When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 16

# 16

Sonata: Resonating (3)

#Sonata: Resonating (3)

Of course, Spring’s song was good. To other people, it would have been close to perfect.

However, in Do-wook’s opinion, there was a slight feeling that it was not complete, perhaps because he received the song in advance to be released later.

Additionally, as a person who lived into the future and returned to the past, Do-wook became greedy. It was my desire to create a song that was bound to do well regardless of era or generation.

‘Because classic isn’t classic for nothing.’

Dowook’s calculation was that if he added a good variation of the melody at the beginning, he would be able to captivate a larger audience than if he started with a fast beat right away.

In fact, during the time KK debuted, there were songs that became very popular through sampling of classical songs. Thanks to this, a couple of songs a year were released through sampling of classical songs, and they continued to gain popularity.

Among them, the song that gained the most explosive popularity was one that used a beat similar to a spring and had instrumental sampling in the introduction. That song became a huge hit, gaining more popularity than ‘Sorry but I love you’.

This was because it made up for the shortcomings of the spring-loaded beat, which was simple and repetitive.

That is why, as soon as Do-wook heard the ringtone of the sonata song, he thought of Yong Soo-cheol’s song.

‘By giving the song a boost, you will definitely be able to improve its level of completion. If you listen, you will immediately recognize the spring. It’s a way to complement your own songs.’

Yong Soo-cheol, who had been contemplating for a moment, stood up and approached the equipment.

As soon as I operated the button, the most bass beat began to flow. Various melodies were piled on top of those beats to become the current ‘Sorry (working title).’

Even just playing the beat made me nod my head. Yong Soo-cheol also operated the button a few times to set the sound on the keyboard next to him to the default piano sound.

Yong Soo Cheol lightly played with his fingers.

“The original note was this…”

“Yes. “I wish I could write a melody for that part.”

I just played the original melody, but I was like, ‘Huh?’ Yong Soo-cheol got this feeling. Yong Soo-cheol paused his fingers for a moment and then played again.

This time, I played faster and faster, from about 60 BPM to 80.

It felt like something was being created even though it was only a change because it was fast.

Yong Soo Cheol could not help but be surprised. It was an unexpected arrangement, and even after listening to Do-wook, I wondered what it meant, but when I played it, I got a feel for it right away.

‘If you do a little more variation as Do-wook said, and start with a piano note… and gradually add a beat and the next note… it would be awesome!’

Yong Soo-cheol fell in love with the arrangement work. Little by little, the notes changed and began to fit together with the later melody.

“If you do this… um. How about this?”

“great!”

Dowook shouted. Yong Soo-cheol became more excited by Do-wook’s shout.

Since I only work on songs alone, it wasn’t a bad idea for me to share opinions about my songs with someone else. Rather, I felt happy.

***

Yong Soo-cheol planned to contact team leader Sim Jun as soon as half of the arrangement work was completed. The arrangement was planned to be done in two versions.

A version that reflects Dowook’s opinion in the introduction and a version that does not. Sending both versions would allow for a clearer comparison.

After sharing that story with Yong Soo-cheol, Do-wook returned to the practice room.

I was just ordering dinner in the practice room. The members were sitting around with newspapers spread on the floor. Today, as usual, it was kimchi fried rice and pork rice bowl delivered from Kimbab Manguk next to the office.

“Do-wook, what are you so busy with? Come quickly!”

Jeong Yoon-gi shouted. As soon as Do-wook smelled the food, he became hungry.

As I was going among the gathered members, I saw Ahn Hyeong-seo sitting alone with his back turned to the pillar of the wall. As Do-wook stood looking at Ahn Hyeong-seo, Park Tae-hyung quietly whispered to Do-wook.

“My brother… doesn’t eat…”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. “I haven’t had any energy since a while ago…”

Park Taehyung muttered worriedly. The other members were also paying attention to Ahn Hyeong-seo, who was squatting. Dowook frowned.

“Ha…”

I could see Ahn Hyeong-seo sighing.

When Ahn Hyeong-seo, who is still not old, started as a trainee, she had just entered middle school. Ahn Hyeong-seo’s mother influenced him to become a trainee from a young age. Ahn Hyeong-seo’s mother was one of the typical polarizing parents commonly found in the entertainment industry.

When she realized that her only son had aptitude, she went to the agency that day and had him audition.

Ahn Hyeong-seo, a natural talent who had shown talent in singing and dancing since kindergarten, was able to easily pass the audition.

Ahn Hyeong-seo was also interested in this field and was greedy. The praise from those around him that he was good at it made Ahn Hyeong-seo even more greedy. It wasn’t a bad desire. I wanted to sing better, and it was a positive desire to debut as an idol and become the best.

Was it a problem that he only wanted to debut from such a young age? When my debut at my previous agency was canceled at age 16, I suffered from a bit of depression.

And it was an opportunity I got again from Hit Entertainment. Ahn Hyeong-seo felt extremely anxious when faced with a situation where he might not be the best singer in the group.

The leisure that used to be the mood maker has disappeared. Dowook seemed like an object of control and was a little resentful.

