Chapter 434
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 434
[Holy shit, Kang Yi-chae really is a freaking genius.]
[“Don’t know if you know this feeling of being pushed to the limit, since I never faked any line” << This is insane.]
[It’s so obvious he’s dissing the other contestants;]
[Isn’t he calling them out for slacking off while only Baek Ji-jun and The Dawn were composing on-site?]
[Whatever, I don’t care. The hook for Track F is freaking broken, lmao. XDDD]
“Kang Yi-chae…! He is a god!”
“Maknae, are you crying?”
While Kim Seong-hyeon teased Jeong Da-jun, who was giving a standing ovation with teary eyes, the initiation performances concluded, and the internal voting among the contestants began. Throughout it all, Kang Yi-chae remained silent.
In the end, The Dawn received zero votes, but the members watching the broadcast didn't seem to mind much.
【Staff: Which stage was the most memorable?】
Interviews with the contestants conducted by the production team were inserted afterward.
【Baek Ji-jun: Kang Yi-chae-ssi’s. Time was extremely tight, but he brought a beat and melody that were completely different from his usual style. (But you didn't vote for The Dawn?) Well, the lyrics were a bit lacking overall… though the latter half was truly cool!】
【Ju Yeong-bi: I thought he was writing it as a joke and laughed, but the rap part at the end was shockingly good. It was so perfect I almost suspected The Dawn of intentionally setting up a plot twist.】
Next, Kang Yi-chae appeared on screen, staring blankly into space with a look of transcendence.
【Staff: You received zero votes….】
【Kang Yi-chae: Ah… more than that, I feel sorry for causing trouble for the production staff. You all must have worked so hard to prepare, and I probably caught you off guard. I really wanted to do well, too…….】
[He’s more polite than I thought. I expected him to be more arrogant..]
[Right? He looks like such a delinquent, though.]
[Is he crying?]
[LOL, looks like it… He definitely cried in the back.]
He then wiped his face with both hands and bowed his head slightly.
【Kang Yi-chae: (Was deleting the lyric file intentional?) Do I really… look like someone relaxed enough to delete my lyrics on purpose?】
【No….】
[Heol, I guess it was real, lol.]
[Wow, but he still killed it, holy shit. Lmao.]
The scene shifted again, showing the face of K.voka, one of the most famous rappers.
【K.voka: Kang Yi-chae—.]
He nodded his chin and made a signature hip-hop gesture with his right hand.
【K.voka: —That’s hip-hop.】
[Ah, f*ck, K.voka, lmao.]
[This is so freaking funny, he’s crazy. XDDDD]
[I heard K.voka hates scripts, I guess he really liked Kang Yi-chae. Lmao.]
After scanning the chat that far, I turned off the QBS Live Talk and stared blankly at the TV. The screen was now showing hints about the first competition.
‘It’s going exactly as I expected.’
There were some negative reactions, but in terms of generating buzz, it was flawless.
Because we had pushed Kang Yi-chae to the forefront from the start, he would likely be used as a sacrificial lamb across various platforms until the program ended, but that was well within my calculations.
Rather than that, right now…
‘What’s wrong with him?’
I was extremely bothered by Kang Yi-chae, who was suddenly hanging his head low and rubbing the back of his neck.
“Yi-chae hyung, seeing it on broadcast, I think it actually turned out great!”
“…….”
I glanced at him, seeing no response even to the maknae’s comfort. I scanned his complexion and was just about to grab his shoulder and call his name when—
“Kang Yi—.”
“A-Yi-Chee!”
With a loud sneeze, Kang Yi-chae threw his hand up.
“Now, now, ahem. Our dear Dawn-Na-Ri! This is a great start, so let’s keep this momentum and take first place~!!”
“Kang Yi-chae, Kang Yi-chae, milky-white Kang Yi-chae! Let’s hear it for Yi-chae hyung, who even knows how to promote his own name through a sneeze~!”
“Yi-chae is amazing~!!”
“Have you all lost your minds??”
Kang Yi-chae’s frantic behavior seemed normal on the surface, but something was suspicious.
