Chapter 56
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: An Unconventional Evaluation
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Sugar Girls.
If one had to define them in a single phrase, it would be the symbol of third-generation idols.
They had won Album of the Year and Song of the Year for four consecutive years.
They had won Song of the Year at the Korean Music Awards for three consecutive years.
They were the first Korean idol group to achieve an all-kill, topping the A-Tunes charts in 32 countries.
They were the very vanguard that had revived the waning status of K-pop in the 2030s and reignited the K-pop craze.
Even apart from the group's success, the individual members' achievements were staggering.
They were, for all intents and purposes, the group that had set the standard for perfect solo activities among idol members.
Actress-Idol Arin at Her Peak, Wins 2033 NBC Acting Award
From Singing to Acting, Arin Set to Conquer the Small Screen
From Your Star, starring Arin, claimed the number one spot in Asian viewership among all dramas airing simultaneously worldwide, earning over ten times its production cost.
On top of that, she delivered a mature, emotional performance that was unbelievable for a debut, earning her the Best New Actress award at the Baeksang Arts Awards that year.
(Show! Music) Top Producer-Idol Yuna Rakes in Staggering Royalties
Original Idol Sugar Girlss Jay Spreads Her Wings as a Variety-Idol
Sugar Girls Kanna Invited to Dance Workshops in Four European Countries
And that wasn't all.
Yuna had successfully transitioned into a full-time producer, earning enough in a single year to buy a building.
Jay, the group's variety show specialist, was a constant presence across all media, representing the third generation of variety-idols.
Finally, there was Kanna, one of the most sought-after choreographers in the current scene.
As such, Sugar Girls was composed entirely of members who were considered top-tier in their respective fields.
In other words, they were the quintessential all-rounder idol group representing K-pop, each a leading authority in her domain.
Thats what the internet said, anyway.
This was the information Yuhyeon had gathered online while on his way to their company building.
He figured he should at least know their names and positions.
As the original composer, it was basic courtesy to know the fundamentals about the people he would be working with.
Two, three, So Sweet! We are Sugar Girls! Im Jay!
The person who took the lead in the greeting cheerfully announced her name.
She had a lovely baby face and was overflowing with charm and energy.
This was Jay, the main rapper and variety show specialist.
Huh, I think Ive seen her before
Yuhyeons eyes narrowed slightly.
Although he had only seen her in her profile picture, he had a strange sense of déjà vu.
He felt like he might have caught a glimpse of her on a show called Whats the Point of Knowing
Im Arin.
Next was the introduction from Arin, the groups visual.
She was a woman with a sophisticated air that suited her long, black hair.
Her appearance was so pure and elegant that one could believe she lived on nothing but morning dew.
Im Kanna
This time, it was Kanna, the main dancer, who introduced herself.
Her bright smile and free-spirited outfit seemed to reflect her personality.
Perhaps because she was a dancer, there was a sense of rhythm even in the way she spoke.
Im Yuna
Finally, it was the turn of the main vocalist and producer, Yuna.
Yuhyeon leaned forward more than ever before.
So shes the arranger.
She was the one who would be arranging his song, and the member with whom he would be working most closely.
She looks incredibly young.
Yuhyeons gaze rested on Yuna.
Was she in her mid- to late-twenties?
He couldn't fathom how talented she must be to handle the arrangement all by herself at such a young age.
Its been a while since I heard your group greeting. Was the last time a year ago?
Team Leader Park Jeonghu said, smiling at the members like a proud mother.
Thats right. Our last activity was the world tour a year ago. We almost forgot our greeting.
By the way, why does Yuna look so tired?
Oh, Yuna?
At his words, Jay glanced over at Yuna and giggled.
She stayed up all night playing games yesterday. I think she played until five in the morning?
Hey! Why would you say that
It was just like a child tattling to their mother.
Yuna, are you still playing that game?
Team Leader Park Jeonghus eyes fell on Yuna.
No! I mean, ah.
Yuna averted her gaze, looking embarrassed.
Only when we dont have activities. And I played until three, not five.
Isnt that the same thing? Anyway, youre going to be busy from now on, so manage your condition.
You dont have to worry about that.
She then continued, her eyes looking haggard.
I still got my work done. I made three different arrangements over two days.
Right, right, Im not scolding you for that. I was just worried youd wear yourself out.
At Park Jeonghus response, Jay looked disappointed.
It seemed she had secretly hoped for a scolding and was let down when her desired scene didn't play out.
