Musical Tidbits (Secret Magic AU) *HeadCanon Time*
• Duo and Wufei have the best range and flexibility.
• Duo started very young when his parents were around (his mother was a vocal coach and choir director). Solo is his brother in this SM!verse as well. Music is in their blood.
• Heero was gifted a bass guitar and started composing his own tunes. Also wrote and rehearsed, "The Shooting Star She Saw" in Japanese. He sang that song at his first audition and (the group's first managers) put that song on their first album.
• Quatre grew up in Saudi Arabia and in France. One of his older sisters was working (or volunteering) at a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool. He'd met Triton (Trowa) over there and, even at a tender age, they both shared a strong inclination to making music. So they did a rendition of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah". Got their teachers and peers clapping. During this presentation at recess, Quatre played the violin while Triton played the flute.
((sidenote: Heero! I also gave him a cousin (a few) who poke around jokes (specifically with what used to be stage presence, and later on, whether or not he's into Duo).))
• One of them is Van Fanel. Van and Heero had almost ended up in the final lineup, but Van secretly requested that he joins Escaflowne while Heero hangs out “with the other three guys” (Quatre, Duo and Wufei). It took an extra week before management discovered Trowa at a video shoot for The Get Backers... He got their business card and showed up the following day (which also surprised Quatre, since they hadn't seen each other for so long).
• Wufei - kept his singing a secret from his clan, yet was caught dancing around and drumming things. One of his cousins had found out about it and sent for him (to come to America) prior to an arranged marriage (his grandfather had also helped him escape that). Long story short, he intimidated other hopefuls at the arena, but during his tenure, Zechs and Master A. agreed that Wufei had soul in his voice, and were quite impressed with his drumming skills on the trap set (drum set).
• Trowa knows how to set up a stage, lights, props and all. He's also responsible for half of the costumes/wardrobe that the group would wear to perform; on the red carpet; at press conferences; interviews (occasionally), and so forth.
• Quatre is also adept at the keyboard, and teaches Heero piano.
• Wufei's exposure to Hip-hop culture (in the suburbs where his cousin Sheung-Fu lived) became an additional outlet. Half of the songs he wrote were inspired by rap. On rare occasions, his fellow bandmates join him. When the others discover their ability to spit rhymes in secret, Trowa admits that he's fully comfortable with it.
• Heero spends some quality time with Duo during the most complicated era within their group. Juggling life and demands with a new management team, Heero trusts Duo with his bass guitar. In exchange, Duo teaches Heero how to find his vocal passaggio.
• Trowa can also play string and percussion instruments. His favourite one is the electric guitar.
• On one rare occasion, Quatre invites the group over for games and a sleepover. They go out the following day to learn various string instruments in the violin family.
• Duo teaches Quatre and Trowa how to expand their voices. “It's the best way to survive being pop idols. The more you can manage, the better.”
• The group ends up with the following title by Rolling Stone magazine: Musical Terrorists. This has everything to do with their intellectual and emotional ability to tackle various genres, from Techno-Pop to Heavy Metal, and everything else in between. They're also known for being one of the musical sensations to expand their Fanbase - not by numbers, but through diversity.
• When Romefeller Records took away the group's musical instruments, they took advantage of the Internet and searched for songs to include in upcoming projects. The group did a cover of “Points Of Authority” by Linkin Park (led by Wufei); Quatre did covers of “Careless Whisper” and “Praying For Time” by George Michael (recommended by Duo and Heero). The G-Boys also covered “If You're Gone” by Matchbox Twenty, and “Smooth” by Santana (led by Trowa); “It's My Life” by Bon Jovi (led by Heero), and “Beautiful One” by Mary J. Blige (led by Duo). They eventually pursued other hits, such as “Livin’ On A Prayer”, “This Night”, “O Lord Of Space” and “Awaken”, by various artists and sought permission to use their favourite tunes.
