Chapter 429
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 429
[THE DAWN ALBUM ‘Aeronautics’
PROMOTION TIMETABLE
#THE DAWN #AERONAUTICS]
Along with a poster featuring a white airplane flying across a deep blue sky, leaving a long vapor trail in its wake, the comeback promotion schedule was posted across all of The Dawn’s official social media accounts. Simultaneously, as if they had been waiting for this moment, the album trailer, concept photos, and track samplers were uploaded in an aggressive wave.
With the highlight medley yet to be released, what unexpectedly drew the most public attention were the commentaries from the music listening session.
[Title: Critic Han Ji-yu’s Review of The Dawn’s New Song Listening Session
“Perhaps it is more common for beloved artists to wander when it comes to their music and their own sense of direction. Is that why? The title track, ‘Flight,’ which likens the future to pitch-black darkness and uses a space shipwreck as a metaphor for wandering endlessly within it, feels like a dark twist on the cheerful ‘Ocean Train’ from three years ago.
Yet, strangely, there is no sense of gloom. Rather, the lyrics embrace hope and paint a picture of the future. Then again, come to think of it, they have always shouted it until they were sick of it—shouted it so much it makes one smile. That even if it is the most stale and cliché thing, our eternal truth is love.”
└;;; Why did our critic ‘Ice Ji-yu’ write such a romantic review?;;
└ Isn’t the part about ‘shouting until they were sick of it’ a reference to Kang Yi-chae’s feature in ‘Garage’??!
└└ He used to do nothing but be sarcastic... Ah, I’m excited. My tastes align with this critic’s.]
[I only listened to one song, but I felt like I was standing alone in a theater as the ending credits rolled. The storytelling, packed with metaphors, is one thing, but I believe the melody—which approaches with a mysterious chill over a fast-paced, dreamlike beat—played a huge role in creating that unique atmosphere. Of course, the elegant vocal tones that blended perfectly with the track also did a significant share of the work.]
[I always thought The Dawn had particularly strong teamwork, but this time it’s on a whole different level. It feels like it wouldn't work if even one person were missing. This album showed that they are moving forward by leaning on each other. They are idols with an even more promising future.]
[The sharp, beautiful group choreography gave a glimpse into how sincerely The Dawn has prepared. In particular, Kim Seong-hyeon and Seong Ji-won, who have always shown high levels of skill, provided a solid foundation for the group, while Jeong Da-jun has grown even more charming. I’m already looking forward to their full-scale promotions.]
[There was a reason they made it onto the overseas charts.]
The evaluations of The Dawn’s new song coming out of the listening session were mostly positive.
[LOL, the last critic’s post is the funniest.]
[What is this... why is everyone giving favorable reviews...]
[Damn, I want to be a critic too so I can listen early at these sessions.]
[The Deonging-is are actually having a comeback. I’m so fluttering right now ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
The reason a music listening session, which would usually have a faint presence, received this much attention was simply the result of it coinciding with the explosive interest in Kang Yi-chae.
[Title: Reviews for Kang Yi-chae’s current album are out
The Dawn_Aeronautics_Review_Collection_.jpg
Judge for yourselves.
└ LOL, they’re all paid to write those, so of course they suck up to them.
└ I liked Kang Yi-chae’s ‘Garage,’ so I’m actually looking forward to it.
└└ Is the pay for being a WH comment bot good?
└└ You have to admit the quality of ‘Garage.’ The problem is that he’s a one-hit wonder.
└ They’re media-playing so hard about him being a Billboard composer; if the title track flops, it’s going to be so awkward.
└└ LOL, it’ll be a funeral.
└ Just give us Song Camp already.]
Since his appearance on Song Camp had already been confirmed, the news of The Dawn’s new album release swelled with even greater buzz.
[Now they’re even bringing up the listening session and saying the agency paid them off.
No, you idiots! This godforsaken agency was trying to keep these gems locked away!! (feat. To think Daepasung would look like an angel in comparison.)
└ LOL, at this point it’s just funny. They only say that because they don’t know The Dawn’s past...
But first, I’m gonna go beat up the guys who are annoying me.
└└ LMAO, do the Noeuls live in Sparta or something?
└└ Damn, if you put a power level meter on them, it would explode. LOL.]
[But why is there no news about Song Camp?
└ Exactly, for all the talk, it’s too quiet...]
[So The Dawn is coming back before Song Camp airs?
└ Yeah, looking at the promo schedule, it seems so.
└ Wow, the kids must be really busy... Isn’t Ho-yun even filming Despicable Trial right now?
└└ I think the movie schedule is in its final stages??]
While the noise grew louder and louder, the official social media account for Song Camp, which had been quiet since announcing the concept and lineup, suddenly posted an event poster.
