The Wonderful Daily Life of Nogizaka

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 mode to the current private mode, and the method has also changed to four quarters a year.

Held by a local TV station in Tokyo 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 award tracks selected in each quarter are judged by the judges-that is, the organizer's digital

Musicians jointly judge. Because it is a subjective judgment, it is different from other music awards that need to refer to its specific influence and CD sales.

Volume, etc., so it can be held every quarter, unlike the Golden Melody Awards Red and White Song Festival, which requires statistical results at the end of each year before it can be held. But also because of this, it naturally affects the influence and credibility of the outside world.

It is 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.

However, in fact, there is no need for a shady story.

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.

To build 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.

It is a common view among the outside world to focus on art rather than the commercial value brought by music.

So when a song called "top of the world" appeared on the list of nominees for 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. Even

It can be exaggerated to say that this song appeared in Hongbai

It is more likely than appearing here. After all, the song selection of Hongbai considers the influence throughout the year, and this song "top of the world" seems to be more in line 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 balances business and literature. This piece of music was very popular with a certain musician on the jury.

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, he is also the manager of an idol group, and he has various identities. People have to wonder what kind of existence he is.

This kind of resume makes people subconsciously think of the producer of that idol group, Yasushi Akimoto.

The same crossover, the same diverse identities, and more importantly, the two people seem to be in a relationship between seniors and juniors?

After learning the news, countless reporters were gearing up to dig out some blockbuster news from this young man. How did he achieve his current achievements? And why was he willing to succumb to a newly established company?

How long does it take to be a manager in an idol group? Such a contradictory situation really makes people curious.

...

Two days later.

Twelve o'clock sharp at noon.

The award ceremony is located at a venue in Shibuya District.

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 is the judge who selected Baiyunshan’s song.

In his opinion, even if the friendship with his father is not taken into account, simply judging from the level of this piece of music and Baiyun Mountain, it is more than enough to participate in this music festival. Therefore, although the influence is not small, and the

In the past, the compositions selected by the jury had very different styles, but they were 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? 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 said that, he turned his head and looked at the other person, a strange look flashed in his eyes.

As he said, it is indeed somewhat inconsistent.

Most of the people coming and going in the auditorium are musicians or newcomers who focus on art, and their temperaments and styles are close to rock, folk, and post-rock, which is far from keywords such as idol chants. Such a group of people in Baiyun Mountain are

This place seems to stand out from the crowd, and you can see the essential difference at a glance.

Not to mention the works that were awarded this time.

The songs selected for the music festival focus on art rather than commerce, and most of them are newcomers, so they are destined to have a small audience and low popularity. If you don’t send a song like this that has no influence to the Hongbai and Song Festival,

Music station special, coming here to join in the fun is definitely against the rules.

However, 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."