NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 58
Chapter 58. Various Ways to Drop a Parachute (5)
Since its release, the song “To You” had not missed the top spot for “The #1 Song Women Sing After a Breakup.”
There were several reasons why this song was not welcomed.
“Wow, but isn’t this too high?”
“But changing it to a male key is a bit…”
First of all, it was high. Not just high, but the whole song was high. Even the verse parts, which were somewhat lower, would plunge underground if changed to a male key.
In short, the difficulty level was extreme.
‘If that was the only issue, I wouldn’t be saying anything.’
“Hmm… The tempo is a bit ambiguous too.”
“It’s weird to just sing, and it’s weird to dance to.”
Although there were many genres of ballads, “To You” was a song that started with a very slow and calm verse, gradually building up to an intense highlight and explosive high notes.
If you sped up the tempo to turn it into a dance song, the latter part would be too rushed, and performing it at the original tempo would limit the performance. So the arrangement difficulty was also extreme.
Of course, the biggest problem was—
“But beyond that, how can we beat Senior Sarin?”
The original song was just too overwhelming.
‘There’s a reason Sarin’s nickname is “President.”’
– But why is Sarin’s nickname “President”? He’s not the president of the agency, right?
└ Because he ruins anyone who covers his songs.
└ If you want to be crushed, just sing a Sarin song.
– The origin of Sarin becoming the president: Two years ago, at the year-end stage, a junior singer covered a Sarin song and completely bombed ▶ All the other singers who had previously failed covering Sarin’s songs were dragged out again ▶ We thought she was nice, but she actually ruins all the singers who cover her songs ▶ Since then, whenever someone covers a Sarin song, the meme “Another one bites the dust by the President” was born, end of speed-whatever.
– Thanks for the summary above.
└ Sarin fans at it againㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Yeah, it’s great your singer’s songs are high and difficult~
└ What’s with the sudden rage; it’s just stating a fact.
└ Leave it, it’s a fan of a failed idol who covered Sarin’s song.
└ You guys always drag things down like thisㅋ First, you pretend to be curious and then ask who the failed cover idol is, and keep going. Aren’t you tired of it?
– So who covered Sarin’s song? Recommend someone who did it well!
└ What’s this guy again
The solid image of the original song was so firmly established that it reached the skies. If you sang it exactly like the original, you’d get criticized, and if you didn’t, you’d still get criticized. In short, the public satisfaction difficulty was extremely high.
‘I can’t even imagine how much they’ll tear me apart if I mess this up.’
Since I made a mess in the first mission, the attention on me in this mission was by no means small. As proof, look at that camera.
‘It’s been following me since earlier.’
In the first mission, I was the leader, center, and took most of the parts. I led the team to victory, but lost the individual battle. Even so, I managed to earn the Wings rank as a rookie trainee. Cheering for me seems greedy, but hating me doesn’t seem right either.
In the end, people were likely to decide their liking for me based on this stage. I absolutely had to do well.
‘If I go similar to the original, it’s a straight ticket to a gravestone. I have to rearrange it no matter what.’
If it’s going to be compared to the original anyway, I need to minimize the points of comparison. Even if I have to dance like a marionette to these sad lyrics, I must avoid the insanity of sticking to the original. While the others were quiet, I quickly took the floor.
“Let’s talk about the arrangement direction first. How about jazz? Since it has a strong rhythm. It wouldn’t be bad to incorporate a performance.”
“Huh. Isn’t that too unconventional?”
“The gap between the verse and chorus notes is significant. I think a jazz arrangement would make that less awkward.”
“I think it’s good…!”
“Me too. Honestly, I was worried we’d be the only ones doing a ballad while all the other teams do intense performances.”
‘I’m glad I’m teamed up with people who communicate well.’
Since the two Feathers saw what happened in the last mission, they would likely follow my lead. Dan Haru seemed content just to be on stage with his close friends. As for Seo Taehyun, I knew he would judge well without me needing to say much.
“……”
“Taehyun, what do you think?”
“Oh, uh? Oh, yes. I think it’s good. Let’s do our best, everyone.”
“Okay, let’s quickly finish the part distribution too.”
The meeting continued in a fairly harmonious atmosphere. I was almost moved to tears by the smoothness I hadn’t felt in a long time. Now, we just needed the stage to go well. With the concept of ‘anything but the original,’ it was easier to come up with ideas!
“Okay, let’s go with this. Taehyun, you’re good at expressing this, so you hold the center and keep us grounded.”
“Sounds good!”
“We trust you, Taehyun!”
“Okay, done! Then let’s draft the performance with Taehyun and me first, and we’ll match it up after lunch?”
“Yup!”
‘What’s this? It’s easy?’
The others clapped as I threw my notebook in an exaggerated showmanship gesture. Even the PD, deciding there was nothing more to capture, had a few cameras disconnect and move to where other teams were.
In this incredibly heartwarming atmosphere, I made up my mind.
‘Alright. Let’s smoothly pass this stage and build an image as a skilled trainee people can trust!’
* * *
“Guys.”
“……”
And Hajin’s grand ambition collapsed within a few hours.
“……”
“Did you bring this to perform on stage?”
“……”
“I’m really disappointed right now.”
‘Oh no?’
By none other than Seo Taeil, the copyright holder of this song!
* * *
‘Where did it all go wrong?’