[※ Song Camp is back with a new look! ※
Who are the composers behind these blinded samples?
Before you meet Song Camp Season 3, listen to the samples in advance, select the most impressive song, and find the composer!
How to Participate:
Step 1. Listen to TRACK A through TRACK F and guess the composer!
Step 2. Write your favorite sample and your guess for the composer in the comments or a quote!
Winners will be selected by lottery to receive VIP invitation tickets for the 2nd Competition of Song Camp. (To be announced via DM later.)]
Along with a detailed explanation, a heap of 30-second samples labeled alphabetically from ‘TRACK A’ to ‘TRACK F’ was released.
True to a blind evaluation, the voices of the contestants were removed, and the main melodies were replaced by piano or guitar.
[Oh, this looks fun.]
[What’s with the track quality? Whoa.]
[A blind evaluation? I seriously can’t tell.]
Song Camp, which was already drawing public attention, succeeded in piquing interest to the max by inciting their curiosity.
For fun, for the thrill, many people joined the event for various reasons.
[The Song Camp production team really sharpened their knives for this. LOL. If the cast didn’t have any recognition to begin with, people wouldn't have cared whether they did this or not, but look at everyone jumping on it now. LOL.
└ It’s marketing you can only use because the lineup is insane...]
[The people who were sucking up to K.voka are all gonna be wrong. ㅠㅠ]
[Title: This Song Camp event looks fun...
I liked Tracks D and F~ ^^]
[Title: Which one is Kang Yi-chae’s song?
I’ve liked him since he was bringing glory to the country,
I hope he put out a good song for Song Camp too~.]
On Nutube, videos comparing the samples to the contestants' previously released songs were uploaded endlessly every few minutes.
[Ju Yeong-bi’s is so obvious because the accompaniment is just straight-up Trot. It’s like he’s not even trying to hide it.]
[Kang U-rin is basically self-plagiarizing his own stuff...]
[Here’s the exact reason why TRACK C belongs to LUMA.
My heart is thumping ♡
└ LOL, damn, that’s disgusting.
└└ Luma, run...
└ I thought this one was Kang U-rin’s??]
As the event spread like a trend, people’s opinions poured out infinitely, and before long, the predicted composers for most of the samples were being finalized.
[The remaining three are confusing.]
Except for TRACK A, E, and F.
All three were of the same genre, Pop Rock. Among them, TRACK A had the highest level of completion, while TRACK E was smooth and easy to listen to.
However, the sample that received the most spotlight was TRACK F. It seemed to be thanks to its bright, refreshing sound based on the current trends.
[Title: Track F is so well-made. LOL.
The beat is the GOAT.
└ I think F is Baek Ji-jun. I’m sticking with that.
└└ Baek Ji-jun can’t make something like this, so stop trying to associate him with it.
└└ LOL, ugh, this loser... want to bet your neck on it?]
[Title: I’m gonna speak my mind and bet my XX on it.
F is K.voka.
└ Goodbye... I won’t see you out.
└ Agreed. It’s either K.voka or Baek Ji-jun.
└└ Baek Ji-jun is a ballad specialist, you idiot.
└└ Ugh, f*ck, Baek Ji-jun is good at writing in various genres.]
[Title: But isn’t TRACK F Kang Yi-chae?
Thoughts?
└ Thanks for confirming you have trash ears.
└ ‘Thoughts?’ my ass. LOL. Go fanboy somewhere else.
└└ This is unfair;; If I were a fan, would I be posting this here?
└└ Legend-tier triggered.
└└ Look at him trembling.
└ For starters, it’s definitely not Kang Yi-chae. LOL.]
Watching the situation where people were clashing fiercely and pushing their own claims, the Noeuls, who had already pinpointed a track as Kang Yi-chae’s, simply remained silent.
Based on their experience so far, they knew all too well that it was best not to get involved prematurely when the general public was entangled.
* * *
“Put that on the right, please!”
At a riverside park in Jeollanam-do, where the 1st Competition was to take place.
PD Jeong Jun-hwan, who was running busily around the small set’s backstage, let out a low, ragged breath.
I’m gonna die, I’m seriously gonna die.
He had spent a frantic week preparing for the 1st Competition and filming the contestants’ preparation processes.
After much deliberation on how to frame the first mission, PD Jeong Jun-hwan decided to showcase their individual capabilities and set forward three themes: Drama OST, Trot, and Ballad. He also had many concerns regarding the evaluation, eventually deciding to determine the rankings by combining 40% from a pre-selected professional jury and 60% from a blind vote by the general audience. In other words, the audience's response would play a crucial role in the rankings.
And the hints are more important than I thought.