‘The training period is so different… Plus, he’s a year younger than me. ‘What on earth have I done so far?’

Previous debuts were canceled because it was simply the agency’s fault, but Ahn Hyeong-seo’s mentality, which had collapsed once, was easily shaken.

‘If I get pushed aside by Do-wook, who has been practicing for a few months… will I even be able to survive in the music industry?…’

Such self-destructive thoughts were destroying Ahn Hyeong-seo.

A dark cloud seemed to be rising next to the pillar. Ahn Hyeong-seo, who suddenly had low pressure, seemed to have no idea whether the rice was going into his nose or mouth while the other members were eating.

If it were another team, someone would have been angry at the member’s out-of-the-box behavior, but there was no member like that in KK. Everyone was just worried.

Everyone had a rough guess as to why An Hyeong-seo was under low pressure.

“I’ll talk to you later.”

As everyone was watching, Seok Ji-hoon, who is blunt and rarely opens his mouth, spoke. Seok Ji-hoon was the youngest member of the team, but he was one of the people who best understood Ahn Hyeong-seo’s position.

It was because he was a child actor. Seok Ji-hoon’s mother was more than Ahn Hyeong-seo’s mother, but not less.

Seok Ji-hoon began working in broadcasting circles even before entering elementary school, and experienced society at an early age. Because of this, Seok Ji-hoon had no choice but to become a precocious child.

‘A person who has only looked at this side from a young age is like a racehorse, only running with his eyes on the finish line without looking at anything else. There is always a fear that if it isn’t for this path, I won’t be able to do anything as an adult.’

Seok Ji-hoon learned early on that saying useless things out loud would not be helpful, so he always kept them in his head rather than saying them.

Jung Yoon-gi took care of the remaining members, feeling fortunate that Seok Ji-hoon, who was the youngest but very mentally mature, spoke up.

“Oh, by the way, what is this in the practice room on Christmas Eve!”

Kim Won responded to Jeong Yoon-gi, who was trying to lighten the mood.

“Christmas… It was fun because it always snowed a lot in Canada. White~ Christmas~!”

“Korea needs to be fun too. “It’s not fun because it’s only in the practice room.”

“Then shall we go out of the practice room? I’ll drive. I can drive! Let’s go go! Go go~ go!”

Kim Won raised his hands high as if he would stand up at any moment and shouted ‘Let’s Go’ like a song.

“Where is the car?”

“Uh… rent?”

“Where is the money?”

“Wow, Brother Yoongi, in your pocket?”

“Just eat something.”

“Cold Blood…”

The members all emptied their bowls while talking about the trainee’s gloomy Christmas. After putting away the dishes and digesting food for a while, evening practice began again.

Just before evening practice began, Seok Ji-hoon and Ahn Hyeong-seo went up to the roof of the building to talk for a while.

Their faces were frozen in the winter wind. Even though it was clear that Seok Ji-hoon had spoken well, Ahn Hyeong-seo still didn’t look bright.

Even during actual stage practice, where Ahn Hyeong-seo usually stands out the most, Ahn Hyeong-seo was criticized several times by the lesson teacher.

“Hyungseo, cheer up. “Is there anything that will improve by doing this?”

Seok Ji-hoon’s advice seemed cold at first glance, but was sincere. Hyungseo Ahn nodded his head helplessly.

***

Christmas passed without much trouble. Although there was no formal practice on that day, most members voluntarily went to the practice room and practiced individually to warm up.

Kim Won-do went to a relative’s house, and Jeong Yoon-gi relieved his fatigue at the dorm.

Even in the busy year-end atmosphere, the KK members fortunately did not think about anything else and focused only on preparing for their debut.

Of course, manager Oh Baek-ho played a big role in being able to do that. Oh Baek-ho turned on the light in his eyes and watched to see if any of the members went out drinking.

The problem, of course, was Ahn Hyeong-seo. Once Ahn Hyeong-seo had dug into the ground, he had no intention of coming up above the ground.

Oh Baek-ho was not yet able to understand all aspects of the members. It was obvious that if I went ahead hastily, I would end up making matters worse.

“Brother… we can’t just leave it like that, can we?”

So the one who called was the leader, Jung Yoon-gi. Perhaps soon, he would definitely be designated as leader. Jeong Yoon-gi also agreed.

“Even though he’s usually bright, Hyung-seo is a very sensitive kid…”

There wasn’t a specific answer for Jeong Yoon-gi. Although the people next to him have been encouraging his confidence these days, this was Ahn Hyeong-seo’s own problem.

However, it was impossible to tell Do-wook that he couldn’t sing because Hyung-seo would be established as the group’s lead vocalist and become stable only if he couldn’t sing.

Do-wook witnessed Oh Baek-ho calling Jung Yoon-gi outside the practice room and talking to him.

“…Ahn Hyeong-seo….”

Do-wook was also just watching Ahn Hyeong-seo.

“I guess it won’t work.”

Dowook sighed once and sent a message to Ahn Hyeong-seo.