The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 781

< Surfing the Wave -78 >

What defines popularity?

First, the dictionary defines popularity as a high degree of public interest or favorable attention directed toward a particular subject.

However, ‘interest’ and ‘attention’ are intangible. They can’t be physically grasped, making it difficult to assess them relatively, like saying something is big, small, good, or bad.

Since it’s not a quantifiable value, there’s no such thing as an arithmetic average.

Nevertheless, people generally consider certain things as measures of popularity.

For a company, it’s the ‘stock price.’ The trading volume of a company’s stock reflects its popularity.

The popularity of a product directly correlates to sales, dramas have viewership ratings, and movies have box office numbers.

So, what about ‘people’? How do we gauge the popularity of people we commonly call ‘celebrities’ or ‘stars’?

The number of commercials they film? Their appearance fees?

Of course, a celebrity’s income is a direct indicator, like sales.

Frequent appearances can also be seen as a measure of popularity.

However, something else can’t be ignored. Even if it doesn’t immediately translate into ‘sales,’ it’s an indicator that no company can easily dismiss.

That is, fandom.

Companies have loyal customers; celebrities have ‘fan clubs.’

Fandom is a group formed when people who share a common interest come together.

In a world where meeting like-minded people is easy, groups of considerable size form instantly.

Even in moments someone might not even be aware of.

Yes, based on that principle, a fan club was created without the person even knowing. To be precise, a fan cafe [an online forum or community dedicated to a celebrity or public figure].

There might be more if you search social media, but anyway, there was one place where active conversation took place under the name of a fan cafe.

⟪Surfing(wave)⟫

A name that might suggest a gathering of surfing enthusiasts. However, the photo of the boy featured in the cafe’s main banner revealed that this cafe was a fan club for him.

[Another Life is so good]

I listen to it every morning when I wake up, and it makes my day feel refreshing.

I hope more people will recognize it.

It’s a masterpiece that will last even after a hundred years.

All the B-side tracks are amazing too.

How is this a rookie’s song?ㅠㅠㅠ [Korean slang expressing disbelief or sadness]

└ I really hope everyone recognizes it

└ 3333 Melon [Korean music streaming service] is 2nd, but more and more!! Recognize it

[I keep replaying the moon part of Rendezvous]

What’s wrong with Hwang Ryong’s PR team??

Even if the broadcast was edited;;

In fact, Dal [nickname for No Hae-il, meaning ‘moon’ in Korean] made Hero’s Song, and

His first mini-album topped the charts

Dal carried that line in the music festival, while the others were buried. Where does Hwang Ryong’s PR come from???

└ I don’t understand either. But let’s not compare with other singers

└ There are a lot of trolls because attention is focused at onceㅋㅋㅋ [Korean slang for ‘lol’] It’s obvious that he’s going to do well, so they’re jealousㅋ Do they even realize he’s 17 years old

[+101 days wish!!! I’m looking to buy the No Hae-il video of Line 1 villain, please]

└ Is this real? Wasn’t it an urban legend?

└ Did Dal do villainous things on Line 1 [Seoul subway line]?

└ ㅇㅇ [Korean abbreviation for ‘yes’] Bleached hair + singing Christmas carols

└ Dal did that? Wow, such a grateful villain… If I ride Line 1 for the rest of my life, will he sing carols?

Fan cafes are said to have different tendencies. In No Hae-il’s fan club, many people gathered after listening to his music or watching his performances, so they are relatively gentle and quiet. Of course, they are only quiet when they are talking among themselves.

[Honestly, No Hae-il looks like a rolling stone, why are you guys simping?]

[Halo’s copycat, he rose with Halo’s fame, but talent ㅇㅈㄹ [Korean slang expressing disagreement or sarcasm]]

[Dal?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋHe can’t shine without the sun, so he’s the moonㅋ If you see him in person, he’s bumpy and ㅇㅈ? [Korean slang expressing disagreement or sarcasm]]

Recently, as the number of trolls has increased, people have brought out the nature they had buried in happiness.

