The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 265

< Verse 41. Streamline >

***

‘The X Factor’ had a format where the gap between recording and broadcasting was gradually decreasing.

Because of this, the gap between recording and broadcasting was more than four weeks for the first audition, but for the second audition, the gap was a little less than two weeks.

The reason ‘The X Factor’ has such an irregular format is because the fourth audition is broadcast live. Live broadcasts were essential for the fourth audition because real-time voting by viewers would be reflected.

For this reason, the gap between broadcasting and recording was only ten days for the third audition, where the number of participants was narrowed down to 32.

Therefore, the moment the last episode of boot camp was broadcast, the 32 participants were at the Judges’ Houses.

The third audition, Judges’ Houses, was literally an invitation of the participants to the judges’ homes. However, these weren’t the judges’ actual homes, but rather resorts with complex show business sponsorship deals.

One of these places was Santa Barbara, a resort city in California.

“This house is amazing.”

“Whose house do you think it is? Looking at the furniture, it seems a bit feminine, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm, it does seem that way.”

“Besides, all the participants gathered here are women. Maybe it’s a female judge’s house?”

“Could it be Kelly Rowland’s house?”

“Sounds like wishful thinking to me?”

Hime joked to Melody.

Since Paula Abdul, a former cheerleader, always pointed out that Melody shouldn’t hide her talent, Melody secretly hoped that if it were a female judge, Kelly Rowland would choose her.

However, the mentor who appeared shortly after was Paula Abdul.

“Welcome, everyone. Welcome to my resort.”

Paula Abdul greeted the participants with a happy smile.

“Did everyone have a meal?”

“Yes.”

“Then, shall we have tea time together and carry out the first mission?”

“Mission?”

“It’s nothing much, just watching ‘The X Factor,’ which will be broadcast in about thirty minutes, together.”

At Paula Abdul’s words, some participants let out shrill screams. They were the ones who hadn’t watched ‘The X Factor’ broadcast yet for various reasons.

However, a mission was a mission.

Shortly after, eight participants gathered in front of the TV.

“The commercials are long, aren’t they? But watch them carefully. The prize money that one of you will receive comes from these commercials. And that pizza is delicious.”

Everyone burst into laughter at Paula Abdul’s joke.

Then Melody asked.

“Abdul, can I ask how the other participants were divided?”

“The other participants? Just like I chose eight people for the Girls category, everyone chose eight participants that fit their category. L.A. Reid has Black Music, Kelly Rowland has Vocal, and Simon Cowell has Over 30s.”

“I see.”

“Why? Does Melody want to go to another group?”

“No, it’s not that. I was just wondering if there’s a group with nine people.”

The participants showed curiosity at Melody’s words.

In fact, they were convinced that FiveSix would be given another chance, whether it was through a repechage [a second chance for eliminated contestants] or an additional pass at the judges’ discretion.

Although history changed, Melanie Amaro, the winner of the original <2011 X Factor US Season 1>, was also someone who was eliminated in the third preliminary round and then revived.

Also, it was a more common occurrence than expected in audition programs such as the UK version of ‘The X Factor UK’ or ‘Pop Idol’.

Therefore, the participants thought that FiveSix would enter the Judges’ Houses. Putting aside all the complicated thoughts, it was a natural thing to think about the buzz that FiveSix had.

However, Paula Abdul couldn’t readily answer Melody’s question.

“I think it would be better to answer after watching this broadcast.”

The moment Paula Abdul said that, the commercial ended and the last episode of boot camp began.

‘The X Factor’ was definitely interesting. It was interesting even for the participants who knew all the results and processes.

It was amazing that they were simply singing, but it was being made into such a story.

The participants wore proud expressions when their stage was satisfactory, and they wore regretful expressions when a close friend was eliminated.

Before they knew it, they were deeply immersed in the program.

And finally, the highlight was broadcast.

-The title of the song is Scot.

-It’s a song called Lonely Road.

It was the battle between Hime and FiveSix.

Hime’s Scot and FiveSix’s Lonely Road were highlighted from various angles.

Flashback scenes appeared in the middle of the performances, and the reactions of the participants were also inserted. The judges’ comment audio, presumed to have been recorded after the performance, was also played.

