When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 21
# 21
Rising Sun (1)
#Rising Sun (1)
***
The recording of the title song proceeded smoothly as Jeong Yoon-gi submitted the lyrics last and received confirmation from Yong PD.
The title song and album name were decided, and ‘You’, which will be included in the album, was also recorded. There were also changes in the composition of the album. It was natural that Jung Yoon-gi’s popularity would rise once the show “Student Rapper” aired.
The company wanted to take advantage of it somehow. Dowook’s idea at that time was to produce and pre-release an intro song.
“Pre-release of the intro?”
As the album’s general producer, I hinted at the idea to Yong Soo-cheol, who was thinking about it, and Yong Soo-cheol responded immediately.
Perhaps because of his origins and Yong Soo-cheol’s natural tendencies, Yong Soo-cheol had a much more open mindset than other composers. Dowook reacted immediately to ideas that were about half a step faster than his contemporaries and knew how to interpret them according to trends.
Pre-release of intro songs has not yet been a standardized way for idol groups to promote their albums. However, if the intro was done well, it would definitely give people the strength to listen to the entire KK album. It was my intuition as a former member of the public relations team.
It was also a possible strategy because we believed that the intro song would be of high quality. Such faith came from trust in rapper Jung Yoon-gi and producer Yong Soo-cheol.
“yes. “I thought it would be good to be able to show Yoongi hyung’s rap in a short but powerful way.”
“Hmm… I’ll have to think about it some more, but it’s good. “That’s what the company wants.”
Yong Soo-cheol said he had to think about it, but he started looking for a beat to use as the intro to this album among the beats he had made that day. The length of the song seemed to be about 50 seconds.
And Jung Yoon-gi was instructed to write a rap that could be a predecessor to the lyrics of ‘Sorry but I love you’. Thanks to this, KK’s debut album was becoming an album with an accurate storyline and the completeness of an album as a whole.
***
Learning the choreography of the title song, jacket shooting, and music video shooting were carried out sequentially and simultaneously.
The schedule was crazy. The members moved under Oh Baek-ho’s instructions without any free will, whether they opened or closed their eyes. Even opening and closing my eyes was determined by my schedule. Even though they yawned and rubbed their sleepy eyes all day, none of the members complained.
This was because I personally felt that the time for my debut was getting closer every day.
Meanwhile, the broadcast of “Student Rapper” began.
Jung Yoon-ki’s performance was broadcast in the first episode. Not only the site where hip-hop fans gathered, but also all kinds of communities were excited. Everyone was full of praise for Jung Yoon-gi. Jung Yoon-gi’s performance last season was also talked about, and opinions were divided that he should not have stayed in the top 4.
In addition, Dowook’s interview was also broadcast right before the announcement of the results of the first preliminary round.
The participants mentioned by Dowook are numbers 20 and 26. The participant who predicted the highest score in the first performance was number 20.
It was an accurate prediction. For Do-wook, he wasn’t saying what he expected, but what he already knew, but he ended up making an accurate prediction anyway. The highest score of the first performance was number 20 instead of number 1, breaking everyone’s expectations.
Everyone expected number 1 because of its popularity, but when it came to judging and giving scores, they seemed to be possessed and gave high scores to number 20.
From good looks to accurate analysis. Do-wook was more than enough to attract people’s attention. Hundreds and thousands of images of Dowook listening to the performance in the audience and interview scenes were captured and circulated on the Internet.
As the two people received attention at the same time, the fact that Jung Yoon-gi and Do-wook were both trainees at the same agency became known on the Internet. Hit Entertainment believed that this was the right time and published an article saying that a group called K.K. is being prepared and will debut at the end of this month or early next month.
When it became known that Do-wook was making his debut, any restrictions on showing the faces of ordinary people disappeared, and even Do-wook’s interview video was uploaded.
At an internet cafe frequented by many women, there were over a thousand comments on the post where the video was posted, and there were quite a few people who said they would be unconditional fans if the girl debuted.
[I left a comment saying you have a great personality!!!]
Dowook had little opportunity to experience popularity because he was confined to the practice room. Looking at the message sent to his cousin, Kang Seo-hyun, Do-wook finally felt that things were going well.
One after another, messages arrived from friends at other schools saying they had seen Do-wook on the Internet.
Afterwards, as the ‘Student Rapper’ broadcast continued, Do-wook began to be revered as a ‘Nostradam handsome man’, regardless of his handsome appearance. This was because number 26, who no one paid attention to during the first performance, gradually demonstrated his skills and became a candidate for the championship.
Do-wook’s interview became a hot topic on the Internet, so much so that even participant number 26 mentioned Nostradam Handsome Man in a broadcast interview and made a humorous remark thanking him for recognizing him.
After numbers 20 and 26 both advanced to the TOP 4, there was a reaction that Do-wook’s agency and the broadcasting company were planning to go to the top, but it was just the backlash that inevitably occurs when someone becomes popular.
“How did you know that number 26 would turn out well?”
“Do-Wook…. I’m trying to be a little scared.”
After receiving the summons, the members came to the conference room with the TV and gathered together to watch reruns of “Student Rapper,” which is almost the only hobby they enjoy these days.
