When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 58

# 58

LAST CHANCE (4)

‘Even in the previous reality, PD Yong Soo-cheol succeeded in making his name known through his work with KK and raising KK to a certain level.’

Dowook quickly gathered his thoughts.

At the time, ‘Sorry but I Love You’ was very popular, and the song he composed later was a different song than the current ‘Very Sorry’ because Do-wook did not participate, but it became a hit by releasing a succession of songs with medium beat or higher.

Yonghwan Yong-hwan, who had worked on a couple of albums with KK, received a flood of job offers from all over.

In any case, unless you were a producer who developed the team itself, being a producer/composer was a job better suited to being a freelancer, even if you were temporarily affiliated with the company. There was no reason for Brave Only Child to be tied to Hit Entertainment.

Although Hit Entertainment gave away the studio, Brave Only Child’s contract with Hit Entertainment was also an album-specific contract, not an exclusive contract.

‘At that time, we only released two albums. The reason the date was moved up must be because he worked with KK quickly, and KK’s debut was also early. But…’

Do-wook looked at Yong-soo-cheol.

‘But KK needs his songs. ‘As of yet, there is no one who can express KK’s current group color better than Spring.’

Yong Soo-cheol was fiddling with a gold necklace that was as much as himself. It was a habit I developed when my mind was complicated. Yong Soo-cheol’s heart couldn’t be at ease either.

Through working with Dowook, I learned the joy of collaboration, and the benefits of working on KK’s album were not only wealth and fame.

As I have been with KK since her debut, it has been rewarding for Yong Soo-cheol to watch KK go from a rookie with nothing to a star to the public with her own songs.

“Is there any special reason? Could it be that working with us…”

“No! Thanks to Dowook, I not only made my debut as a composer, but I also left behind a song that will remain in my life called ‘Very Sorry’. I am treated well by the company and there is no problem. Actually, I want to work together more…”

“Then why…”

“I just want to try something new.”

Yong Soo-cheol was a person with a strong spirit of challenge from his original inclination. It was like that when I started composing music while working as a night DJ.

“Challenge?”

“Not long ago, I received a request from the production company of female solo singer ‘Janee’ to produce her next album. Producing a female solo album will be a completely different challenge from KK.”

Do-wook, who was quietly listening to Yong Soo-cheol, raised one of his eyebrows at the word ‘Janey.’

Janey was a rookie who debuted with a single album about two months ago. With her clear, clean voice and innocent image, she was quickly gaining the love of many male fans.

‘But it doesn’t really suit Producer Yong Soo Cheol’s song. Either the producer’s song will fall apart or Janey’s image will fall down.’

Besides, there was a bigger problem.

‘Jaynie disappears in less than a year due to suspicions about sponsorship.’

Although he tried not to show it, Dowook’s expression inevitably hardened. Yong-soo-cheol added a little more.

“Also, although it is a project in the second half of the year, I also received an offer to produce a girl group before debut. “It was something I really wanted to do.”

“Oh, I see. “If you have the skills, PD, you will be able to do well.”

Yong Soo-cheol’s expression softened when Do-wook told him that he would do well, contrary to what he thought would stop him. Dowook stopped Yong Soo-cheol, who was about to say thank you.

“But PD.”

“Okay, tell me.”

Do-wook had two reasons why he must hold on to Yong Soo-cheol.

The first reason was KK. KK needed one more spring song. The second was for the spring.

Working with Janey only made Yongsoo’s future uncertain. The girl group in the second half of the year that came in next was one that Dowook could have predicted.

Originally, around that time, Yong Soo-cheol would produce a new girl group. And that girl group achieves as much success as KK.

“Are there any more challenges you want to take on with KK?”

It only happened twice. Yong Soo-cheol might still have at least one song he would like to try with KK.

Dowook asked in a low voice.

“Isn’t the reason why you were worried at all, PD, because there are still songs you want to share with KK?”

“Hehe… That’s right.”

“Even if it’s not this time, there will be another opportunity to work with the producer, but I think there are things that need to be done ‘now.’”

Yong Soo-cheol also understood what Do-wook meant.

The genre of this KK album is a hybrid of pop and hip-hop, like the debut album, but it was planned to have a stronger hip-hop image than pop.

It was Dowook’s idea to use hip-hop as the main genre. Dowook caught the trend that hip-hop sound would soon become a trend, two steps faster than others.

Yong Soo-cheol also looked at the trends in the American music market and thought, ‘Is this it?’ It was something I wanted to do, but wasn’t sure about. But Dowook also had confidence.

With hip-hop sound as the main focus, KK’s concept became ‘hot youth full of desire for freedom’.

It was only talked about up to that point, but it was something I really wanted to do at least once as a spring. Perhaps the work with Janey would be a ballad or a work of a completely different genre.

As Dowook said, such music and concepts are possible for KK because they are ‘now’. There was no guarantee that such a concept would continue to be effective until KK’s next album or the album after that.

“PD. Please give us one more album. There is no need to rush if you produce a girl group in the second half of the year… To be honest, I think that would suit you more than a singer named Janey.”