Also, the long silence that started in the middle of FiveSix’s performance surprised the participants.

‘Were we this quiet?’

Certainly, FiveSix’s stage was amazing. It was amazing on the spot, but watching it on TV was just as good.

As the stage on the screen ended, the judges’ agony began.

-Unfortunately, FiveSix has to be eliminated. We clearly established the premise of popularity, not musicality, when organizing this round.

-But there were no cases that exceeded the popularity of the standards we set. FiveSix is eliminated? The entire United States, no, the entire world watching ‘The X Factor’ will laugh.

‘Of course.’

Hime thought it was natural that the judges were not comparing ‘Hime’ and ‘FiveSix,’ but rather talking about Sanghyun’s stage.

No one would believe it, but Hime wanted Sanghyun to win after the stage. She was rather embarrassed that she had won.

The judges on the screen had a long meeting amidst fierce conflict. After that, officials from EMI Music and Sony Music were also shown giving their opinions.

After a long time, Simon Cowell finally announced the results.

What broke the short silence that followed the announcement of the results was L.A. Reid’s question.

-FiveSix, how are you feeling right now?

-I want to go back to the studio as soon as possible.

-Why?

-I felt something while performing this time, and I want to feel it properly one more time.

-Why do you think you were eliminated?

-Well, it would be a lie if I said I had no regrets, but Hime’s stage was really great. I thought it wouldn’t be strange if either of us won.

Then Simon Cowell opened his mouth.

-FiveSix. The reason we eliminated you is a bit cowardly. Maybe you’ll feel bad. Is it okay to say it?

-I respect the judges’ decisions. Feel free to say anything.

-Thank you.

Simon Cowell, who had been organizing his thoughts for a moment, opened his mouth.

-FiveSix. You are better than any rapper I have ever met. This is not just a polite greeting. If you know which musicians I have worked with, you will know how much this compliment means.

-I know. Thank you.

-Especially today’s stage was really amazing. I said during the first preliminary round that your rap existed in an unknown realm, right?

-To be exact, you said it was an unknown factor.

-Please overlook the minor details because it’s to match the rhyme. Anyway, I’m going to cancel what I said during the first preliminary round that your rap was in an unknown realm. Your rap, to quote your lyrics, ‘Got a god of things’.

The participants let out quiet exclamations.

Cowell, who had hosted and produced numerous audition programs, had never given such high praise.

-But the problem is that the public who accepts music is human. Your rap is complete. There will be no more stages that the public feels are better than today’s stage.

-Are you saying that my growth has ended?

-No. That’s not true. The four of us judges think that you will run towards higher ground. However, I think you have already reached the limit of the feeling you can give to the public. That’s why we chose Hime. Hime is lacking compared to you in terms of rap, but she has the potential to give the public a better feeling.

Cowell’s words meant that Sanghyun’s rap had reached the peak of ‘good feeling’ that the public could accept as it is now.

It was the same whether Sanghyun had a level of 100 and conveyed 100 to the public, or had a level of 1000 and conveyed 100 to the public.

On the other hand, it also meant that Hime could not reach the level of 1000 like Sanghyun, but she had the potential to create songs with better feelings of 101, 102, and 103.

Sanghyun could understand Cowell’s words.

If the public were asked to score his and Hime’s stages, the scores would be similar. Perhaps a story like this would come out.

‘FiveSix’s stage was amazing, and Hime’s stage was really good.’

Amazing praise does not necessarily lead to favor. Just as the person who plays the piano best in the world is not the person who makes the most money with the piano in the world.

However, Sanghyun understood the judges’ decision, but he did not agree with it.

He thought that excellent music might not necessarily be good music, but excellent music could be good music. And Sanghyun had the desire to make his music that way and the confidence that he could do it.

Sanghyun greeted with these thoughts in mind.

-Thank you. It was fun.

Sanghyun’s greeting felt sincere to everyone.

In fact, Sanghyun thought that he would not have discovered his own thing if he had not appeared on ‘The X Factor’.

The scene changed with Sanghyun’s back as he went down the stage.

The following screen showed the judges’ 모습 [Japanese: appearance] that everyone could have predicted.

It was the judges who gathered to organize the groups at the Judges’ Houses two days after the boot camp, unanimously talking about FiveSix’s return.