[Why are you simping for someone who looks like a stone buried in asphalt and inhaling exhaust gas?]

[Why is Dal a Halo copycat?? I like Halo’s songs too, but Halo’s and Dal’s songs feel completely different, aren’t they practically the opposite?]

└ I think they’re talking about the Halo cover

└ ?? If that’s the case, is covering everything a copycat?

└ Let’s ignore the trollsㅋㅋ They’re social misfits who comfort themselves by criticizing others in their rooms

It seems like a very long time has passed since No Hae-il debuted.

It’s only been 3 months based on his debut album.

Even if he reached No. 1 on Melon and became a rising star, it was clearly a short time to properly establish a fandom.

Unlike idol groups affiliated with companies that tightly manage their schedules and fan clubs, this fan club was small compared to those fan clubs.

This meant that they were vulnerable to trolls.

Commemorating the music festival, that splendid day, they called their boy – as his music does – ‘Dal,’ but many fans are upset that even this is being criticized.

Still, that resentment doesn’t extend to the singer.

At least the fans in this place were healed by the boy’s music, mesmerized by his stage presence, and looked forward to his future as if it were their own.

They wanted their boy to rise as high as the moon in the sky.

[By the way, when will Dal’s new song be released?]

└ Not right away, but shouldn’t we expect a few months?

└ I wish he would appear on broadcasts tooㅠㅠ The news has been cut off since Rendezvous

└ That’s why I want him to do music shows with his new song

└ The slogan and goods are all ready, and now all that’s left is the music show… Please… I wish for a music showㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

└ He sings well, the music is good, and he’s popular, but why doesn’t he appear on music shows? ㅅㅂ [Korean slang for ‘f***’] I want to assassinate the PDs [producers]

└ If Dal’s music show schedule is set, I’ll take a long vacation

└ 222 I’ll quit my job

Above all, what they currently want most is the ‘new song’ that the boy mentioned to reporters. It was virtually the only official announcement.

Since No Hae-il has a personal label, they couldn’t expect an official announcement from the company, so it was the only news they knew.

The cafe was full of speculation about the new song and posts hoping to hear news through social media.

Suddenly, a post was uploaded.

[Uh, Dal appeared in Hongdae [a district in Seoul known for its street art and indie music scene]]

└Suddenly at 3 PM???

└Who?

└ Isn’t this another troll? Someone took a picture of the moon (Dal) and uploaded it last time

└ ??? It’s real

A photo of the boy that someone uploaded.

In it, the boy with an electric guitar was standing on stage with other people.

Since the other people were faces they had never seen before, the attention of all the fans was focused solely on the boy.

[Okay, I quit my job]

With that, the fan cafe became a scene of chaos.

#

“What’s our plan for today?”

Han Jin-young, wearing sunglasses, asked.

The bass guitar was tilted towards his head.

“Secretly and swiftly.”

Moon Seo-yeon pulled down her hat.

“But why are you wearing a hat? We know, but this side-.”

“I didn’t wash my hair.”

“Ah.”

Nam Gyu-hwan, who had his long hair roughly tied up, nodded as he took the speaker out of the van.

“But I didn’t know we were really going to do a guerrilla busking [unannounced street performance].”

“Are you not confident?”

Halo’s question made Nam Gyu-hwan laugh challengingly.

As if he didn’t expect to hear those words.

“I’m a professional at busking, even if I’m not at concerts. Should No Hae-il be okay? It’ll be a bit different.”

Han Jin-young chuckled at those words.

Halo also shrugged his shoulders.

He had heard before that busking and concerts were different,

He didn’t expect to hear those words again in a different nuance.

“What are you saying to our great president!”

“Ugh!”

Splat-!

Before Halo could say anything, Moon Seo-yeon hit Nam Gyu-hwan on the back. Nam Gyu-hwan quickly got out of the van before getting hit twice.

“···But is it really okay to do it like this?”

Moon Seo-yeon, who had flashed her hand, stopped and looked back at the boy.

It seemed to her that the preparation was a bit lacking. Even if it was busking.

