking for something else to show her fans. After searching for a while, she seems to get tired and lies down on the sofa for a bit, her eyes still scanning the album shelves and bookshelves opposite her.
The autographed album on top was the most eye-catching. Jiang Tinghan casually mentioned, "I often listen to this Yoshiki album, but it's autographed, so I have to be very careful every time I open it."
“This is my own album, ‘Always You & Me’,” she continued, introducing the next album. She reached out and pulled out an album with a snow-white cover. Half of her face was buried in the white snow, while the other half of her face was exposed. Her eyes were like a clear pool of water, filled with a hint of pity, as if she was regretting something. Even her lips were pale. It was a cover that was heartbreaking to look at.
“And there’s also—a new album! Snow Day Off.” Jiang Tinghan’s tone became a bit more serious. “It’s my mini album, which includes five songs, including ‘Cold’ which premiered at MAMA and four new songs. The title track, ‘Crazy Kingdom,’ doesn’t quite fit the theme of snow because I initially wanted to make an album that was easy to listen to, something that wasn’t too noisy.”
“But at that time I saw GD oppa’s ‘Power’, which sounded really cool. It’s like ‘I got the power, power up power up’, so I also wanted to write a cool title track. I combined them and chose to express some ideas in a fairytale-like way. After finishing this song, I wrote ‘Cold’. It was winter, so I thought it would be good to set the theme of the album as ‘snow’.”
"But because I was too lazy to write another title track, I just included 'Crazy Kingdom'. If you really want to make a connection, you could say 'Snow' represents me, and 'Crazy Kingdom' is my declaration..."
"Snow day off refers to the holiday caused by school/work closures due to heavy snow. 'Wait for snow' corresponds to being caught in a blizzard, and 'Dear, please wake up' corresponds to going to class or school. But in snowy countries, such as many Nordic countries, 'snow day' has become a unique cultural phenomenon, representing not only a holiday but also the surprise and happiness of an unexpected gift. 'Cold' corresponds to this meaning. I've seen many fans online who understand this album more thoroughly than I do; you are the real producers."
Jiang Tinghan began to do her job of promoting the product diligently, and she also told a lot of interesting behind-the-scenes stories. The guests in the observation room listened with great interest, feeling as if it was Teacher Coldy's mini-classroom, and they learned a lot of all sorts of miscellaneous knowledge.
From how to buy good items on second-hand platforms to Nordic culture and English terminology, to learning about older albums and various professional equipment... it makes you feel that Coldy is very knowledgeable, which explains why she can write so many famous songs while still being very approachable.
Surprisingly, the short film didn't feature Coldy speaking very little, contrary to what the regulars initially expected. Instead, she talked a lot in front of the camera, to the point that it felt almost like you were having a video call with her, which was quite different from other celebrities appearing on "I Am Alone".
While watching, Jun Hyun-moo suddenly asked, "I have a question I'm very curious about: how many songs has Coldy not released yet?"
Jiang Tinghan: "It's zero."
Qi An's mouth gaped open: "Moragu? Did you release as many songs as you wrote for your previous albums? Weren't there any you weren't satisfied with?"
Jiang Tinghan: "Yes, that's right. If you're not satisfied, we'll revise it until you are. For me, the beginning is more difficult. If you write a lot of songs and then choose one, you have to start many times. I prefer to focus on one song. The more I revise it, the more familiar I become with it. It's also a kind of practice in advance."
Kian nodded: "Ah...that's Coldy's style."
Key: "Very unconventional".
【Huh? So Coldy is also a kind of "moonlight clan" (living paycheck to paycheck)? Good heavens, I don't even have any songs in my repertoire, why am I starting to get anxious first?】
Don't worry, just trust Coldy.
All songs are written on the spot, and posted immediately after completion. There's no time to save them. Is it because you want to release something immediately after creating it and get feedback? I often do that too.
[It seems that rather than seeking praise, the unnie probably doesn't want to increase her workload. If the album has five songs, then she'll write all five, plus she's a deadline-fighting goddess.]
[It's a completely different creative style from GD's.]
[Huh? Did I hear that right? Coldy sang a line from "Power"?]
[You heard me right! Coldy rambled on and on, and then smoothly inserted a line from "Power" in the middle, which stunned me. It was as natural as drinking water. The sudden cover caught me completely off guard.]
[Me too!!! I never expected to hear Coldy sing "Power," and she even imitated GD's singing style! Although the voices are different, the pronunciation is incredibly similar! Unnie, you're so observant of your husband!]
Most importantly, it doesn't feel out of place at all. Even a casual remark has that G-Dragon vibe! I really wish you two could cover all of each other's songs; it would be a perfect match!
