Chapter 172: Top Tier + Top Tier = ?
The two songs in Jiang Shu's USB drive were "again meeting world" and IZONE's original debut song "La vie en rose."
Soon, both songs finished playing one after another.
"Tell me, which of these two songs do you want as your debut song?" Jiang Shu asked, his arms crossed over his chest, looking at Zhang Yuanying and the others sitting opposite him.
The girls sat around him, so those behind certainly couldn't see.
These two songs had completely different styles, and from an auditory perspective, they seemed... pretty similar?
"Can't we have both?" Zhang Yuanying asked with a chuckle.
"No," Jiang Shu shook his head and said, "Both of these songs will be yours, but you can only choose one as your debut song. When the other song will be used depends on your comeback situation."
"Then I'll vote for the first song," Zhang Yuanying said immediately.
The others exchanged glances, just about to voice their opinions when they heard Jiang Shu's voice.
"You are a team, discuss it among yourselves, and finally, Kwon Eunbi will give me the answer. Oh, and Kwon Eunbi, you'll be the leader of IZONE from now on," Jiang Shu said, looking at Kwon Eunbi next to Zhang Yuanying.
Kwon Eunbi was stunned, clearly not expecting to be the leader. She had thought Zhang Yuanying would be the leader, or at the very least, one of the high-ranking contestants like Sakura, Ahn Yujin, or Kim Minju.
"Unwilling?" Jiang Shu asked when Kwon Eunbi hadn't responded for a while.
"No!" Kwon Eunbi quickly shook her head, immediately stood up from the ground, and bowed to Jiang Shu, "I will work hard to fulfill my responsibilities as leader!"
Jiang Shu, hearing this, began to laugh.
"You've already done it."
Kwon Eunbi froze, subconsciously lowering her head, and saw the trusting gazes of her younger members.
So... she already was?
A smile spread across Kwon Eunbi's face.
After a few minutes of discussion, the girls finally unanimously decided on the song...
"La vie en rose."
This decision actually surprised Jiang Shu.
"Is again meeting world not good?" Jiang Shu asked in surprise.
"The first song is very good, but we feel that as a debut song, it's a bit too calm. The second song is better for hyping up the stage," Kwon Eunbi replied.
Jiang Shu suddenly understood.
So that's what they meant.
"You want a debut song like ITZY's?"
"Uh... is that possible?"
Jiang Shu frowned and thought for a moment.
The debut song of that 'beggar's version' of BLACKPINK next door didn't use the original BLACKPINK's debut song. Should he take it?
No, the style difference is too great. It would be better for aespa than for IZONE, and IZONE itself isn't suited for that style.
"Oh, President oppa, just give us both! Although these two songs have different styles, they both express youth in their own way. It's fine to put them together," Zhang Yuanying said with a beaming smile.
Putting these two songs together...
It doesn't seem impossible?
Originally, he had wanted again meeting world to be the debut, and then use "La vie en rose" with other songs for a mini-album. But now, the members' concerns were also very normal.
again meeting world is a song with strong staying power. When Girls' Generation debuted, it didn't cause much of a stir, and even if IZONE had top-tier backing in all aspects, songs couldn't be given out blindly.
Zhang Yuanying's suggestion of a double title track really seemed like a good choice?
As for the compatibility of the songs, just as Zhang Yuanying said, they are both different stylistic interpretations of the concept of youth. At that time, the other songs in the album could just reinforce the concept of youthful girls.
Concepts are meant to serve the group, use them wherever needed. It's not like Red Velvet, which is a concept group, so it's not important.
Clap!
Thinking this, Jiang Shu clapped his hands.
"Let's go with what Xiao Yuan said. Both of these songs will be yours, included in your first mini-album as double title tracks for your debut. Use again meeting world as the debut song, and promote "La vie en rose" alongside it."
again meeting world has strong staying power. Although it might not be obvious in the short term, it's definitely needed as a debut song, and "La vie en rose" is for hyping up the debut performance. Combining the two would be good.
The IZONE team's popularity inherently brings top-tier status, and there are now four C-position bonds!
Zhang Yuanying, Sakura, Ahn Yujin, and Kim Minju could form two C-position bonds. So, they would be the four members IZONE would primarily promote.
With the C-position bonds plus the third effect of twelve stars. fantasy fairy tale, this double top-tier popularity superposition, aside from the stacked five Wangdao Passion, Jiang Shu couldn't imagine which group could rival IZONE.
Thinking this, the smile on Jiang Shu's face was unstoppable.
"Then when do we debut?" Zhang Yuanying asked again, and the others also looked at Jiang Shu eagerly.
The group night confirmed their debut, but the specific debut date had not been announced, and even they, as the involved parties, didn't know.
"You've all collaborated on the variety show. Two months should be enough time to complete your debut preparations, so..."
Jiang Shu thought for a moment.
These twelve IZONE members are debuting, not having a comeback, so they don't have the hassle of schedules. During this time, they can fully dedicate themselves to preparing for their debut, so efficiency will naturally be much higher.
"August 4th, perhaps. 8+4 = 12. Let's tentatively set it for August 4th."
Jiang Shu gave a tentative date. If they weren't ready, it would be extended. If they had ample time, it wouldn't change.
"Hehe, I didn't expect to have my second debut so soon," Zhang Yuanying chuckled.
Her words opened the floodgates.
"I'm also debuting for the second time," Kwon Eunbi said with a smile beside her, "It's just that my previous group was far inferior to IVE."
Her previous group, until its disbandment, probably didn't have as many fans in its entire group as the least popular member among the four 'hangers-on,' let alone compared to the Gemini stars.
"When it comes to debut count, we have to look at our Kura," Li Caiyan said with a smile, putting her arm around Sakura.
Little Sakura smiled shyly. The ambitious girl on stage was now as bashful as a girl next door.
"If Japan's debut time is counted, Kura Ouni is a big senior in our company!" Ahn Yujin exclaimed in admiration.
After all, this was Little Sakura, who debuted at thirteen.
Watching the girls chat excitedly in front of him, Jiang Shu couldn't help but be a little surprised.
This was the first group that could freely converse in front of him. Whether it was the variant version of IVE, Red Velvet, or ITZY, they were all more or less reserved in front of him. But these dozen or so girls from a survival show were all quite open.
Could it be that with more people, their courage also grew?
Jiang Shu couldn't help but nod.
Possible!
Watching the girls get increasingly excited in their conversation, Jiang Shu spoke up to stop them.
"If you want to chat, do it later. I need to tell you about some other things first. I have other matters to attend to after I'm done."
"Yes~"
The girls responded, all quieting down.