“No, Dowook. Thank you for being honest. “I wanted to hear Do-wook’s thoughts, so I said what I said before telling the company.”

“Ah……”

Yong Soo-cheol looked at Do-wook. Now twenty years old. Do-wook, who had just become an adult, earned Yong Soo-cheol’s trust with the same seriousness even when he was nineteen.

While working together, Yong Soo-cheol’s trust in Do-wook only became stronger and never wavered. To that extent, Dowook had a thoroughness in all aspects that was respectable beyond the age difference.

After hearing Do-wook’s words, Yong Soo-cheol was also excited by the pouring of proposals, and a part of him thought that he had tried to do something new too hastily, so he cast his vote.

The spring decided not to shake or worry anymore. Of course, it was because he liked his song, but in a way, Dowook was also his benefactor who led him to this position.

If Do-wook was like that, he could have worked together on at least one more album as a token of gratitude, and even if he made a rational decision, the result was the same.

“Then it would be a good idea to tell the company that this is the end of the album.”

“……Thank you PD.”

“Please take care of me this time too.”

Yong Soo-cheol stood up and held out his hand. Dowook quickly grabbed his hand. As soon as he let go of his clasped hands, Yong Soo-cheol went to the chair in front of the machine and sat down.

“First of all, I wanted to use hip-hop sound as the main sound, so would you like to listen to the beats I had in mind?”

“Yes. That will be fine!”

Do-wook naturally sat on the chair next to Yong Soo-cheol.

Thump thump thump thump – When I pressed the button, the beat that Yong Soo-cheol had mentioned came out.

‘Okay, this is it!’

Dowook focused his ears. The beat that Yong Soo-cheol created was exactly the style that Dowook wanted.

That’s how the work on the song for KK’s second mini album ‘LAST DANCE’ began.

***

As preparation work for the album began in earnest, a meeting was held with all members participating. It was a large meeting attended by team leaders and employees, including Director Oh.

Today’s meeting was scheduled to not only flesh out the ‘LAST DANCE’ album concept, but also establish an overall activity plan.

‘This is the end for the brave only child. We have to find a way to the next next. Of course, the best way would be to step forward as a producer myself… Can I really do that?’

For Do-wook, it was necessary to look ahead to the next album as much as preparing for this album. Because of this, I was devoting time every day to working harder on the song.

‘Of course, the company will make its own preparations, but…’

It was when Dowook was sitting in the conference room, lost in his own thoughts. The meeting began with the fan-marketing team intern handing out papers prepared by the fan-marketing team.

Album production team leader Shim Jun organized the entire album concept.

“It will be an album based on hip hop. The concept will be the keywords ‘freedom and passion.’”

The KK members nodded their heads enthusiastically while looking at the PPT screen in front.

The expectations for this album were as great as the pressure.

‘Very Sorry’ was a record-breaking success, and even though it was a repackage, ‘Windy Day’ also received a lot of love. Everyone had some degree of compulsion to overcome it.

Meanwhile, the draft song ‘LAST DANCE’ that I heard was a good song that could offset my anxiety to some extent. Moreover, the concept was something they were very good at.

Everyone expressed confidence when they heard that they would be playing passionate, free spirits on stage. This was especially true for rappers Jung Yoon-gi and Kim Won, who wanted to move more freely on stage.

“Hmm. The choreography and costumes will also follow the same lines so as not to distract from the concept. Choreographer Noh Yoon-tae will be in charge of the choreography.”

Team leader Joanie continued the meeting, maintaining her characteristic, slightly arrogant tone of voice.

“This is probably a stage where styling will be a more important point. Therefore, stylists are looking for styles that are more suited to the hip-hop style.”

After finishing talking about the album concept, the next thing was to talk about the activity schedule.

KK members occasionally expressed their opinions regarding activities.

It’s great to be on a lot of music shows, but I also want to stand on a bigger stage and do a lot of solo activities.

Also, Jung Yoon-gi expressed his opinion as a leader by saying that if there are too many schedules, the quality of the stage will decrease, so please ask within a reasonable range. Team leader Joanie asked Oh Baek-ho, who was sitting across from her.

“Oh, Chief? “What do you think?”

“Hmm…”

Director Oh Baek-ho was a person with a strong belief in ‘rowing when the water comes in.’ For the first time in a long time, Oh Baek-ho’s face changed from ‘Brother Baek-ho’ to ‘Chief Oh’.

“I will consider it for now.”

Since reducing the schedule was not a simple matter, I moved on to the next topic.

“And to fill the gap in activities from two weeks before the comeback until just before, we are planning to do a reality show to promote the comeback…”

Team leader Joanie touched her temple and removed it as she flipped through the paper in front of her.

“There are two offers and I have to make a choice.”

At Team Leader Joanie’s gesture, the KK members also looked down at the paper. Dowook’s eyes widened as he compared the two pieces of paper.

1. 〈Program name: KK is up! / Director: Im Ho / SVS / Planning intention: … 〉

2. 〈Planning program name: KK Broadcasting / Director: Shin Yun-ho / TBN / Planning intention: … 〉

Dowook looked closely at the second paper.

‘No way…… That Shin Yunho?!’