Chapter 3: Debut Team Audition (1)
During my time as a trainer, I sometimes served as a judge in debut team auditions. I would spend entire days with the trainees, gaining a deep understanding of their abilities and personalities. That was why I had a clear understanding of what was truly important in the debut team auditions.
A skill level worthy of the Billboard charts? That was good. Trainees who already had a significant fan base before debuting were also favorable to the team and agency. They were the perfect candidates to stir buzz before their debut, even if they came from a mediocre agency.
However, YMM was a talent agency that could establish a certain level of recognition even without such standout members. To them, a trainee who stood out too much was actually a hindrance.
What YMM valued more was how harmoniously a member could blend into a group. Could they deliver powerful dance performances while singing live at this very moment? Were they raw gems with the potential to shine within five years after debut?
In this context, excessively high notes or shouting were not recommended. Borrowing dance moves from foreign choreographers was acceptable, but trying complex moves that didn't fit the idol group’s style was discouraged. There were, in fact, specific songs deemed unsuitable for the debut audition.
The next morning, I handed the CD to Joo-Han as soon as I got up.
"What is this? I thought you weren't doing this?"
"It's a kind of challenge."
"Challenge?"
I nodded at Joo-Han. The song had been a challenge for the nineteen-year-old me, but the present me felt confident about it.
"Can you edit this for me? I want to make the dance break part stronger."
"Wait, you are using this song for the audition? Isn't that a bit...?"
Joo-Han looked uneasy, but I nodded again. The CD I handed him contained the title track "Goblin" from the third album of YMM's flagship group, Allure. It was a captivating song with a dark, powerful sound and an addictive chorus.
I smiled awkwardly. "Does it seem odd?"
Joo-Han hesitated and then said, "No! Not odd! I mean, it's not that it's strange, but..."
I knew what he wanted to say. One couldn't simply switch to a song from a senior artist in the same agency without careful consideration, and challenging oneself with an idol group's title track, especially one that was famous and mainstream, required extra confidence.
Joo-Han seemed to be giving it a lot of thought. "Hyun-Woo, this song might not fully showcase your talent. How about another track from the same album? I have one in mind."
"I know what you are worried about."
"Or the original song you planned to sing is good too. It’s what you do best."
"Thanks for your concern, but I want to give this a try."
"Um..."
Joo-Han kept fidgeting with the CD, looking doubtful. In contrast with how adventurous Goh Yoo-Joon was and how skilled Joo-Han was at selecting songs, I had always valued safety at that time. Hence, it must have been hard for Joo-Han to understand why I, out of nowhere, was being so stubborn for an important audition.
Joo-Han reluctantly said, "If you are going with it, I can help with the arrangement and editing. But I'm not so sure if it's a good idea."
"Thank you. I have a plan in mind. This might be my last chance at debuting, so I have to give it my all."
I mustered a bitter smile, and finally, Joo-Han seemed convinced.
"Yes, if it could be the last time, you should play all your cards."
Being selected for the debut team was a blessing, especially considering I was in my tenth year as a trainee. If I couldn't debut after a decade of training, it felt as if I might never get the chance. This audition could truly be my last shot. It seemed that Joo-Han thought I was unusually serious because it could be my last chance.
When Joo-Han and I went to the living room, about ten trainees were gathered there, making a fuss.
"Ah! Crazy! Why do we have to go at dawn again? Do you guys have any conscience?"
"Please change it. I might faint like this. All the lessons are packed in the morning, so I can't sleep or focus!"
"Too bad. Rules are rules. We're going in the afternoon."
“Ah!”
I wondered how on earth the company had gathered such noisy guys and put them all together in one dorm. Each of them had a powerful voice and great vocal abilities, so when any of them spoke, it was like a piercing assault on my ears. Even worse, the moment all of them chimed in, it created a massive ruckus, and their constant bickering only added to the chaos.
Joo-Han let out a deep sigh and approached the ten members who were foolishly fighting over a simple game of rock-paper-scissors.
"It's a rule in place to prevent you all from fighting, you know? Fight one more time, and I won't help with any editing."
As expected, Joo-Han was impressive. Just the mere mention of not assisting with the song arrangements was enough to silence these energetic boys. Despite their complaints about the early morning schedule, they all went silent.
The lively dorm operated relatively smoothly, all thanks to Joo-Han. He was the oldest and also had a natural leadership quality. Moreover, he was good with people, had a pleasant personality, and was highly respected by the younger trainees.
Most importantly, Joo-Han's arranging skills were exceptional. Most trainees relied on him during monthly evaluations or auditions. If someone of his caliber didn’t assist in arranging a song for a crucial event like the debut team audition, it would obviously be a big deal.
