1968 Conqueror of American Rock - Chapter 173



Only Noblemtl

173. I’d Do Anything For You (5)

“Wow, a thousand people?!”

Director Robert Smith’s eyes widened.

“I had the same expression as Robert when I first heard it. I heard it was the same at the World Peace Festival in Boston in 1872, haha.”

At the dinner, Director Zubin Mehta gave a talk about the orchestra’s basic history and common sense.

The word ‘orchestra (ορχήστρα)’ refers to a place where an ancient Greek choir sang and danced.

The origins of the modern orchestra began in the 16th century when many musicians were brought together to form an ensemble for important events such as weddings and funerals for royal and noble families.

Afterwards, through the Baroque period in the 17th century, the Classical period in the 18th century, and the Romantic period in the 19th century, the scale of the art gradually increased and it began to become more systematic.

The number of performers, which was around 25 in the 17th century, is said to have reached a record high of 1,000 performers and 20,000 singers on stage together in the 19th century.

“The Los Angeles Philharmonic currently consists of 70 to 120 members. Depending on the piece being played, it can be made up of 30 to 50 members, and in smaller venues, it can be made up of as few as 10 members.”

“Phew, that’s good. Then, considering the average number of people is around 70, the main hall scene in the castle could be a problem.”

“Yes, exactly that part.”

“Then we should have about 30 people. That number of people should be able to easily fit into the main hall.”

“No. That wouldn’t give me the picture I had in mind for an outdoor wedding. And 30 people would look too shabby in an aerial photo.”

“then······.”

“We’ll have 120 people. In the main hall, we’ll select the principal and assistant principal performers and film them. Outdoors, we’ll film everyone, including the judges.”

He is my only brother.

It’s a wedding that only happens once in a lifetime.

I will do everything I can to create the most spectacular wedding music video.

Are Annie and Angela doing a good job of doing what I ask them to do?

* * *

“Grandpa, here’s an apple. They say apples are good for breakfast.”

“Grandpa, here’s some yogurt too. Sister Maria made it herself.”

“I only have two sons and all my grandchildren are boys, so I guess a family needs a girl, haha.”

Annie and Angela came to visit him every day without fail, bringing him meals, cutting fruit for him, and chatting with him. Gerard felt as if bright flowers had bloomed in his once quiet hospital room.

“Grandpa, did you really fall in love with Grandma the moment you saw her? When was that?”

As Annie clung to him like a granddaughter and fed him an apple, the huge Gerard smiled like a gentle lamb.

“I was nineteen at the time. Helen was fifteen, haha.”

“Oh, the four year age gap that they don’t even look at compatibility!”

Annie explained to Gerard and Angela that it was a culture in Korea.

“Annie, aren’t Kevin and Stella also four years apart in age?”

“Oh, right. Haha.”

Gerard continued speaking.

“When I first saw Helen, I was walking alone in the rose garden near the castle. As you know, I look a bit scary. I was afraid that she would be startled when she saw me, so I hid behind a tree and watched her······.”

She was so bright and beautiful. Gerard enjoyed going to the rose garden every day to see her. So he decided to capture her in a painting.

Gerard hid behind the largest fir tree near the rose garden that Helen often visited and painted. He was intoxicated by the pouring sunlight, the green leaves, and her sweet smile. When he was so confused that he couldn’t tell whether he was painting or dreaming.

“She said to me for the first time, ‘Are you drawing that?’ My heart almost burst.”

“So, so, what did you say?”

Annie and Angela stared at Gerard, his eyes wide and his face red.

“······He ran away without saying anything.”

The girls laughed heartily as the big, distracted old man blushed like a boy.

“I ran away, leaving the painting I was drawing behind. My legs were shaking so much that I couldn’t even walk properly. She kept following me, holding the painting and calling me.”

Gerard told the story of his and Helen’s love in a tender voice, as if he were telling it to his grandchildren.

“I see. What did Grandma Helen like about Grandpa?”

Gerard’s eyes widened at Annie’s sudden words.

“Oh, Annie. I think I know.”

“Then, shall we say it at the same time? One, two, three.”

“voice!”

They both shouted at the same time and high-fived.

“Heh heh heh heh.”

Gerard may have grown old, but the laughter that echoed from his large chest was still charming enough to make women’s hearts flutter.

“Grandpa’s voice is really cool. It’s not just his tone that’s good, but his unique slow and relaxed way of speaking makes me feel good.”

The praise of girls can make even an old lion dance.

He continued to reminisce about the memories he had with his wife at the castle. Sometimes he smiled brightly, and sometimes he shed tears.

At James’ request, they visit Gerard to hear about his past, but Annie and Angela are completely absorbed in the fairy tale.

There was no need to take out the notebook I had brought to write it down in case I forgot. Gerard’s story was recorded intact in the girls’ hearts.

* * *

Hyunsang and Jungseop finished the song around the time Hyung returned to the U.S. The recording had to be done separately for the band part and the orchestra part.

