Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 121

#121.

Originally, the teaser was planned for release in mid-January.

However, the schedule was delayed by about a month for a specific reason.

It all started last fall.

Around the time the members wrapped up their activities and successfully completed the photoshoot for the photobook, they were deep in preparations for the album.

***

“Ah, this song is really well-made! I think we can finalize it as is. What do you two think?”

Kijun responded to Lee Jung-yeop’s question.

Dojae nodded, agreeing that he liked it too.

“First, we need to re-record the guide track with the revised version and add the lyrics,” Lee Jung-yeop said.

At Lee Jung-yeop’s words, Dojae and Kijun exchanged a quick glance.

Their eyes sparkled with excitement.

The completed song was slated to be the title track of their next album.

This time, instead of using a song by Lee Jung-yeop or Kijun, they decided to go with an externally sourced track.

This was because they’d received a great song from ‘Bear Jung,’ a Korean-American composer living abroad.

It was a perfect fit for the concept they had in mind.

Not only the three of them but also Planning Team 2 and the other members were enthusiastic about the song.

A song that immediately grabs your attention upon first listen.

It was a rare quality, but Bear Jung’s song possessed it.

Bear Jung had previously written a song for S Class 12, a KHO [Korean Hallyu Organization]-affiliated group.

He was practically a rookie composer, but the song on the S Class 12 album was considered a ‘hidden gem’ among fans.

Anyway, what mattered wasn’t experience or anything else, but ‘the song itself.’

“He seems like someone who’s going to be very successful. He’s really on top of current trends,” Lee Jung-yeop remarked with admiration.

Bear Jung’s song had a hip vibe that Lee Jung-yeop felt he couldn’t quite replicate.

As soon as they decided to use the song, Lee Jung-yeop contacted Bear Jung and spent about a month exchanging messages and emails daily to tailor the song more specifically for MOST.

That’s how the song came to be.

“But about the lyrics… The ones Bear Jung wrote are good, but it feels like there’s too much English,” Lee Jung-yeop pointed out.

“Yes… a bit,” Kijun agreed.

Perhaps because he was a Korean-American who wasn’t completely fluent in Korean, there were a lot of English lyrics, almost like a pop song.

No matter how many English lyrics were typically included in Korean songs, this felt a bit excessive.

“How about Dojae writing some? He seems to be good at writing lyrics. We’ve already talked to Bear Jung about it,” Lee Jung-yeop suggested.

“Me, write the title track lyrics?” Dojae asked.

“Yes. The lyrics you wrote for your own songs are really good. You already participated in the last album too. You’re a pro now, Pro Kang!”

Dojae smiled slightly at Lee Jung-yeop’s playful remark.

Kijun, who would be contributing rap lyrics, also patted Dojae on the shoulder, encouraging him to do well.

There was already a solid foundation laid by Bear Jung.

So it seemed like an easy task, but that’s what made it more difficult.

He had to match the existing style while also adding his own unique touch.

***

Dojae, leaving Lee Jung-yeop’s studio, hummed the melody of the new song as he headed to the practice room.

The thought of writing lyrics filled him with a mix of pressure and a strong desire to succeed.

Today was his only day with a one-on-one vocal lesson, free from other scheduled activities.

Kijun had returned to his studio to work on other songs for the album.

‘I should start preparing the lyrics as soon as the vocal lesson is over,’ Dojae thought as he entered the lesson room.

“Always good to see you, but… you look even better today?” Kang Chang-shik, sitting on the sofa in the lesson room, greeted Dojae.

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes. Is something good happening?”

It seemed his excitement about the new title song was evident on his face.

Dojae answered without hesitation, “The title song work is all done.”

“Oh. I heard from inside that this song is very good.”

“Would you like to listen to it, teacher?”

Kang Chang-shik usually conducted the class in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

He believed that natural skills emerged best when the mind was at ease.

So he always engaged in light conversation with the members before starting the full lesson.

Dojae played the song from his phone.

A fast-beat track filled the room.

Kang Chang-shik folded his arms and listened quietly.

He listened up to the interlude following the first verse.

Dojae, stopping the song at the part leading into the second verse, looked at Kang Chang-shik with eager eyes.

‘He’s only working as a vocal trainer here…’

But in the Daehan Empire [Korea], he was the best singer-songwriter.

So he was as skilled at ‘listening’ to songs as he was at ‘singing’ them.

His evaluations and analyses of songs were unique and insightful.

That’s why he seemed to excel at both singing and teaching.

“How is it?” Dojae asked.

Even though the song was already chosen, Kang Chang-shik’s approval would give him an even stronger sense of confidence.

At Dojae’s question, Kang Chang-shik unfolded his arms and said, “…Oh. It’s good.”

Dojae smiled brightly.

“Team Leader Jung was confident that this time would be another hit, and I think I know why. Something familiar comes to my ears… but it’s also unique.”

“Yes. That’s the strength of this song.”

Even Kang Chang-shik thought the song was good, which heightened Dojae’s expectations for the next album.

Even if the internal evaluation was positive, there were often cases where the external reception was unexpectedly poor.

However, it was rare for a song that had unanimous internal approval to perform poorly externally.

This was natural because achieving such agreement was difficult.

“The sound is used very boldly. But it’s so easy to get used to it.”

‘If it goes well, it might be an even bigger hit than I thought,’ Kang Chang-shik mused, keeping the thought to himself.

