44 Small World (1/2)
While you are having fun teasing Jennifer, a little girl is sobbing in her room.
A sheet of paper is gripped tightly by her tiny hands.
It contains the song that you have composed personally for her several days ago.
Yet, regardless of how many times she has tried, she is unable to replicate the beautiful voice that she has created the first time.
”Christie! Christie! Come and listen to this. You're on the radio!”
Her mother, Shelly calls for her.
Christina wipes her tears and exits her room. She joins her mother and her step-father, Jim in the living room. Her younger sister, the five years old Rachel, is also listening to the radio, immersing fully in the unearthly melody.
The beautiful voice enraptures everyone, including Christina. The song quickly brings tears back to her eyes. She wants to sing like that again, but she doesn't know how.
Her vocal skill isn't there yet.
Even if vocal skill is S-class, she also requires an S-class composer and S-class sound engineer. Both are quite impossible to find in the current state of the music industry.
Once the song finishes playing, the radio host speaks up.
”There you go, folks. You heard it here first. Such a lovely song by a lovely voice. Please give applause to Christina Aguilera for gracing us with her voice.”
The host pauses to swallow.
”The song is composed by Delight Records. It is submitted to us this morning by mail. So, Steve, what do you think of the song?”
Steve is another host of the show. He gives his opinion on the song and wishes to listen to it again. He and every other listener are the same.
It is the first time they heard such a touching and moving song, capable to inciting their emotions and bringing back beautiful memory from distant past.
The song begins to play once more, immersing all the listeners with pleasant feelings.
This is the fifth time the song had been played since morning. The station couldn't help it since if they play anything else, their phones won't stop ringing with listeners demanding for the song to put back on.
This is because the people are unable to buy the song anywhere, so the only thing they could do now is listen to it on the radio.
Other radio stations in LA also begin to play the song after finding it in their mails, not wanting to lose out on the listeners, bringing it much buzz.
Stations that didn't get a copy of the song frantically try and find out where they can secure a copy. It isn't that difficult to get information about Delight Records from public records, and from there they acquire information about the parent company – Lucasfilm.
Within a couple of hours, Christina Aguilera becomes the most talked about person in many powerful circles.
She just went from nobody to a sensational star.
Countless talent agencies have begins searching for her, not realizing that she is just a child.
”Christina.”
Jim speaks up when he heard the song for the third time. He smiles broadly at his step-daughter.
”I am very proud of you. I am sure that you will become a famous musician one day. I just didn't know it was this soon. No wonder those two back in Ocean Way Recordings are so excited after listening to your singing. Can you –
His phone interrupts him. The number is private.
Jim picks up the call, listening to the person on the other end.
”Congratulation Mr. Kearns. We have made a special exception for your case. Your daughter, Christina Aguilera has been selected to join the Mickey Mouse Club. Please bring your daughter to the recording studio at the following address on Monday…”
Jim couldn't help but becomes excited. He just received the letter of rejection from Disney yesterday, telling him that Christina is currently too young to join the Mickey Mouse Club. She can try again in a couple of year time.
To think they change their mind immediately.
”Christina. I have some good news. The people at Disney has decided that –
His phone interrupts him again. The number is also private.
He picks up the call.
”Hello. Is this Mr. Kearns, the current guardian of Miss Christina Aguilera?”
Jim acknowledges that he is.
”Thank you, Mr. Kearns. My name is Thomas Wheeler. My firm currently represents Lucasfilm and all its subsidiaries, including Delight Records. What I am about to tell you must remain confidential and private.”
Thomas then goes into details about how Delight Records holds the copyright, production license and distribution right of the song that propels Christina to celebrity status.
As a lawyer representing Lucasfilm and Delight Records, Thomas outlines all the facts in terms that Jim can understands. There are plenty of legalities and red tapes, preventing Christina from using the song commercial without having the permission from Delight Records.
Furthermore, Thomas mentions to Jim that someone from Lucasfilm will drop by his home later with a contract in order to sign Christina as a client of Delight Records. It is in the best interest for him and his daughter to sign it.
Jim isn't too pleased to be threatened despite the respectful tone.
When Jim finishes talking to Thomas, the phone rings again.
It is a representative from Warner Music. They also want to sign Christina up after being impressed by her voice. While unable to secure the actual song as its copyright is held by Delight Records, they can compose new brand-new song for her. They will come by in the afternoon with a contract.
They provide much better terms than Lucasfilm, but Jim remains unconvinced. Now that his daughter is a star, everyone will want to sign her up.
After Warner, Sony Music is next. After Sony is Universal and then Paramount Music. Once someone figures out who Christina is, everyone knows. Even minor studios want the piece of the pie.
Her voice is one of a kind, after all. It is on par with the most famous musicians in America. Not only that, her young age will make her an undeniable sensation.
Whatever Jim decides for his daughter, it is none of your business.
You know something like this will happened from the moment you decided to send those cassettes to the radio stations. But no matter what happens, Christina will come to you on her own, without you doing anything.
Christina is just a chess piece, moving as according to your plan. You will make her a superstar, one of many.
Speaking of stars, Jennifer has made up her mind since the chance is once in a lifetime.
Jennifer did not join the two girls, competing to see who will accompany you to see George Lucas. She doesn't want to waste her energy as she cannot beat them at shouting and screaming. She rather safe her voice for something else.
The car enters the carpark and finds a spot.