When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 67
# 67
Formula (1)
***
On the day of Seo Tae-jun’s LIVE performance. Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium.
Because there were fans following the KK members everywhere, both in their dormitories and in front of their offices, the members
arrived at the gymnastics stadium divided into two teams. The purpose was to minimize exposure.
Hit Entertainment placed security as a top priority in order to maximize Seo Tae-joon’s demands.
Of course, there was bound to be a rumor going around among fans that the KK members were practicing for their performances without leaving the house.
However, it was not known what kind of performance it was, and it was impossible to imagine that it was Seo Tae-jun’s performance.
The most credible speculation was that KK would soon hold a solo concert.
Rehearsals for the performance were held under tight security, as if protecting the president.
The members had the honor of watching Seo Tae-jun’s rehearsal while waiting for their performance, which lasted about 4 minutes.
“Wow, that was such a song…”
muttered Ahn Hyeong-seo, who was looking blankly at the stage.
The members who heard Seo Tae-jun’s new song were shocked as if they had been hit in the back of the head.
Although it was not a genre that had never existed before, it was a song worthy of being a popular song as pop elements were exquisitely added to the rock known as the mania genre. Nevertheless, the ‘hard’ feeling of rock did not disappear.
Although it was a song he had already heard before, Dowook was also impressed again.
‘Being able to come out with a song like this in this day and age… is really amazing. I have the ability and confidence to write a song like this!’
It wasn’t just the new song.
The previously released hit songs were, of course, great songs to listen to at any time.
Jeong Yoon-gi, standing next to Do-wook, caught the rhythm and sang along to the song without missing a single lyric.
Afterwards, during KK’s performance, the dance team prepared by Seo Tae-jun came on stage. Because fans and reporters were coming to the concert hall, Seo Tae-jun did not plan to bring KK on stage until the actual performance.
Seo Tae-jun had already confirmed KK’s level by receiving it via video once every three days.
Although I couldn’t talk to Taejun Seo directly, I was able to hear from Tommy that Taejun Seo was satisfied with KK’s skills.
The members checked their positions by looking at the dancers.
I was nervous because it would feel different when I actually stood on stage, but I was confident that I would do well on the stage because I had been practicing hard for a week except for three meals a day and sleep.
After a long rehearsal, the performance began.
When a black-and-white video clip of Seo Tae-jun’s performance accompanied by majestic stage music appeared on the screen, the fans filling the concert hall were agitated, and some even shed tears within a minute of the performance.
It was an eight year wait. As a fan who had been waiting for Seo Tae-jun, it was a moment that could not help but shed tears.
I thought it was amazing during rehearsals, but the truly amazing performance came from now on.
All KK members felt at that moment that an artist’s performance becomes most perfect when it meets an audience that loves the artist.
While monitoring the performance stage in the waiting room, the KK members felt their hearts pounding.
The wonder of Seo Tae-jun’s genius performance and the fans’ mad cheers were engraved in the hearts of the KK members.
The first thing they couldn’t help but be excited about was standing there.
‘Someday, we can stand in a place like that, right?’
He didn’t say anything, but I could tell by his eyes. That everyone is thinking the same thing.
And then it became KK’s stage order.
As all the lights turned off and it went dark, the large stage was engulfed in darkness. The lights in the audience surrounding the stage twinkled quietly.
The audience caught their breath and waited with bated breath for the next stage to begin.
Soon the prelude to the next stage played.
The audience screamed at the prelude to ‘GO BACK SCHOOL’, the most popular song among Seo Tae-jun’s songs.
The KK members who were standing in formation on the stage were thrilled by the shouts that could make the gymnastics stadium cry. I felt as if a tremendous amount of energy was rushing into my body.
At the same time, pot! Pin lights illuminated the six members.
The members stretched out their arms and began to move their bodies.
The audience, who were screaming at the appearance of characters other than Seo Tae-jun, rushed to find out who the characters on stage were.
At first, I thought they were dancers, but the six people wearing black Chinese collar uniforms did not look like dancers.
The VCR screen showing the full-shot choreography reflected Dowook’s face. After that, another full shot. Taehyung Park’s solo dance one-shot. Before we knew it, the audience was captivated by the six students in school uniform who moved around flashily.
