Chapter 101
Chapter 101
At the same time that HAZERD's debut showcase was underway.
Online communities were showing great interest in the emergence of a new game changer.
[HAZERD enters Top 100 at #99 at 7 PM]
Since the chart reform, the only groups to enter the Top 100 at debut are HAZERD and last year's AWER (AWER: #82)
Comments
―The song is well chosen
―With Seo Cha-gyeom's eye, which even resuscitated the flop song the production team gave hoping they'd fail, it's actually harder to pick a flop song
―Tbh, since Chaegyeom, Yuri, and Sowol are in one group, a lot of people seem to be checking it out because they're expecting quality music? Starting with me lol
―But they probably won't hold on; looking like they'll drop out of the chart at 8 PM. Since it's not easy listening, a rebound seems difficult too.
└What do you mean not easy listening? It's fucking easy on my ears.
Actually... there was a hidden story behind HAZERD's digital chart ranking.
The massive amount of donations that had been gathered for the <MAKE100%> final vote event, but were left hanging due to the program's early termination.
That large sum, minus the portions of those who wanted refunds, had been sleeping, kept for a future day.
And when the debut signal finally appeared, the donation money that had been in deep slumber was transformed entirely into funds for a digital streaming total offensive for HAZERD's successful debut.
In addition, the high-quality teasers that the agency poured out as if they had no tomorrow helped fuel the fire, and 'prologue', serving as HAZERD's debut trailer, openly drew aggro and created noise marketing everywhere.
Of course, the start was a result of fandom effort, timing, and aggro all combined, but the song itself also received a very positive response.
[Wait, isn't MAZE at this level easy listening?]
I felt it was mainstream-friendly though? The melody line is good and it really sticks in your ears.
Comments
―The concept of easy listening is ambiguous from the start... I think if you look at it on a spectrum, it's closer to not being...
―The easy listening standard is iffy, but one thing's for sure, it's not a song you just put on and zone out to. You have to focus to really appreciate it.
―I thought it was easy listening too? It's pleasant to listen to.
―It's hella mainstream, every Korean fucking loves rock.
└...Really?
└Which dimension's Korea are you living in?
[The song is really cathartic]
Forget easy listening and all that, as long as the song's good, that's all that matters lol. The fact that it's over 3 minutes long is already crazy legit ㅜ I'm not even a fan but I'm looping it. These days songs are too short and leave you wanting, this scratches that itch perfectly.
Comments
―It's a perfect song for winter. It's grand but has a strangely wistful flavor.
―It gives off a 'beginning' vibe and I love it; they even included the ambition fitting for rookies hehe. A song that will probably feel really different when you listen to it again later!! They did such a great job really.
―Songs getting shorter these days is because of streaming rankings, but from the genre alone it feels like they didn't aim for digital chart rankings. Seems performance-focused.
└Shock, but the song's so good for that ㅠㅠ
[The part distribution is freaking legendary]
Sowol lays down the emotion with his husky soulful voice, then Seo Cha-gyeom spreads out the highlight with his distinct clear and refreshing voice, and I'm crying, it's so overwhelming... Their vocal blend is really great, a real treat for the ears.
Comments
―Not Soul, it's Sowol
└Ah sorry lol
[I thought it was too long when I saw the song length]
After listening, to fit Chaegyeom and Sowol's vocals, Yuri's rap, and Neuti's dance break all in, 2 minutes would've been nowhere near enough. On top of that, properly including an intro and outro means they're serious about the music and I love it. I've been disappointed with how short idol songs are these days, but these guys are doing it right.
Comments
―So you're saying songs that are 2 minutes aren't serious about the music? Overseas they're all trimming to 2 minutes too, what's your point lol
└Why are you mad...; If you can show everything in 2 minutes, then 2 minutes is fine, but I'm just saying these guys seem to have a lot to show so it got longer.
└Drunk on skill obsession and bashing other idols lol I can already tell what the fandom's like tsk tsk
└? I'm not a fan? Do you think only fans have ears? And when did I bash anyone? I was just stating my impression, don't over-interpret.
