"Key To The Phoenix Heart" will be special. Ma Qiuyuan and Ai Mi acting in this drama are lauded for acting talents suitable to the respective roles. As I previously mentioned while answering another MDL user, "Kung Fu Soccer" should air in cinemas this month before "Key To The Phoenix Heart", since Global Times has covered this.
Given their Hong Kong movie backgrounds , Director Gao Yijun has fundamental signature similarities to Yuen Woo-ping, when it comes to filming battle scenes for historical dramas:
Live pyrotechnics and explosions, extended long-take sequences unless there is no choice (both directors despise green screens), equestrian training for different horseback battle or combat scenes happening across various landscape scenarios (Yuen Woo-ping likes deserts, Gao Yijun likes cliffs), etc
Equestrian training, wirework training, plus action training related to weaponry and/or martial arts are the basic requirements for anyone who wants to be selected by Yuen Woo-ping for a role in any of his movies. Director Gao is slightly more lenient on that front. But given how Gao Yijun exacts the best performances from a cast, I'd say his non-action emoting scenes are probably the equivalent of being put through the paces by Yuen Woo-ping after someone else has hammered home necessary basics.
Anyone ignorant of Gao Yijun's work will insult him, instead of praising him as I have.
Sun Mengfei would definitely be happy collaborating with Gao Yijun.
There's a lot of unhappy viewers wrt at least three not-aired historical costume dramas helmed by Director Gao. "Key To The Phoenix Heart" gives me hope that one other drama of his will air.
I am aware of spoilers (such as Peter Ho's role relative to Riley Wang's role and how that affects the plot) which could go under a spoiler tag, but I have chosen to keep those details out of this forum thread.
The pre-broadcast sponsorship drive for "Key To The Phoenix Heart" was recently launched on 2 July.
Yesterday on 3 July, samplers for the official drama OST of 6 songs featuring established powerhouse vocalists and rising talents was released. Huang Xiaoyun, Liu Yuxin, Duan Aojuan, and Jing Long contribute their talents, to sing of bonds forged amidst this era of uncertainty. Key theme song "Blazing Light" is a hugely-anticipated duet between Hou Minghao and Zhang Bichen, where deep affection amidst turbulent times underlines the voice of destiny soaring above the chaos of the battlefield.
Hou Minghao also sings the drama's opening song (which you'll find online in English under unofficial names of "A Promise Becomes A River" or "A Promise Flowing Endlessly Like A River" depending on whoever is translating the title), about family and country and a warrior's vow to protect what matters with all of himself. "A Promise Boundless As A River" is my take. All very poetic!
A-List Powerhouse singers are Huang Xiaoyun, Zhang Bichen and Liu Yuxin.
Duan Aojuan and Jing Long are rising stars.
Huang Xiaoyun is noted for her exceptional vocal prowess and whistle register, specifically her 'dolphin voice' technique and an exceptional coloratura soprano range.
Duan Aojuan has clear pure vocals.
Jing Long adds a lower range and provides added variety alongside the rest of the vocalists.
Zhang Bichen is lauded for her masterful performances for OSTs.
Netizens and industry commentators alike lauded Hou Minghao for his "solid vocal technique and exceptional ability to convey emotion", while fans lauded the Opening Song as "electrifying" and "awe-inspiring" while conveying an intense sense of destiny.
On Weibo, the OST is being praised by netizens for being incredibly immersive.
《知我》by Liu Yuxin is the only title I won't translate because "Know Me" doesn't capture the classic literary references of those two words, such as “知我者，谓我心忧；不知我者，谓我何求。” and/or alluding to the concept of a soulmate (in the sense of someone who truly understands you and your heart, and a trusted confidant).
Samplers of the six songs here:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1NWTW68EMQ
https://m.weibo.cn/status/5316534276982082
The tracks are:
#雀骨OST阵容#
一曲道尽乱世羁绊，五音写尽爱恨因果
一同来品味剧中的乱世悲欢
♫ 主题曲/片尾曲《炙光》@张碧晨 @侯明昊 (Blazing Light)
♫ 片 头 曲《一诺成川》@侯明昊 (A Promise Becomes A River/A Promise Flowing Endlessly Like A River)
♫ 执 念 曲《怜心》@黄霄雲 (Compassion)
♫ 心 动 曲《知我》@刘雨昕
♫ 宿 命 曲《因果》@段奥娟_CLARE (Cause)
♫ 回 响 曲《成全》@我是井胧 (Fulfillment)
ETA on 16 July for link to all six songs plus their instrumentals, totaling 12 songs for the OST:
https://kisskh.at/790870-que-gu#comment-26798280
TheNostalgicType:
Wow! I'm speechless. Thank you so very much for this wonderful and comprehensive write-up. This is the straight facts and career deep dive post I always wanted to make in defence of Ai Mi's inclusion in KTTPH and her overall recent step up to lead roles, but never truly had the ability to articulate. This covers absolutely everything. It's been so frustrating seeing her take a pounding this year with accusations flying at her from every direction. She's endured a lot. Fingers crossed she receives the exam results she's after and can enter the BFA full of confidence. It was such a rotten thing to put her on the spot during her examination period. I really hope it didn't rattle her. I simply can't wait for this drama to air next month 🤞🤞. I believe it will be special.
