When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar

# 154

Counterattack (4)

***

“Wow… Do-Wook-ah, this is really amazing.”

“Isn’t this a clearer sign of a big hit than a ghost in a recording studio? Ma Dowook, you are truly amazing.”

“of course. “It’s a song that came to me in a dream!”

The members gathered in the studio within the company said a word one by one.

Hyeong-seo Ahn and Yoon-gi Jeong praised Do-wook after taking off. It wasn’t a compliment I gave on purpose, it was a compliment I gave because I couldn’t get enough of it without being complimented.

Since it was not a deep sleep, it was closer to a song that Do-wook came up with while not even sleeping properly, rather than a song that came to mind in a dream. However, the members seemed to want to think more dramatically that a good thing is a good thing.

Dowook woke up and started working, completing the title song without sleeping for 24 hours a day and eating and drinking minimally.

It was an incident that stunned the album production team, which had planned to only capture basic beats within a week.

Team leader Shim Jun, who received a call from Do-wook, who had completed the song in one day, looked dumbfounded and muttered that there was no need to push himself this hard.

Dowook also had no intention of overexerting himself by consuming his stamina.

If the work got stuck or became sluggish, Dowook also planned to take a break and continue the remaining work. However, the song really came to mind like a dream, and the subsequent work was seamless.

Although the arrangement hasn’t been completed yet, I wanted to quickly let the members hear the completed song.

I had been awake for over 24 hours and was so dazed that I had no idea what my song was like. I wanted to share it with the members and get their honest evaluation.

Upon hearing Do-wook’s call, the members postponed all other practices and schedules and rushed to the studio a month later.

Kim Won, who was listening to the conversation between Jeong Yoon-gi and Ahn Hyeong-seo, asked.

“Recording studio ghost? “What is….”

“Uh…. It’s not common these days…. Successful singers always say they saw a ghost or heard a ghost’s voice in the recording studio… or something like that. “Because I said… If you say you saw a ghost in the recording studio, it’s seen as a sign of great success.”

“oh?”

At Taehyung Park’s explanation, Won Kim opened his eyes wide and looked curious.

Kim Won, who grew up in a Western culture, was ignorant of Korean ghost stories and proverbs, and was the type of person who was extremely curious about such things.

Seok Ji-hoon gave additional explanation to Kim Won.

“I think there are a lot of ghosts in the recording studio because it’s a place for singing.”

“Do ghosts like singing?”

“They say so.”

“Wow, it somehow feels like a pain down my spine.”

At Kim Won’s words, question marks appeared on both Park Taehyung and Seok Jihoon’s faces.

“It’s sad to be sad, and it’s true to be cool. “At times like this.”

Dowook rubbed his sleepy eyes and corrected Kim Won’s words. Even though Kim Won was doing well, he made mistakes in using words like this once in a while.

However, without such a mistake, it would be difficult to believe that Kim Won did not live in Korea. This was because he spoke Korean perfectly.

“No one has seen a ghost in this studio yet… but anyway, it’s a great premonition. Thanks to our producer who woke up and started working even when we were sleeping!”

Seok Ji-hoon nodded at Ahn Hyeong-seo’s words.

“Even without that, it was always a big hit.”

That’s true, and everyone nodded in agreement. When he heard that it was all thanks to Do-wook, Do-wook smiled a little shyly and touched the machine.

“I haven’t mixed it all the way to the end yet… I think you can just listen to the first verse and think it’s perfect. And… I would like you to be honest about your impressions.”

“okay!”

“I finished it in one day anyway, so it doesn’t matter if they tell me to turn it over…”

Do-wook said, looking back at the members.

I hoped that Do-wook would express his honest feelings without worrying about being offended.

The members shook their heads as if they knew what Dowook was worried about and told him not to worry.

“yes.”

Of course, Dowook didn’t think that the members would hesitate in expressing their feelings because they were so concerned about being considerate of Dowook.

Everyone knew that honest appreciation would be more helpful to Dowook, and it was important to everyone.

If a song is not good, there is a limit to its ability to achieve good results no matter how popular it is. So it was time to try our best to choose good songs.

There was no album that was unimportant, but this album was just as important as it was released this time.

First of all, it was a position that had to be maintained.

The members were recently realizing that maintaining the position was more difficult than looking up and running.

When I was a rookie or gaining popularity, I couldn’t see my surroundings. It was true that there was no room for that. Like a racehorse, I ran with the hope that at least one more person would recognize KK’s music.

However, when I got up there, I finally had the energy to look around and could see down below.

When I watch Man to Man or other recently popular idols, I can’t help but think, ‘How long can I stay in this position?’

However, it wasn’t just looking down. KK had set a new goal of conquering the world market and was working hard to achieve it once again.

‘I thought it would be nice to win the grand prize once… but now I’m heading to a bigger and wider place.’

Do-wook was filled with such emotion whenever he talked about future events with the members.

Dowook thought and played the song he had prepared. I was always nervous about showing off the songs I had written to others.

‘I wonder what it would be like… We tried to bring out the color of KK’s music as much as possible and made the sound more powerful than before.’

thud-! thud-!

From the beginning, the sound of the bass was unique.

The members concentrated on listening to the song. The expressions on the members’ concentrated faces were as serious as ever.

In the middle of the first verse, the beat slowed down and the notes in the melody part began to rise to a higher pitch. Although there were no lyrics attached and no guide provided yet, this was the section where the thought ‘If high-pitched vocals exploded here…’ came to everyone’s mind.

thud! Boom – boom – boom!

The refrain is ‘This is the hook!’ It was so intense. It made me want to stomp my feet on the floor and jump up.

