Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter - Chapter 41



Only Krnovel

Episode 41. Pippi Longstocking (2)

When I was naming this song, I first thought about naming it Stranger.

The band’s name is Blue Porcelain, so… I briefly considered naming it Joseon Tongsinsa, but that was too lame so I erased it from my head.

Arriving on land, out of breath, alone on a shipwreck.

There are people who look like me.

‘It’s a civilized world!’

The first thing I did when I got on land was to drink some water.

Because the thirst that burns with endless thirst cannot be quenched with sea water.

People who say the same thing.

People wearing the same clothes.

To the same place we left on the boat.

I realized.

‘This is where I used to live. I came back safely without getting lost.’

But it’s strange.

There are no stores where they should be.

There is a tall building in that place.

The supermarket on the corner of a familiar alley is now called a convenience store.

So I got lost and couldn’t find my home.

The convex TV in the unknown store that the world looked at with curiosity has become flat and bigger.

I couldn’t remember my friend’s number, so I looked for a public phone.

does not exist.

A public phone that you can easily see on the street.

Darkness comes and goes, darkness falls again, and then light rises above your head again, repeating this process.

A public phone booth finally discovered on a country road.

I looked through the torn phone book to find my friend’s parents’ names.

I put a coin in and press the number, but it’s not a valid number.

‘Where the hell am I?’

That’s when I realized it.

The fact that no sound came out of my throat.

I haven’t spoken a word since I got here.

For a moment, I had this thought.

‘I want to go home.’

It was strange.

This is clearly where I used to live, so why did I think that?

‘I miss my dad.’

‘I really miss the white smell that the mosquito car emits.’

‘I miss the rainbow-colored screen that I sometimes saw while falling asleep waiting for my dad so much.’

When longing and loneliness reached their end, far away.

An orange light called to me.

I fluttered like a moth and opened the door under the orange light.

-Hey, did you cry?

It was Beomseok.

-I didn’t cry.

A voice came out.

-Hey, you cried.

-I didn’t cry!

-Are you still crying?

-Then just pretend you don’t know.

– Kid. Don’t lie down right away. Go wash up and come back. I’ll prepare food for you.

Beomseok, who was heading to the kitchen, continued speaking.

―Sometimes, it’s fate that flows in a direction you don’t want. When fate hits you with its waves, just surrender.

-Pretending to be an adult when you don’t know anything.

―From now on, when the sun sets, come back here. Remember, this is home now.

I tried to be stubborn.

-It’s not my house.

Then Beomseok’s back starts to cry and he says.

―While you were gone, I was lost too. Everyone lives like that, lost. And.

―… … .

―Even if you wander, you should fill your stomach before you go. Then, you won’t wander again and find your way.

The changed world was still unfamiliar and difficult, but I found stability.

Having someone who understands me as me was like adding an extra gram of weight to my floating feet that made them touch the ground.

I was a stranger, an alien.

I finally became an astronaut.

* * *

When the song Astronaut ended.

Jo In-chang decided to reserve judgment on the twenty-year-old musician who moved.

He is blind and the one telling him to move is unknown.

Because I didn’t want to make the mistake of a blind man touching an elephant’s leg and then saying that the elephant looked like a log.

“Good.”

Just like that.

I just gave a brief review.

And then I pressed the button again and asked him to move.

“Is this a love song?”

Beyond the glass wall, I don’t know if it’s a boy or a young man.

A man from an ambiguous time smiles.

-To what extent?

It was completely understandable that Jo In-chang would have such a misunderstanding.

The moving lyrics were not directly explained.

Unlike the vocals of ‘Start 1994’ which started off strong and then charged forward, the song is cheerful throughout.

Rhythmic performance with bright melody.

Even though it is rock, the plot itself is trendy to the point that it cannot be called rock.

The rock genre is old and has had many attempts, so it’s hard to define what rock music is. But it’s closer to pop than rock.

If Jo In-chang had received the sheet music for this song, he would have definitely intended to use it as a title song for an idol group.

If you blow up the band lineup, fill in the sound with a program, and then speed up the song just a little bit… … .

After thinking about it that far, Jo In-chang gave up.

If you try to touch it, there is no end to it.

Because I heard the original song, I intuitively felt that I couldn’t create anything better than it.

The lyrics even develop in a way that could be mistaken for a boy’s love story.

It feels like love found after wandering.

It seems to sing about the wandering youth itself and the stability that comes afterward.

Anyway, I’m grateful to Lee Dong-ha for quickly cutting off my own comments after listening to “Start 1994”. I was almost embarrassed.

“It’s bright but sad. And yet bright.”

– Anyway, it means that you have settled down.

