Chapter 73: Vulnerability Unleashed: "Happiness" Takes Over
The day after the Grammys, Holmes found himself back in Chicago, still buzzing from the energy of his performance. He spent most of the day relaxing at home, reflecting on the awards show and his career. Even with the Grammy glory, thoughts of "Happiness" gnawed at him.
Two days later, while playing chess with Teddy, Holmes said "Teddy, you know that song I told you about from New York, the emotional one?"
Teddy looked up from the chess board and replied. "The one you told me you were still thinking about? yeah, what about it?"
"I think I'm gonna release it man, after what happened at the Grammy's... what do you think?" Holmes said
Teddy considered it for a moment, stroking his chin. "Well Holmes, only you know how vulnerable it is... but its your decision bro, either way, Celeste and I will support"
Holmes nodded, feeling grateful for Teddy's support. Celeste nodded as well.
The Decision:
After lots of convincing, three days after the Grammy's Holmes decided it was time to release "Happiness." He knew it was a risk, but he felt that the song was too important to keep hidden away. He called his manager.
The next morning, Holmes was in a studio in Chicago. The team quickly got to work, making the necessary tweaks and adjustments to ensure the song was ready for release.
Release Procedures:
1. Mixing and Mastering: Holmes worked closely with his sound engineer, giving detailed notes to enhance "Happiness".
2. Artwork Creation: Deciding to go simple but impactful, Holmes decided on having the song title on a dark background.
3. Marketing Strategy: Holmes's team did some promoting of the song, to gain anticipation
4. Digital Distribution: The song was uploaded to iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other platforms, at the same time, early that morning
The Reception:
- Initial Response:* As soon as "Happiness" hit the airwaves, the response was overwhelming.
- Social Media Explosion:* The hashtag #HolmesHappiness trended worldwide within hours. Fans were dissecting the lyrics, praising the emotion, and sharing their own stories of struggles and hope.
The Climb to Number One:
"Happiness" climbed the Billboard charts with meteoric speed.
- Week 1: Debuted at #15.
- Week 2: Climbed to #5.
- Week 3: "Happiness" hit Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Holmes had conquered the charts. He got calls from Diddy, Jay-Z, Dre, and even Eminem.
"Holmes, you did it again!" Diddy roared into the phone. "Told you that song was special!"
"Congrats, Holmes," Jay-Z said, with a touch of admiration. "That was a bold move. Respect."
Dre simply said, "Solid, Holmes. Solid."
Eminem's Call:
The most unexpected call was from Eminem.
"Yo, Holmes," Em said, his voice unusually subdued. "Heard 'Happiness.' That shit was... real."
Holmes was surprised. "Thanks, Em," he said. "Means a lot coming from you."
"No bullshit," Em said. "You got guts, man. Showin' that side of yourself."
The conversation was short, but it left Holmes feeling validated.
As "Happiness" soared to the top of the charts, Holmes knew he had touched something deep within his fans. He had taken a risk, bared his soul, and the world had responded. And it confirmed that he had made the right decision.