A Shady Day Transformed
The concert's session interlude had begun, but the sound reaching their ears was familiar yet strangely alien. A melody they'd heard countless times was being played in a way that felt entirely new. It was definitely A Certain Shady Day. 'Is it because it's being performed by a live band instead of the MR track?' Seyun wondered. But even that didn't quite explain it—the overall vibe of the sound was different. It wasn't some completely unheard-of strangeness, but it didn't feel like the commonplace version they'd grown used to either.
A Certain Shady Day was a ballad laced with sorrow. A 'rock ballad,' they called it? Lyrics about painful love and breakup, packed with Juhyeon's signature powerful, emotive high notes. But the interlude for A Certain Shady Day playing now was a little different. If the original felt like a song a guy in his twenties would drunkenly croon in karaoke after a breakup with his girlfriend, sulking all the way... then this version of A Certain Shady Day was like something screamed out by someone who'd endured real, life-shattering pain, desperately trying to forget it.
On a certain shady day, I went to meet you
"Kyaaah!!" In the midst of her confusion, Seyun reflexively screamed at the incoming vocals. Thunderous cheers erupted simultaneously. Then, as Juhyeon's face appeared on the stage screen, the crowd roared even louder once more. Seyun screamed with all her might before pounding on Se-hyeon's back, who was covering her ears.
I wonder if we'll ever meet again
I walked that road
As the cheers died down, the fans' first reaction was a pleasant bewilderment. Why was the song like this? He hadn't released anything like it before. Was it a special concert arrangement? People felt lucky to be hearing a 'special concert version arrangement' even as they puzzled over it. A Certain Shady Day was one of Juhyeon's signature songs, but it was just your standard easy-listening rock ballad—nothing particularly distinctive.
On a certain shady day, you're nowhere to be found
The melody churned more and more wildly. A spine-chilling sense of loss. Howling sorrow. But all those emotions were tightly suppressed beneath the surface. Like glimpsing the tip of an iceberg above water and intuiting the massive bulk below.
Now who should I walk that day's road with?
'It feels way more immersive than usual.' Seyun sensed it instinctively. In all the countless Juhyeon concerts she'd attended, none had gripped the audience and drawn them in from the very start like this. It wasn't just because they were kicking off with an emotional song— he'd done that plenty of times before.
'What's the reason?' Seyun thought idly. And then the reason crashed right into her.
"I'm loo-oo-king for yooou-!"
The climax that should have stretched on endlessly per the original track. Instead, there was a restrained high note. Just as the audience's heightened emotions were about to cool...
——The guitar exploded.
A slightly gritty, thick-toned sound climbing straight to the heavens. With it, the screen switched to the session band's footage. Eyes slightly downcast, the guitarist took up the vocal's emotion and unleashed a solo. That straight-shooting yet fluidly curving performance... brought to life by the slender hands of a girl.
"What?"
Murmurs rippled from the unexpected figure on screen. But it was only for a moment. The audience quickly immersed themselves in the playing... or more precisely, the guitar wouldn't let them pull away.
"Did you all enjoy that?"
A chorus of "Yeees!" poured from the crowd. Seyun shouted her response too, sneaking a sidelong glance at what Se-hyeon was doing. Se-hyeon was shaking her head nonstop in awe, clapping in instead of answering.
"I figured you'd be surprised since a familiar song suddenly turned into a totally different performance. This is a track we specially prepared for tonight's concert! But first, let me introduce the session band members. Strings section: Park Ji-hwan! Kim Hyeok-su! ..."
As Juhyeon called out each name, their face appeared on screen. The session players struck poses and waved hello.
"And! The main act of today's session band! The ones who handled the arrangement for this track! From the band Group Sound: main bassist Choi Iseo! Keyboardist Jeong Hyeona! Drummer Yoo Seoha! And finally... bandmaster Ha Suyeon!"
Thunderous applause crashed down, and the band members reacted in their own ways. Choi Iseo grinning ear-to-ear and waving. Jeong Hyeona hiding shyly behind her keyboard. Yoo Seoha giving a quick drum flourish. Ha Suyeon offering a faint smile and a slight bow.
"Our session band worked so hard practicing... Ha Suyeon is a total genius, plain and simple. That track you just heard? She rearranged A Certain Shady Day all by herself in just a few days."
As Juhyeon shared practice anecdotes, he launched into praising Ha Suyeon's genius. Deeply moved, his Ha Suyeon fan talk kept going until the staff signaled to move to the next song.
