Chapter 58
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: A Call to a Die-Hard Fan
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Once the song's direction was set, the concept meeting proceeded at a brisk pace.
How about something like this?
Kanna, in particular, was the most enthusiastic.
It seemed a specific group dance had popped into her head the moment the song's direction was decided.
She soon came forward, pushed the podium aside, and began the choreography.
At first, we can go with a freer feel rather than a group dance, like this.
For the intro, she demonstrated a freestyle dance that would allow each member to show off their individuality.
And just as the composer mentioned, we'll start getting into formation during the build-up, and at the moment the beat drops...
The moment the melody grew more dramatic and headed toward the chorus.
Bam!
The group dance began.
Arin and Jay could stand around here, and we'd go one-step, two-step, bam. You know what I mean, right?
You mean something like this, right?
Before long, Jay and Arin were standing beside Kanna, falling into formation and starting the group dance.
They moved in perfect, knife-like sync, as if they were a single body.
Isn't this the first time they're trying this together?
It was clearly their first time dancing it together, yet their movements aligned perfectly as if they were performing a set routine.
Since we decided on techwear, let's assume we each have a gun. The killing part could be everyone reloading together.
Like this?
Reload, and then everyone aims at one spot. Click, bang!
Watching them perform the group dance, the distinctive vibe of techwear combined to evoke the image of girl warriors on the verge of a great battle.
So this is what it means to be a pro.
They said this group was made up of only top-tier idols, and it was no exaggeration.
How could they synchronize a group dance based on feel alone, without a single discussion?
Composer, what do you think about going in this direction for the lyrics?
While everyone else was focused on the choreography, Yuna was engrossed in the lyrics with a pensive expression.
And she was stuck right next to Yuhyeon, the original composer.
The title is Hymn, and hymns are meant to give people strength, so...
She said, her fingers tapping away at her laptop.
For the killing part in the chorus, we could use a phrase about strength, like Give me strength, or maybe...
She then tossed out words like 'daze,' 'fear,' 'ordeal,' and 'despair,' trying out different lyrics.
Or we could base the overall concept on praise and strength, and just use vocables for the chorus. Something like 'la la la.'
Finally, as if she had exhausted all her lyrical ideas, she looked intently at Yuhyeon.
What do you think, Composer?
Hmm.
Yuhyeon and Yuna's gazes met.
...I feel like we've gotten a lot closer.
Ever since he'd given his opinion on the arrangement, he could feel Yuna approaching him in a much more comfortable manner.
It felt a little strange, having a star idol who graced the front pages of newspapers approach him so casually.
I think using words like 'ordeal' or 'despair' for the first verse would be good, and then for the second verse, we could switch to brighter words to match the mood.
Yuhyeon calmly offered his opinion as the original composer.
Well, I'm really just confirming what Yuna's already come up with.
In truth, offering his opinion was really just a matter of giving his confirmation.
Lyric-writing was far from Yuhyeon's area of expertise; if anything, Yuna was the pro in this field.
Any suggestion she made was bound to be the right one.
Okay, I'll build on this direction then.
Yuna said, jotting down a few keywords to use for the lyrics.
And I have one more question.
A question?
To arrange it as a dubstep orchestra piece, I think it'll need more adjustments. The original track is so densely layered...
The point was, she wanted to know how much she should keep and how much she could change.
Yuhyeon, instantly understanding her, said firmly.
Please, arrange it however you feel is right, Yuna.
Are you sure I can do that?
Of course.
Arranging a song was inherently a sensitive process.
Ignoring the composer's intent could result in a completely different song.
Nevertheless, Yuhyeon had no hesitation in entrusting the entire arrangement to Yuna.
If my music resonated with someone, that's enough for me. Just like how your arrangement resonated with me.
Yuhyeon smiled warmly.
Hymn had only come this far because Park Jeonghu had discovered Yuhyeon.
His song had resonated with Park Jeonghu, and that's why he had been brought to Sam Entertainment.
Now, it's your turn, Yuna.
The remaining partYuna completing the arrangement and the public consuming the musicwas what would finally complete it as a piece of art.
Hymn no longer belonged just to Yuhyeon; it belonged to everyone involved in its creation.
Please create an arrangement and lyrics that will resonate with the masses. In your own way.
Yuhyeon wanted to give Yuna the freedom to paint her own world.
That was what he believed to be the final destination of art.
Resonance...
Yuna repeated the word, a captivated look on her face.
Resonance. How long had it been since she'd heard such a fundamental concept discussed?
Usually, her conversations with original composers were about strengthening the hook without compromising the original intent.
Is that how he was able to write a song like this?
Yuna had felt something similar when she first heard 'Hymn'.
The grandeur and tragic beauty that evoked a holy war, and the powerful thrill hidden within.
She had been curious about what kind of person could write such a piece.
Suddenly, her gaze turned to Yuhyeon.
Inspiration is bubbling up...
Just as Yuhyeon had resonated with her, she now wanted to resonate with others.
And now that he had entrusted everything to her, ideas for arranging 'Hymn' were flooding her mind.
So much so that she couldn't wait for the meeting to end so she could get back to her studio.
I'll do my best to resonate with the masses. Both the arrangement and the lyrics.
The meeting for 'Hymn' came to a close.
Okay, let's lock this in.
After the arduous meeting, the members were stretching, while Yuna was still tapping away at her laptop as if possessed.
Composer, thank you for your hard work today.
Team Leader Park Jeonghu turned his head to look at Yuhyeon.
You worked hard too, Team Leader.
Haha, it wasn't too tiring for you, was it?
From the song's direction to the outfit and choreography concepts.