As Seong Ji-won and Jeong Da-jun joined in, laughing brightly, and Kim Seong-hyeon looked on in disgust, I debated whether to interrogate Kang Yi-chae. Just then, my phone vibrated.
It was a text from Seo Ho-jin.
[Damn Little Brother: Fighting.]
I looked at the phone, then turned my gaze back to Kang Yi-chae one more time.
For some reason, I couldn't shake this uneasy feeling.
* * *
With just the first episode, Song Camp became a massive topic of conversation.
[Ah, I was watching with my mom and we were both dying laughing, lmao. My dad came in late and started watching halfway through, asking if this show was a joke. Lmao.]
[I almost cried while watching. Look at Kang Yi-chae squeezing his eyes shut while Seong Ji-won is singing.]
[This isn't a competition show, it’s just a straight-up variety show, holy shit.]
Interest in Kang Yi-chae was already high because NerdyFreak’s “Garage” was topping the Billboard charts and succeeding in Korea, but the provocative editing of Song Camp sent public curiosity skyrocketing.
[Title: The reason why Tracks E and F have lower quality compared to the others.jpg
Because only Baek Ji-jun and The Dawn made them on the spot, lol.
└ True. People were saying the quality was lower despite the tracks being popular, lol. Like they were made in a rush. Wow, netizens really have sharp ears.
└ The fact that F is the most popular despite that makes it the GOAT, lol.
└ If they had just a little more time, I feel like they could’ve upped the quality enough to release it as an official single. T_T Baek Ji-jun’s Stopped Season lyrics are legendary..
└└ Still, the lyrics for… “L-L-Lost the Lyrics” are the real legend..
└└ Lmao, that’s just funny. T_T]
[Title: I thought they were pushing The Dawn too hard with the editing from the opening, but…
They’re worth pushing.
I wondered how great he could be for the station to sell him that much… but he totally ripped it up.
I understand why the first half of the lyrics was a mess. Composing and writing in one hour is insane, but only he and Baek Ji-jun were flustered and acting real.
└ But the hook he made is broken.
└└ You can hum it after hearing it just once.
└ Lmao, the rest of them were just faking it.
└ You guys believe this? The station prepares everything with a script. The editing was just good, and Kang Yi-chae’s acting was top-tier…
I’ll bet my wrist that Kang Yi-chae didn't compose that.
└└ Wow, how much more does he have to show for you to believe he composed it himself? You’re so malicious.
└└ You’re the type of guy who’d try to expose a magician’s trick right in front of him.
└└ Lmao, what a comparison.
└└ Lmao, that’s so true.
└└ Why does this magician joke smell so much like that fandom? Lmao.]
[Title: The Dawn’s initiation stage was the most intense.
It felt like a completely different song from the middle onwards.
The change in atmosphere… the rap was killer too.
└ A singer is a singer. He sang those lyrics so sweetly..
└ Who’s the guy who sang? He didn't lose out even standing next to Baek Ji-jun.
└└ Seong Ji-won!!!]
[Oh, Song Camp looks fun.]
[I watched Seasons 1 and 2 because they were good to watch with family, I guess Season 3 has a good vibe too.]
People who caught even a glimpse of the initiation stage videos on social media were drawn by curiosity to watch the first episode of Song Camp.
Then, in the highly successful second episode, the first competition stage held at the riverside park was released.
Everyone who was watching with full immersion—
[Wow, Song Camp.]
[This is so freaking fun…]
By the time the broadcast ended, they couldn't hide their excitement.
The talk of Song Camp dominated every online community.
[The lineup was flashy to begin with, but it’s such a joy to listen to. T_T The quality of the 1st competition songs is insane..]
[Baek Ji-jun takes care of his own better than I thought, lol. I thought he’d only walk the path of traditional ballads, but doing a trot-style ballad was so smart.]
[Title: Ah, the contestants’ greed for gags.
Lmao.
Kang Yi-chae making the “PD-nim is Too Much” song is hilarious.
And K.voka, holy shit, he didn't say anything properly except “That’s hip-hop” and “That’s not hip-hop.” Lmao.
