Damn Idol - Chapter 170



Only Noblemtl

Episode 170

* * *

It wasn’t their great products that made Nike a global sports apparel company.

It’s because of the ‘Just do it’ campaign and advertisement that Nike ran in 1988.

Nike sold the slogan “can do” rather than the product, Coca-Cola sold the “red image” rather than the drink, and Starbucks sold the “space” rather than the coffee.

The same goes for Apple.

Although Apple is now one of the world’s most influential companies, there was a time when it was on the verge of collapse.

The product that changed the fortunes of that company was the iPod.

A device just for music.

Since then, Apple has started to invest a lot of effort in cultural marketing, especially in advertising music.

They don’t choose popular music.

Choose music that suits your Apple.

French-Israeli indie singer Yael Naim recorded an album in her apartment without a label, but the song on it ended up being used as the soundtrack to a MacBook commercial.

An unknown singer suddenly rose to number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Just because I made music for Apple’s commercials.

And that’s not all.

Chili Gonzalez’s “Silver” was featured in an iPad commercial in 2010, and was not available for streaming online or in an MP3 version.

It was a song that was only released on LP and was known only to a very small number of people.

But how on earth did Apple find that song and use it in their commercial?

This was a testament to how serious they were about their commercial music.

It also showed that things like the singer’s fame or the popularity of the song have nothing to do with it.

Just, as long as the music is good, that’s fine.

“So it won’t be difficult. It doesn’t matter whether you do it for three months or one day or whether it’s done by a sub-character.”

The members looked shocked at Han Si-on’s words.

That’s true.

They did make it onto the Billboard charts, but only at the bottom of the minor charts.

That was only for a moment.

So, in Apple’s eyes, Sedalbaekildo would be just an unknown singer from the East, or a singer known only to a few people.

In other words, there is no difference between a sub-character created for self-made photoshoots and a character created for 3 months and 100 days.

but…….

“So it’s not difficult?”

Han Si-on tilted his head at Choi Jae-seong’s words.

“why?”

“You have to compete with all the singers in the world, right? Without any name value?”

“right?”

“So you write a song and pray for three months… … ?”

Seriously, the emotions of a person who is depressed are different from those of ordinary people.

Han Si-on couldn’t understand why Choi Jae-seong was being so absurd.

There are companies that look for good music to match their products.

He can make that music.

Then wouldn’t most problems be solved?

How you present your song to the marketing department or get them to select it are secondary issues.

‘I don’t think it will be difficult?’

Han Si-on has been chosen to sing music for Apple’s commercials.

I don’t remember exactly when it was, but I’m sure it was when I was working as a guitarist.

When I felt the limitations of Asian vocals and became a main instrumental player and producer like Paul McCartney.

At that time, I put out a really ridiculous number of songs.

I wrote songs when I got suggestions, and I wrote songs even when I didn’t get suggestions.

It was to the point where the Billboard industry was saying, “Zion is causing the loss of diversity in music.”

Because most of the music written by Han Si-on has been sold out.

There was also music selected by Apple at that time.

But I’ve never been so intentional about targeting Apple’s advertising music as I am now.

Anyway, money wasn’t important to Han Si-on, and fame wasn’t important either.

Money, fame, and even experience and skills can be acquired through regression.

So, being chosen to do Apple’s commercial music wasn’t that attractive of a choice, so I never tried.

“Do you have a concrete plan?”

“Should I think about it from now on?”

“What about music?”

“That’s what we’re going to do from now on.”

In response to Koo Tae-hwan’s question, Han Si-on started playing a song while looking at the members sitting in the living room.

A total of 9 songs were created.

While working on this project, Han Si-on listened to all the music Apple used in their commercials, but he couldn’t find anything in common.

Some songs were very lyrical, some were very addictive, and some were very intense.

Overall, I want to give off a cheerful, bright, or powerful impression, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

The entire song is melancholic, but there are times when the melody of a specific part is used.

So, Han Si-on thought that it would not be easy to aim for Apple’s commercial music with just one song, so he created as many as 9 songs.

Four of these songs were composed in previous episodes, and five of them are songs I composed for the first time in my life.

Hanshion did not bring out the music that had been selected by Apple in the past.

That’s because I thought it was something I had to be careful about as a regressor.

The moment you become attached to the work you’ve done in the past, you’ll never be able to get away from it.

Han Shion also cherished the selfies he gave to Drop Out at first and always released them.

Because I thought it was the best song I’d ever made.

But after spending those rounds, I realized that my skills were not improving beyond selfies, so I gave up my obsession.

You can use old songs when necessary, but it shouldn’t be your best work.

The best must always be made in this life.

This was Han Shion’s belief.

‘In that sense, I haven’t made the best yet.’

Although Sedalbaekil’s first album did well, there was no track that could be called the best track of his life.

In fact, the best track I’ve ever made is one that hasn’t been released yet.

With that in mind, Han Si-on played 9 songs for the members and received lukewarm responses.

“what’s the matter?”