It was no exaggeration to say they had decided the A to Z of 'Hymn' in one spot over a long meeting that lasted more than four hours.
He'd said it thinking Yuhyeon must have found it difficult, as it was his first time in such a meeting.
It was fun.
A rather simple reply came from Yuhyeon.
Judging by his expression, it didn't seem like he was just being polite.
Hmm, he seems to mean it.
Most rookie composers found these meetings tedious.
They were called the original composer, but their participation in the meeting was minimal, usually just chiming in with a word or two.
But Yuhyeon, despite not being able to hear, hadn't lost focus once during the six hours.
If he had been in the same situation, he definitely wouldn't have been able to do the same.
I'm glad you found it fun. From now on, we'll be moving into full-scale production, so there shouldn't be any need for you to visit the office building again...
Park Jeonghu said, organizing the schedule.
You're welcome to visit the studio during the recording sessions. We don't usually have the composer present, but if you'd like, I think it would be good to have you there.
In a situation like this, where the arrangement was being handled by someone else, there was no real need to call Yuhyeon.
The invitation to the studio was purely out of Park Jeonghu's goodwill.
He figured that a man who could critique music using a woofer speaker might be able to listen in somehow.
That sounds great. It'll be a good experience for me.
Then I'll contact you when the schedule is set... Oh, and since you came all this way, is there any merchandise you'd like?
Hmm, merchandise...
Yuhyeon's eyes sparkled for a moment.
Could I possibly ask for the members' autographs?
Oh, autographs? Of course.
Team Leader Park Jeonghu looked at Yuhyeon with a surprised expression.
He didn't seem particularly interested in idols.
If he were, it would have been obvious from his expression.
Is it for an acquaintance, perhaps?
A close friend of mine is a ten-year fan of Sugar Girls.
Oh, a ten-year fan! For someone like that, we'll have to give him a special hand-signed LP.
He added, for good measure, that it was a limited edition and selling it would cause problems.
Doesn't that mean he's been a fan since our debut?
Whoa! You scared me!
Just then, Yuna popped up and stood between Yuhyeon and Park Jeonghu.
Hmm.
Has Sangcheol been a fan of Sugar Girls since their debut?
Yuhyeon decided to set aside what he didn't know and stick to what he did.
He said he's been to every concert and event without fail. He's bought all the merch and CDs, too.
He's a precious fan to us, then.
Yuna thought for a moment, then spoke.
Should I give him a video call?
Her voice was calm as she said it, as if it were nothing.
The impact of her words on the meeting room was enormous.
Uh, huh? Y-Yuna. Are you serious?
Whoa, Yuna, for real?
Yuna was famous for being the most introverted member of Sugar Girls.
With an extremely introverted personality, she was often called doll-like for being quiet, but she wasn't one to proactively offer fan service.
It would be more natural for Jay to take the lead with Yuna awkwardly tagging along beside her.
...But he's not just anyone, he's a ten-year fan.
For that Yuna to proactively offer a video call.
Any other fan would have fainted from envy if they heard.
Oh, yes, please.
Yuhyeon, oblivious to all this, simply accepted the offer calmly.
He just figured his friend would be happy to get a personal call from a celebrity.
Soon, Yuhyeon was calling Sangcheol.
Ring, ring.
Gather 'round, gather 'round!
As the phone rang, all the members huddled around the phone.
Jay was already clearing her throat, ahem, ahem.
And when the call connected.
Hey...
Click.
The call was abruptly disconnected.
......
......
As the members looked at each other, wondering what had just happened, Yuhyeon received a text.
Sangcheol: I think you pressed the call button by mistake, so I hung up.
Ah, it's been over ten years since I've made a call.
Come to think of it, this was a natural reaction.
This was the first time he'd called anyone since he lost his hearing.
Yuhyeon: If you don't answer, you'll regret this day for the rest of your life.
He sent the text and called again. This time, Sangcheol picked up.
- What's this? You, calling me? And a video call, no less?
His friend appeared on screen in a tank top, scratching his belly, clearly enjoying his weekend.
Hmm, considering what was about to happen, it was a rather embarrassing outfit.
- What is it? You called me, so why aren't you saying anything? And who are those people with you...?
Sangcheol's eyes moved to the women on the screen.
Not only was this a sudden call after ten years, but there were other people there too. His expression was one of pure confusion.
But the moment his eyes registered their faces and he realized it was Sugar Girls...
- Huh?
He rubbed his eyes furiously.
Twice, three times. He even blinked several times, as if he couldn't tell if he was dreaming or awake.
Jay, sensing the perfect moment, shouted in a loud voice.
Two, three, So Sweet! We're Sugar Girls!
- ...
Hello? You know who we are, right?
- ...
Hmm, I guess he doesn't know us. Was the ten-year fan thing a lie?
Even at Jay's words, Sangcheol muttered to himself, 'Is this some new kind of scam?' 'Has voice-changing technology gotten this good?'
But Jay, as if she'd experienced this many times, skillfully continued the conversation.
Haha, it's not a voice changer. We called because we heard you're a close friend of Composer Yuhyeon!
- ...Whoa.
And when he realized that all of this was real and not a fake.
- Aaaaargh! Honey! Sujin! Lee Sujin! Get out here, quick!
Sangcheol's high-pitched screams echoed through the meeting room.
- Ah, hello! I'm P-Park Sangcheol!
And so, the official concept meeting for 'Hymn' came to an end.
- I-I'm a huge fan of Sugar Girls! Th-this is the album I bought from your first release! S-Sujin! Bring the album, quick!
- O-Okay! Just a second!
Giving Sangcheol a very early Christmas present.