“If you have a girlfriend, get rid of her in advance.”

-How do you get rid of a girlfriend you don’t have?

“So, Emma, ​​just in case.”

-why?

Jo In-chang felt relieved as he watched Lee Dong-ha ask indifferently.

Because it means that this song is not a love song.

“When this song comes out, the media will definitely start talking about you having a girlfriend.”

I’ll even start searching around.

This song definitely has that message.

And wandered.

I met someone.

So they settled down.

It’s just a question of who or what the subject is.

After thinking for a moment, Jo In-chang pressed the button again.

“You rock. Rock too, it’s time to come back to life.”

Then they move out of the booth and the band members walk out.

Lee Dong-ha asked while looking at Jo In-chang.

“What are you muttering about?”

He barely managed to escape from the booth and didn’t seem to hear Jo In-chang’s words.

Jo In-chang briefly glanced at the expression on the face of Chief Secretary Kwak Moon-ki, who was standing behind him, and replied.

“The song is just okay. I can’t guarantee it will be a hit though.”

The above statement is false.

What he said after that is true.

No matter how good a song is, its success is a different matter.

Moreover, when it comes to band music, it’s like having one leg chained.

No matter what anyone says, that’s a fact.

However, this song will be different from Start1994, which was expected to have a limited listener base.

There are enough elements to appeal to the public.

“Okay. Producing call?”

Jo In-chang laughed in vain.

Is there no such thing as a free lunch?

Are you unaware of reality?

Or maybe it’s because they have an accurate understanding of their own abilities.

Fearless.

“Just give our kids a few songs to write.”

“Shinaris?”

“Light. Me. Girl. S.”

“Shall I sing a few songs? One song is okay.”

“five things.”

“You’re buying bean sprouts at the market? What kind of deal are you trying to make? Two songs. No more.”

“Just give me three songs.”

I feel regretful after hearing this song.

“Look at our members’ faces, okay? Do you see the wrinkles here? We have to go to the dermatologist and pull, pinch, and tie them up. We have to make a big fuss. We have to hurry up and promote while we still have some energy. It means we don’t have time. Two songs. I’m being generous with that.”

Jo In-chang witnessed Lee Dong-ha’s atrocities as if he was astonished.

Is this a slap in the face of ignorance or pure evil?

It sounds strange to say pure evil. Why, there is such a thing, right?

It’s like children killing ants while laughing.

It feels different than just not having any qualms.

When I see something outside the standard, should I just say, “Ah…?” and accept it?

Pointing at the chairman of Jaemin Group and calling him old right in front of his nose.

Still, those people who just let it go without a care are strange.

There are more than one or two strange things, but I just gave up on the idea.

“Okay. Two songs. No more mushy ones.”

Then, as if it had been waiting, a file folder suddenly appears in front of Jo In-chang.

This person is Secretary Kwak Moon-ki.

“What is this… …?”

“This is a contract.”

Jo In-chang, drawing on his long experience, turned over a file instead of answering.

“This kid… … I was going to give him two songs… … . He should have sung three songs… … .”

A contract stating that two songs will be provided.

While checking the contract, I turned my gaze to Lee Dong-ha.

“A week? Have you written anything?”

The deadline for song submissions is one week from now.

“No. I need to see those Shinnaris at least once. That’s how I can come up with a song.”

“… … You knew it, but you were doing it on purpose?”

“Hehehe. There’s another contract after that, so please check it.”

Even though I knew it was a beating around the bush, I still handed over the documents.

“Confidentiality agreement?”

“Until we give you the okay, you have to keep quiet about anything that happened in this building. And of course, about our members.”

Only after Jo In-chang asked several questions did he understand why the other party had handed him a nondisclosure agreement.

“Covering the members’ faces… … .”

I feel like I’m taking a really difficult path.

There were a few faceless singers in the late 90s and early 21st century, but I’ve never heard of a singer who hides his identity even on stage.

I understood the reason itself.

If these members were to appear on TV from the beginning with their faces exposed, there would be a lot of problems.

Before music can be heard as music itself, it will be given many labels. Then, naturally, it will be difficult to evaluate it as music.

But I thought it might be a good idea to hide the moving face, so I decided not to ask and just move on.

I feel absurd, thinking that I will have to just ignore the issue of moving on from now on.

Then suddenly I became curious about one thing.

“The two songs you told me today. Are you going to put them on one album?”

“yes.”

“But what kind of music are you trying to do?”

* * *

Producer Jo In-chang agreed to produce.

After awkwardly exchanging greetings with my brothers, I left the building.

-But what kind of music are you trying to do?

Those words still ring in my ears.

I guess I understood what you meant.

The beginning of 1994 is a typical rock progression.