“Something feels a bit strange. It doesn’t sound like a song you made.”

“Because there are no seats?”

“Yes. I don’t think there’s a place that’s just right for me.”

Choi Jae-seong was sharp.

Han Si-on has always made room for us whenever we made a song for Se-dal-baek-il.

This is Ion’s seat.

This is Gu Tae-hwan’s seat.

But this song didn’t have that kind of consideration because the purpose of the song was Apple rather than Sedalbaekil.

But Han Shion no longer had any doubts.

Although there are still many members who are lacking and have many regrets, there is no way they wouldn’t be able to do this.

“The recording will be done by five people, recording all nine songs.”

“All of them? So there will be 45 songs?”

Han Si-on nodded in response to On Sae-mi’s question.

That’s because I was planning to make a song by splitting and pasting the tracks I was going to record and modifying them.

The members’ faces turned pale at Han Si-on’s words.

It reminded me of when I was recording.

but…….

“It’s easier than you thought?”

“Has Zion become a good person?”

“That can’t be true.”

“That’s a bit… … .”

Directing was so easy that the members were embarrassed.

Of course, it was easy, but it was much harder than when other singers recorded.

Because Han Si-on is a perfectionist.

But compared to when I recorded my first album, it’s heaven.

Han Si-on, who was listening to the members’ conversation(?), shrugged his shoulders and said.

“Are you comfortable?”

The first reason was that the skills of the members of Sedalbaekil were high, and the second reason was that they had become accustomed to Han Si-on’s directing.

So they quickly finished recording.

It was 40 days before Self Made aired.

* * *

Since the departure of Ken Segal, who was in charge of Apple’s advertising creative for 17 years, Apple has undergone a lot of changes in terms of its branding strategy.

But the culture that places the utmost importance on music has not changed.

Belle Howard, who works in branding marketing, stopped dead in her tracks as she walked into a cafe near Cupertino, where Apple Park is located.

The music is pretty cool.

At first, he planned to get takeout, but he changed his mind and sat down in the cafe.

I started to leisurely listen to music while drinking pie and coffee.

It wasn’t because he was a music lover.

It was part of the job.

The 2017 WWDC has come to a successful end, and the iPhone X has also been successfully unveiled.

At the center of it all is Sophie Tucker.

Because the music created by two seniors who met in their senior year at Brown University has completed this year’s product brand.

But where in the world is there only 2017?

There is 2018 and there is 2019.

I’ve been looking for the main theme song for next year and the year after for quite some time now, but I still haven’t decided.

So Belle Howard’s ears were pricked up as part of her job.

‘Isn’t it great?’

I started to relax, drinking coffee and listening to music, but soon the leisureliness disappeared.

It doesn’t fit with the current product theme, but it’s music that sounds like warm morning sunlight knocking on the bedroom door.

And the best part was that it was music I was hearing for the first time.

Since the branding direction can change at any time, I thought I should check the song first.

Belle Howard thought about that and started to get up from her seat, but then sat down again.

Because the next song was better.

The drums pound like a drizzle, and the melody that emerges is quite active.

How about waking up early in the morning while everyone else is asleep and going for a jog?

‘No, it’s more like an adventure than jogging.’

Belle Howard tried to get up from her seat willingly this time, but had to sit down again.

It was so absurd that I had to laugh, but the next song was just as good.

This time it’s a hip-hop track.

Apple also actively uses hip-hop sounds, but it doesn’t like dull loops.

But this track has a really sophisticated looping melody.

Belle Howard got a phone call about that time.

-Howard, where are you? It’s urgent!

He had a mountain of work to do, so he got a call from a colleague, but he just ignored it.

This is more urgent.

He listened to nine songs while sitting like that.

Luckily, I didn’t just hear nine fresh songs.

In the cafe, these nine songs were played over and over again.

It was a song of amazing quality.

Although the lyrics are mostly in English, there are some parts where the language is a little unintelligible.

But I also like the feeling that the language gives.

It felt like handing over an unknown gift box whose identity I could identify?

‘Is this a famous song? A foreign pop song?’

Belle Howard approached the cafe owner with that thought in mind.

“Excuse me.”

Eventually, I asked the president what this song was, but instead of answering, he asked me a question.

“Why are you doing that?”

“I’m Belle Howard from Apple’s I Brand Marketing Department. I’m interested in the song playing right now.”

The president, who received the business card, smiled and handed me something I couldn’t understand.

When I received it, it was a nicely packaged CD case.

It wasn’t an album, it seemed to have been recorded on a blank CD.

“What is this?”

“Go and check and you’ll know. I don’t know either. I just do it for money.”

“yes?”

Belle Howard returned to her office feeling possessed.

The colleague gets angry, but soon smiles after listening to the song on the CD.

“Good? Where did you get it?”

“I don’t know.”

“what?”

“I should try contacting the email address listed here.”

The paper enclosed with the CD had the Apple logo printed on it along with an email address.

I felt truly possessed.

Belle Howard sent this email:

It was 30 days before the self-made broadcast.