The top three performers from the internal vote during the initiation ceremony were provided with the location of the competition as a hint.
Though he hadn't informed the participants, he didn't plan to fill the audience with a pre-notified evaluation group; instead, he intended to fill it entirely with local residents. Because the promotion had been framed as just a small, casual performance, the vibe would be distinctly different from a typical audience.
Once this aired, he might get some flak from certain quarters, but PD Jeong Jun-hwan’s heart was already pounding with excitement at the controversies that were sure to follow.
While producing the new season, PD Jeong Jun-hwan was paving the way very delicately. To reach a grand finale, it was important to continuously capture the public’s attention.
He took off his hood, which he’d been wearing to hide hair he hadn't washed in days, wiped his sweat-soaked forehead with the back of his hand, and headed toward the smoking area for a cigarette. There, he ran into the Main Writer, who had already claimed a spot and immediately spat out a complaint as a greeting.
“Sigh, PD-nim, K.voka. Is it really okay to put him on stage like that? It’s got a bit of a Trot vibe, but it’s full-on hip-hop?!”
“Well... it’ll make for fun TV. Just leave it be.”
The Main Writer, exhaling smoke irritably, continued.
“Ugh... still, Mr. Baek Ji-jun did a really cool job with his track. So, I was thinking, how about adding a few more shots of people being impressed?”
“Hmm, that wouldn't be bad. Let’s go with a concept like, ‘What would the audience’s reaction be if Baek Ji-jun actually performed a guerrilla song right in front of them?!’”
“Make it natural, natural!!!”
This is why I hate working with the QBS crazies. The Main Writer, who belonged to an outsourced production company, grumbled half-jokingly while dragging on the filter, then her eyes sparkled as if she’d remembered something.
“Oh, right, right. Did you see the chaos on social media over Track F after the tracks were released?”
“I saw. The prediction that it’s K.voka seems overwhelming.”
“I was a bit surprised. How could they—...”
The Main Writer’s mouth snapped shut at the sudden sound of an engine nearby.
Soon, a van stopped in a nearby clearing, and a group of tall, handsome men poured out.
“...Whoa...”
Even though Seo Ho-yun, the last to step out, had his ball cap pulled down low, his pale complexion was clearly visible beneath it. He moved with dragging feet as if exhausted, and both of his hands were stained with red marks that, at a glance, looked like blood.
“I heard Seo Ho-yun was doing his final shoot for Despicable Trial today. Did he go and bury a few people?”
“Looks like he just finished burying them in cement.”
The Main Writer, who had also witnessed it, stared intently at Seo Ho-yun as he trudged toward the tent set up as a waiting room, whispering softly to PD Jeong Jun-hwan.
“Don’t actors usually suffer from the aftereffects of their roles for a long time? What should we do... didn't you say Seo Ho-yun has a solo stage? Is it okay to catch such a grim appearance on camera...?”
“Goodness, you worry too much.”
Even though he told her it was an unnecessary concern, the Main Writer’s face crumpled, seemingly displeased by his nonchalance. PD Jeong Jun-hwan, acting as if he didn't care about her reaction at all, leisurely pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
What was it that Kim Hee-yeong said?
It was shortly after they had finished casting The Dawn. He had happened to run into PD Kim Hee-yeong. Realizing that she was also someone who had experience putting together a survival show with The Dawn, PD Jeong Jun-hwan had listed the events that had transpired.
At that, PD Kim Hee-yeong, who had been cackling like a madwoman, left him with a piece of advice—and a warning.
“Don’t think about eating him. You’ll be the one who gets eaten.”
He had thought she was exaggerating wildly just to tease him, but now he wondered if those words were somewhat true.
Seo Ho-yun was a person whose inner thoughts were hard to read, regardless of his age.
At the same time, he was a human being who knew very well how his actions would appear to others and how to behave to make the other person fall for him completely.
And it wasn't just that he was quick-witted.
He was brilliant, and his ability to execute was even greater.
Well, as long as he creates issues on his own, it’s all good for me.
Before he knew it, Seo Ho-yun was seen walking out, having changed into a white T-shirt, dark jeans, and a bright blue jumper. The haggard, pale man he had witnessed just moments ago was nowhere to be found.
PD Jeong Jun-hwan, scratching the back of his head, glanced at him and added, “I’m more worried about the editing for the first episode than that.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m wondering how to backstab all those fish who swam into the fishing net on their own so effectively that people will talk about it...”
PD Jeong Jun-hwan, taking a deep drag of his cigarette, muttered softly while looking up at the clear sky.
“...That TRACK F everyone’s debating right now. It belongs to The Dawn, after all.”
And so, the curtain was rising on the 1st Competition of Song Camp.