The trigger for all this—the drama OST Before the Meeting Ends they'd played earlier. Leaving even bigger applause and cheers behind than the first song, Myeongjeon quickly gestured to the staff and dove into gear setup. Preparing for the concert's climax.
"That song's a blues number, right? I want to shake up my image as just a ballad singer while we're at it. Got any concert-worthy tracks? Something famous but not too famous, maybe a rock-related one."
The question Juhyeon had tossed at Myeongjeon during rehearsal. Myeongjeon thought, 'Why the hell are you asking a session player this?' But to Juhyeon, it was natural. The kid looked like a genius at first glance. Sure, he saw himself as talented, but real genius trumped career and age—asking their opinion was no shame.
"Famous but not famous?"
"Yeah. Something known enough that decent singers have covered it, but still kinda fresh and unique..."
A tricky question, but after a few seconds' thought, Myeongjeon answered. When Juhyeon said, "Isn't that a Nirvana song?" and Suyeon replied, "It's a David Bowie song," he was dumbfounded.
The session band area in the spotlight was decked out like a small live club. With the players huddled together, Juhyeon sat on a little stool and spoke.
"This next one is a cover of a song I love. It's been a while since I did a cover, and this is my first time trying it at a solo concert. Seems like tonight's full of firsts..."
Juhyeon laughed "Ahaha," and the audience cheered back with cries of "It's fine!" and "Sounds good!" while applauding.
"Diving right in. It's David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World!!"
Reflexive applause burst out as the song kicked off. A psychedelic, uneasy riff that perfectly captured David Bowie's vibe. Then Juhyeon's low, murmuring vocals hit the crowd like a small shock. The ballad king trying something like this? Yeah, it was about time for a change.
And when the guitar—Ha Suyeon—started doubling...
The audience took their second shock. Pure, unadulterated shock. It fit too well.
Seyun snapped to attention. Thunderous applause rolled through the seats at Juhyeon's prompting. She kept clapping unconsciously too... feeling like she might lose her mind.
Insane. Totally insane...!
Over a decade of stanning Juhyeon—solo concerts, music shows, albums. Seyun had never imagined this side of him. She'd thought he'd sing sweet or sad ballads forever, and she'd be content with that forever.
That notion's walls crumbled today. Thanks to the high school girl shredding center stage.
"What?!"
"The Man Who Sold the World!!"
Getting into it, Juhyeon looped the second verse, egging the crowd into a sing-along. The screen flashed lyrics, guiding them on what to sing. Stumbling at first, the fans followed the rhythm, belting out a song they'd never heard before as a group. And that flow... was kept seamless by that high school girl.
Seyun could see it. Ha Suyeon conducting the band with constant glances and gestures while playing guitar. With foot taps, head nods, and nonverbal cues Seyun couldn't decipher... guiding the band to naturally follow Juhyeon's endless ad-libs.
What were those kids' names again? Juhyeon oppa introduced them earlier.
The thought bubbled up naturally. Nothing came to mind, so she resolved to post a question on the fan cafe after the concert. Unaware how many others were thinking the same.
"Great work, everyone!!"
As the concert ended, staff and session band gathered for loud greetings. Then the pouring applause. Juhyeon clapped before heading straight to Myeongjeon for a handshake.
"Suyeon, you guys were amazing."
"Nah, what'd we do... I barely did anything."
If everyone got paid this for work like that, the world would starve, Myeongjeon thought. But he couldn't say it. Rookies were supposed to take losses to build experience.
"No, seriously, great job. Without you, this concert wouldn't have been half as satisfying. Any chance you'd join for the regional shows instead of just Seoul...?"
"I've got school."
"Right, you're a student! Silly me."
Juhyeon grinned awkwardly. Ignoring Myeongjeon's slight head tilt, he continued.
"Anyway, you helped a ton. I've been wanting to try something different musically for a while... You and the rest of Group Sound really motivated me."
With that, Juhyeon pulled out two business cards. One with his contact and email, the other unknown.
"If you ever plan an album or digital release and need a male vocal for features... hit me up. I'd love to guest. And this one's for mixing and mastering—top-tier folks, top five in Korea including the big three labels. Schedules are packed, but mention me and they'll make time."
Myeongjeon took the cards and bowed to Juhyeon. Watching him walk away, Iseo and the kids approached.
"What's that?"
"Mixing studio card. And he'll feature if we call."
"Whoa! Jackpot."
As the kids cheered, Myeongjeon thought: With this, it's definitely the right time to start on that EP.