Astronauts are trendy.

Usually, each song included in an album often tells a story.

The music that comes out these days… … is actually often not like that.

Not a full album, but single, single, single. Sometimes, they rush to release a full album as a fan service.

nonetheless.

When it comes to regular albums, they are usually about one topic.

Hard rock, ballads, and dance music can all be mixed in one album, but if the genres follow a consistent flow as much as possible, it will be easier for listeners to approach the music.

Why, that’s right.

I went to eat Chinese food because they said it was great, but when the pasta came out, I was disappointed before I even tasted it.

Of course, the opposite is also true.

Expectations and fulfillment.

In that sense, it is better for the listener if the songs within the same album have a unified theme, even if the genres are not unified.

It’s hard to even guess what kind of story flow the beginning 1994 and the spaceman will have.

The beginning of 1994 is a fiercely burning flame and a race.

An invitation and a challenge to rock fans.

The lyrics are also direct and grandiose.

Watch our great birth, a bold challenge to become a great fire, even if it is a small spark, and light up the world.

Yet, the typical, heightened sense of rhythm that hits their ears will make the listener’s emotions stir.

But the astronauts are just music with a rock-like shell.

The lyrics are metaphorical, so most people will listen to this song and react like Jo In-chang.

That’s a love song.

calf love.

like this.

Classic rock and trendy music.

Lyrics that sing of wavering emotions and relief, contrasted with lyrics that are almost like bold challenges and declarations.

They are too extreme to have been written by the same person at the same time.

That’s why Jo In-chang expressed his doubts.

I’m worried that the listeners might get confused.

I wonder if I even know what kind of music I want to do.

at that time.

“What are you thinking about?”

I heard Tae-joo’s voice over my shoulder.

“Is it greedy to try to kill two birds with one stone… … so.”

In response to my answer, Tae-joo pulled up a chair and sat down next to me.

“Isn’t it easy to be a leader?”

“Yeah. Can’t you just do it hyung?”

“No way. I have no direction anymore.”

A self-deprecating expression meaning that one can play but cannot see the vision.

I read a hint of sadness in Taeju hyung’s eyes.

“Shall we take it slow?”

“Or so.”

“Do you think it’s greedy to try to catch two rabbits?”

“Maybe so?”

This guy.

It’s confusing.

He’s the one I rely on musically within the team, so I can’t believe he gave such an answer.

Tae-joo hyung read my expression and added with a snicker.

“That’s a leader. A person who makes decisions. So whatever decision you make, I will believe in it and follow it.”

“Aren’t leaders people? They can make mistakes and misjudge things.”

“You’re wrong.”

“?”

When I still don’t understand, my brother speaks in a voice that seems to be encouraging me.

“Who knows the future? Whether it’s a company or music, leaders aren’t people from the future. They make mistakes and misjudge things. But you know, the important thing is not to make decisions carefully.”

“… … .”

“What’s really important is not to lose sight of the rudder. Even if a typhoon blows, if you think that this is the path the leader should take, you have to push through it. When you think that you made a mistake, that you made a wrong judgment, that it’s right to go back even if you have to go back, don’t get frustrated or give up, but instead, turn the rudder yourself and change the direction.”

Taeju hyung’s words didn’t immediately clear up my complicated feelings, but I felt quite relieved.

“This guy… … he didn’t live in vain. He’s an adult, an adult.”

Tae-ju hyung couldn’t help but chuckle at my words.

“I feel this way again, but you’re really the only one who can say this to me.”

“What do the other brothers do?”

“Maybe, cigarette time?”

I sat up from my seat without realizing it at Taeju hyung’s answer.

“No! These people are the members. They’re so anxious about what’s going to happen today or tomorrow. They’re smoking again? Where are the hyungs?”

Instead of answering, Taeju raised his finger and pointed upward.

I ran up to the rooftop as if I was flying.

ah.

What did I say to producer Jo In-chang’s last question?

―I’m going to make it so that my voice can be heard at the end of the world. So that everyone in the world can hear my voice. Rock is a tool.

So, it doesn’t matter to me if one album contains songs with completely different feels.

It’s enough to make the hearts of rock fans beat.

For people who aren’t interested in rock, it’s enough to tempt them by saying, “That’s good music. Is this what rock is like?”

peel?

Those people must be confused.

There are some songs that are trendy but can’t be called old rock.

If you criticize rock for not being rock-like, there is proper rock.

bang-!

I kicked the rooftop door and my ankle started to hurt.

But he didn’t show any signs of pain.

“Put out your cigarette!”

As I shouted, the two older brothers, both in their fifties, hastily hid their cigarettes behind their backs like students caught smoking by the student council president.