The reporters at the invitation table were buzzing and excited.
“what! “Aren’t they just dancers?”
“Kang Do-wook? “Wasn’t it Kang Do-wook just now?”
“Why is Kang Do-wook here now? “Is it KK now?!!!”
The reporters began moving their hands frantically on the laptops they each had on their laps.
“Are you sure? K-K?!”
“you’re right. Seniors! “That guy over there, Taehyung Park, is Taehyung Park!”
“Hey, Reporter Kim! “Take a picture quickly and send it as soon as the stage is over.”
“yes!”
A reporter holding a large camera pressed the shutter at high speed.
There was a stir in the audience as they recognized KK.
“Why is KK coming to our Taejun-jjang performance?”
“So there’s no way our Taejun-jjang can sing to just anyone…”
Although the fans weren’t exactly happy about the appearance of another singer, they also had infinite faith in Seo Taejun.
Moreover, KK on stage was perfectly replicating Seo Tae-jun’s appearance from 8 years ago.
“You’re good at it.”
That was the reaction of most fans. ‘I’m good at doing things well.’
There were parts that were reinterpreted to fit the choreography of six people instead of one, and those parts also boasted outstanding dancing skills that Seo Tae-jun’s fans liked.
As KK’s dance performance came to an end, the chorus of ‘GO BACK SCHOOL’ began once again, and Seo Tae-jun was slowly coming down from the ceiling in the center of the stage, hanging on a wire.
Kyaaaaa— The raised shouts seemed as if they would rip my eardrums.
“okay!”
“(okay—-)!!!”
“okay!”
“(okay—-)!!!”
“I’m done with my past love!”
When Seo Tae-jun sang first, the fans followed suit. It was perfect breathing.
Seo Tae-jun, standing on stage, held on to the stand microphone and sang. The KK members completed the choreography with such passion that it made their heads feel hot.
〈Seo Tae-jun’s safe return. Seo Tae-jun’s comeback that shook Korea!〉
〈It’s new again! Taejun Seo Taejun Seo Taejun, too, Taejun Seo!〉
〈KK’s surprise appearance! Collaboration stage with Seo Tae-jun…〉
〈Return after 8 years, colorless time flows towards Seo Tae-jun.〉
〈Performance with senior Seo Tae-jun… KK proves to be the hottest singer of the year!〉
Famous portal sites are covered with Seo Tae-jun’s performances. It was. Real-time search terms were all about Seo Tae-jun’s performances and new songs.
Among them, of course, was K.K.
***
The day I had a meeting with Seo Tae-jun.
What Do-wook ‘wanted to say’ to Seo Tae-jun was nothing else. The intention was to ask for permission to remake Seo Tae-jun’s song.
Seo Taejun thought hard.
In fact, Seo Tae-jun’s songs have never been remade until now.
In the early days of his retirement, Seo Tae-jun’s majesty was so great that no one thoughtlessly suggested making a remake.
Afterwards, proposals for a remake often came in, but they were rejected by Seo Tae-jun.
This was because Seo Tae-jun was extremely reluctant to have his song damaged by someone else’s hands.
‘For that reason, the remake of Seo Tae-jun’s song will not begin until next year. Remade songs receive great attention and enjoy a certain level of popularity.’
Do-wook wanted to take the title of being the first singer to remake Seo Tae-jun’s song.
Aside from the issue of the title, there was also a desire to rearrange Seo Tae-jun’s famous songs for KK to fit the times.
“It’s a remake… Can I listen to it and then decide?”
“Are you refusing?”
Do-wook asked Seo Tae-jun’s answer. Seo Tae-jun burst into laughter at the bold question of Do-wook, who was much younger than him and had just turned 20.
“no. I’m not turning it down, junior. “I’m open to remakes.”
Dowook nodded. Taejun Seo continued.
“But so far, the songs people have sent me saying they’re doing a remake are either so similar to the original that they can’t be called a remake, or so different that they don’t even remind me of the original.”
Do-wook accurately understood the intention of Seo Tae-jun’s words.
In this way, Do-wook proceeded with the arrangement work with Seo Tae-jun’s story engraved in his mind.
And a few days before the performance, I sent an email to Seo Sam-won.