-Everyone thought a lot about his stage, right?

-Yes. I couldn’t help it. I still don’t think FiveSix can appeal to the public more than Lonely Road, but I had a new thought.

-What thought?

-If the Lonely Road stage appealed 100 to the public, I thought that maybe that 100 score could win.

-You mean······?

-Yes. If that happens, eliminating FiveSix would be a very foolish choice. Imagine if the Top 2 stage is less attractive than Lonely Road.

-It would be terrible and embarrassing.

-Yes. I don’t know how far FiveSix will go, but as long as he is in the lineup, FiveSix’s stage will be the standard for the participants. Since he is an opponent that cannot be broken with skill, you will have to take out other weapons.

-Hime showed that weapon.

-That’s right. Scot was a really good stage.

That’s how the judges chose FiveSix’s return. And L.A. Reid formed a group of 9 people, including FiveSix.

But there was something they forgot.

That the choice was not only theirs.

“Well… I’m sorry for making you come all this way for nothing, but I’m fine, Reid.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I have no intention of returning to ‘The X Factor’.”

Disappointment crossed Reid’s face, who had made a surprise visit to LA without informing Sanghyun.

“Are you dissatisfied with the judging?”

“No? No. Everything I said that day was true. I just mean that there is no need to participate in ‘The X Factor’.”

“Did you get a $5 million commercial?”

L.A. Reid joked as if trying to organize his thoughts.

However, Sanghyun took the joke seriously.

“You know, I didn’t participate in ‘The X Factor’ because of the prize money.”

Sanghyun took out his cell phone and handed it to Reid.

Reid’s eyes caught the name ‘EMINEM’ engraved on the caller list.

‘Eminem?’

In an instant, L.A. Reid thought of all sorts of things.

Looking at FiveSix’s expression, he seemed to really want to collaborate with Eminem, and he couldn’t believe that he would completely give up $5 million.

And between these two thoughts, the name ‘Hadel Raines’ flashed through his mind.

The founder of LA Metal.

A genius of promotion.

‘Oh my god. If this is Hadel’s idea, it’s really a divine move.’

FiveSix clearly had things he gained and lost while appearing on ‘The X Factor’.

What he gained was, of course, public recognition. A tremendous amount of it.

What he lost was the image of a proper underground rapper. Despite suffering quite a bit in LA, he could not get rid of the label of ‘commercial rapper’ due to his appearance on ‘The X Factor’.

But what if he refuses to return now because of his collaboration with Eminem?

Whether it’s true or not, the reason FiveSix has been saying for appearing on ‘The X Factor’ will be sincerely accepted by the public.

A golden opportunity to maintain public recognition and get rid of the label of commercial rapper.

Moreover, the reason he was eliminated from ‘The X Factor’ was because he was too far from commerciality. There was no more perfect condition than this.

‘But it’s not easy to think about. Because there’s $5 million at stake.’

L.A. Reid asked Sanghyun after dismissing the cameramen and staff.

“Is this Hadel’s idea?”

“Pardon? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about rejecting the return offer.”

“No.”

But it wasn’t. All decisions regarding ‘The X Factor’ were being made by Sanghyun.

L.A. Reid realized that FiveSix in front of him had made a divine choice, whether he had thought of everything and made this choice, or whether his only purpose was to collaborate with Eminem.

‘Mainstreamline.’

Streamline means a streamlined shape, which means a design designed to receive less resistance. But in reality, it is more often used to mean simplifying something.

It originated from the fact that a new train designed in 1934 reduced air resistance by streamlining the car body and shortened the required time by more than 13 hours.

I don’t know who started the word first, but in the show business world, the word Mainstreamline was used to refer to overnight stars. It is a combination of mainstream and streamline, meaning that the process of going to the major has been simplified.

However, L.A. Reid didn’t really like this word.

He thought that overnight stars mostly rise by luck, so it didn’t fit with the word ‘design’.

But now this word was essential.

Because L.A. Reid was reminded of a powerful train running towards the mainstream in Sanghyun’s 모습 [Japanese: appearance].

Not a train that was born by luck and could not run for a long time, but a streamlined train that was very strongly designed.

< Verse 41. Streamline > end

ⓒ