"Title: Gossip Discussion/Pretty Sister Goes to Watch Her Sister's Performance!"
"It's the finals next week, and today is their last tour performance. Pretty sister is down there too, what an amazing feeling!"
"[Image]"
"She wore a hat and mask, but still stands out. Her eyes shine brightly under the stage lights, like a puppy."
Comments section:
"I always forget they're siblings."
"I thought they would have some interaction or voting support segment, but SJYL really doesn't let people out, the boys' side never appeared at all."
"So cute, so cute, PLM is like a little puppy bravely venturing into showbiz!"
"They look more like sister and brother."
"So was the earlier online rumor about them performing as guest performers true or false?"
"Reply: Obviously false, they didn't have time to practice, others just finished their exams today."
"If they both look like this, then my future in-laws must be incredibly good-looking. One is my husband, and the other is also my husband."
Pei Luming, who was spotted backstage, had been to this venue many times before, but this time felt particularly unfamiliar, especially when seeing Pei Zhiping in her elaborate outfit, that feeling was even stronger.
Pei Zhiping, walking with big strides, wore her hair in a high ponytail. Her pink and white stage costume was a textured vest with a large bow at the back of her waist, and when she walked, the bow swayed like a tail.
What should have been a pleasing scene was marred by both their expressions of disdain and reluctance.
Seeing her approach, Pei Luming quickly took out his phone, turned it around, switched to selfie mode pointing at both of them, and said to the person behind: "Hurry up."
Verification photos - it was their family's old tradition.
Because the two were always fighting and pulling each other's hair, and their parents were often away on business trips, their mother would ask them to take photos proving they were getting along well and hadn't been fighting.
When pressing the shutter, both forced smiles and deliberately squinted their eyes, but those smiles only lasted for a second. Once the phone was lowered, they returned to their mutual state of disdain.
"Mom said they won't make it back for your finals," Pei Luming said as he put his phone back in his pocket, glancing at her outfit with a frown. "Are you really going to wear so little?"
Pei Zhiping was wearing a camisole and shorts, with her boots being the most covering item on her body.
She thought Pei Luming was about to lecture her about her outfit choices and was about to roll her eyes when she heard him say, "I'm warning you about catching a cold. If you get sick now, you'll sound like a broken whistle during the finals, and that'll be the end of it."
Though it wasn't the lecture she expected, Pei Zhiping still didn't like hearing it. "Just worry about yourself. You've always been the sickly one since we were little."
As she spoke, she looked up and down at Pei Luming in his sleeveless yellow top. Though it was summer, the air conditioning was on in the venue, and it was quite cold backstage. Pei Zhiping had been wearing a blanket earlier, and she wondered if Pei Luming was cold in just a short-sleeved shirt.
Pei Luming was stumped for a moment. "...I'm leaving."
"Bye," Pei Zhiping said and walked away.
The staff members passing through the corridor had noticed the siblings, but the backstage area was crowded with many people, especially families and friends of the trainees.
Though Pei Zhiping left, Pei Luming couldn't. He was stopped by families and friends of the trainees who wanted photos with him. Ten minutes later, looking back, he was still in the same spot.
Whether it was Pei Zhiping's jinx working or not, Pei Luming woke up the next day with a sore throat.
Sitting on his bed, he felt like dying.
Because today's schedule was recording, and Jiang would be there throughout the session.
-
In the slightly dim recording studio, Jiang Juyou, who arrived early, was chatting with the producer and engineer. When it was about time, someone opened the door.
The three looked toward the door as Yao Shuo and Pei Luming entered.
"Hello teacher, good afternoon..." the two bowed as they walked in, holding lyric sheets in their hands.
The album had been produced long in advance, and they had already heard the songs. Most of the demos were even sung by Yao Shuo and Pei Luming, but because vocal conditions might change, or lyrics and melody parts might be altered, their recordings always started two months before the album release.
Both entered carrying thermos cups, especially Pei Luming, who was hugging what looked like an unusually large veteran cadre-style thermos from who knows where.
"How's your condition today?" Jiang Juyou casually asked.
Yao Shuo touched his throat, "Not bad."
Beside him, Pei Luming looked somewhat guilty, blinking several times before saying: "...Okay."
Jiang Juyou nodded, and the producer said, "When you're ready, go in. Yao Shuo first."