However, considering MOST’s trajectory, it seemed like a real possibility.

“I’m looking forward to how the members will fill this song.”

“Thank you.”

Soon, Kang Chang-shik proceeded with the lesson.

It was a pop song that Dojae had been practicing for a while.

Since Dojae’s fundamentals were so solid, Kang Chang-shik focused on teaching him more detailed and technical aspects.

And Dojae absorbed the information and techniques as quickly as they were taught.

Most of the MOST members were the same.

For reference, Heungmin and Kijun, who were rappers…

They took vocal lessons only to the extent that it would help their rapping.

Of course, even in that context, their vocal skills were gradually improving.

“Have you been practicing a lot?”

“Yes. But the part you told me last time… when I apply it, it keeps going flat at the end. I don’t know if I can’t reach that note…”

Seeing Dojae’s serious expression, Kang Chang-shik shook his head and began to explain the technical details.

***

“Hyung, hyung! Have you heard the completed song!”

“Of course. Dojae worked on the song together,” Dojae replied.

“Ah, that’s right.”

As soon as he arrived at the dorm, Louis and Heungmin greeted Dojae.

The two had heard the song that was sent to the group chat.

The other members, Kyusung and Woocheol, had gone to the gym together for personal training.

“The song is so good. I’m so excited! I hope the lyrics come out soon!” Louis exclaimed.

Heungmin also turned on the song and seemed to be thinking about dance moves that would fit the music, shrugging his shoulders.

“Lyrics… I’ll try to write them quickly,” Dojae said.

At Dojae’s words, Louis’ eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, “Oh!”

“Hyung is writing the lyrics?”

“I’m trying to write them for now. Mine might not be chosen.”

Louis and Heungmin shook their heads at Dojae’s words.

“No way, no way!”

“Stop with the humility!”

“You are the king! King Dojae!”

“King! God! General Dojae!”

Both seemed to be in a very good mood and were getting along well.

It was so playful that it was fortunate Woocheol wasn’t there.

It was hard to tell whether they were praising Dojae or teasing him.

Dojae, who had been quietly watching the two, suddenly hardened his expression.

“Don’t… put too much pressure on me.”

The two were taken aback by Dojae’s sudden change in demeanor.

“Ah… sorry, bro,” Louis apologized.

“Uh…? Sorry. You’re writing lyrics for the song… Did I put too much pressure on you?” Heungmin asked, also embarrassed.

Seeing their reactions, Dojae, still with a serious face, said, “I’m not the king, but the son of the king.”

To be exact, he was the son of the emperor.

Dojae could now comfortably joke about being the ‘son of the king.’

Anyway, even if he said this, everyone would think it was a joke.

Of course, it was a joke.

“Uh…?”

“Yes…?”

Dojae smiled, relaxing his expression at Heungmin and Louis’ dumbfounded reactions.

The two, who had been stiff for a moment, belatedly realized that Dojae was joking and shouted, “Ah!”

“Wow, Kang Dojae! You’re playing with your hyungs [older brothers/friends].”

“Ah, hyung! I really thought you were angry for a moment.”

“Well, Dojae wouldn’t get angry about this.”

They were members who praised Dojae every day.

It was sincere, but it was possible because Dojae accepted those praises so casually every time.

Dojae chuckled and said, “Then I’ll go in and really write the lyrics.”

“Okay, okay.”

***

Dojae, entering his room, listened to the song and reviewed ‘Bear Jung’s’ lyrics.

The overall structure of ‘Bear Jung’s’ lyrics would remain unchanged.

“Hmm…” Dojae, listening to the song again from the beginning, tilted his head, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘I definitely thought it was good a while ago.’

In the studio, in the lesson room.

It was a song that everyone thought was good every time they listened to it.

Everyone unanimously agreed the song was good.

‘But why does it feel like this…’

Why did it feel strange?

Dojae continued to focus on the song.

‘Something familiar comes to my ears… but it’s also unique.’

Kang Chang-shik’s review flashed through Dojae’s head.

‘Somewhere… familiar?’

It was possible.

There was a code that was mainly used, and if that code was the same, a similar melody could be born.

Also, a melody that sounds familiar from somewhere else was an advantage that increased the song’s popularity.

Even though he knew that this song was like that in itself, it bothered him now.

‘Perhaps…’

It might be an absurd suspicion, but once he had a bad feeling, he couldn’t ignore it.

He didn’t have much time, but it wasn’t so tight that he couldn’t check this.

Dojae put aside his thoughts on the lyrics for a while.

He turned on the computer and downloaded the original song that Bear Jung had sent at first again.

Then he turned on the program and started dissecting the lines of the original song here and there.

Thump, thump, thump.

The same section repeated continuously in Dojae’s headphones.

Dojae slowed down the song and sped it up.

Dojae’s eyes widened as he analyzed the parts piece by piece.

“Dojae hyung! Are you still working? Aren’t you eating dinner?” Louis’ voice called from outside the room.

Before he knew it, the sun had set and it was evening.

He hadn’t even realized how much time had passed because he was so focused.

“Uh, just a moment. I’ll go out!” Dojae shouted towards the door.

And he stared at the monitor screen.

“This is…”

By slightly modifying the code and speed of the melody in the chorus, it became a song that Dojae had heard before.

It was a song he had heard in the Daehan Empire [Korea].