Until this interim check, Hajin’s team was sailing very smoothly.
Arrangement?
-Oh, you mean taking just the chord and redoing it? Well… in that way, it’s possible. It feels like completely changing the song.
Vocals?
-You cleverly distributed the parts. You completely removed the high notes with the arrangement? Smart move.
Choreography?
-It must have been hard to choreograph without an original dance. You must have worked hard in a short time.
Even the team atmosphere!
-Should we run it one more time and monitor it?
-Haru, you need to step back two steps. You’re bumping into me.
-Then I’ll stay here and do my part before moving in!
‘Great. It’s running well.’
[System Alert: The system senses a peaceful atmosphere.]
[System Alert: 777 cash bonus has been credited! (Reason: Inner Peace)]
Even the system, moved by this peaceful atmosphere, awarded bonuses generously. This was definitely the smoothest progress since my regression.
-Taehyun hyung? Are you listening?
-…Ah, sorry. Sorry. What was it?
Taehyun seemed a bit out of it lately, but it wasn’t to the point of hindering practice, so I left it alone. He was someone who got sharper once the cameras rolled anyway.
So when Hajin heard that the interim check was delayed due to the mentor’s schedule, he didn’t have any concerns.
We’d pass anyway!
No problems at all!
The new version of “To You” we created was perfect without any flaws!
The only thing Hajin didn’t consider was that the ‘someone’ who would evaluate it was none other than Seo Taeil, the composer and producer of the song.
“Did you guys properly interpret the song? Did you analyze the lyrics correctly?”
“……”
“Then how did this result come out?”
Taeil tapped the document folder irritably. The atmosphere was bleak, to the point where even the sound of the cameras capturing close-ups was loud.
“Whose idea was this? Do you all agree with this stage? Huh?”
“……”
“I’m not saying the stage itself is bad. But when you’re given a mission to reinterpret the original song, shouldn’t there be traces of you contemplating the original song’s power?”
Taeil let out a deep sigh. There was too much to criticize.
“You’re performing this song brightly, smiling, and acting all flirty. How should I interpret your song’s emotions? Should I be sad? Should I laugh? Is breaking up funny?”
“……”
“I’d rather you have just stood there and sung to the MR of the original song. I wouldn’t have been this disappointed.”
And observing Taeil’s relentless criticism, Writer Go thought.
‘Wow, Taeil is really out for blood today. What’s up with him?’
Writer Go, watching the unexpected harsh criticism, quickly scanned the trainees’ expressions. In her mind, a sequence for the rough cut was already playing out.
‘Well, I was worried about how to bring this team to life because they were so bland. This is better.’
From the start, the production team had planned to use the dynamic between Taehyun, who was in his second survival, and Hajin, who had hogged all the attention in the first mission, as the key point. The team’s preparation process had
been too smooth and uneventful, making it difficult to create engaging content.
‘But it seems Seo Taehyun can’t stand up to Kang Hajin? Same for the other kids.’
The preparation was too uneventful, and she was worried about how to make it interesting. In such a situation, this harsh criticism was timely.
Apparently, Writer Go wasn’t the only one thinking this, as PD Kwon quietly whispered to her.
“We need to change their direction. How about framing it as a crisis for a team we thought was strong?”
“Sure. I’ll tell them to get proper emotional interviews from the kids now.”
“Since Hajin almost led this concept, ask if there were any complaints, that sort of thing.”
“Got it.”
Thanks to Taeil, they now had a clear editing angle. Depending on how dramatically the results changed, the evaluation of this team would be night and day.
Writer Go looked at the trainees with a proud gaze, appreciating them for always creating interesting drama.
“Haah… You guys need to discuss again. Practice again. I’ll come back tomorrow afternoon. As the person who made this song, I can’t approve of a stage that shows no understanding of the song.”
“……”
“Why aren’t you answering? Can’t do it? Kang Hajin, can’t do it?”
“…No. We’ll practice again properly and show you.”
“What about the others?”
“We can do it!”
“We’ll try!”
Taeil sighed as he confirmed. His gaze moved from Hajin to someone else.
“Taehyun.”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember what we talked about when you first said you were coming to Miro?”
“…Yes.”
“Did you come here to do the same thing you’ve always done? Or not?”
At those words, Taehyun habitually bit his lip but stopped and bowed his head. Writer Go, who had watched Taehyun since his Boy’s World days, did not miss the small gesture.
‘…Oh dear, Taehyun’s mental state must be really shaken.’
The contest was only a day away. How could they create a new stage by tomorrow?
‘But somehow, I’m not too worried.’
Writer Go’s gaze shifted to someone.
Even in this tense situation, as if not deeply affected, Hajin looked at Taehyun with a calm expression. PD Kwon also seemed to be watching Hajin with a meaningful look.
‘For some reason… it feels like that kid will somehow manage to pull through.’
Knowing how to create broadcast-worthy moments and seemingly capable of making a good stage, surely, he’d manage something? With a light heart, she watched the trainees.
And a moment later.
As soon as Taeil left the practice room, the
Bleak atmosphere, gloomy emotions.
In this situation full of worry and thoughts, the trainees instinctively looked at one person.
“…Hajin hyung. What should we do?”
And Kang Hajin, suddenly responsible for all this, thought.
‘…I didn’t think of a Plan B.’
We’re screwed. Damn.