Chapter 135
by Novelpia from Temu
Chapter 135
Raise Three Idols Well And They’ll Launch a Confession Attack.
Episode 135: Track 05 Albatross.
‘The intro is good—no, it’s more than good; it’s excellent. The composer is Oh James, and he truly lives up to his name.’
Choi Jeongwoo was known for his belief that perfection didn’t exist in creative works.
Because of this, he often sought out negative aspects when reviewing works and was notorious for his sharp criticisms among idol fans. However, in the case of Girl Revolution’s melody and session, he gave a surprisingly favorable evaluation.
It was no surprise, as he couldn’t find any valid criticism in the track ‘Traitor.’
That was the quality of Oh James, one of the top figures in the industry.
‘But just because a song is good, doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to succeed. In the end, the key is what kind of charm the idol has. Of course, it can rise, but if it’s a one-hit wonder with a good song, it’s impossible to build a proper fandom. And if you can’t build a fandom, it’s like receiving a death sentence as an idol. Ah, I hope Taeyang’s company does well.’
Amid these concerns, the intro ended, and the song finally began.
The song began with Han Gyeoul’s clear and pure vocals.
‘Oh, pretty good…’
‘Empire?’
It was then that Choi Jeongwoo realized what the main concept of Girl Revolution’s member outfits was.
Each member had undergone bold reforms, making it hard to recognize their original looks, wearing street-style fashion such as crop tops and halter necks. But with accessories like grooming, shoulder pads, fringe epaulette, and Sam Brown belts, it became clear that the concept of the outfits was uniform-like.
The concept had darker colors, which could be seen as over-the-top cosplay, but the considerable money invested in the styling made it look charming, giving off a street yet girlish vibe.
And the outfits, each with its own strong color, combined with the complicated yet glamorous and stable choreography, added harmony and charm to the vocal line.
‘Definitely good. Vocals, dance, visuals, everything. But the song feels a bit too fairy-tale-like, doesn’t it? It’s not a great idea if we’re thinking about mass appeal.’
Having listened to and analyzed thousands of songs for his reviews, this sense of unfamiliarity felt like uniqueness or freshness to him, but he was aware that it was far from the typical mainstream song.
‘Has the track changed?’
And as if it had sensed his concerns, the song shifted.
It wasn’t just the track that had changed. The choreography, which previously featured groovy moves, and the session, which had a feeling of solid low-end build-up, had become rougher and more addictive.
The track’s color, which could be called the killing part, was now shining through with intensity.
The melody, gently crossing the well-mixed pizzicato in a minor scale, and the chorus of the members over the rich bass trap beat, dragged the song forward in a desperate yet enchanting manner.
And in the returning highlight, Yoo Gaeul’s vocals, which could easily be called genius, finally exploded in this song.
“…”
Everyone stopped what they were doing, including fans and reporters, and stared in awe at the overwhelming talent.
“That was ‘Traitor’ by Girl Revolution.”
The song, which felt like it lasted only an instant, ended, and when they came to their senses, their stage was already over.
Choi Jeongwoo clapped unconsciously.
Normally, in a press showcase, even if idols perform high-quality music videos, teasers, or act cute, the atmosphere remains silent with nothing but the clicking of camera shutters and the sound of keyboards.
Even if a passionate performance is presented, there’s no applause. Reporters usually have to be careful not to upset the artists, unless they’re at one of the three major broadcasting stations.
However, contrary to this usual perception, the showcase hall was filled with the sound of applause from reporters.
A junior, clapping with excitement and a bright expression, asked Choi Jeongwoo.
“What did you think, Senior Jeongwoo?”
At the junior’s question, Choi Jeongwoo clicked his tongue and gave his summary.
“These girls are definitely going to rise.”
“…Um, Producer, I think the package has arrived.”
Yoon Seoa, a member of Alcest, whose official debut was just around the corner, carefully spoke to Cheon Jonghoon, the main producer at SS.
Cheon Jonghoon checked the package that Yoon Seoa handed him, and roughly accepted it before speaking without emotion.
“Yoon Seoa, do you have time for this? Have you finished all the personal training scheduled for today?”