―Not Soul, it's Sowol
However, it was impossible for everyone's tastes to be the same.
In particular, disappointment over the concept was being steadily raised.
[Why aren't they doing refreshing, really]
Isn't a refreshing debut song an unspoken rule for boy groups? Seriously, these mid-tiers have no sense... Their faces are all above average, if they'd gone with refreshing, the response would've been better.
Comments
―The refreshing parrot shows up again, so sick of it.
―How many boy groups have made it big with refreshing that you keep harping on about it...
└AWER
└They're a major label
└Rehow
└They're old times ㅠㅠ
―But isn't this already refreshing? Looking at the photos from the press showcase, the outfits are school uniforms, and the song feels refreshing at first listen.
└What kind of songs do you usually listen to lol
―To meet fan needs, you have to do refreshing at least once. But it's best to do it when you're freshly debuted and still fresh, that's why they say refreshing should be the debut song... ㅠ It's a shame, I was expecting it too.
While praise and disappointment coexisted and the online space was boiling, HAZERD's debut showcase finally began.
And as soon as the first stage, 'MAZE,' was unveiled.......
Public opinion began to shift rapidly.
[Just released: HAZERD debut showcase 'MAZE' performance video]
(Video)
Comments
―Whaaaat lol
―Hey this... this you have to watch the stage;;;
―I take back my disappointment about it not being refreshing... Seriously, if you're a rookie, you should come out with this much venom.
―Holy sh*t, when I only listened to the song, I figured the performance would be like second priority. The song is so intense I thought there's no way they could do that kind of performance live;;;
―...How did Seo Cha-gyeom improve even more? Is this possible?
└Fact: He never even got a chance to show anything on MeBek
└Oh wow, come to think of it, Seo Cha-gyeom never did an intense song once?
―This is live, right?
└Anyone can see it's raw live vocals
└Even those who say they can tell the difference get it wrong with live AR vs. raw live all the time, so just believe whatever you want to believe~
―Reason why it's live: After the stage Sanho was gasping for air like crazy
└With that level of choreography, even if they lip-synced, gasping is normal. The others' stamina is monstrous...
The reactions of people watching the real-time stream through NeoTube live were also explosive.
―Why is the song so short ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
―Guys... guys... guys...
―Hnghaaack
―I'm gonna die
―Ughh sob sob
The chat window, which had been flooded with only groaning sounds, finally calmed down only after the members' talk began.
It was because the awkwardness unique to freshly debuted rookies formed a stark contrast with their charisma on stage, providing yet another kind of entertainment.
―I think the host has already told them to pick up the mic ten times lol
―But they answer so well, just forget the mic
―They all look at the host with puppy eyes like they've just caused trouble;;
―They're all charming lol but they need to relax a bit to escape the awkward no-fun...
After that, during the live stage of 'One Day, Us' which featured a dating sim theme, those who longed for refreshing expressed their disappointment once more.
―They should've done refreshing
―No, we had just barely settled down after the stage and now they're crying about refreshing again
―As expected, boy groups are right for refreshing... f*ck the results
―Sorasum are you listening? Next comeback must be refreshing, got it
―After seeing MAZE, I thought they'd go for a venomous concept, but they can do this too? Sigh... this is driving me crazy, seriously
And before anyone knew it, it was the showcase's closing time.
For the Liar Game segment proposed by the host, people went wild again.
At first, predicting that their keyword was 'fan,' fans expected a predictable and heartwarming ending.
―I think the keyword is fan
―It's not funny but it'll end warmly lol
―They say they want to be together forever ㅠㅠㅠ already touched...
However, from the moment the third player Han Neuti said 'scary,' the chat window began to stir.
―?
―Guess it's not fan
―I won't eat you, Neuti
―What is the keyword?
Upon the fourth player Baek Gyeonwoo's remark 'They're a bother sometimes,' speculation ran rampant.
―I think I know
―lololololololol
―Puppy?
The chat opinion, which had been undecided about the identity of the liar until then, became unified in an instant, solely because of Seo Cha-gyeom's exceptionally oversensitive reaction.