Do-wook chuckled at Jeong Yoon-gi and Ahn Hyeong-seo clicking their tongues while watching the broadcast.
“I only said that because I think number 26 is really good.”
“Well, the basic skills were excellent. “Still, it was a little ordinary that day… You don’t just have a face, you also have ears to hear.”
As Jeong Yoon-gi mumbled as if he was lamenting, all the other members nodded in agreement.
At that time, Team Leader Lim Seong-an and Director Oh Baek-ho of the Rookie Development Team entered the conference room. The members immediately returned their relaxed bodies to a state of tension and greeted the two people.
While receiving greetings and taking a seat in the middle of the conference room, Team Leader Lim Seong-an, Director Oh used the remote control to change channels to SVS, one of the public broadcasting channels.
Just in time, one stage ended and the camera returned to the MC’s seat.
“Mr. Lame! “I heard there was some really sad news?”
“Yes, just a moment! Let me wipe away those tears. Next week, Man to Man will stop promoting this album. Goodbye stage next week… Please prepare your hearts and watch!”
“But he said he’ll be back soon, so don’t be too sad. There is also good news! Next week, we have a debut stage for a scary rookie.”
“yes! KK’s debut stage! Please look forward to it~!”
“Now then, the candidate for first place…” Oh
Baek-
ho turned off the TV. The faces of the members who were watching the TV screen turned white. Even Do-wook, who usually kept an indifferent face to anything, could not hide his nervousness.
Everyone knew that next week was the debut stage, but hearing the group name mentioned by celebrity MCs on TV felt different.
Do-wook fell into deep thought over the fact that although the debut stage was also a stage, he might meet a man-to-man.
“As everyone has probably heard, our debut will be next week on SVS’ ‘Life Song’ stage. Let’s prepare well until the end.”
“yes!”
The members responded to Team Leader Lim Seong-an’s words. Team leader Lim Seong-an announced the planned schedule.
“We will release one person’s jacket photo a day, and simultaneously release the music video and sound source at midnight on the day of the broadcast. The album will be released to stores nationwide the very next day, Monday.”
“…!”
Everyone somehow felt suffocated.
“And we will begin pre-releasing the intro song starting at midnight today.”
It started today.
***
KK’s debut became a much bigger deal than it originally was.
What Dowook originally planned was the popularity of his debut song, but as he prepared for his debut, a way to gain more popularity more quickly emerged, and he was able to handle it well.
The intro only entered the top 80 on the music charts. However, because the song was good, everyone who listened to the intro was excited for the album to come out.
Also, because it was good publicity as it was Jung Yoon-gi’s first song since his official debut, several articles were published, and one of them became a popular portal news. Thanks to this, everyone interested in the entertainment industry became aware of the jacket photo release every midnight.
Not only was Jeong Yoon-gi and Do-wook driving the issue, but KK also had a secret card that could become an issue called Seok Ji-hoon.
As expected, when Seok Ji-hoon was revealed, comments on related articles were flooded with questions asking if he was ‘the Seok Ji-hoon from Donguibogam’ and shedding tears of congratulations, saying that he had grown up well and as if he were their own child.
All jacket photos were released, followed immediately by the release of the entire album sound source and music video.
As they practiced for their music show debut stage in the afternoon past midnight, all the members were watching their reactions with trembling hearts. Jeong Yoongi had his laptop connected to one side of the practice room.
Smartphones had been developed some time ago, and it was possible to access the Internet using mobile phones, but none of the members had a smartphone. This was because, in principle, possession of cell phones had been prohibited for a while just before debut.
I had to leave the practice room and go home to use my phone freely, but these days, when I barely have time to sleep, I can’t even go home, which I could occasionally do.
Anyway, because we were a little behind in the latest cultural developments, everyone was huddled together in front of a 17-inch laptop.
“omg. “I’m ranked 22nd!”
“22nd place?”
Jung Yoon-gi shouted as he refreshed the real-time music chart. The country’s largest music chart entry ranking is 22nd. It was a good enough result for a rookie who had not performed on stage yet. Seok Ji-hoon, who was calm, was surprised and asked again.
“You’re crazy! Ahh. My heart!”
Hyungseo Ahn was making a fuss and rolling on the floor of the practice room.
‘It’s a good score. Since the song is good, the ranking will rise over time. It would be nice if we could win first place during this activity…’
Do-wook once again thought that he should focus on ‘promoting the song’.
“Music… I also watch music videos…”
“Oh, okay. Let’s watch the music video.”
Hearing Taehyung Park’s words, Yoongi Jeong moved the mouse and opened another Internet window. Starting with the release of jacket photos
at www.keykey.com
, KK also has an official website.
As expected, a large music video video was hung on the front page of the official website just in time.
“Oh my gosh it feels so weird! Creepy~!”
Although the members had already seen the final version of the music video together with the CEO, Kim Won exclaimed that the feeling of seeing the video released to the world was different.
At that time, the practice room door opened and Oh Baek-ho came in, holding a bag of snacks in both hands.
Even though it was a snack they had been waiting for for so long, the members were busy watching their own music video. Oh Baek-ho had also just checked their entry rankings and music video reactions on his cell phone. Oh Baek-ho looked at the members proudly. Oh Baek-ho was looking forward to their debut stage as much as the members.