Chapter 20
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Anthem
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Pshhhh.
The doors of the two capsule machines slowly opened.
They were the capsules that Yuhyeon and Sangcheol had been in.
Ugh, it's over already?
Sangcheol stretched with a refreshed expression, as if he'd lost all track of time while playing the game.
Yuhyeon, however, was urgently undoing the capsule machine's goggles and belt, as if something had happened.
After unfastening all the equipment, Yuhyeon approached Sangcheol and spoke.
Hyung. I'm going to head out first today.
Huh? Where to?
Home.
Not going together? We should grab a beer and chat!
Sangcheol tilted his head with a puzzled look.
They were heading in the same direction to get home, so what reason could he have to go alone?
He'd just gotten a rare item and was dying to brag about it.
Did something happen?
Sangcheol's confusion didn't last long.
Because he saw Yuhyeon's expression.
Aha. Looks like he's thought of something.
He was wearing the expression he always made when deep in creative inspiration.
He would always have that look when composing or playing music.
It's been a while since I've seen that look.
He used to see it often back in the orphanage.
The image of him suddenly disappearing while they were playing, only to return boasting, "I wrote a song!" was still vivid in his mind.
Back then, it was mostly baffling when his younger brother, who'd been playing just fine, would suddenly vanish. But now, as an adult, he was just happy to see Yuhyeon regaining his old vitality.
The memory made Sangcheol chuckle.
Hurry on, then. And do a good job while you're at it.
Thanks!
Yuhyeon gave Sangcheol a brief farewell and hurried out of the capsule room.
Then he started running home, gasping for breath.
Hah, hah.
Yuhyeon's face, though he was breathing heavily, was filled not with exhaustion but with excitement.
A torrent of inspiration, so immense it was hard to contain, was pouring into him.
I need to pour this out before the inspiration fades.
He wanted to infuse the song with this rising inspiration and emotion just as it was.
He felt he could now complete the song he'd played for his hyung the other day.
Beep, beep, boop.
Arriving home, Yuhyeon kicked off his shoes and went straight to his computer.
There was no time to wash his hands or change his clothes.
Because even in that brief moment, melodies were overflowing in his mind.
Click!
He finally clicked on the project file named 'Thrill'.
Soon, the monitor screen filled with densely packed measures and notes.
The project file was already so full of measures that it looked difficult to figure out how to even begin editing it.
I think I know now what was missing, what I need to add.
But Yuhyeon's hands moved nimbly as he edited the song.
His hands moved without hesitation, refining the drum and bass parts.
Things that were invisible to him before were now crystal clear.
What I made the other day was just a superficial thrill.
He recalled what had just happened in the dungeon, his confrontation with the Skeleton Knight.
The process of fiercely clashing swords in a merciless and cold battle where only one could survive.
The metallic clang of the sword, the pain of a cut, the intense strategic struggle to devour one another...
The moment he closed his eyes and entrusted himself to the flow, and the moment he severed the Skeleton Knight's neck.
Thump-thump!
He infused the drum and bass with the heartbeat he felt at that moment.
The sense of urgency intensified. This would surely deliver a sense of tension to the listeners.
How many people in the world could capture the feeling of nearly having their head cut off in a song?
This emotion and imagery were things only Yuhyeon could express.
Tatatatak!
For the orchestra part, he recalled the anthem he had offered to the god.
A deep faith in the messiah, imagining a choir in a Handel oratorio, crying out praises to God with one heart and mind.
As the instruments and vocals build together...
Where before only the main vocal sang a part, he now changed it so all members would join in and build harmonies.
So that the high and low notes could create a proper harmony, allowing everyone to participate.
Filled with the heart of praise, conveying one's feelings to God.
If the sharp sound of the violin and the vocal harmonies come in together here...!
Yuhyeon imagined in his mind the layers he had built.
Drums that made you feel a heartbeat, a bass that smoothly filled the gaps between instruments, a clean-toned guitar to add liveliness...
And finally, the orchestra and vocal harmonies in the latter half.
He imagined the density, built up layer by layer, exploding all at once in the chorus part.
A thrill, he could feel a thrill.
His clenched fist trembled, and at the same time, a sense of conviction arose within him.
This is it. This was it.
The conviction that anyone who heard this song would feel a thrill.
And with it, a strong certainty that this song was destined for success.
