Chapter 134
Chapter 134
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Gathering the Stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even if Korea wasn't what it used to be, it was still undeniably a music powerhouse.
K-pop and the Korean Wave dominated in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, with idols riding that wave frequently climbing the Melboard charts.
On top of that, Kim Beomsin had recently made history as the first ballad singer to hit No. 3 on Melboard twice in a row, reminding the world once again of K-pop's stature.
That had led to steady collaborations with singers active in the U.S.
But even in America, the number of Korean artists who got to work with top-tier singers could be counted on one hand. And if they ended up doing a duet or feature, it became a massive story without any promotion needed.
"Olivia Snow..."
And in that context, Yeonwoo had snagged Olivia Snow.
"No way... Even emails from the company level get ignored..."
It had caused an uproar not just at JOP's Korea branch but at the Japanese headquarters too.
How were they supposed to host someone as notoriously picky as her in Korea?
What would her demands be?
Did she ask Yeonwoo for anything specific?
"Huh? Nah, we don't have to do anything..."
"No, President Yuin, come on. She's not just anyone."
"The deal was we'd give each other some musical advice."
"That's it?"
Ko Shinkun, the third-generation Korean-Japanese man running JOP's Korea branch—his Korean name Oh Jin-hoon, naturalized with the Japanese pronunciation—was left speechless by Yeonwoo's words.
Around the time idol culture was taking root in Korea and starting its explosive growth, he'd built his name by bridging Korean idols to Japan. That's how he'd established himself in the Japanese entertainment world. Then Nanase, dreaming of idol ventures in both countries, scouted him to head JOP's Korea branch.
His specialty was taking successful Korean idols to Japan, but he was also renowned as a master concert planner.
He was the one who'd pulled off the feat of getting an artist who fell just short of dome concert level onto a dome stage through clever events and hype.
Crucially, having planned shows for overseas artists as a producer, he knew full well the rumors about how demanding Olivia Snow could be.
And yet, she was coming to Korea for nothing more than some musical advice?
Not even for her own track, but as a guest vocalist on someone else's album?
Ko Shinkun couldn't wrap his head around it...
"Well, if President Yuin says so, then that's that."
In the first place, by his standards, Yuin was an otherworldly existence even a child like her defied understanding. So he let it slide.
Genius types must have some unspoken connection that makes them lenient with each other, he figured.
"So we really don't need to prepare anything?"
Yeonwoo nodded at Ko Shinkun's question.
Of course, that might not be the case.
But if something came up, Olivia Snow's agency would handle it themselves.
"Oh, right. Can we promote this big time? When's the album dropping?"
"I'm still in the planning stage... Thinking of adding two, maybe three more tracks. Gotta write them first and see."
"I see. So Olivia Snow coming..."
"Oh, with that noona, we'll record whatever lyrics she brings. The album's not finalized, but the track for her is ready."
"Got it."
Ko Shinkun nodded, then paused.
"What about her accommodations...?"
"She'll handle it herself, right?"
"Hmm, but as the inviting side, that feels rude. No, the company will provide lodging befitting her status."
"Sure!"
Yeonwoo nodded eagerly.
"Then I'll be off."
With that, Ko Shinkun left the SSHIN Studio.
In the spot he vacated, Yeonwoo sat blankly for a moment before heading into the workroom.
As he prepped his third track, he was searching for who to give it to.
Someone fitting the album's star concept, naturally.
"AI, tell me Korea's top singers or idols."
Lately, Yeonwoo was hooked on AI. It might not give perfect answers, but it always provided a lead.
-Yes, Korea's top singers? Korea has many who could claim the title, but objectively speaking, it's the four-member male idol group NJS.
"Ah."
NJS—Next Generation Boy, with their somewhat dated name—was a group Yeonwoo knew well.
They held the record for the most Melboard No. 1s in Korea. All four had cracked the Melboard Top 10 with solo work. They were the greatest idol group in history, not just Korea's but the world's first to dominate the Grammys among boy groups.
Some called them the culmination of K-pop's long-accumulated system.
True enough, but what mattered more was the individual talent and unique star aura each of the four possessed.
Before being K-pop's pinnacle, it was these four who conquered even Melboard.
From Yeonwoo's perspective, having them sing would be a dream.
But...
"AI, those guys disbanded..."
They hadn't been active for 10 years, and even counting the vague renewal period after, it had been 7 full years since disbandment.
The leader and one member had vanished completely. One went into acting, and the other released a digital single three years ago—that was it.