Under Cheon Jonghoon’s sudden pressure, Yoon Seoa quickly responded with confidence.
“Yes! I came out two hours early this morning and finished it all.”
“Then go back and do another cycle.”
“Yes! I’ll do that!”
Seeing Yoon Seoa quickly unbuckle and put on her training jacket to begin her session, Cheon Jonghoon sighed and added.
“Don’t do vocal training. Right now, taking care of your voice is more important.”
Yoon Seoa, who smiled at his words, responded once more.
“Yes, I understand!”
With an energetic response, Yoon Seoa disappeared to do additional training.
“I still don’t know if it was the right decision to make her part of Alcest.”
Lily, Coco, Amy, Yoon Jeong, and finally Han Gyeoul. That was the image of the perfect five-member Alcest that Cheon Jonghoon had envisioned.
However, due to a series of events led by Seon Taeyang, the plan was ruined, and he had to give up on Han Gyeoul, who had originally been his favorite.
Had it been before the incident, Cheon Jonghoon would have simply turned Alcest into a four-member group. But due to his growing distrust of the original four members, he brought in Yoon Seoa, who had the highest scores in personality and sociability, as the fifth member, despite the group’s original concept.
Even though it was somewhat different from the original concept of Alcest that he had in mind.
“It’s already been decided, so I guess there’s no going back. It doesn’t seem to be without effect, at least.”
Yoon Seoa, as expected, became the leader of the team and managed to stabilize and lead the more exclusive and unstable members like Lily, Coco, Amy, and Yoon Jeong. At least in this regard, Cheon Jonghoon was satisfied.
Moreover, they had already completed the recording, filming, and choreography with her included. At this point, even the main producer would struggle to get the team’s approval to remove her, so Cheon Jonghoon had already decided that further thinking about whether she fit Alcest was pointless.
He decided to brush away such thoughts and focus on the package.
He entered his office and carefully opened the package.
And there it was, the first album of Girl Revolution, released for pre-order by TwoBear, revealed before him.
“They put a lot of effort into the package design.”
Cheon Jonghoon slowly appreciated the album as if analyzing it.
It was an action that anyone would question, for a producer leading a girl group debut that was less than a week away.
Naturally, leisurely analyzing and appreciating the album of another girl group wasn’t exactly the task he should be focusing on at the moment.
“This isn’t because I can’t separate personal and professional matters. I’m doing this because, to properly deal with the enemy, you need to understand them. This is actually something I must do as a producer, a responsibility.”
However, Cheon Jonghoon continued his self-explanation, even though no one was listening.
“At least from a composition and design perspective, there’s nothing wrong.”
To be honest, the extravagant design and composition seemed more like something made for profit than just an artistic choice, but the arrogant Cheon Jonghoon framed it more delicately.
Skipping over the tracklist for now, he finished admiring the package, took out the CD, and carefully placed it in the high-end player.
And then, he started the playback.
As expected, the tracks were indeed created under the direction of Oh James, and it wasn’t just the title track but all four tracks that had the quality of something any other idol group would kneel for and use as their title track. His reputation was indeed deserved. The mixing was flawless, and the unique vocals of the Girl Revolution members, led by the main vocalist, Gaeul, were captured in a highly captivating manner.
But Cheon Jonghoon was disappointed.
‘Wait, why am I disappointed?’
While listening to the fourth track, a sudden realization struck him, and Cheon Jonghoon, shocked by his own feelings, stopped the track and continued to think.
‘It’s true that I don’t like Oh James’s work. He’s someone who makes art, not system music. His style easily crumbles when inspiration runs out. But even so, I can’t deny that the quality of these tracks is top-tier. There’s no reason for me to be disappointed. So… why am I disappointed?’
Feeling confused, Cheon Jonghoon started the player again. And as the fourth track finished and the details of the fifth track appeared, he realized why he had felt disappointed.
Track 05: Albatross – Playtime 02:58. Composed by Seon Taeyang. Written by Seon Taeyang.
“…Hahaha. Yeah, it wouldn’t be right if you weren’t part of this.”
He had been waiting for that name.
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