It wasn't a musician's arrogance, but a thrill so powerful it convinced even himself.
Tick!
Having finished all the edits in an instant, Yuhyeon stared intently at the monitor.
The measures were so densely modified that it seemed impossible to fix them any further.
I should change the title.
It was time to name the song.
Normally, he would agonize over coming up with a cool title, but not today.
The title of this song isn't 'Thrill'...'
Because the title had come to him the moment he finished editing.
Yuhyeon already knew that no other title would suit this song better.
Tatak.
Yuhyeon renamed the project file.
A song that shows praise for a god.
A song that would pull him out of his dark cave and into the world.
Anthem.
The name of the song was Anthem.
AR (Artist and Repertoire).
By definition, it refers to the team that builds an artist's repertoire.
Today, it has come to encompass the planning aspect, determining an artist's concept and musical direction.
In other words, an artist's entire concept and direction were decided by the AR team.
Let's begin the meeting.
The conference room was filled with a solemn atmosphere.
A man stood in front of the screen. His trademark bald head shone brightly in the light of the beam projector.
It was Park Jeonghu, the team leader of SAM Entertainment's AR Team 1.
As you can see from the PowerPoint, for the past month, we've focused on scouting composers not just domestically, but internationally. We focused our search on composers capable of classical arrangements and...
Tatak.
As Park Jeonghu presented, the team members in the room began typing rapidly.
It was perhaps a natural response, with the team leader having started his presentation.
But there was one man, sitting at the head of the table with his arms crossed and a sullen expression.
So, did you bring a song or not?
It was Kim Sudeok, the CEO and head of SAM Entertainment.
He continued to speak, his expression clearly showing his displeasure with the meeting's direction.
I get what you're saying, Team Leader Park. But it's been half a year. We planned the comeback for the beginning of the year, and we still haven't picked a title track. Does that make any sense?
Kim Sudeok's cynical tone echoed through the room.
However, Park Jeonghu continued his answer without a hint of being flustered.
...I understand what you're saying, CEO. But we can't just give the Sugar Girls any old song for their comeback stage. They're the agency's flagship artist, after all.
Who said to give them just any song? The composition team made a ton of songs for Sugar, and you rejected all of them, Team Leader Park. You know that's disrespectful to our composition team, right?
I have never disrespected them. I simply had to reject the songs because they didn't fit the concept, which was unfortunate.
The two unyielding opinions clashed sharply.
It was less a fight between a CEO and a team leader and more like a battle between two CEOs.
The team members watched the fight, thinking to themselves, 'Here we go again,' and 'I thought today would be easy.'
I'm tired of fighting like this. That East Asian concept we did last time was good, right? How about we tweak that a bit? Go for an early modernization theme.
If you want them to disband instead of making a comeback, that would be a great way to do it.
Park Jeonghu retorted with a deadpan expression, as if the idea wasn't even worth considering.
Watch your wording.
You said something so utterly absurd. I will watch my wording.
Haaah...
From starting with nothing to building one of the nation's leading entertainment agencies.
Kim Sudeok was the only one who had achieved such a legendary myth and was still standing strong.
Last time, we managed to succeed with an East Asian concept, which is rare for a girl group, but that was only possible because of the Sugar Girls' reputation and brand power.
As a seasoned veteran who'd been through the wringer in the industry, he already knew that an early modernization concept wouldn't fly.
He also knew it was a perfect way to get slapped with the stigma of pro-Japanese sentiment.
He had only thrown out the nonsense because he was tired and exhausted from the months-long meetings.
Just how desperate must I be to even suggest this?
Kim Sudeok let out a bitter sigh.
He had been clashing with Team Leader Park Jeonghu for nearly half a year now.
The stress was now threatening to make what little hair he had left fall out.
Team Leader Park was already bald, so he probably didn't have to worry about hair loss, but Kim Sudeok was a different story.
And it's not like I can just ignore him completely.
It wasn't easy to completely dismiss Team Leader Park's opinion.
From the first-generation idol group Rocket Boy to the Sugar Girls, this was the fourth flagship idol group he had successfully produced.
This meant Team Leader Park was also a man who had achieved his own legendary myth.
That was why a CEO and a team leader could go at it on such equal footing.
Team Leader Park, at this rate, the Sugar Girls will never make a comeback. Can't we just revive one of our previously successful concepts and rehash it? The girls are already in their late twenties...
