Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter - Chapter 181



Only Krnovel

181. Perfectionists

Yuna is preparing a mini album with a total of five songs to be released in mid-December.

Of the four songs included, recording, mixing, and mastering have all been completed, but the title track has not yet.

The title song of this mini album is a love song.

I have a crush on a man.

– I have to confess with the song I’m best at.

– I’m going to write a love song that contains my feelings for oppa Seongjun.

She declared so confidently and proudly to her older sister Seol Hye-yoon, who likes the same guy.

but···.

‘It’s not easy when you actually start composing.’

The song is about 90% complete, and all the lyrics are out.

However, I don’t like the 8 measures of the section that transitions from the verse to the chorus at all.

No matter what melody comes to mind, I can’t seem to get the hang of it.

A situation where work is temporarily suspended.

‘Huh? Wasn’t something similar happening around this time a year ago···?’

Ahead of the release of the digital single ’26’, the same section from the verse to the chorus was blocked.

We kept making revisions until the very end of the release date, but we had no choice but to finish recording with a version that we weren’t 100% satisfied with.

Then, the day before the song was to be released, I decided that I couldn’t release it like this and ran out to Paradise Shopping Mall to find inspiration.

At that time, I was frustrated because I couldn’t come up with a useful melody even though I went into a music store and sat down at the piano.

– If you don’t mind, can I help you a little?

A man approached me in a music store and asked me.

‘That was my first meeting with Seongjun oppa.’

Seongjun immediately sat down on the chair next to her and started humming the melody while she played the piano accompaniment.

The melody he spit out was something he had never thought of, and when he put it in the blocked section, it naturally connected the front and back, and it matched amazingly.

‘It was a shock.’

What I’m saying is that I liked the melody that Sungjun hummed lightly better than the melody that I had spent days and days pondering over.

Of course, there was also the reason that any artist who is deeply immersed in their own style cannot come up with fresh ideas.

Nevertheless, Sungjun’s musicality was genius.

When I came to my senses after being in shock, Sungjun was not there.

Because he hummed that amazing melody and then suddenly left.

‘So at the time, I felt sorry for my brother, but I thought he was a crazy person.’

Yuna has high musical pride.

It was impossible to just use the melody that Sungjun made.

So, while I was searching for ways to repay Seongjun, I happened to meet him again at the company.

After that, Sungjun soon became famous through a show called ‘Who’s the King’ and was assigned to the same company as me.

And soon, they went beyond the domestic Kiwi charts and became global stars, reaching number one on Billboard.

What it took him years to achieve, he did in just one year.

‘I knew from the first time I saw you at Paradise Arcade that Seongjun oppa was no ordinary genius.’

Still, no one, including Yuna herself, would have imagined that such absurd things would be possible in just one year.

And I heard that Sungjun will be appearing at NAMA at the end of November.

Yuna hasn’t been able to do much album promotion this year because she’s been focusing on overseas tours.

So, unlike previous years, I was not invited to NAMA this year.

‘If I had released a mini album in the meantime, I definitely would have been invited···.’

In that case, he would have visited ‘Hong Kong’ with Sungjun as they are both under MXM Entertainment.

As NAMA is advertised as an ‘Asian’ music award, it is held not only in Korea but also in several Asian countries.

Usually, it is held alternately in Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, but this year, the venue was Hong Kong.

Anyway, it was a time when I was swallowing regrets in many ways.

Baek-seok asked after receiving a call from someone.

“Yuna, you’re very busy preparing for your album right now.”

“Well, just like that. Why, Seok-oppa?”

“that is-”

As Baek-seok opened his mouth, Yu-na’s eyes also opened wide.

“Sungjun oppa, do you want to feature on the NAMA stage?!”

NAMA requested Sungjun to perform his Billboard #1 hit ‘Destiny’, but his original partner, Ariel Grande, was unable to attend due to personal reasons.

“It’s not confirmed yet. I think they’re asking other singers right now. They said they wanted to check if your schedule works out for you. It’ll be hard since the album release is just around the corner-”

“I have to do it!”

Yuna shouted, cutting off Baekseok’s words.

Just now, I was thinking about my first meeting with Sungjun, and I thought that if I were to work with him again or share the stage with him, I might get some clues about the parts of the title song I’m stuck on.

But then, at that very moment, I got a featuring offer!

Is this what ‘fate’ is?

By the way, since you said you were asking several singers, some candidates come to mind.

There are only a handful of divas who can pull off Ariel Grande’s vocals.

‘Hyo-ryun unnie and Hailey unnie… Ah, maybe Ye-seon-ha unnie could be a possibility too.’

Yuna guessed with her ghostly intuition.

Anyway, no matter who it is among them, they can’t give up the seat next to Sungjun.

Especially for the preliminary round!

“Isn’t it okay for Seok oppa to secretly ask Sungjun oppa a favor? Let’s get along well since we’re in the same entertainment family.”

“Well, you know Sungjun’s personality well, but when it comes to music, he’s the type of person who doesn’t compromise or yield. Just like you, Yuna.”

“Tch.”

Yuna clicks her tongue as if she feels regretful.

Baek-seok saw that and smiled.

“Just wait a minute. Why are you so anxious? Yuna, the top singer in South Korea. I think it will be you in the end.”

“Seok oppa’s words are not very credible. He’s always told me good things since I was little.”

“She’s like a self-esteem guardian. I don’t want my company’s only princess to feel discouraged.”

Baek-seok lightly taps Yu-na on the head.

