Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 62

#62.

The conference room was set up with a large monitor displaying a PPT presentation.

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok, Director Lee Jung-yeop, and Ki-joon were seated around the wide conference table.

Team Leader Jung Hee-young, who had just finished delivering the presentation, took her seat as well.

“Hmm.”

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok let out a vague sigh that didn’t clearly indicate agreement or disagreement.

Team Leader Jung Hee-young carefully watched her superior’s expression, trying to gauge the atmosphere.

The reason the four of them had gathered was to finalize the plans for MOST’s next album.

As this was a meeting to make important final decisions, the atmosphere was understandably tense.

“It’s a bit darker than I initially anticipated.”

This meant the album’s direction was different from what he had expected.

Team Leader Jung Hee-young felt a momentary wave of dizziness at Vice President Jung Hyung-seok’s words.

Director Lee Jung-yeop, the album’s general producer, stepped in to speak. “While refining the songs for the album, we felt it would be better to move in a slightly darker direction. Actually, the song we’re planning to use as the title track also turned out that way.”

At Director Lee Jung-yeop’s explanation, Vice President Jung Hyung-seok paused, seeming to contemplate the information before asking, “So, this is the final plan?”

“Yes… if you approve it, Vice President,” Team Leader Jung Hee-young answered cautiously.

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok fell silent again.

The best comeback plan devised by Planning Team 2 was to launch the comeback in early April, coinciding with a fan meeting.

It was a comprehensive plan that considered minimizing the hiatus, broadcasting a reality show, holding a fan meeting, and avoiding comeback dates with other major artists.

They had put a lot of thought into releasing the album on schedule.

Even so, the entire plan could be overturned with a single word from someone higher up.

It wasn’t for nothing that fans often complained when comebacks were delayed.

‘When I was at Seonyul, things were overturned all the time,’ Team Leader Jung Hee-young thought, recalling those stressful memories.

At Seonyul Entertainment, CEO Ahn, who was well-known to the public, held all the decision-making power and often changed everything.

Even projects that the staff had prepared for months were often scrapped because CEO Ahn didn’t give his final approval.

If they had to start preparing from scratch, the schedule would inevitably be delayed.

‘The schedule is so tight… If we have to redo the final plan, from song revisions to styling changes… an early April comeback will be impossible.’ Team Leader Jung Hee-young thought, swallowing a sigh.

However, that didn’t mean she wanted to rush the comeback with inadequate preparation.

‘Vice President Jung isn’t like Seonyul’s CEO Ahn, overturning things for no reason based on a whim…’

That’s why she hoped even more that Vice President Jung Hyung-seok would accept the final plan.

‘Vice President Jung has good judgment, too. I’ll feel relieved once he gives the okay.’ Team Leader Jung Hee-young really liked this concept.

Even within Planning Team 2, there were initially some concerns, but everyone soon understood the vision.

Vice President Jung Hyuk-seok, who seemed to be organizing his thoughts, finally spoke. “MOST’s debut album had the image of unique youths constantly radiating energy.”

“Yes.”

“From the beginning, when we planned MOST, we were thinking of shaping the album concept according to the growth of the MOST members.”

“Yes. So, this album is about those ‘unique youths’ from the debut album who shouted ‘I’m different’ and dreamed of various worlds, inevitably encountering and wandering in the real world…”

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok seemed to be reviewing the final plan, going back to the initial concept.

Team Leader Jung Hee-young added explanations to match his train of thought, continuing the conversation. “Broadly speaking, we decided to depict wandering youth. Up to that point, well, everything was decided.”

Team Leader Jung Hee-young nodded.

“So, I was initially thinking of a more powerful and rough feeling. A rebellious image. We can project a stronger image while the rookie feeling is still alive.”

At first, Team Leader Jung Hee-young had simply thought that way too.

However, the direction changed while talking with Ki-joon, who was working on the song.

“But the result feels a bit down? It’s also depressing. I’m worried about whether it’s okay for a rookie to have this kind of image, whether there will be demand for it.”

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok’s concerns were valid.

Idols usually pursued a bright and cheerful feeling, or a powerful and intense feeling.

Ki-joon stepped up to address Vice President Jung Hyung-seok’s concerns. “It’s true that it feels depressing… but I thought this was what real wandering youth was like.”

“Hmm?”

“Whether they have dreams or not, whether they think of themselves as special or not, when they encounter the world and are frustrated… they can’t always be strong. They’re anxious, broken… I thought it was a fragile feeling.”

That was what Ki-joon had said to Team Leader Jung Hee-young when they first discussed the concept of ‘wandering youth.’

At Ki-joon’s words, the motif of the concept became ‘flower petals that seem so fragile they could tear at any moment.’

“Students, or those who have just entered society, all have that anxiety. I think many will sympathize,” Team Leader Jung Hee-young added to Ki-joon’s words.

“Initially, there were concerns within our team as well about going with such a dark image.”

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok gestured for her to continue speaking.

“But we thought that this was the direction to truly capture the members’ growth in the album and gain the sympathy of the same generation. Confronting the world, being strong… that’s a story that idols have been telling for a while now, rather than a story specifically about youth…”

“…….”

“We also thought that while we can create cheerful or strong images later, this is the only time the members can express the anxiety and fragility of this period.”

And the message they ultimately wanted to convey was positive.

Youth is like a flower, fragile but therefore beautiful, and shining with a deeper light when swaying together.

“I fully understand what you mean,” Vice President Jung Hyung-seok nodded slightly.