The Sugar Girls' concept was to be girls who give you an ecstatic sweetness, like a sugar high. We can't ask women in their late twenties to come out with a 'girl' label. The public wouldn't buy it.
Team Leader Park sighed inwardly.
He, too, understood what the CEO was saying.
As you know, CEO, the Sugar Girls need to stand as veterans now, not girls. This is their last chance. This is the moment that will decide whether the Sugar Girls spend a few more years as veteran idols, or become has-beens living off past glory with their firepower depleted.
He knew that if he just gave the Sugar Girls something, they would make money on their own.
However, this could very well be the last year for that.
The Sugar Girls were no longer girls, but women approaching their late twenties.
Can't we at least drop the classical music part? For a veteran position, we can just go with a warrior woman or girl crush vibe.
Are there only one or two warrior women or girl crush concepts out there? Fresh new rookies come out with those concepts every year.
For idols, the concept was key. That was why the outdated Y2K style was back in the spotlight.
Park Jeonghu adjusted his glasses and said.
We absolutely have to go with classical music. That's the only way to create a powerful yet elegant impression, to feel both familiar and fresh. It will also make it easier to gain popularity in the West, where classical music thrives.
The public doesn't want something cheap.
It's human nature to want to be a fan of someone cooler, someone more amazing.
Park Jeonghu's reason for wanting to give the Sugar Girls a classical concept was based on a similar principle.
That's all well and good if you have the song. But the problem is you don't have one, right?
But that was the problem.
The problem was that there was no song that was powerful yet elegant, familiar yet fresh.
Frustrated, Team Leader Park Jeonghu's eyes narrowed.
...
After a long moment of thought, Kim Sudeok spoke in a decisive tone.
Keep looking until the end of this week. If you can't find anything, find another concept. Whether you're reviving an old one or bringing something new, it has to be a concept that allows for the fastest possible comeback.
He was, after all, a businessman.
He was grateful to the Sugar Girls for everything so far, but that was that. A businessman's mindset was to earn as much as possible when you could.
This meant it was time to make a decision, which in turn meant a crisis had arrived for Team Leader Park Jeonghu.
Just give me one more month. I'll definitely find an overseas composer within that time, no, I'll even beg our composition team...
Just as Park Jeonghu was urgently trying to stop him.
Vvvvmm.
The smartwatch on his wrist vibrated strongly.
Here is the demo track you requested.
The sender's name was 'Han Yuhyeon'.
The composer he had learned about through the Sumare CEO a few days ago and had contacted himself.
To get a message from him in this situation was an incredible relief.
Let's take a five-minute break, CEO.
Suddenly?
Yes.
With a curt reply, Park Jeonghu immediately ran out of the conference room.
The CEO's thought, 'He always does whatever he wants,' followed him out.
'Anthem'... I like the title.
Park Jeonghu didn't go far, stopping just outside the conference room door to put in his earphones.
Without a moment's delay, he played the 'Anthem' track Yuhyeon had sent.
Instantly, Park Jeonghu's eyes flew open.
...!
Three minutes passed in a flash.
With an expression of disbelief, as if he couldn't comprehend what he'd just heard, he played the track again.
But the more he replayed it, the more his astonishment grew.
This... isn't the level of a demo track, is it?
The song Yuhyeon sent had long surpassed the quality of a demo.
A full sound, flawless production, the urgency of an actual battle, and the elegance of an orchestra.
Then, he began to imagine.
Yuna comes out for the dance break, and for the high-note part, Harin...
He had only just started to imagine, but concepts were already popping into his head, one after another.
I can see it...
What if they wore elegant gothic dresses with long boots to add a powerful touch?
Should I put tiaras on their heads? To make them look like confident yet graceful queens.
The image is forming so vividly.
This was a song that inspired a concept the moment you heard it.
It was good enough to be used as the title track as is.
And 'Anthem', what a timely title.
A grand anthem heralding the return of the queens. Just imagining it felt refreshing.
CEO! I've found it.
Oh, yeah, Team Leader Park. I was just picking a lunch menu. What do you want? Jjajang? Jjamppong?
That's not what's important right now!
Team Leader Park Jeonghu shouted confidently.
I've found the Sugar Girls' title track!
His shiny bald head gleamed brightly in the light of the beam projector.