The songs they had prepared were the songs they had practiced together and No Hae-il’s album.

Always practice, practice, practice.

Moon Seo-yeon, who had spent countless hours until she showed it, wondered if she was the only one who felt strange looking at the group who weren’t nervous at all.

“What if we make a mistake-. O, of course! It’s impossible for No Hae-il to make a mistake, but still, what if we make a mistake and the quality is poor, won’t the audience dislike it? I’m worried it will tarnish the president’s reputation.”

“Hmm.”

Honestly, Halo had never once thought that he would make a mistake.

He wasn’t overly worried that the session would make a mistake either.

But anyway, it seemed like he should say something to Moon Seo-yeon, who was worried that he might cause trouble.

A performance can never be the same.

Even if I do well, there are so many things connected.

From natural disasters to man-made disasters, it is an area that one person cannot control.

But, what if it’s a little different?

In the end, this performance is a stage for him and the many people in that place.

Even if it’s imperfect, the stage we create together is what everyone wants.

“It’s okay to make some mistakes. As long as we create an enjoyable stage for everyone.”

“!”

Again, Halo never thought that the performance he was in would be of poor quality.

“The audience.”

Halo pointed to the people passing by on the streets of Hongdae.

And his finger points to himself.

“And to us too.”

“!”

Then he shrugged his shoulders.

“Besides, I won’t make a mistake, will I?”

The corners of his lips are raised gracefully.

“Because I won’t have time to.”

:

People gathered in an instant.

He hadn’t announced that he would do a surprise busking for No Hae-il, but perhaps that’s why it spread faster through people’s hands and mouths.

Music is heard from somewhere.

The stage square in Hongdae.

A long-haired drummer.

A keyboardist who is a short-haired woman.

A bassist with reggae hair and a seventeen-year-old electric guitarist and vocalist.

It was a very unfamiliar sight, but no one thought it was strange. Because the boy’s voice came through the eardrums along with the fluent performance skills.

[It’s just another day, no different from anyone else]

A sweet and mellow voice.

Arranging the acoustic performance into a band performance, the sound became more diverse, but the comfortable atmosphere of the song did not change much.

The boy closed his eyes and shook his head in the center of the stage.

I’m happy just with the surprise event, but how ticklish is the song.

Even if I don’t use social media, even if I don’t announce the schedule at all, I thought it would be nice if he only sang these songs forever.

‘Ah, I’m happy’

How can 3 PM on a weekday be so happy?

It was like a song in May.

‘Honestly, it’s strange.’

The office worker who had always only stanned [been a dedicated fan of] the center in the idol group thought.

That boy doesn’t have a glamorous appearance like them.

Even in the fan cafe, except for the trolls, they don’t force him to be handsome, but strangely, there is an attraction that makes you want to keep watching.

Above all, the faint smile that he occasionally shows keeps catching my eye. A seventeen-year-old looks like a peer of the opposite sex. There are some kids like that among their peers. A bit mature.

Anyway, I hope he keeps smiling like that.

One fan thought that if there was a fan signing event, she would go and make him smile somehow.

The next song was Hero’s Song.

It continued like a medley.

How did they connect songs with completely opposite atmospheres like a medley? For a moment, people cheered and sang along enthusiastically.

As it is currently the No. 1 song in karaoke, there are almost no people in this place who do not know the lyrics.

[Spread your broken wings

For a brilliant tomorrow]

Everyone stomped their feet together.

Hero’s Song swept through the crowd and spread far away.

‘Crazy, crazy!’

The third song that followed.

I’m hearing it for the first time, but this is-.

The office worker’s eyes widened.

It must be the new song that’s coming out this time

He’s doing a new song showcase here.

They say you can’t be a successful fan, but that’s wrong.

I met my celebrity and listened to a new song, what day is it today?

The office worker felt like she was going to die of happiness.

[I’ll be a lighthouse and shine on you]

Magic is magic.

The boy’s song makes it seem like you can see the night sky in broad daylight.

I can’t sing along, but everyone is mumbling and trying to sing along to the song that is stuck in their ears.