"Can't even invite those guys."
Yeonwoo pouted, but curiosity got the better of him, and he looked up their videos.
The legendary group that stopped activities before he was even born.
"Wow..."
Even Yeonwoo, whose own videos were racking up massive YouTube views lately, was stunned by their numbers.
"Impressive..."
Their concerts easily surpassed 100 million views per video, leaving even him in awe.
Blue lights, yellow lights, green lights—none lacking, spewing fairies so dazzlingly that countless ones were born.
"They're something else..."
He really wanted to collab on an album with them.
But they were a pie in the sky, a desert mirage.
Yeonwoo cleared the videos before attachment could set in and sat at his computer.
He was looking for a vocalist, but he already had one in mind.
"Si-eun noona."
The actress with the most ideal voice in Yeonwoo's world.
After High Teen Rock 'n' Roll, she'd shot to stardom, sweeping ads, landing drama and film roles, becoming a rising star.
She was someone he wanted to work with, and she fit the album's star theme perfectly.
The track was basically ready.
He had an Lee Si-eun folder, after all.
Yeonwoo opened it and hunted for something album-worthy.
It was in here because he'd made it thinking of her, and one track was top-folder quality.
By top-folder standards, though, it was barely scraping by for him.
But that was fine.
"I'll rearrange it."
He could rework it.
Having grown once more, Yeonwoo checked the green fairies' reactions too as he crafted a solid track.
"Oh, out of order."
Remembering what his aunt and President Ko Shinkun had said, Yeonwoo first messaged his aunt.
[I'm asking Lee Si-eun noona to guest vocal on this album too.]
That way, she'd handle telling President Ko Shinkun.
Next, time to ask Si-eun herself.
[Si-eun noona, it's Yeonwoo. Making an album—can you guest vocal?]
She must've been free, because the reply came right away.
[Guest vocal? If it's okay with me, hell yeah. I could sing a song from my teacher a hundred, a thousand times.]
[Then talk to your company and work with me!]
[Okay ^^ I'll check. They'll love it.]
Her agency would jump at it, given her hits from High Teen Rock 'n' Roll and the track Yeonwoo gave her, "Looking at You."
Having handled his own brand of business(?), Yeonwoo scoured AI and YouTube for the final puzzle piece.
Plenty fit the star-themed album concept.
Tons spewed green light dazzlingly, but the key was not overlapping with Hadas, Olivia Snow, or Lee Si-eun.
Most couldn't even measure up to Olivia Snow, and idols overlapped with Hadas.
Actors, the quintessential stars, might not sing well, and he already had Si-eun.
Unless someone overwhelmingly surpassed them, no need to include overlaps.
"Guess the mini first album's these three."
Yeonwoo decided on three tracks with them as guests, plus one more.
This one would be pure instrumental, no vocals.
Titled "Star," it would serve as title track and intro—a piano piece.
Yeonwoo planned to play it himself. It was his album, after all; sitting out entirely felt off.
He crafted "Star" stitch by stitch, evoking both sky stars and glamorous star lives.
This track didn't need hordes of yellow fairies.
Pure blue fairies, pushing musical perfection.
But wait.
What if he performed it live?
Yeonwoo glanced at Olivia Snow's clone. Recently joined but always hovering—maybe as attached to him as the original.
"Bit of green would make it perfect, right?"
Imagining himself playing seriously under everyone's gaze, Yeonwoo grinned.
He looked pretty cool even to himself.
"If I do a dome like Himari auntie, gotta open with this."
Yeah, like putting Himari and Fuyuno Umi first on the setlist.
He was deep in composition, scribbling away, when—
"Huh? Grandpa Park Jeong-hoon?"
A rare KakaoTalk from Park Jeong-hoon.
[Yeonwoya,,,,,ParkJeonghuㄴ,,,,grandpa,,,,,,,,,finally,,,,get,,,to,,,play,,,your,,,song,,,,not,,,at,,,venue,,,but,,,this,,,old,,,man,,,uploading,,,to,,,YouTube,,,,]
[KOREA CLASSIC,,,tomorrow,,,upload,,,watch,,,it]
"My song? Oh...!"
Right, Grandpa Park Jeong-hoon had asked for the sheet music after extending "Sun."
[Better,,,than,,,computer,,,made,,,one,,]
Yeah, he'd said that.
And mentioned great musicians who thought well of him.
"Getting curious..."
Yeonwoo paused composing and played his extended, classical-style arrangement of "Sun."
Wonder what the live version feels like?