When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 12

# 12

The beginning of KK (3)

#The beginning of KK (3)

***

A few days later, in the conference room located on the 3rd floor of the HIT Entertainment building.

There were more than ten people sitting around the conference room. They were all preparing for KK’s debut album.

In the album production team, the most experienced team leader Sim Jun and two team members participated in the KK project. Those three and key figures from the rookie development team participated in the meeting.

And six KK members also participated in this meeting. It was a day to listen to candidate songs for the debut album title. Since it was a song that the members had to sing and perform on stage, the company’s internal guideline was that the more members participated in the album, the better.

Dowook was a little embarrassed by the decision date for the title song, which was scheduled sooner than expected.

‘I told Yong Soo-cheol that there were only a few days left, but did he send it already? It’s too early to organize the songs and send them out.’

Unlike his complicated mind, Do-wook was sitting in a calm state in one corner of the conference room.

‘Whew…. Should I have moved a little faster? No, right now is the most appropriate.’

Team leader Lim Seong-an began the meeting by explaining KK’s planning intentions once again, with no one knowing about Do-wook’s situation.

“As I explained last time, KK is a boy hip-hop dance group that will lead future pop music trends. We plan to highlight each member’s outstanding skills that set them apart from other idols. Please take that into consideration and prepare our debut album together.”

“The debut album will be a mini album, and once we decide on a title, we plan to develop the entire album to fit that concept.”

Although the situation was familiar to the employees, it was the first time the members had encountered it. After passively practicing as planned by the company, they were in a situation where they would be directly involved in the album, and it felt like they were truly producing their own album, which fueled their will a little more.

Team Leader Lim looked at the members’ expressions and immediately nodded towards Team Leader Sim Jun, who was sitting across from him.

“Then let’s get straight to the point. “There are two candidates for the title.”

Team leader Sim Jun operated the small remote control. The conference room was equipped with speakers to listen to songs.

“First of all, number 1. “This is a song I received after contacting a famous producer.”

Song number 1 played. It was a song with a melody that was easy to catch to the ear, to the point where you could easily sing along even after hearing it for the first time.

“Next is number 2. “This is a song by a new composer who is popular in foreign countries these days.”

Compared to number 1, the beat was much faster and more lively. It felt a little unfamiliar, perhaps because it was a song by a foreign composer. Being unfamiliar wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. In other words, it also meant that it was fresh.

After both songs ended, there was silence in the conference room for a moment.

As expected, none of the two songs included Yong Soo-cheol’s song.

‘No matter how you look at it, it would be difficult for both songs to become titles…’

With the thought that suddenly came to mind, Do-wook was surrounded by doubts.

‘But neither number 1 nor number 2 is You, which was K.K.’s previous debut song?’

No matter how much later arrangement work was done, neither song was the original version of ‘You’.

‘what…? ‘Has something already changed before I change it?’

Anyway, Dowook decided to believe in Yong Soo-cheol and the song that Yong Soo-cheol would send. I thought I just needed to buy a little more time.

Both songs were below Dowook’s standards to be included on KK’s album, so it was a way to buy time. Compared to these two songs, You was a really great debut song.

It was clear that Lim Seong-an was also not satisfied with both songs. Team leader Lim Seong-an’s stern expression was telling.

“Are you saying these two songs are everything?”

“……yes. As Team Manager Lim has listened to the candidate songs, you will know that these two songs were also selected by the production team.”

Even though we had prepared for KK in advance, I now understood why KK’s debut took place only in June. After organizing my thoughts, the answer was easy. There seemed to be no need to make time to wait for the spring to sing.

‘I guess I was looking for a song like You and got put off.’

As expected, Team Leader Sim Jun was not 100% satisfied. However, even if we asked a composer to fit the concept, this was the best we could do. There wasn’t a song I really liked. At least two songs were saved.

I couldn’t keep putting it off. Sim Jun decided on a song and planned to improve the quality of the song by investing in arrangement and choreography music videos.

“Let’s each tell us which one we like more.”

Seongan Lim asked. While everyone was hesitating, one of the members, Jeong Yoon-gi, opened his mouth.

“I think number 1 is better. The melody is familiar and I think it would be good to rap…”

Kim Won, who was sitting next to him, came forward.

“Isn’t number 2 better? “It’s much trendier, isn’t it?”

Even if it was the same rapper, the reaction was different. This was the part that made it clear that Kim Won was from a foreign country. Opinions were divided even among the members. The same was true for the employees. Both songs received similar selections.

Dowook, who had been sitting quietly, opened his mouth.

“Number 1 is very acceptable. It doesn’t have any freshness for a rookie and is suitable as a follow-up song or the last track. On the other hand, number 2 is fresh, but there are so many variations that it doesn’t feel like one song and there are parts that stand out.”

The shortcomings of the two songs were sharply explored by Dowook.

The two team leaders could not help but be surprised by Do-wook, who accurately understood the song and identified its shortcomings in a short period of time. And at the same time, I agreed as follows.

‘I can’t go with these two songs. Even if it takes time, I have to find more songs!’

It was judged that if one member could be seen through in such a short period of time, it would naturally be difficult to appeal to the public to the level expected.