The boy’s song always had a charm that made you want to sing along.

The theme of this song is stars. The office worker wanted to write a post on the fan cafe right away, but she didn’t have time to do anything else, so she stared at the boy with her eyes wide open.

She remembered the cheering stick that she had just made in the fan cafe. The golden color that the fans chose would go very well with this song.

I’ll be a golden lighthouse and light the way for the boy.

The night that seemed like forever was over.

The boy who drank water came out in front of the audience.

The office worker, who had been feeling sorry for a while, captured the boy in her eyes, not knowing that she would see him so close.

“Hello, this is No Hae-il. It seems like I’m greeting you for the first time.”

The boy greeted for the first time.

He didn’t seem nervous and had a very skillful attitude.

“The songs we have prepared are up to here, but is there any other song you would like to hear?”

I don’t know if it’s his stage personality or his celebrity personality, but anyway, it must be his nature. The office worker raised her hand with sparkling eyes.

“Please sing a ballad!”

There were so many stories shared in the fan cafe.

The boy’s actions, the few pieces of information, news, and crumbs.

We talked about so many different things, but there were also wishes like ‘I wish Dal would do ~.’

Among them, the wish with the highest number of votes was-.

That he doesn’t sing love songs with that sweet voice. I thought it would suit him really well.

Songs of various genres poured out.

Most of them were songs I didn’t know, and the songs I knew were…

“!”

Halo’s eyebrows twitched for a moment.

I sang it to my mother, but that didn’t change the fact that it was a love song. Shin Joo-hyuk came to mind, asking what he would do if the fans asked him to sing a love song.

‘I won’t sing it.’

That’s what he said.

Halo pretended not to hear and reached for the electric guitar, looking for other voices.

The duet song that appeared in Rendezvous.

There is only one singer, but there is no problem with it being a duet.

I can sing it alone, or.

Because the many singers in this place will sing it.

Tada dan.

An accompaniment familiar to those who have seen Rendezvous.

With a scream, Halo raised the corners of his lips.

Yes, let’s make it impossible for them to even think about love songs.

That was his plan.

However, the fans’ persistence did not disappear easily. Well, maybe it’s because he showed it more. It was clear to the sharp-eyed people that he was pretending not to hear.

“Please sing Confession!”

Confession! Confession!

I don’t know how these people know the song that I’ve never sung on TV. I’m glad they didn’t ask me to sing other love serenades.

Well, maybe our session doesn’t know it? When I turned around, everyone was already nodding resolutely.

Halo looked forward again and discovered the many wishes directed at him. He picked up the microphone.

“I don’t usually sing love songs…”

Eyes of disappointment.

Sparkling eyes and sighs take their place.

It’s a familiar thing.

Halo thought he would never sing it.

“···But if you want, I’ll only sing one verse.”

This is not it.

“Really, for the last time.”

Wow-!

A shout that pushed away the unwanted feeling rushed in like a wave.

Fluent keyboard sound.

I really wouldn’t have sung it if only one person in the session didn’t know it.

Halo suppressed his embarrassing feelings and opened his mouth.

All night

There’s something I want to say

#

[No Hae-il is so cute]

[He doesn’t sing love songsㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[NoㅋㅋㅋI was wondering why he was pretending not to hear with his teeth clenched]

[When I think about it, No Hae-il is seventeen years old, the time of storm and stressㅋㅋㅋ Love songs aren’t cool, right?]

[But he sang it in the end]

The guerrilla busking became quite a hot topic.

No Hae-il’s music and new songs were all well received, but surprisingly, the biggest reaction came during the encore performance.

In particular, when the video of the boy who pretended not to hear with his teeth clenched and ended up singing it was uploaded, the reaction was that he was cute.

If he had only shown the image of a genius until now, the appearance of a high school student for the first time came as a surprise to people.

, who had been suffering from the few crumbs, was needless to say happy.

While the members of the dark Surfing the Wave were soaked in happiness, Halo received an unexpected message in English.

“···The Midday Show?”