***
‘The agency’s studio looks the same as before...'
A wave of nostalgia washed over me. I used to frequent this studio during my trainee days, but now it felt somewhat unfamiliar.
"What are you doing standing there?"
Lost in my thoughts, I was jolted back to reality when Joo-Han kicked a chair toward me. He was telling me to sit down.
It was only when I entered the studio that I truly felt like a trainee again. So, even when he offered me a seat, I was momentarily frozen. Joo-Han disregarded my hesitation and played the CD.
"We are just keeping the dance part, right?"
"…Yes."
This was no time to be lost in nostalgia. Now, my trainee life wasn't about memories but about reality. I took a seat beside Joo-Han and explained, "No. I mean, I want to emphasize the dance, but I also want to retain other parts."
"...Are you serious? If you emphasize the entire song, the climax will be lacking. Are you sure about this?"
I nodded, clarifying my intentions. I was not foolish enough to heavily beat up the entire song.
"I want to retain the accompaniment for the vocal parts, but can we make it softer?"
"Softer?"
Joo-Han clicked on the monitor, a habit he had whenever he struggled to understand a trainee's request. In response, I simplified my explanation.
"I plan to showcase both singing and dancing at once."
"...Ah."
Joo-Han finally grasped my meaning and nodded. His typing and clicking became faster.
"So, during the vocal parts, you want to emphasize your voice, and during the dance break, you want to make sure it's powerful?"
"Yes!"
The song was crafted to highlight every member’s abilities and provide a platform for individual talents to shine. While the option to either dance or sing to the song existed, opting for just one felt like a lackluster attempt, something only a person without a sense of urgency would do.
“No matter how much I think about it, I am not sure if you made the right call, Hyun-Woo.”
I didn’t reply to Joo-Han’s concern. Even though he grumbled with a tone full of worry, he still arranged the song according to my preferences.
“I hope you won’t regret it.”
“Don’t worry, hyung. I will showcase it the way I want, so I won’t have any regrets regardless of the outcome.”
It was because I was certain I would ace the audition.
***
During the final stages of our work, there was a knock, and Jin-Sung entered.
"Are you guys done? It’s our turn to practice."
Hearing Jin-Sung's words, we reflexively jumped up and hurried to the practice room. We had about ten minutes of work left, but every second was precious. Getting to the practice room was more important than finishing our tasks.
"Is Yoo-Joon waiting?"
"Yes, but other teams are also moving to Room A."
"That’s obvious. So, you’re saying that Goh Yoo-Joon is waiting alone?"
"I bet my hoodie that he’s been pushed back."
I flaunted my hoodie as I spoke. Would these young men in their late teens and early twenties really wait patiently? Trainees did not hesitate to physically fight to stand at the front, starting five minutes before the practice room was cleared. It would be impossible for Goh Yoo-Joon to push away other team members and stand at the very front by himself.
Joo-Han slapped Jin-Sung on the back of his head and quickly rushed forward, kicking the closest trainee in the back.
“Out of the way, assholes!”
There were only two practice rooms available for trainees: Room A and Room B. However, Room B was practically unusable due to issues like its faulty speaker and a worn-out floorboard. Who would want to practice with their phone playing music ahead of a crucial audition?
Given this situation, Room A, although old, was the preferred choice and was always bustling.
"Argh! Isn't this too much? You are so mean."
"I’m going to tell the team leader that you always use force. Ugh, this is so frustrating."
With a kick from Joo-Han, a path cleared before us like the parting of the Red Sea. We then walked leisurely through the parting crowd to secure our spot in front of the practice room. I had thought about it before, but being in the same group as Joo-Han was indeed a blessing. Since joining his group, I never had to practice in Room B.
Soon, trainees from the previous session started to pour out, and the ones pushed out by our group had no choice but to head to Room B or a nearby park.
Upon entering the practice room, Joo-Han naturally started to adjust the equipment.
"First, hand over your CDs. I'll play each of them once. When your track plays, practice to it accordingly."
"Okay."
The members gave their CDs to Joo-Han, and I quickly handed mine over as well. Even though I regretted not having a complete track, it was perfectly fine for practice.
Then, I suddenly felt an unusual silence enveloping the room, an undeniable tension. Glancing around, I realized all eyes were fixed on me. When our gazes met though, they averted their eyes in embarrassment.
Just how confident was I to change the song with the audition right around the corner? Their mouths, which had been chattering non-stop, were now tightly shut, and they occasionally glanced at me and the CD in my hand.
'This is...'
The tense gazes of my colleagues, something I had never experienced before in my pursuit of safety, sent shivers down my spine. It was just a song change, but they were all tensed up, looking at me.
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