Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols - Chapter 121
Only Krnovel
| Episode 121. 2nd Competition: Concerto
Spark took sixth place thanks to Kang Ki-yeon’s performance.
The glasses I ordered looked perfect on Park Joo-woo, and Jeong Seong-jun’s clothes were also great and perfect for styling.
‘How on earth do you fasten a baker’s hat?’
‘I guess I’ll have to use twenty pins?’
If only Jeong Seong-bin had been forced to wear a baker’s hat and almost had his head torn off by my hands.
This is the first time I’ve heard such TMI. Spark should have come out on stage wearing a hat.
I can’t tell you how relieved I was when the barrage of text messages that had been pouring down from a limited number of people died down.
Of course, not everything went smoothly.
The face of Lee Cheong-hyeon, Spark’s greatest treasure, had lost its vitality due to fatigue.
‘Cheong-hyeon, this time we need twice as much talent from you.’
‘why?’
‘If you need a sample.’
The concept of this stage was a nerd scientist who is obsessed with the night sky.
The styling was also planned to be reminiscent of a research maniac who is fascinated by the beauty of galaxies and stars and obsessively delves into them.
The problem was the nature of the image given by the ‘scholar who quietly devotes himself to research’.
Unlike the lively new idols and energetic athletes, this one had a more static feel.
However, if we were to go with a mad scientist, it would not only stray from the original intention of the project, but also lack the youthful feel, so we decided to increase the perfection of the music.
‘Sampling? What song?’
‘That’s up to you to decide.’
‘huh?’
‘You’re an expert in classics.’
By sampling classical music.
The song we decided to cover this time, Hellas’ “Starlight,” is a ballad song that is about quietly whispering love under the night sky.
Although it is not flashy, the melody is good and the lyrics are decent, so it is a well-known song among the tracks included.
My goal here was to add a musicality that would enhance the classical beauty, the almost obsessive sophistication, and the dreamy atmosphere. If the sampling was done well, I could kill three birds with one stone.
Although I don’t know anything about classical music, Lee Cheong-hyeon is different. He used to be a guy who just ate and played the piano.
This guy didn’t even change genres because he didn’t like classical music. So he had even less to hesitate.
‘I know the planning intention and concept. I’ve already decided on the songs to cover. Is there anything else you need?’
‘No, I thought you had already decided on the songs you would sample. You don’t like it when there are variables.’
‘You’re the arranger, so you know best. Your choice will be the best choice.’
What did Lee Cheong-hyeon say in response to that? I don’t remember.
Anyway, Lee Cheong-hyeon started working hard from the beginning of the preparation period.
Because of that, my face was really bad. Even though I told you to take good care of your face.
No matter how lively a handsome man is, he is called a sunny handsome man, and no matter how haggard a handsome man is, that is not the case. If the song and choreography are beautiful but the face is not, what’s the use?
I put a glucose candy in Lee Cheong-hyeon’s hand.
And then I recited a magic spell in my head.
Become beautiful… …as they say.
* * *
“Oh, Sticky seniors, your stage is also oriental style!”
Jeong Seong-bin reacted while watching Sticky’s stage while being recorded. On the screen, Sticky was opening the introduction while fanning himself.
This is the third oriental style stage today. The concepts include the fight for the throne and sword dances by military officers. It seems that hanbok is the national rule in survival programs.
Parte’s stage was also great today.
They came out wearing hanbok with gold embroidery and showed off synchronized action scenes and group dances. They had such charisma that just watching them made your jaw drop.
Even Han Ga-woon’s vocals were in the right place, as if he had been given quite a few parts.
The sight of Song Min-il trying so hard to stop him under the Han River Bridge was unforgettable.
Plus, the sword was really realistic. The way it reflected in the stage lights was chilling and nice.
Yeah, this is how you do a performance.
I spoke inwardly in admiration, but outwardly in calm composure.
“If you look at it, we’re all just Oriental retro.”
“Well, isn’t this steampunk?”
Kang Ki-yeon didn’t agree with what I said. But it was okay because everyone got along well.
And there’s nothing we can do about it. We are civil servants, not military officers.
“Sticky seniors, has your stage started?! I want to watch it too!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who was getting her makeup applied at the end of the waiting room, came running in shouting.
The guy’s face lit up.
So, physically, light.
“What’s wrong with your face?”
Her pure white face was sprinkled with sparkling glitter like jewels.
I even put on colored contact lenses to give her a special impression, and she became completely inhuman. Good job, Magic Glucose Candy.
