A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 31

I practiced the eight songs over and over.

Although I had chosen playing the guitar as a personal talent during the agency interviews, presenting so many different songs and memorizing the chords was challenging.

I closed my eyes and practiced as if it were the real thing, singing into the standing microphone.

I imagined the prepared stage in front of Gangnam Station Exit 8, and the countless spectators watching me.

I sang:

“I Only Know You”

“I’m in Love”

“Cupid shooting arrows at you”

“Now come to me”

“I’m ready for you”

I focused on highlighting the strengths of my voice in each phrase.

As arranged by PD [Production Director] Lee Jun-hyuk, I incorporated the advantages of my soulful yet coolly explosive vocals into the acoustic feel.

As I sang, I reflected on how different my singing was compared to my first debut.

Back then, true to the beast-idol concept [a K-pop concept emphasizing powerful performances and masculine image], I sang live while performing difficult dances.

Singing it in an acoustic version, I could feel the underlying complexity of the song.

On one hand, I loved this song so much that I regretted it hadn’t become more famous back then.

Starting with the first song, I sang them in order.

After singing all eight songs, I drank water and was about to practice the song where I had a slight voice crack and the song where the pitch dropped by about half a pitch when I heard someone knocking on the door.

“Yes, come in!”

I had a feeling it would be the judges.

I had a hunch that one of them, who was a mentor in the previous competition but is now a trainer and judge, had come to my room.

My hunches rarely go wrong.

Honestly, Ocean’s visit was unexpected. A senior with 25 years in the music industry had visited!

“Hello! I’m contestant number 23!”

“No, you don’t have to greet me so formally. Haha… sit over there.”

I took a seat.

Ocean sat next to me.

“I came because I remembered that I had high expectations in the last competition, but you didn’t show a stage that lived up to those expectations. The other judges praised you so much, so I was curious.”

“I will work hard to show you a better stage!”

“But seeing you holding a guitar, I guess you’re planning to show an acoustic or folk song-like stage?”

I nodded at Ocean’s words.

“I’m preparing such a stage. I also thought that guitar and singing should be the basics for busking [street performing].”

The camera crew was zooming in on my face.

I’m glad I put on sunscreen before coming to the practice room.

Since the camera is on until 10 PM, it’s better to show a slightly made-up appearance than a bare face as much as possible.

There are so many times I get a close-up like this.

“Um, can I listen to a song?”

“Yes! I’ll let you listen to my first debut song, ‘I Only Know You’!”

“Oh… I’ll look forward to it.”

I felt like I had a load on my shoulders at those words, but I decided to believe that I could do well.

If I don’t believe in myself, who will believe in me!

La la la la

Cupid shooting arrows at you

Come to me

I’m ready

You are the only one who can have my love

I only know you

I only know you

I played the guitar and sang, imagining the feelings of a person in love as much as possible.

In my head, I was curious about Ocean’s reaction to this song.

After the song ended, Ocean had a serious expression on his face.

What is it?

Was the song not good?

Or is it so good that he’s making that expression?

“Um, it’s a bit ambiguous.”

“Yes?”

Ocean gave me an answer to my question.

“The song has been arranged well enough. The acoustic feel is good too. I also thought that this song could be arranged like this.”

“Yes! But what is ambiguous about it?”

I asked politely.

“I wish it was more powerful. This song is probably… going to be the first song, right? As much as it was the song you sang during your first debut.”

“That’s right! I decided to make it the first song!”

“Considering that, it’s too soft. You also need to put more power into the guitar performance in the chorus. If you make up for those points, it could be a better song.”

“…Ah! Thank you!”

That was one of the things I was worried about.

Whether to play the first song with impact, or to continue acoustically and softly.

“I’ll listen to the second song and give you additional comments.”

At Ocean’s words, I immediately played and sang the second song.

The second song had clear control of dynamics.

Glancing at Ocean’s expression, he had an expression as if his heart was 시원하게 뻥 뚫렸다는 듯한 [뚫렸다는 듯한 (ttulryeotdaneun deushan): as if something blocked was cleared out].

Ah, does he mean to play the first song with this kind of feeling?

I started to get a sense of it.

Before moving on to the second verse, Ocean told me that I didn’t have to play the song anymore.

“This is it! What I was talking about. If this is revealed in the first song, you’ll be able to get a better audience response. If you’ve only shown the charm of an idol until now, and the charm as a singer has been divided, you’ll be able to complete a great song through dynamic control like the second song.”

“Is there anything else lacking?”

“Hmm, I just came because I was curious about contestant number 23. If I say more here, it seems like my subjectivity will be more mixed in the judging, so I’ll refrain from speaking. Although I wasn’t your mentor, I expect contestant number 23 to achieve very good results.”

“Thank you for the positive feedback!”

I felt energized after hearing Ocean’s words.

I felt like the busking at Gangnam Station Exit 8 would be a success.

It’s such an honor to have the most senior judge and a musician with skills to match, tell me that.

Ocean got up from his seat.