Look at her acting like a child at her age.
Park Jeonghu looked at Jay and rubbed his temples as if his head was throbbing.
Then he slowly turned his head to Yuhyeon and said.
Its no different from raising kids. I think seeing this kind of thing all the time is why Im still not married.
Haha. It looks nice, though.
The atmosphere is a bit chaotic, isnt it?
Park Jeonghu said with a meaningful smile.
But theyll be different once the meeting starts. Theyre all pros with ten years of experience.
He shot up from his seat and clapped his hands, bringing the room to order.
Alright, now that the members have introduced themselves, its time for the composers introduction. Please greet everyone once more before we begin the meeting.
Park Jeonghus gaze turned to Yuhyeon.
Hello, Im composer Han Yuhyeon.
The meeting proceeded in a solemn atmosphere.
The camera director in the corner stared into his camera with an intensely serious expression, while Team Leader Park Jeonghu continuously nodded as he looked at the PowerPoint file displayed on the screen.
First, Ive drafted some costume proposals. The concept you sent over was good, Team Leader, but it completely excluded any sense of girlishness.
The meeting began with Jays presentation on the outfit proposals.
Sugar Girls identity is our girlishness, right? So I came up with a proposal that could bring out both the warrior and the girl images
As her presentation continued, Yuna glanced at Yuhyeon.
So hes the original composer
Yuna didnt show it, but she was quite surprised by Yuhyeons unexpected appearance.
I never imagined hed be so young.
I thought he would be much older.
Since he had brought a classical piece, she had expected a seasoned expert of a certain age.
An orchestral arrangement using various instruments required a great deal of specialized knowledge and skill.
The violin part sounded like it was played live surely he didnt play it himself, right?
What was particularly astonishing was the violin solo that appeared between 2 minutes 32 seconds and 51 seconds.
Considering the texture of the sound, it was clearly a live recording, but the performance itself was of such a high difficulty.
Having learned the violin in her childhood, she knew just how challenging it was.
It was a performance that even an active professional violinist would find difficult to replicate.
Nah, thats too much of a stretch.
Yuna shook her head slightly at her own outlandish thought.
But even putting that aside, the fact remained that the song itself was incredible.
To think that the composer of such a complex, explosive, and passionate piece was around her own age.
No matter how wide the world and how many masters there were, it was a situation that was hard to comprehend.
Moreover, she had heard that Yuhyeon suffered from a hearing impairment.
Was it even possible to create a song like this without being able to hear?
What are your thoughts on the costumes, as the original composer?
Jays gaze fell on Yuhyeon.
Its difficult for me to give specific feedback on the costumes, but
Yuhyeon calmly shared his opinion.
I once saw a movie. It was about a group of girls in school uniforms who fought villains with Japanese swords
Yuhyeon was not as well-versed in costume design as Jay.
It was a completely different field and domain.
I think it might be good to add a warrior-like feel to a modern, girlish sensibility in that way. For example, by combining school uniforms with military uniforms.
However, inspiration could be drawn from any field.
Ah, this is just my opinion, so please take it only as a reference.
Combining school uniforms with military uniforms, huh. Hmm, school and military
Jay muttered to herself for a moment before something seemed to click.
Techwear? Techwear! With that, I think we can capture your sensibility in a way that fits modern tastes.
She excitedly typed a memo on her laptop.
We need to keep the girlish feel, so we can go with skirts for the bottoms. For the tops, we can use clothes with lots of pockets and add belts, knives, and silver accessories to create a warrior look. A completely modern girl-warrior!
Oh! That would look pretty! And we could have some members in combat boots and others in sneakers to bring out their characters. As diverse as possible.
Kanna, who was sitting next to her, agreed.
With just a few words
Yunas eyes sparkled as she watched the two talk.
He instantly gave them inspiration.
Any artist in the world could spread their wings if given the right inspiration.
With just a few words, Yuhyeon had given Jay and Kanna a fountain of ideas.
This meant that he wasn't just knowledgeable about music, but possessed a deep understanding of art as a whole.
Ive drafted the group choreography like this. What are your thoughts, Composer-nim?
Im not well-versed in dance, so I cant say for sure, but I think it would be good to have some kind of point move when the beat drops during the build-up section.
You mean changing the mood when the beat changes?
Yes, thats right.
He even had opinions on the dance.
The entire atmosphere of the meeting has changed.
What started as questions to understand Yuhyeons intentions had now made him the central figure of the meeting.
