Tokyo Music Festival, formerly known as Tokyo Asia Music Festival, started in 1972, stopped in 1992, and then restarted in 2010. However, it changed from the previous official holding mode to the current private mode, and the method has also changed to four quarters a year. Held by Tokyo local television station and several well-known musicians.
Compared with the music festival more than ten years ago, today's Tokyo Music Festival focuses more on outstanding tracks and music producers of the new era. The awards tracks selected in each quarter are judged by the judges-that is, the organizer's digital Musicians judge together. Because it is a subjective judgment, and unlike other music awards that require reference to its specific influence and CD sales, etc., it can be held every quarter, unlike the Red and White Song Gala of the Golden Melody Awards. It needs statistical results at the end of each year to be held, but because of this, the influence and credibility to the outside world are naturally not as valuable as the awards mentioned above - although the awards mentioned above are also criticized for being shady.
After all, this kind of purely subjective judgment can easily make people doubt whether there is a shady story.
In fact, however, there is no need for shady stories.
Today's Tokyo Music Festival has become a pure stage for the new generation. New songs and new artists are included every quarter. The sales of the songs themselves are not important. What is important is that the new musicians and singers can compete with the older generation. Building a bridge with well-known musicians, the award is not just an award, but has become a kind of inheritance.
This is the expectation of the older generation of aging musicians for the new generation of music producers. Awards are a kind of encouragement. It does not matter whether the award-winning songs are accepted by the public or the sales volume. There are even many sales that are similar to There are many cases where songs that are not well-known actually win awards, so they are often jokingly called art films in music festivals by the industry.
Focusing on art rather than the commercial value brought by music is a common view among the outside world.
So when a song called "Top of the World" appeared on the list of nominees and awards, many magazines and media were shocked and thought they were dazzled and hallucinating.
After all, this song is different from many of the songs that have won awards before at the festival. Its influence has not been weak in just a few months, and it is also widely circulated on the Internet. It is completely different from the songs that have won awards before. It can even be exaggerated to say that this song is more likely to appear in Hongbai than here. After all, Hongbai's song selection considers its influence throughout the year, and this song "Top of the World" It seems more consistent with this situation.
It's like a comedy suddenly appeared in a bunch of literary and artistic films. It's a bit awkward no matter how you watch it.
But it’s actually not awkward. There is a movie called “Let the Bullets Fly” on the other side of the ocean, which combines depth and comedy, and strikes a balance between business and literature. In the opinion of a certain musician on the jury, this song No exception.
And when people turned their attention to the composer of the music, they immediately discovered something interesting.
The manager of the newly established female idol group Nogizaka46, a performer who participated in one of the most popular variety shows some time ago, "The God of Instruments" and won the championship, has created several tracks in just a few months, almost A composer of classic songs, this person is also the manager of that idol group, and has various identities in him, which makes people wonder what kind of existence he is.
This kind of resume makes people subconsciously think of the producer of that idol group, Akimoto Yasushi.
The same crossover, the same diverse identities, and more importantly, the two people seem to be in a relationship between seniors and juniors?
Countless reporters were gearing up after learning the news, trying to dig out some blockbuster news from this young man. How did he achieve his current results? And why are you willing to settle down as a manager in an idol group that has just been established? Such a contradictory situation is really curious.
...
Two days later.
It's twelve o'clock sharp.
The award ceremony is held at a venue in Shibuya area.
Baiyunshan came here with four little idols.
The venue is a large auditorium on the top floor. The stage is grand, the interior is very formal, and the red carpet lights are all available. Although it is a small music festival, it seems that the pomp and circumstance has not fallen too far, at least for this group of young idols. For us, it is enough to feel nervous and excited.
There are several photos placed in the most conspicuous position at the front of the auditorium. They are the famous musicians who held the music festival. Among them is a man with a stern face and elegant and indifferent temperament. It is Sakamoto Ryuichi.
He was the judge who selected Baiyunshan’s song.
In his opinion, regardless of the friendship between him and his father, simply judging from the performance of this piece of music and Baiyun Mountain, participating in this music festival is more than enough. Therefore, although the influence is not small and the style of the songs selected by the previous jury is very different, it was still recommended under pressure.
However, the resistance did not dissipate.
"Sakamoto-san, do you really think this is appropriate?"
Beside the railing on the second floor of the auditorium, Matsuoka, who is also one of the founders of the music festival, glanced condescendingly at the entire auditorium and spoke to Ryuichi Sakamoto next to him in a calm and unhurried tone.
"That young man is the Baiyunshan you mentioned, right? He is really an agent. At this time, he actually brought a few idol girls with him. Is he planning to promote it by the way? However, although he has some talent, the writing The music is quite good, but doesn’t it feel a bit inconsistent to stand here?”
As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at the other party, a strange look flashed in his eyes.
As he said, it is indeed a bit inconsistent.
Most of the people coming and going in the auditorium are musicians or newcomers who focus on art. Their temperament and style are close to rock, ballad and post-rock, which is far different from keywords such as idol chants. Such a group of people in Baiyun Mountain seem to stand out from the crowd, and one can see the essential difference at a glance.
Not to mention the works for this award.
The music selected by the music festival focuses on art rather than commerce, and most of them are newcomers, so they are destined to have a small audience and low popularity. It would definitely be against the rules for you to not send a song like this that has no influence to Hongbai, the Music Festival, or the Music Station Special and come here to join in the fun.
Sakamoto Ryuichi's expression remained calm and he said, "I think it's pretty good."
"What's so good about it?"
"The blind pursuit of being unique is bound to not last long, even with our help. Music should be a product that can be appreciated by both refined and popular people, and can resonate with everyone, rather than a superior art as some people think, as long as If it sounds pleasant enough and touches people's hearts, it doesn't really matter whether it sells well or not, or whether it has great influence, right?"
"Besides, I have other ideas I want to try."
Matsuoka was noncommittal and said, "Maybe Sakamoto-san is right."
Then he pointed with his right hand at the crowd below.
"But some of them may not think so."