“Audiences like 쫄깃한 [jjolgit-han: chewy, but in this context, it means something that keeps you hooked or on the edge of your seat] things. Running at a constant speed may be safe, but it would be better to captivate the audience more. That’s all I have to say. I’ll be on my way.”

“Thank you so much for your kind words! I won’t forget it!”

“Haha… I’m looking forward to a good future.”

As Ocean left, the staff closely covering Ocean also left.

But the staff filming me remained.

The staff asked me how I felt about Ocean’s visit.

“I’m so grateful that a senior in the music industry came and gave me such good advice.”

“It was quite positive feedback, what do you expect in the future?”

“If I add feedback to my subjective feelings, I think I can create a good stage! I’ve gained courage!”

With my fists clenched, I smiled with joy.

The staff briefly turned off the camcorder and congratulated me, saying they were looking forward to this stage as well.

* * *

I grabbed the guitar and played the chords until blisters formed on my hands.

It was past 10 PM, but I couldn’t stop practicing because I thought I might be busking tomorrow.

All the cameras in the dorms and practice rooms were turned off.

But the 10 participants, including me, were not stopping their practice.

I was wondering if I should go to Hyoseop’s practice room, but Hyoseop happened to open the door and come in.

“Hyungnim [term used by a younger male to address an older male he is close to]!”

“Hyoseop-ah, did your practice go well?”

“I felt like my voice would be gone if I did more here, so I stopped and came to hang out.”

“You have to save your voice. I took breaks in between too. I practiced mainly playing the guitar.”

“Hyungnim, seeing the blisters on your hands, it seems like you’ve been doing a lot.”

“I guess so. The image that comes to mind when you think of busking is playing the guitar rather than playing MR [music recorded] and singing, right? I’m going to keep that rule. It’s not like I can’t play the guitar, and my different side might be imprinted on people a lot.”

“Ah… When my previous company told me to play an instrument, I should have practiced some kind of melody instrument like this. I only practiced drums because it didn’t suit me well, so I can’t take the drums out and practice.”

“If you play the drums and busk in Yeonnam-dong, it seems like it would attract quite a bit of attention?”

At my words, Hyoseop laughed loudly.

“Oh, don’t even mention it. I’d be lucky if people didn’t file complaints saying it’s too noisy.”

“I guess so. Come to think of it, your voice sounds a bit hoarse now, shouldn’t you go to bed early?”

Hyoseop’s voice was about a tone lower than usual.

It seemed like it was hoarse from practicing singing a lot. It seems like he strained his voice.

“I was going to go in and sleep soon anyway. But everyone’s not sleeping. So I was just looking at them, then I wanted to say hello to you first before going to sleep.”

“We’re going to see each other in the dorm anyway, why are you trying to say hello and leave? Go and rest quickly. You’re going to ruin your condition.”

At my words, Hyoseop stretched out and said he would go in.

After Hyoseop left, I looked at the other practice rooms.

While I was talking to Hyoseop, some of the participants must have gone to rest.

But there was a room that wasn’t turned off.

It was contestant number 41, Sister Seon-ah from Hongdae, who performed a duet stage under the same mentor as me.

Knock knock knock─

“Come in.”

I heard Sister Seon-ah’s voice and went inside.

“Noonim [term used by a younger male to address an older female he is close to], are you still practicing?”

Sister Seon-ah was standing with an electric guitar and sat down.

“Yes. Since I’m going to perform in the place I want, I’m going to put a lot of effort into practicing. But is it because it’s the first time we’ve had a proper conversation since the camera turned off? It feels awkward to call you Noonim.”

“You’ll be hearing it a lot from now on, Noonim. I’m really curious about the Hongdae goddess stage.”

“Later, when our band reunites after this broadcast is over, I’ll invite you then, so be sure to come and see it.”

“If you give me that opportunity, I’d be grateful.”

“Come to think of it, Do-hyun is also with a guitar? Seeing you holding an acoustic guitar, how charmingly are you going to come out with that voice… I have to prepare well for this?”

“Hey, it’ll be weaker than the Hongdae goddess. The Hongdae goddess will show her true worth, so I’ll have to prepare well instead.”

“I’m looking forward to Do-hyun’s stage. I’m electric, Do-hyun is acoustic guitar. We’re both going to play instruments, so let’s see what kind of stage we’ll complete.”

At Sister Seon-ah’s words, I shouted fighting vigorously.

Sister Seon-ah, who smiled at those words, said that she would try to win with a higher ranking in the next competition.

“I won’t lose either! I’m going to let you know that this is a great stage!”

“Okay. It’s quite fun to be able to compete so enjoyably with music. Let’s look forward to each other’s stages!”

“Thank you! I’m going to go in and sleep now! See you tomorrow!”

I said goodbye to Sister Seon-ah and came out.

On the way back, a 띠이이잉 [sound of an alert] sound rang.

It’s almost 11 PM now.

Is a joint alarm going off?

Then I heard the familiar voice of Ha Yeon-ho.

[Attention all participants. Please gather in the auditorium now!]

The time has finally come.