└ The contestants’ greed for gags is running wild. Did these people come to compete in composing or to audition as comedians?
└ So funny. I thought I’d be pissed watching Song Camp, but it’s just hilarious.
└ K.voka: Competition? That’s not hip-hop.
└└ Lmao.]
[Title: Is K.voka insane? Lmao.
Sucking my X!!!!!!!! at a village riverside park. Lmao.
└ Before broadcast: K.voka hyung-nim, do whatever you want.
After broadcast: K.voka hyung-nim, please do only some of what you want.
└└ Lmao, I died laughing while watching. Still, you gotta read the room.
└└ For real, K.voka even got a hint during the initiation, but he really doesn't give a f*ck. Lmao.
└└ No, wait, now that I think about it, K.voka did get a hint. Lmao. Why is he like that? Lmao.
└ Aside from that, K.voka has devilish star power, holy shit. I used to hate him because of his fans, but now I laugh just looking at his face.
└└ Because… that’s hip-hop.]
The program was even more successful than during the initiation, but the evaluation of The Dawn’s first competition was a bit lukewarm.
[Title: Honestly, The Dawn was more average than expected this time.
But the location saved it.
Combined with Seo Ho-yun’s vocal color, the atmosphere became legendary.
└ For real, that place was insane…]
Except for the visual aesthetics.
【—The sun shining hotly upon me!】
Against the backdrop of trees swaying gently as if boasting their fresh early summer leaves, the image of Seo Ho-yun singing while catching the breeze under the bright sunlight—
【Let’s push away the anxiety flooding into the heart and smile
Like a scene from a youth film】
Because, just like the lyrics he sang, it truly looked like a scene from a coming-of-age movie.
【Welcoming this cool early summer breeze
I will remember today for the rest of my life】
The slightly rough yet low-toned voice spreading out refreshingly in harmony with the session musicians even evoked nostalgia for childhood in older viewers.
【Welcoming the dazzling summer
I will cherish today】
The stage, which evoked homesickness in some, memories in others, and love in yet others, soon returned with positive reactions.
[It seemed like it did okay on-site and with the judges, but when caught on broadcast, it’s just a whole romance movie right there..]
[Wow… if you could compress this whole scene into one word, it’s just… youth.. T_T I’m not even a fan, but it’s so healing I keep rewatching it.]
[I heard Seo Ho-yun finished filming Despicable Trial right before this..
└ How do you go from a corrupt prosecutor to a youthful young man..]
Of course, on the other hand, while it was good that they took their own path alone among the trot and trot-style songs, there were many comments saying it was disappointing because it lacked individuality and Kang Yi-chae’s unique style was nowhere to be seen.
[It’s not that Kang Yi-chae lacks talent, but he seems to have some ups and downs.
└ Seems like he’s affected by his personal genre preference.
└ He’s definitely a genius. Self-taught composition and entering Billboard..
└└ For real?? He’s self-taught??
└└ But that’s thanks to NerdyFreak. People are still calling Kang Yi-chae a genius even after seeing this?]
[He’s only at that rank because Seo Ho-yun and the surrounding scenery hard-carried. Otherwise, he’d be 4th or 5th.]
[Thinking about Kang Yi-chae’s experience, this reaction seems like a natural result... Seriously, setting up a confrontation with other contestants in the opening was such a reach. He might have gotten lucky and hit Billboard, but honestly, I don't think he’s at that level.]
[Lmao, agreed. Only the initiation was good. Kang Yi-chae isn't in that league. T_T]
[Well.. it’s a collaboration of the other contestants preparing well + Kang Yi-chae having been possessed by a god until now, I guess.]
[I really, really want to see the contestants’ preparation process for the 1st competition, but it’s a shame it was skipped to cram the initiation and the 1st competition into episodes 1 and 2. T_T]
[Title: Putting all the Song Camp controversies aside for a moment
You have to admit it’s the most fun variety show lately.
My whole family keeps watching only this.
PD Jeong Jun-hwan put a survival skin on it, and there are many issues, but he made it really well for the general public, lol.
