Chapter 18: The Idols' Technique for Never Failing

After a brief break, Firstlight's schedule resumed. The digital single release schedule was extremely tight, so all the preparation processes were proceeding at a breakneck pace. This week was particularly intense, with overlapping recording and concept meeting schedules. Amidst the chaos, I prepared for my first directing.

I was incredibly nervous on the first day. The recording was set to start at two in the afternoon, but I had arrived at the studio early in the morning. Around one o'clock, Yang-i hyung came in.

We were using two recording studios today. On my side, we were recording "Turn on the Light," while Yang-i hyung was recording "If I Were a Star" for the special video.

The first to come in for "Turn on the Light" was Park Sunjae, the main vocalist and the youngest member. After one take, I asked him:

"Sunjae."

"Y-Yes, hyung."

"Wait."

I was trying to point out the parts I wanted to improve, but I couldn't get the sound I wanted.

Why can't I produce the sound I hear in my head? This is so frustrating.

Suddenly, I regretted not getting the roulette reward. If I had the directing skill B from the previous player, the recording might have gone more smoothly.

But I didn't regret my choice.

I thought about asking Yang-i hyung to explain it for me, but I decided against it. I didn't want to be a director who relies on others; no singer would trust such a director.

After a moment of thought, I spoke.

"Sunjae, 'Turn on the Light' repeats three and a half times. The first two times are too similar in tone, even though the notes are the same."

"Ah, I see."

"Still, I'd like you to sing them differently. The feeling should be like the light gradually spreading. For the third time, I want it to be more intense, and for the second time, I want it to be somewhere in between."

I tried to explain the vocal I wanted in a calm and composed manner, without getting excited or disappointed. Fortunately, Park Sunjae has a great sense of pitch and understood what I was trying to say.

"Got it."

"Okay, let's try it again."

After another take, Park Sunjae asked:

"Is this right?"

"Yes, that's good. Well done."

"Can I do it one more time?"

"Sure, a hundred times if you want."

Park Sunjae's vocals were amazing, and I was always impressed. I felt like I could record a hundred times with him.

Although we still needed to do detailed recording, the first take went smoothly. The vocals of Hwang Saegil and Han Hyosuk were also great, and Shin Jiwoon finished recording in no time. Min Jihoo really liked the song, so he was a bit overzealous, but otherwise, he was fine.

"An Joo, the pitch."

"Sorry."

"It's not about apologizing."

As expected, An Joo was the problem.

"I'll try again."

We kept repeating the recording, but the pitch never came out right. Yang-i hyung, who had finished his recording and was watching, said:

"Joo's pitch is completely off."

"Yeah."

I asked An Joo:

"Is your throat okay? Should we go to the hospital and try again?"

"I'm fine."

He seemed a bit intimidated. I knew this wouldn't work, so I said:

"I'm going to smoke a cigarette."

"Let's go together."

Since I had a recording session today, I didn't plan to smoke. I put the cigarette back in my pocket and asked An Joo directly:

"Didn't you practice?"

"I did. A lot."

"Ah, then it's fine."

An Joo looked surprised and asked:

"Is it fine?"

"Of course. If it keeps not working, we can change your part or make it easier to sing."

"…Aren't you angry? I'm wasting your time."

I found it ridiculous and patted An Joo's shoulder.

"Stop whining. This song is for you guys. I made it for the team, including you."

"…"

"I'm new to directing, but I'll do better next time."

An Joo, who had his hands in the pockets of his thick cardigan, chuckled.

"Still, it's comforting to have a friend directing."

"Really?"

"I only asked to redo the recording once last time. The others will probably do the same."

Indeed, with a director's schedule, the singers also pay attention to the director's condition.

I promised:

"I can stay up all night. We'll do detailed recording anyway, and I'll keep pushing you until I'm satisfied."

"As long as the final product is good, it's fine."

"Right?"

Fortunately, An Joo isn't without ambition. He wants to create the best music possible, just like the other members.

Although it took more than an hour, An Joo finished his recording. Finally, around eleven o'clock, it was my turn to record.

Yang-i hyung, who was watching, teased me:

"Now it's the real final boss."

"Stop it. I'm already nervous."

I don't know why I get so nervous when it's time to sing.

Still, my heart was pounding as I stood in front of the microphone. I had been nagging Min Jihoo not to get excited before recording, but I couldn't control my own excitement.

I was covering my face with my hands when Yang-i hyung asked:

"What's wrong? Are you not in the right state of mind?"

"No, I'm just too excited."

I'm not nervous because I don't like it.

On the contrary, I loved it. I don't know why I enjoy doing something I can't do, but I just do.

The fact that I was recording was so exciting that I felt like crying.

Thanks to the intense vocal training, I received praise from Yang-i hyung.

"Chul, your voice has improved."

"Has it? I did well, right?"

"Not really. If you have perfect pitch, you should know, right?"

"Ah, it's improved in terms of perfect pitch."

I didn't hear the rest, but he probably said something like, "Are you crazy?"