“Anyway, when I get the chance, I’ll take a peek at Seongjun’s thoughts. You work hard on your album preparations and wait for news.”

“Really? Do you believe it? Seok Oppa is the best!”

“Is this the only time it’s the best?”

Ah, just as Baek Seok said, I was waiting, absorbed in my work.

Meanwhile.

Brrrrrr-

The cell phone rang.

Yuna’s expression brightens rapidly as she sees the name floating on the screen.

“Yes, brother.”

It’s Seongjun.

– Well, I think you might know from Director Baek, but I’m going to sing ‘Destiny’ at NAMA this time, and I need a featuring. Could you sing it with me?

This time, I was so excited that I didn’t interrupt.

It was to hear all of Sungjun’s words that he needed her, like, ‘Can you sing with me?’

“I will. I will, for sure!”

He answered him forcefully.

– Thank you, I’ll make sure to pay you properly.

They say they will take care of their pay properly as family members from the same agency…

I’ve felt this way since long ago, but he’s a really old-fashioned person.

‘Even those parts are all part of my brother’s charm.’

Yuna, who had been faintly raising the corners of her lips, opened her mouth.

“Oppa, Pay is enough, but after NAMA, can you do me one favor?”

– What do you want?

“I’ll let you know after the show.”

– Okay, fine. If it’s something I can listen to.

“I promised.”

– Okay.

After hearing Seongjun’s cheerful answer, I hung up the phone.

Yuna’s eyes sparkle as she puts down her phone.

She went straight into the recording booth.

Yuna puts on her headset after a brief exchange with the engineer in the control room.

What eventually came out was the MR of ‘Destiny’.

‘I’ll sing it perfectly. Much better than the original singer Ariel Grande.’

Yuna’s determined voice rang out.

*

“thank god.”

Seongjun lets out a sigh of relief after finishing his call with Yuna.

I heard that Yuna is releasing a mini album in mid-December, so I was thinking that it might be difficult to get her on board…

Luckily, she accepted.

But worries remain

NAMA is in 4 days.

I don’t have much time.

Well, who can you blame?

This is what happened when I belatedly accepted NAMA, which I originally planned not to attend, after meeting Justin Bobby and developing a ‘carpe diem’ mindset.

I may have unintentionally caused trouble to NAMA and the company.

I have no choice but to repay you with a great performance.

A while after I hung up the phone.

“Brother, I’m here!”

Yuna arrived from my personal studio.

I feel sorry for Yuna, but I have to start practicing right away starting today, the day I accepted the offer.

I have to leave for Hong Kong tomorrow or the day after.

After that, there is only one opportunity to rehearse the day before the NAMA awards ceremony.

“So, I’m sorry, but I’ll have to practice really hard. Do you know the song by any chance?”

“Yes, it’s the number one song on Billboard.”

Yuna, who is making a V sign with her fingers, cannot be that strong.

Unlike idols who need to dance or perform, singer-songwriters only need to focus on singing.

This means that it takes relatively less time to prepare the stage.

The production team is working hard on the background and production, so all we have to do now is get Yuna and I together.

This is precisely why I accepted the NAMA stage despite the limited time.

Additionally, the four divas on Sungjun’s featuring list are all veterans with a splendid track record at award ceremonies.

I had confidence that I would be able to prepare sufficiently in a short period of time.

And indeed, it was.

“Wow, this is crazy…”

The mouths of those in charge were shocked when they heard the song that Sungjun and Yuna sang as a light practice.

Seongjun, who had finished singing, also looked at Yuna with slightly surprised eyes.

The collaboration with Yuna was far beyond my expectations.

‘It’s clearly a skill that has been practiced for a long time in advance.’

It was as if, no matter who was nominated for the featuring, she had to practice with the confidence that she would sing the song herself, because every aspect of the song, from details to emotions, was arranged and embodied in Yuna’s own style.

Thanks to this, ‘Destiny’, which has a different charm from Ariel Grande, was born.

‘Actually, I felt that way when I featured in ‘Worldwide’, the last song on the last regular album.’

Yuna is a case where her talent is overshadowed by her looks.

He wasn’t given the nickname ‘Korea’s top singer’ for nothing.

Thanks to this, there is no need to practice singing louder.

You just need to build up the harmony and organize the ad-lib lines, and then practice eye contact and movement.

However, both Sungjun and Yuna are perfectionists when it comes to music.

“Yuna, I’m not really happy with this part. Can we try it again?”

“Okay, I was kind of in a quandary there too.”

If I discovered even the smallest unfinished part, I immediately started practicing repeatedly.

No matter how many times it happens, until it goes beyond 100% perfection, to 120%, no, to 200%.

Sungjun was inspired by Yuna, who had the same passion for pursuing perfection as he did.

Of course, practice continued the next day.

In the morning, two of Sungjun’s personal songs.

Afterwards, in the afternoon, I practiced a duet song with Yuna.

As the video to be displayed on the back screen and the costumes were decided, a dress rehearsal was also held in which the stage costumes were put on and performed.

“Hey, is your throat okay? I’m only singing one song, but you’re singing three.”

“Oh, I’m fine because I ate some lozenges.”

Since I had to do high-intensity training in a short period of time, I’m eating up all the Doraji-flavored throat lozenges that I’ve been stockpiling through gacha.

The same goes for the colored jelly beans and buff sets.

Even if it is not 100%, it is more than 90% to create conditions similar to when calling on the spot.

After two more very busy days.

Finally, the day of the ‘2024 N.Net Asian Music Awards’ has arrived.