[Let's start by dancing the bunny dance that's all the rage on TikTok lately! These days, oppas are so cool, it'll definitely be effective if you do it! And how can your group song be complete without Cha?]
So, the song "Crazy Kingdom" was created entirely because of G-Dragon. Although G-Dragon has already featured in it, so it must be related to him, I never expected it was because of "Power"!
[Yoshiki's autographed album is probably only available because of GD, right? Is placing it at the top not only because of her idol worship but also because of her love for GD?]
[I just realized! Doesn't Yoshiki have a lot of contact with GD? Coldy's fangirling is so sweet!]
[One more perfect boyfriend trait]
Seeing this album reminds me of that time at Paradise Art Night when I thought GC was meeting her for the first time, but it turns out they'd been having an affair for ages! Even though I'm still a fan, I still get so angry every time I think about that. Those two are so awful, they deserve to be punished!
[So that's what the album title meant! No wonder the cover looks like that. Is it meant to represent being buried by a blizzard? And the half-exposed cheek represents hope? I always thought "snow" referred to Coldy, and "day off" referred to GD, meaning GD is Coldy's eternal holiday.]
[Ohhhh, you really know how to ship people! I never thought of this! The album cover is gorgeous, it has an angelic purity, and a hauntingly beautiful, eerie charm, like a snow maiden from the mountains. Even my casual friend who saw my album said she wanted to buy it to collect, and that it would be amazing to display it as a decorative piece.]
[I wonder if anyone else feels the same way as me. Rather than shipping couples, listening to Coldy talk about her story with GD gives me a gentle, warm feeling, like, "Ah, that's so nice." Because they were truly together and genuinely loved each other, their songs might even contain traces of each other.]
Ah! I understand. Every time I discover someone else's story in the lyrics, music video, or behind-the-scenes story, it feels like finding a treasure on a secondhand marketplace. I don't say anything particularly touching, but listening to so many of their stories always makes me want to cry.
[GC, I'm just glad you're happy (crying) (crying)]
Before they knew it, the short film came to an end. Jiang Tinghan returned home and didn't do anything special. He just turned on the TV and randomly watched a program, petted the cat and dog, and sat cross-legged on the sofa scrolling through his phone.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
The scene ended with the line, "Hey, Oppa, um, are you okay?" followed by complete darkness.
The regulars, still somewhat unsatisfied, confirmed, "Was it GDxi who called last?"
Jiang Tinghan: "Yes."
Park Lena asked impatiently, "What did you say?"
Jiang Tinghan smiled and said, "I said I hope everyone here and the viewers in front of the screen will be happy."
“Ah…” Jun Hyun-moo joked, “Our always honest Coldy seems to be a little dishonest.”
Jiang Tinghan maintained her smile and said sincerely, "Dear, please."
What else could it be but sticky, everyday flirting, the kind that would give anyone goosebumps: "Did you miss me?" "I missed you." "Do you love me?" "Just say 'Saranghaeyo,' I haven't heard that in so long, I've always loved you..." And that's just the appetizer.
Although the audience knows they are love-obsessed, they still have to hide this side of themselves.
It seems they discussed content that can't be broadcast. Let's leave the couple some private space.
The show was almost over, with only the comments section still flooded with resentful messages.
【I'm a VIP, did you hear me? I'm a VIP! What can't VIPs see?!】
Let me listen to the couple's phone call! I want to hear it! Ahhhhh!
I'm angry! I'm really angry! The beginning was so satisfying, why did you have to leave me hanging at the end?
[Never mind, let's just ship it first. Isn't midnight in Korea 4 PM in Paris? If it happened to be the day Oppa was attending a fashion show, he should still be there at that time. It feels like he was calling Coldy right after the shoot ended.]
[Because it's February, the time difference has become 8 hours. I was wondering why this felt so familiar? Now Coldy is in Seoul and GD is in Paris again. It's like a repeat of "7 Hours"!]
[Yeah, let's pray that Oppa won't get blocked this time.]
[Impossible! They're already a sweet and loving couple, getting them to argue is harder than climbing to heaven.]
[Ahhhh, when will my "7 Hours" be released? Isn't Oppa making a comeback? It's unbelievable that I've already heard "Snow Nails," but "7 Hours" is still just those same old ten-odd seconds.]
Yes! You'll hear it soon! The sixth-generation rookie G-Dragon will be making a comeback on February 25th! Please show your support!
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Author's note: I love these two airport outfits so much, they look so fluffy! [pat on the head][pat on the head][pat on the head]
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