└ True, true. This is all we talk about at school.
└└ He also drew a lot of attention with the blind samples.. Even if there are controversies over the rules or evaluations, if it keeps going this well, it could be the variety show of the year.
└ All the contestants have made a strong impression, lol. Even if Luma, Kang U-rin, and Ju Yeong-bi were already famous among muggles, Baek Ji-jun never appeared on TV before.. K.voka felt famous in the hip-hop scene and The Dawn in the idol scene.
└└ Right. Whether it’s thanks to Song Camp or NerdyFreak, it was amazing that The Dawn hit #1 on the charts.. Even if Seo Ho-yun was already somewhat famous from dramas, I was shocked when my totally non-fan friend started calling them Seong-hyeon-ie~ Da-jun-ie~ by name.
└└ So freaking moved,,, f*ck,, switching to straight soju mode from broad daylight.
└└ Is the comment above Noeul? Lmao.
└└ Ah, these guys keep appearing out of nowhere and infiltrating. Lmao.
└ First of all, there are a lot of memes, which contributes to the popularity.
└└ Like what?
└└ Sucking my X!!!!
└└ That’s not hip-hop..
└└ I love you…
└└ Ah, there are so many memes, lmao.]
While Song Camp was being actively discussed among people, information about the second competition was uploaded.
[D-7
Pick the song that best fits an idol concept!
The blind voting for Song Camp’s 2nd competition will begin in one week.
These are concept evaluation songs to be used in the upcoming survival girl group audition Starlight Season 2. Six different genres will be prepared, ranging from EDM Pop-Dance to Hip-hop and R&B.
After the tracks are released, please select the song that best suits the assigned genre while showcasing the charm of an idol.
※ This blind vote will account for 60% of the 2nd competition score.]
The announcement asked people to vote for the concept evaluation songs for Starlight Season 2, a survival girl group audition scheduled to air on QBS in two months. A note was added stating that to make it difficult to guess who composed which song, the same female guide vocalist would be used for all tracks during the blind voting.
[What? Six genres? Then Hip-hop is obviously K.voka, isn't it?]
[No, seeing them mention “assigned genres,” the production team might assign them.]
[Eh, isn't the production team assigning them a bit much? Lol. I feel like they’d get so much hate.]
[Ah, what if they get the wrong genre for the 2nd competition? T_T Our K.voka can only do hip-hop, holy shit..
└ Lmao, is this an anti or a fan?]
[Since it’s come to this, let’s have our Ju Yeong-bi go for hip-hop instead of trot.]
[The ones with a wide spectrum will be relaxed, lol.]
[There’s a rumor that the 1st place winner of the 1st competition, not the production team, assigns the genres for the 2nd competition.
└ That’s a reach..
└ A reach..
└└ A total reach..]
Not long after the notice was posted, the Song Camp social media comment section was filled with people asking to upload the 2nd competition songs quickly.
[The ones who are inconsistent or dependent on genre are going to suffer.
Ah, of course, I’m not targeting Kang Yi-chae. ^^]
.
.
.
Meanwhile, at the same time.
For the mid-point evaluation of the second competition, all the Song Camp contestants were gathered in the studio, checking the songs each other had composed.
When it was Baek Ji-jun’s turn, snickers escaped from a few people.
The genres for the second competition had been divided under the selection of the 1st place winner of the first competition. Because of that, Baek Ji-jun, who had been targeted, ended up composing hip-hop for the first time in his life.
The moment the first line flowed out through the voice of an unfamiliar woman—
【—I’m losing my resistance】
The surroundings instantly fell silent, and the air tightened. I could feel everyone in the room tensing up, their guards raised.
【Moonlight shining even within the sun
A candle burning even without a wick
Tell me, Am I meant for you?】
At the same time, Seo Ho-yun pressed his palm against his forehead and thought.
【Come in, let’s dance, amidst the moonlight (Moonlight—)
Like all the lovers captured on canvas
Let’s hold hands forever】
Ah, f*ck. The second competition is screwed.