To attract fans, idol groups often choose performance-oriented songs as their title tracks. Both the arrangement and emotions of the songs need to accommodate dance performances. Many title tracks have their identity established before production, sacrificing some musicality for more catchy and dance-friendly melodies.
Timetrain's debut album title track was exactly like this - the chorus melody was simple, lyrics easy to remember, and combined with the song's concept and their youthful energy, it easily went viral.
Their title track is still a popular BGM on TikTok, and you can often see high school and college students recording dance videos to this song on sports fields at sunset.
It even earned a nickname - "The Confession Prelude." When this song appears on TikTok, it usually indicates someone is about to confess their feelings or has a crush.
While upbeat dance songs can easily go viral through performances, slow songs aren't guaranteed the same success.
Using a slower melody as a title track would definitely reduce its potential for popularity, perhaps even drastically.
Jiang Juyou choosing this song as the title track was a risky move. If the previous show and debut album hadn't brought them enough attention, this album would have been digging their own grave.
But it was precisely because they had accumulated enough heat and public attention that Jiang Juyou chose this album for their first comeback.
Simply because its musicality was high enough and the song quality was solid.
The title track "Unknown Nation" is a post-rock song, with an atmosphere that creates the kind of dawn melancholy that instantly strikes an emotional chord.
It's like being wrapped in anxiety, the unique silence of the gray-white sky before sunrise after a sleepless night - it's both healing and resonant.
Yao Shuo, ready to begin, stood in the recording booth. He placed his water cup aside, put on the headphones, cleared his throat several times, and vocalized with a few "ah"s.
Outside, Jiang Juyou pressed the intercom switch and said to Yao Shuo inside: "Let's play it once first, sing along to get a feel for it and warm up your voice."
Inside, Yao Shuo nodded, "Okay."
As the music started, the electric guitar sounded twice, and the slowly played melody was like waves hitting the shore at night, pushing along the low emotions.
But this song isn't meant to be depressing; rather, it's about trying to lift your spirits and save yourself after depression.
The Demo featured Yao Shuo's voice recorded at the beginning of the year. He listened to the melody, humming along softly, only singing seriously when his part came.
"I'm freaky, can't fit into the group, want to escape this gray Building."
"What I can be, no feelings no emotions, when can I get out of this predicament."
Outside, Pei Luming was also practicing quietly. Looking at the lyrics in his hands, immersed in the music, he was also slightly moved by these lyrics.
The general atmosphere and theme of basically every song was decided by Jiang Juyou, who even participated in writing many of the lyrics, usually as the primary lyricist.
This title track was completed independently by Jiang Juyou, and just from looking at the lyrics, one could visualize the scene.
"No one is born to be what it should be, perhaps I should leave this suffocating place."
No one is born to be a certain way.
"The train is about to depart, heading towards that unfamiliar place."
A single line connects their group concept and promotional theme.
As the song approaches its end, the emotions build higher and higher, like a train racing along the seaside, filled with nothing but the excitement of arriving in a new land.
Near the Bridge section, the song had already set off its "fireworks" - this part contained the highest notes Yao Shuo had ever sung in his career.
Outside, when Pei Luming heard Yao Shuo hit those high notes, he got goosebumps all over, the sensation tingling through his scalp.
The producer and Jiang Juyou, sitting at the computer, let out small cheers of celebration, clearly very satisfied with the high notes.
They said:
"Did we get that recorded?"
"Let's keep this take."
"He's in great form today!"
Hearing the word "form," Pei Luming tensed up again.
Yao Shuo spent over two hours recording, though some harmony parts would have to wait until after the other members finished their recordings, so today's workload wasn't too heavy.
After he finished, it was Pei Luming's turn. Rising from the sofa, Pei Luming swallowed hard and took several sips of water before going in.
Once inside, the producer outside was explaining to Pei Luming about the pronunciation points to focus on while singing. Pei Luming, wearing headphones, nodded somewhat dazedly.
Suddenly, he coughed several times. Outside, Jiang Juyou heard it and immediately frowned, "Are you catching a cold?"
"...A little bit," Pei Luming replied, not daring to look at the faces of those outside.
The next moment, Jiang's slightly pressured voice rang out, "Let's try it first. If it doesn't work, we can record again in a few days when you're feeling better."
"Okay, I'll give it a try," Pei Luming quickly responded.
Standing ready, he closed his eyes and mentally cursed Pei Zhiping.
What a jinx.
Pei Luming thought: How can someone's words be so prophetic?