Anyway, it’s weird. We both have the same shiny colored contacts, but why do I look like a snake’s eyes and he looks like the California sunshine?
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who was as refreshing as a freshly picked orange, made a calyx with his hands and said.
“Isn’t glitter amazing? Today, Cheong-Hyeon’s face concept is a diamond mine!”
“Give me the mining rights. I’ll burn it all down.”
“I knew you would do that, so I set aside the exclusive distribution rights, brother.”
“exorcism.”
Choi Je-ho made a face that said he was having a good time from afar. It didn’t even feel like a hit when a guy wearing shorts made that face.
While everyone was showing off their beauty, only Kang Ki-yeon was quiet. He just watched Sticky’s stage with a slightly stiff face.
I waited for Sticky’s stage to end and then put my hand on his shoulder. When I gently rubbed his shoulder with my hand, Kang Ki-yeon flinched.
“Don’t worry. We can do it.”
“… … .”
“As long as I don’t stumble and fall forward in the middle of the stage.”
“That was a major accident… … .”
Kang Ki-yeon laughed as if he found it ridiculous.
But this is true.
If it weren’t for that big of an accident, Spark would be able to take first place. Really.
* * *
Lee Cheong-hyeon put in a lot of effort to prepare for the second round of competition.
It was because of Kim Iwol’s mission that was dropped right after the concept was confirmed.
‘If you need a sample.’
The original song is a ballad, the arrangement is a light dance song, the goal is to express pure academic passion and joy, and the means are classical.
Everything was clear, but progress was not easy.
There were a few songs that came to mind, but none of them really resonated with me. All of the songs were a little disappointing.
I had no idea how to arrange this.
The ‘interpretation of a song’ that Lee Cheong-hyeon knew had to be free but not go beyond the musical score.
But now, he was trying to break a song into phrases or notes and paste them here and there. Such an act was not only challenging, but also gave the feeling of destroying something.
There were many times when I thought, “This guy trusts me too much.”
But at the same time, I thought of my family who didn’t believe in me at all.
My family said that if I liked music, I should do classical music instead, and that they would compromise up to that point.
So I played the piano happily for several years.
I was immersed, enjoying every moment. I was happy.
As his head grew and his horizons broadened, the amount of music Lee Cheong-hyeon was able to access increased.
There were songs other than classical, and they were as addictive as or more addictive than the piano pieces played by Lee Cheong-hyeon.
The world is becoming increasingly larger.
In Lee Cheong-hyeon’s eyes, music was like the ocean, endlessly vast and mysterious.
Lee Cheong-hyeon literally loved music. All music.
It was fun to play an instrument, sing, rap over the beat, or just listen.
But to his parents, it was important what kind of music Lee Cheong-hyeon played and in front of what kind of people.
At that moment, the course of Lee Cheong-hyeon’s sea was set.
Lee Cheong-hyeon drove a luxury cruise ship that held a party on board at a set time every day, traveling the same route alone until the illuminated sea turned black with darkness.
The day he got off the ship, despite much opposition, Lee Cheong-hyeon thought it would take a long time for him to return to the sea.
Until one day, his roommate, his older brother, suddenly told him that he wanted to hire him as a songwriting machine.
At that time, Kim I-wol snatched the map that Lee Cheong-hyeon was holding on to like a fool and said this.
‘Is it bad to expect things from young and smart people?’
It was such a strange thing to say. My family asked me how long I would continue making stupid choices.
Kim Il-wol was not as kind as his parents. Lee Cheong-hyeon could not ride a luxury cruise ship or choose only calm seas.
All that was given to Lee Cheong-hyeon was a raft that looked like it would sink after only 10 meters and a crude oar carved by Kim I-wol.
Lee Cheong-hyeon looked at the ship and thought.
Which sea should I go to?
Why do I go to the sea?
I am…….
And funny enough.
Every time I try to think a little deeper like this.
‘The choice you make will be the best choice.’
Because Kim Iwol told him to set sail quickly, he had no choice but to head out to sea.
Lee Cheong-hyeon had no choice but to go forward. He was on a small boat, with the help of a small oar.
Kim I-wol did nothing but hand over a new ship. All Kim I-wol asked of Lee Cheong-hyeon was for Lee Cheong-hyeon to cross the sea.
So Lee Cheong-hyeon decided to put a flag on his shabby ship.
What kind of music should I do?
What do you want to convey by making songs?
No matter where you travel, always keep this all-encompassing answer in your mind.
From the speakers, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 flowed out.