“Guys! “Come out and see!”
The members, who had finally had their first break in almost two months after the performance, were resting at their dorm.
At the sound of Director Oh Baek-ho’s voice, the members in the room came out one by one to the living room.
All the members gathered except Jung Yoon-gi, who went to the broadcasting station due to another personal schedule.
“What’s this? Manager?”
Seok Ji-hoon asked in surprise. Kim Won was already admiring himself in front of him.
“What a Wonderful!”
What Director Oh Baek-ho moved to one side of the living room was an ornamental flower pot. However, it was the size of a human body, so it could not be considered a flower pot grown at home.
At least KK’s accommodation was spacious enough for six men to live in.
“This was sent from Seo Tae-jun’s side. “Thank you for helping me with the performance.”
When Ahn Hyeong-seo heard that it was a gift from Seo Tae-jun, he picked up his cell phone and started taking pictures.
“I have to brag about it on Facenote!”
“Yes, this is something to brag about here and there. And Do-wook…”
Oh Baek-ho’s voice calling Do-wook was a little different from usual. Dowook waited for the next words.
“Seo Tae-jun’s answer has arrived.”
“yes?”
“They say it’s okay to remake it.”
Ahn Hyeong-seo shouted in surprise. Dowook was equally surprised.
“Awesome, awesome!!!”
As Ahn Hyeong-seo said, it was truly a ‘jackpot’.
While arranging the song, I was confident that Seo Tae-jun would like it, but I was not very happy when I received complete approval.
“Baekho, please schedule a recording immediately.”
“Yes, yes! “I’ll discuss it with Team Leader Shim.”
“As quickly as possible.”
“of course. When interest in Seo Tae-jun is high and public opinion is good like now, it should be released quickly! Dowook, you really worked hard!”
Dowook smiled faintly.
KK members immediately began preparing for recording. Hit Entertainment distributed a press release without delay.
Fans who were waiting for KK’s activities could not hide their excitement as KK presented a huge card called a remake of Seo Tae-jun’s song.
KK was becoming a singer that fans could be truly ‘proud of’.
***
KK released a digital single album less than a month after Seo Tae-jun’s performance.
It was an album in which only concept photos and music videos were released.
Instead, we prepared a showcase for fans and reporters. At the showcase, there were KK’s previous songs, a stage reenactment of ‘GO BACK SCHOOL’, and a new song announcement.
Fans were already seriously satisfied with being able to see the members wearing the black Chinese collar uniforms that Seo Tae-jun wore at his concert hall.
But that wasn’t all. KK’s new song, a remake of Seo Tae-jun’s song, was a song beyond imagination.
When people said they were releasing a remake album of Seo Tae-jun’s song, all they thought was a remake of ‘GO BACK SCHOOL’.
However, breaking everyone’s expectations, what K.K. came up with was ‘To a Friend’.
It was the most emotional and lyrical song among Seo Tae-jun’s songs, with excellent lyrics that seemed to calmly talk about one’s feelings to one’s best friend.
As soon as the song ‘To a Friend’ was released, it ranked first.
“Ah… I feel like crying! “Did you sing so well, Hyungseo?”
“Hyungseo, oppa, you’re always good at singing, right?”
“I’m not going to go home and wash my ears. My precious ears heard Dowook’s voice….”
“Just wash up and listen again while streaming the music, idiot!”
It was a song that emphasized vocals much more than previous songs. Do-wook’s stable vocals already felt like my heart was melting, but I couldn’t help but listen with my mouth open during Ahn Hyeong-seo’s high-pitched parts.
In this way, K.K. is not only strong in dance and hip-hop performances, but also proves to be a great singer vocally with the a cappella version of ‘Windy Day’ and ‘To a Friend’.
Even ‘To a Friend’ was a song that was enough to capture the ears of not only those in their 20s but also those in their 30s and 40s.
A week after ‘To a Friend’ was released.
In Korea, there was a ‘To Friends’ craze. It was the Seo Tae-jun craze and the K-K craze. And Man to Man announced a surprise comeback.
“Man to Man’s comeback….”
Dowook blinked as he watched the Man to Man comeback teaser video. It was the same teaser video that Dowook had seen before.