I gave the demo version recorded in the garage to Zubin Mehta, the conductor. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra recorded in their own studio in Hollywood, and we loaded up our instruments and went to Bethel Farm Studios. We will stay there for a week or so to record.

Aerosmith and Judas Priest were taking turns recording at Studio B. Maybe I was going back in time, but their first album sounded a little different from the songs I knew. But it was definitely much better.

After exchanging greetings with them, we entered the largest studio, Studio A, and started recording.

The beginning was to express a mysterious forest with swirling snow. I created sound effects by mixing picking harmonics with a guitar with an arm.

After that, Angela’s piano begins to whisper a secret story. This is where I plan to put Mr. Gerard’s soft voice.

After recording only the intro, I played it along with Gerard’s narration and played it for the members.

– Long, long ago. In a remote part of France, there lived a very handsome young prince in a beautiful castle······.

“Wow, this is really great! I feel like I’m being sucked into the story. Is this person a voice actor?”

The brothers who returned from Korea exclaimed in admiration.

“No, it’s Grandpa Gerard, the lord of the castle where we’ll be filming our music video. He really does look like a lion, haha.”

Annie even joked around, as if they had become close friends.

“But it’s not just your voice that’s nice. I can’t even begin to tell you how warm your heart is.”

Angela meticulously recorded the story she heard from Gerard in a notebook and told it to me. It was like reading a truly beautiful fairy tale.

Mr. Gerard Williams, I will definitely make a video of the precious memories I shared with my wife and show it to you.

Although it was a grand song, the composition was not complicated.

Annie sang the roles of the old woman and Belle, and Andrew sang the prince’s part. The guy’s chest voice had developed more while I wasn’t watching.

And in some ways, the most important role of the beast was sung passionately by Jack. He sang as if he were the beast while wearing headphones and recording.

– I’d Do Anything For You.

(I would do anything for you.)

We all gasped in amazement at the delicate breathing control that expressed the abyss of the beast.

The guitar solo was something Jake and I ambitiously came up with over the course of an overnight stay in the garage. It was a refreshing melody that carried the main theme without being too technical.

The song will explode like an opera in the part where the Beast and Belle confirm their feelings for each other and the Beast turns into a prince. This part will be recorded diligently by Director Zubin Mehta and the orchestra members.

The scene where the two main characters pledge their love for each other and get married is the highlight of this song. The grandeur of the 120-piece orchestra will overwhelm the entire song.

We continued to record for a week, in multiple takes. I kept imagining the scene while recording, and I thought about Mr. Gerard’s story.

Before I knew it, the recording was finished to a satisfactory level.

“But, James. I know it’ll be magnificent when combined with an orchestra recording, but isn’t the chorus too weak? I heard that an orchestra is performed with a choir of several hundred people······.”

Annie knew full well that her vocal parts were lacking.

“There’s still a week left.”

“······?”

I clearly announced that I would be recording for two weeks.

“We’re going to record the chorus and ensemble starting next week, so let’s get some rest over the weekend.”

“Ah, I’m going to overdub like crazy again, hehe.”

Overdubbing alone won’t do it, haha. Look forward to it.

* * *

“Hey!”

Annie rode a white horse through a snowy farm. Angela followed her on a brown horse. Angela named the horse that followed her best, Brownie.

“Maybe because they are both small, they are really good at riding horses.”

Captain Devon brought two glasses of warm milk and sat down next to me.

“It’s cold outside. Have a drink of this.”

“thank you.”

“By the way, Kevin and Stella are getting married. That’s really something to celebrate. When and where will it be?”

“Oh, that······ I think it’ll be around May. We’re planning to have the wedding in Korea.”

“Oh, I see. That’s too bad. We wanted to go and celebrate together.”

Kevin decided to get married in Korea because of his connections with the 8th US Army. But we also met many people in the US, even in England.

Rather than using extras for the last shoot, I thought, why not invite some of our acquaintances? So, the last day of the music video shoot is a wedding at the castle.

Why didn’t I think of this until now?

“Thank you, Devon! That gave me a great idea, haha.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“I think we might be able to get married in the US before we get married in Korea. The location is in Wisconsin, so it won’t be too far from here. I’ll let you know in advance when I have a specific schedule.”

“Okay, haha!”

I toasted him with warm milk and took a sip. It was sweet.

“Devon, let’s all have dinner together in front of the motel tonight. The people we’re happy to see will be here by now.”

“Is it a party today too?”

“It’s always a party here at night, haha.”

I came with the White Light members in a minibus driven by Devin, while Annie and Angela followed on horseback. There were many cars parked in the empty parking lot.

Dozens of people were gathered around a campfire in front of the motel.

“Huh? Michael! Diana! Bao too… What’s going on with everyone?”

Annie got off the horse with a puzzled look on her face.

“I sincerely thank you all for gathering together like this again.”

I politely asked the artists of the project who sang ‘Share Your Heart’ together, and they were happy to come to Bethel to record the chorus and chorus.