―lololololol
―ah lol
―Right now everyone in the world knows except one person
―Chaegyeom...
―Please no one tell him
After Jeong Sowol's finishing blow of 'fool' and Kim Yuri's witty leading, the scene where Seo Cha-gyeom dramatically confirmed the letters [Seo Cha-gyeom] on the screen was.
[Seo Cha-gyeom: I'm a fool......?]
It became the highlight scene of that day's showcase.
―Ah ㅠㅠㅠ so cute but funny lol
―I mean, Yuri said he wants to be together forever, but is the only thing left in your memory 'fool'? lol
―From today my ultimate bias is a fool
―Seo Cha-gyeom's stanning denial phase is over, from today I'm burying my bones here
The Liar Game happening spread quickly even to those who hadn't watched the showcase live.
[Quick showcase review]
All of them are really so handsome and their physicality is daebak. They fill the stage better than most groups with many members, but it synergizes well with their performance, so it's the best. I really watched the stage in a daze ㅠㅠㅠ
When they perform, they're so full of venom they don't seem like rookies, but after the stage they're all dazed and awkward, so much like rookies... The only one pulling it together to carry the talk was Chaegyeom, but you could see he was nervous too.
But they say the leader is Yuri... At first I wondered why? but later there was a segment where they played games among themselves, and after seeing that I got it. Yuri leads the kids well. I think it was because he was nervous today.
And Chaegyeom... is too much of a babo to be a leader ㅠㅠㅠ
Comments
―Chaegyeom is a fool...?
―lol Chaegyeom... is a fool
―Fool...
―Ah, Gyeomie is too innocent, I don't want to send him out into the world
―Relieved Yuri is leader, if Rei were leader he'd be a hardass
└Neuti can't do that...
└Even the stories about Rei, there were only stories about him defying the hardass attitude, not enforcing it, what are you saying lol. If anything, he'd be the type to scold the ones trying to crack the whip.
The unexpected side of Seo Cha-gyeom shown at this showcase was the complete opposite of the perfectionist image built through <MAKE100%>, so it gave many people a fresh shock.
And this resulted in even those who thought Seo Cha-gyeom's face was their type but his personality wasn't, taking interest once again.
―I thought Seo Cha-gyeom had a smart elite image, but he's an accident-prone fox who goes around breaking props
└But then he takes it to Gyeonwoo's room, for no reason
―On MeBek, Seo Cha-gyeom was mostly just 'Huh...' 'Really...' 'Ah...' but seeing him after debut, he's just a different person
―So his true self is kind of careless
―What about those stories that Gyeomie was freaking scary on Mary?
└ It must be that they didn't do things right lol all the school alumni stories say he's really kind and nice
Also, Baek Gyeonwoo and Han Neuti also drew a lot of attention for their 'real selves' that hadn't been revealed on <MAKE100%>.
―Just watching MeBek, I thought Airplane Duo (Gyeonwoo Chaegyeom) would be a heartwarming caring-for-each-other vibe, but not at all, they're just bickering same-age friends lol (video)
―Why does Gyeonwoo give off Existing Power vibes...
―Neuti isn't a King Timid Cat nor an idol who was a former school boss, he's just a kind of simple, reliable older brother
└Sometimes he earns beatings
└Yeah lol he gets hit a lot
All of this concluded with this response.
[Consuming the image is meaningless]
What appeared on MeBek was Baek Gyeonwoo, Han Neuti, Seo Cha-gyeom...
Comments
―I'm feeling the power of editing anew, they just made entirely different people lol
―Ah, that program pisses me off again
―The skills are good lol, they just use them in a sh*tty way
The fans' anger, once again expressed toward <MAKE100%> and its production crew, naturally turned toward its broadcaster, QTen.
HAZERD, which had succeeded in a remarkable chart entry right at debut, was receiving a hot response.
How would QTen, entangled by a bad relationship, treat this rookie group that had made their name known through their own program?
While everyone's attention was focused.......
[Aggros pretending to worry and adding fuel can gtfo, we've already got two prerecordings booked.]