It was already in the presentation, and he thought the intention itself was excellent.

It was also a good plan for capturing current [trendy] sensibilities.

“Talking about it, I was thinking too narrowly, only confining myself to the image of an idol. Even though I said the concept was wandering ‘youth.'” Vice President Jung Hyung-seok quickly acknowledged his narrow perspective.

Even so, he added one last point. “Then the important thing is the song.”

The key was whether they could capture that concept in the title track.

At that, Director Lee Jung-yeop and Ki-joon exchanged glances and smiled slightly.

“Fortunately, we finished working on it last night… so we’re glad we can play the completed song for you,” Director Lee Jung-yeop said, connecting the laptop to a small Bluetooth speaker and playing the song.

Soon, a melody surrounded by mysterious sound effects was combined with Do-jae’s pleasant baritone.

Lee Jung-yeop and Ki-joon had worked together to refine the song that Do-jae had arranged, and Do-jae had sung the guide [demo version].

The expressions of those listening to the song were quite serious.

It was a completely different emotional song from MOST’s previous work.

After a while, silence filled the conference room as the song ended.

“What do you think, Vice President?” Director Lee Jung-yeop asked confidently.

Lee Jung-yeop had written the central melody of this song.

He had many hit songs, but his specialty was still ballads.

He was best at creating emotional melodies.

Of course, MOST wasn’t a ballad group, so that alone wasn’t enough.

Ki-joon, whose main genres were hip-hop and dance, added melodies before and after, and added beats, completely transforming the song.

Like their previous hits, the high-pitched parts seemed to be mindful of MOST’s two vocalists, giving strength to the song.

But that alone wasn’t enough either.

The song itself was perfect, but it couldn’t be said that it perfectly suited MOST.

The feeling wasn’t of tears flowing because of sadness due to darkness, but of tears flowing because of being blinded by bright light.

That was the feeling they wanted, but it wasn’t coming across well.

That’s when Ki-joon recommended Do-jae.

Ki-joon played Lee Jung-yeop the version of the previous song that Do-jae had been inspired by.

The way he understood and digested the song was amazing.

He knew how to refine the song with his own sensibility.

So, they entrusted Do-jae with the arrangement of this song as well, and Do-jae’s touch raised the song to another dimension once again.

“It’s good.”

“…….”

“Amazing,” Vice President Jung Hyung-seok said with an astonished expression.

Director Lee Jung-yeop had the same impression.

It was good, and it was amazing.

“The song has become more diverse as harmonies are layered and various instruments are used in the right places. Thanks to that, it’s become a song that expresses a precarious feeling but never falls flat.”

The song had become one that was easy to perform.

Vice President Jung Hyung-seok, whose face had been stiff, relaxed and let out a short sigh at Director Lee Jung-yeop’s words, which accurately captured his impressions.

“There was a reason why you were all confident. Everyone.”

Smiles appeared on the faces of the three people at Vice President Jung Hyung-seok’s acknowledgment.

“Let’s go with this. I don’t want to be a fool who doesn’t use this song as the title track.”

Even if the concept was a bit challenging as an idol group, the important thing was the song anyway.

A singer is fine as long as the song is good.

That was the belief that Vice President Jung Hyung-seok held.

Of course, luck had to follow.

The fact that luck was already following MOST had been proven by the two rookie awards they had received.

“Kang Do-jae also worked on it, I heard,” Vice President Jung Hyung-seok asked Lee Jung-yeop for confirmation before leaving the conference room.

When Lee Jung-yeop nodded, Vice President Jung Hyung-seok revealed a meaningful smile.

***

Once the title track was approved, album preparation went smoothly.

Recording schedules for the title track and B-sides were set one after another.

For the recording, the members focused on vocal lessons for a while.

Even after the lessons, Louis continued to repeat his part.

“I have to bloom a flower- Yeah, eh, eh.”

The part where he bent the note was difficult.

Vocal trainer Kang Chang-sik also gave him homework to practice this part a little more.

“Hmm…. I think it would be better to lower the note a little more there,” Louis sighed as Gyu-sung pointed it out.

“Too difficult! It’s too difficult. I want to do well.”

Louis quickly grinned as if he had never sighed when Do-jae encouraged him. “I can do it, I guess. Anyway, the song is really good. Director Jung-yeop is a genius, but Ki-joon hyung and Do-jae hyung…. both of them must be real geniuses. Complete geniuses.”

That was what Louis had been saying until his mouth was worn out since the first time they played the title track.

Of course, all the members liked the title track very much.

As it was a song with strong vocals, all four vocalists were eager to digest the song well in any way possible.

You could tell just by looking at Woo-cheol, who would collapse after practice, continuing to practice.

Do-jae smiled with satisfaction.

At that time, the practice room door opened and Jung Gil-joo entered.

“Louis. Come quickly! We have to go.”

“Ah. That’s right!”

Louis was going to have a special stage at the upcoming KVS ‘Gayo Festival’ [KVS Music Festival].

He was nervous about his first solo schedule, but once the title track came out, his mind was all about that song.

“I’ll be back!” Louis greeted and followed Jung Gil-joo.

As soon as Louis opened the door and left, Woo-cheol jumped up from his seat.

“Hyungs! Everyone, please gather around!”

“What is it? What is it?” Heung-min answered with an annoyed expression, and Woo-cheol shouted once more as if he was frustrated. “Ah, everyone, hurry up and gather around! I have to say it when Louis isn’t here.”

“Louis…. when he’s not here?” Heung-min asked back.

Everyone gathered around Woo-cheol with the same question.