“Do-wook is right. I think it would be good for our production team to search for the song a little more… I also request modifications. “Team Leader Lim, is your schedule okay?”

You have to endure some delay. Because songs are really important. Let’s give it a week or two more and then decide.

So deciding on the title song was postponed.

***

The decision on the title song was postponed, but practice had to continue.

In order to develop the skills of each KK member and achieve overall unity, the company was conducting practice by selecting a song and performing each member’s role, just like during the dance evaluation. Putting together several songs in this way was a great help when performing on broadcasts or performing after debut.

The song I am currently practicing is a pop song by M Sync.

When it came to pop songs, Kim Won, who studied abroad, played the biggest role. Even though dancing is the main part, Park Tae-hyung, who also has some parts, went to Kim Won as soon as practice was over and asked him about his English pronunciation.

Do-wook was relieved to see that Park Tae-hyung was adapting to team life better than expected.

‘For idols, teamwork is a virtue.’

Therefore, Do-wook was also keeping an eye on the team members’ relationships as well as possible to coordinate them as well as Ahn Young-mi of the rookie development team. Taehyung Park raised his head as if he felt Dowook’s gaze.

“Uh… Do-wook, are you going to lessons again?”

“uh.”

“…it should be hard.”

Even though he was still practicing after practice time, he said that he felt sorry for Taehyung Park. Kim Won, who was next to him, also made a characteristic shrugging gesture.

“You’re a poisonous bastard.”

Jeong Yoon-gi patted Do-wook on the shoulder without feeling bad.

Everyone now knew that Do-wook was taking lessons separately from the academy during his personal practice time. Just going to and from the practice room was difficult, but the fact that he even went to another academy made everyone click their tongues and say that Dowook was harsh.

Dowook even managed his physical strength by jogging every morning. When the members were checked by a professional trainer, Dowook easily completed tasks such as doing 50 sit-ups in one minute alone.

Of course, these efforts were bound to be rewarded brilliantly.

***

In front of Star Academy.

When I opened the now familiar glass door of the academy and entered, I saw Kim Woo-yeon and Kim Sum sitting together at the table in front of the desk. Do-wook’s lesson today was Kim Sum’s composition lesson. Kim Woo-yeon arrived about 30 minutes earlier than his scheduled time and was chatting with Kim Sum.

In fact, Kim Woo-yeon came early because he wanted to talk to Do-wook for a while. Not long ago, I was a little offended by Do-wook, who asked me to check out DJ Yong Soo-cheol, but only took away information and didn’t give a proper explanation.

“Student Dowook is here?!”

Kim Sum welcomed Do-wook warmly. Dowook bowed and greeted the two people.

Due to Rainbow’s year-end performance schedule, Kim Sum asked for understanding from the students and was away from the academy for about two weeks. Kim Sum, who was greeting me saying he was even more happy to see me after a long time, got up from his seat and looked surprised.

“Dowook, something has changed a lot in the time we haven’t seen each other?”

“What’s the difference?”

Kim Woo-yeon answered more hesitantly for no reason.

“No, really… Ah! “Have you grown taller?”

Do-wook nodded slightly at Kim Sum’s shout. Do-wook’s height grew by almost 5 cm in just one month. Every time I measured my height and weight once a week, I grew taller and became the envy of all the members.

Ahn Hyeong-seo, who is the shortest in height, went jogging with Do-wook a few times, saying it was the strength of early morning exercise. Of course, I gave up after three attempts because I couldn’t get up because I was playing games until late at night.

It was growing little by little and I didn’t notice it, but when I saw it for the first time in a while, it seemed to have caught my eye.

“That’s right! You’re tall. “Haven’t you become more handsome?”

Kim Sum praised Dowook in a high voice. Even when Do-wook announced that he would be debuting as an idol group, it was Kim Sum who loved it like it was his own job. Dowook thought that he seemed to be a good person by nature.

On the other hand, Kim Woo-yeon made a different bet. He seemed quite dissatisfied with not being able to give a proper answer about the spring.

“What do you do when you’re tall? “I need to improve my singing skills!”

“Teacher, you really know Dowook’s singing skills, right? “I saw you with a satisfied smile on your face the other day~!”

“Teacher Kim Sum, did you dream? “It’s a long way to catch up with me!”

Dowook smiled awkwardly between the two people. The words may sound like a joke, but Do-wook knew well that Kim Woo-yeon was now thinking of Do-wook as his proper disciple, not just his best disciple.

Dowook was a man whose speed of development was extraordinary as he worked hard. Now I can just hear it and say, ‘You sing well! ‘Good voice!’ It became a singing skill that made me think about myself.

If you listen again to Kim Woo-yeon’s words, ‘I have a long way to go to catch up’, it means that Kim Woo-yeon even had the desire to develop him into someone as talented as himself. Kim Woo-yeon was now working hard to help Do-wook master the high notes, going beyond making use of the mid-low tone, which was Do-wook’s strength.

Kim Sum, who knew that, smiled and shook his head. Kim Woo-yeon pointed to the seat in front of him. Do-wook understood what he meant and quickly sat down. As soon as I sat down properly, Kim Woo-yeon was asked questions.

“Oh, doesn’t that DJ explain what happened?”