Most composers usually give vague feedback.
Typically, composers only offered opinions on the song and refrained from commenting on costumes or dance.
This was often a result of their limited understanding of other fields.
But he seems to know the key points.
However, Yuhyeon was unreservedly offering his opinions on keywords and points that could become central to the concept.
This meant that the world of his creation, Hymn, was clearly pictured in his mind.
Like a living, breathing painting.
Then Ill start working on the group choreography in earnest once the songs direction is fixed. Thank you for your input, Composer-nim.
Soon, the dance portion with Kanna was over.
All eyes in the meeting room turned to Yuna.
Ah, just a moment.
Yuna, who had been staring blankly at Yuhyeon, snapped to attention.
Its already my turn.
She thought as she fumbled in her pocket for a USB drive.
As the arranger, Yuna also wanted to get feedback from Yuhyeon, the original composer.
Its not finished yet, so just listen for the feel. Ive only established the genres, just to get the mood of each track. Its a dense song, so itll probably take a while to work on it seriously.
Yuna muttered as she plugged in the USB.
Im ready. Should I play it?
Having finished her preparations, Yuna looked at Yuhyeon.
She was ready to play the song at his command, as if awaiting the final decision-maker's choice.
Go ahead and play it.
Park Jeonghu nodded in Yuhyeons stead, and soon, music began to fill the room.
The three different versions of Hymn that Yuna had arranged, one after another.
The order is dubstep, trap, and electronic pop.
Everyone closed their eyes and immersed themselves in the world of music.
Park Jeonghu, Arin, Kanna, Yuna, and even the usually boisterous Jay.
The only people with their eyes still open were Yuhyeon and the camera director.
I wonder what it sounds like. Im so curious.
For the first time since losing his hearing, Yuhyeon felt a parching thirst.
To not be able to hear a song he himself had created, one that someone had even arranged.
Could there be a more sorrowful and heart-wrenching moment for a composer?
Ill just have to see it with my eyes instead.
Yuhyeon decided to appreciate the music with his eyes.
He would carefully observe the expressions of the members as they listened.
After all, music wasn't something you could only hear with your ears.
Their expressions are good.
Arin swayed gently with her eyes closed. Kanna made small gestures as if choreography was coming to mind.
Even Jay had a faint smile, as if she was hearing a pleasant melody.
Even though he couldn't hear, he could clearly feel that they were enjoying the music.
Wow, all three are so good.
Each track has a completely different feel. How did you make these in just two days?
When the three tracks had finished playing, the members exclaimed in admiration, one after another.
Only then did the expression on Yunas face, the arranger, brighten a little.
When all the tracks are this good, its best to go with the one that most closely aligns with the original composers intention ah, umm.
Park Jeonghu had been about to say, lets pick the song that sounds best to the original composer, but he barely managed to stop himself.
For a moment, he had forgotten that Yuhyeon couldn't hear.
It was an understandable mistake, given how Yuhyeon had been leading the meeting.
Im also most curious about the original composers opinion
Yuna was just as curious about the original composers opinion.
What inspiration had this song sprung from? What considerations had gone into its completion?
The only person in the world who could envision the complete world of Hymn was Yuhyeon.
He said he has a hearing impairment.
But the moment she remembered that Yuhyeon couldn't hear, she felt as if the only correct answer had vanished.
Above all, it was a shame that she couldn't get her arrangements evaluated by the original composer.
She had wanted him, more than anyone else, to be the one to judge her work.
Hmm, this scene feels familiar.
The subtle atmosphere directed at him reminded Yuhyeon of the previous meeting.
Back then, the staff had wondered how they could communicate with someone who couldn't hear.
So he had communicated through sign language and showed them his violin performance despite his deafness.
As the original composer, shall I give my evaluation of the arrangements?
What? Is is that possible?
Park Jeonghus eyes widened in astonishment.
His expression clearly said, How is that even remotely possible?
Could you play the tracks one more time for me?
Ah, should I play them right away?
Yuna, too, seemed so surprised that she answered in a fluster.
No, just a moment.
With a scrape of his chair, Yuhyeon stood up and walked to the front of the room.
Why is he suddenly getting up?
Hmm, whats this?
At his sudden movement, all eyes turned to Yuhyeon.
Park Jeonghu, the Sugar Girls members, and even the camera that was filming the entire scene.
Yuhyeon placed his hand on the woofer speaker and said.
Can you play the song now?
He spoke as if he could hear the sound perfectly well.