Anyway, thanks to my well-recovered vocal cords, I finished recording faster than usual.

As soon as I finished, my legs gave out, and I sat down in front of the control room door. Fortunately, no one asked if I was okay, and they let me have my moment.

Then, the status window appeared:

[Firstlight's digital single 'Turn on the Light' first recording completed]

[Chapter 2 begins]

[Chapter 2: First Activity]

[Achieve 1 million views on the video]

[You will receive an A-grade ticket for (Hit Song Maker's Red Roulette)]

One million.

Ha ha ha.

"Shouldn't it be 300,000 or 500,000 after 200,000?"

I grumbled and started thinking about how to reach one million views.

* * *

A few days later, a special video was scheduled to be uploaded to TRV's official YouTube channel.

It was "If I Were a Star," a song that the current six members of Firstlight and Jung Hae-won had sung together during the Kukseon-a era.

Since it was such a great song, fans had been constantly requesting Firstlight to sing "If I Were a Star." However, to do so, they would have to cut out Jung Hae-won's part, which was controversial among fans. Some felt it was inhumane to cut out just one person's part.

Then, the video was uploaded.

[Wow, 'If I Were a Star' is only three hours away!!]

[My heart is racing.]

[Is Jung Hae-won really joining? The upload of 'If I Were a Star' confirms it...]

[As a fan of another group, is Jung Hae-won really joining Firstlight?]

[↳We don't know.]

[↳↳TRV has been talking positively, so they'll probably do it.]

[↳↳TRV really doesn't know how to build anticipation...]

[They've been silent until now, and suddenly they're jumping in.]

[I don't like it.]

[We're used to six members, why now?]

[Are the Firstlight members close to Hae-won?]

[↳They've probably had arguments, but the Firstlight members are nice and take care of each other.]

[↳↳They still talk about the members on their shows...]

[↳↳Even as a fan of another group, I've heard Min Jihoo say, 'Hae-won hyung is doing well...']

At seven o'clock, the special video was uploaded.

It was a video of the members singing quietly in a small theater near the company.

[What's up with the members' faces today?]

[Han Hyosuk needs to be reported.]

[1:20 Is that really Saegil's face? It's insane.]

[It's really a masterpiece...]

[Thinking about the Kukseon-a era makes me cry. The members must have worked hard.]

[Yeah, they were so young back then.]

[But... she's not in it?]

[ Seriously, I thought she would be.]

[I was nervous, thinking she might appear at the end like the main character, but she didn't.]

[↳I had the same thought. Haha.]

While these reactions were ongoing, a post appeared on Yang-i hyung's SNS around the same time as the upload.

[Thank you, Firstlight members, for singing 'If I Were a Star' again after so long. They were really kids back in the Kukseon-a era, but they've grown so much. Their vocal abilities have also improved. I hope this is a good gift for the fans!

And about the behind-the-scenes of this song... After talking with Hae-won, it changed a lot from the first time it was released. She gave me a lot of good advice, especially the idea that the 'star' in 'If I Were a Star' should be the North Star, symbolizing stable and unchanging love. Her words inspired me to revise the entire song. Thanks, Hae-won. Take care!]

* * *

"Why does this hyung talk like this?"

Some people have completely different personalities when writing online compared to how they speak in person, and Yang-i hyung is one of them. He's usually irritable but is an angel on Instagram. Did he get someone else to write it?

But I couldn't help but tease him. I sent a message to Yang-i hyung:

[Thanks, Hae-won. Take care!]

When I sent it, Yang-i hyung immediately replied:

[XXXXXXX]

It was a string of profanities.

"Yeah, that's more like it."

I chuckled, and then Yang-i hyung sent another message:

[Actually, your name should have been on the lyrics.]

[Why? I didn't do anything.]

[You influenced the lyrics a lot. Your words actually made it into the lyrics. Think of it as compensation for not being credited at the time.]

I know how hard it is for someone to stand up for me in this situation. I don't have a more grateful hyung.

I thanked him and considered leaving a comment but decided against it. This wouldn't change public opinion much, and I didn't want to stress myself out over it.

I threw my phone aside and sighed.

Today was the day to shoot a variety show to build up for the "Turn on the Light" promotion, introducing the start of the Firstlight universe.

Before the shoot, I visited a salon for the first time since the Kukseon-a era. I arrived much earlier than the other members to get my hair bleached and makeup done. However, the salon staff's reactions were strange.

What's going on? Did I mess up? Is the strong look not going away no matter what?

My mind was a mess, but I pretended to sleep and closed my eyes. I could hear the staff talking behind me.

"What do we do? Hae-won is really intense."

"I didn't expect it to be this bad. She doesn't even seem human..."

"She's too flashy. We need to tone it down, but how...?"

I couldn't understand everything they were saying, but I knew there was a problem.

When the staff moved away, I opened my eyes again.

Since my scalp and hair are naturally strong, I decided to go for a complete silver look this time. When I looked in the mirror, my hair was incredibly silver.

I thought, only real idols would dare to do this color.

And from the reactions around me, it seemed they didn't like it much.