While the accompaniment was playing, the members could not even breathe properly. I was focused on the song as if I had only been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was the same with Dowook.

“Oh!”

Manager Oh Baek-ho and Koo Cheol-min, who had just opened the door and entered the studio, unconsciously held their breath in an atmosphere where no sound could be heard except for the accompaniment of the song composed by Do-wook.

The members only glanced at the two people for a moment.

When the two heard that the first draft of the song was completed and the members had gathered together, they packed rice from a nearby restaurant for the members who had not eaten until after lunch.

It was now two o’clock in the afternoon.

It was 1pm when Do-wook, who had been working roughly in his room and came out to the office studio, finished working on the song all night and contacted the members. Most of the members just woke up and left, so there was no time to eat.

Director Oh Baek-ho and Gu Cheol-min moved slowly and sat down on the sofa, putting the packed rice on the table.

After the song ended, there was silence in the recording studio for a while.

Dowook, who was sitting in a chair and operating the buttons, slowly turned around. The members were standing behind. Dowook asked cautiously.

“Uh… how do you feel?”

In response to Do-wook’s question, Jeong Yoon-gi, who was standing cross-legged with his arms crossed, made a ‘hmm’ sound.

“So…”

Do-wook swallowed his saliva once out of nervousness.

“Is it too bad?”

At Jeong Yoon-gi’s reaction, Do-wook’s tense shoulders relaxed. A groan like an exclamation of “ah” spontaneously burst out.

“really. Ma, it’s really the best. “Am I the only one who got goosebumps?”

“No me too!”

“Me too…”

Ahn Hyeong-seo and Park Tae-hyung responded to Jeong Yoon-gi’s question. Without exception, Kim Won and Seok Ji-hoon expressed their admiration by raising their thumbs.

Everyone was thrilled with the feeling that this was ‘the song’ they had hoped for during the concept meeting.

While promoting OK, Jung Yoon-gi was also focusing on composing and producing. Although I still had a lot to learn, I had started to write songs that were so complete that Shim Jun, head of the album production team, asked me to put them on KK’s album.

That’s why Jeong Yoon-gi was able to better understand how great the song Do-wook has currently selected is.

It felt like all the necessary elements were there. I felt like I wasn’t missing out on any of the results.

“Do-Wook… How can you make something like this in one day… Wow…”

Park Tae-hyung could not continue speaking and only admired it. Even Park Tae-hyung, who was usually quiet, expressed his admiration, and this time, Do-wook became a little more embarrassed.

“Can we continue like this? Verse 2 is also like this….”

“Oh, of course! But I have something to ask you.”

“Ask, bro.”

“Uh…. will the high notes be my part?”

“Ah, I guess that’s probably the case if things go on like this.”

Ahn Hyeong-seo nodded to Do-wook’s answer. It was definitely going to be a killing part. Originally, Ahn Hyeong-seo was in charge of the high-pitched parts and played a role in bringing the song to life, but this high-pitched parts had more impact than in other songs. That section was also long.

“Is it not that good?”

“no no! Absolutely not! It’s not that it’s not that good, it’s that I really like it. “I thought I should do well.”

Hyungseo Ahn responded by waving his hand.

It was truly a satisfying part for Ahn Hyeong-seo. At the same time, it was a part that showed how much Do-wook, who must have paid attention to the members’ parts when composing the song, trusted Ahn Hyeong-seo’s skills.

“You’re still doing well, brother.”

“No, I didn’t mean to hear such praise~!”

As Ahn Hyeong-seo spoke with a smile, Seok Ji-hoon quietly muttered behind him, ‘I think that’s right.’ Ahn Hyeong-seo glanced at Seok Ji-hoon.

“But the song has so much variation that it feels like two songs combined…”

“Yes, I did give that feeling on purpose…”

“Oh, it’s not strange. Okay good! But wouldn’t it be better to add one more bridge word when going from a fast tempo to a slow tempo?”

Do-wook nodded at Kim Won’s words and quickly wrote down the contents on the notepad next to him.

I tried not to miss any part of the powerful choreography, the excellent vocals, or the rap part, and although the song was only one song, it varied into various forms. So, Dowook thought while working that it might be refreshing but also awkward at the same time.

‘As expected, I need to modify that part a little more.’

Thinking about it, Dowook felt fortunate that the members responded well. Of course, for this song to become the title song, more additional work was needed and confirmation from the album production team and others remained.

‘But… it definitely has the feel of the song itself that I wanted. It should also be a song that the public wants….’

Dowook clenched and unclenched his fists.

“How much more time is left to work on the song?”

Director Oh Baek-ho, who was sitting, approached and asked. Director Oh Baek-ho, like the members, was equally surprised to hear that Do-wook had completed the song.

“If we say it’s okay to go on like this… we just need to arrange the second verse a little more. Afterwards, I’ll add the lyrics, start recording, and finish the mixing… I think I’ll have to send it to Team Leader Shim today and talk about it before I can finish the work.”

Director Oh Baek-ho nodded. It would take at least a day for the album production team leader Shim Jun and other team members to listen and give feedback.

“Then finish your meal first. “I’m sure everyone is hungry.”

Members flocked to the table. After listening to the entire song, the members felt dizzy from the smell of kimchi stew wafting through the recording studio.

Gu Cheol-min quickly unwrapped the package and set up the spoon and chopsticks.

“Brother, please come quickly and eat too.”

Everyone sat down, but Dowook was still there. At Seok Ji-hoon’s call, Do-wook turned off the machines and cleaned up the place.

“I… can I just go into the dorm and sleep?”

Dowook’s eyes were so wide as he said that. If he stayed awake a little longer, Do-wook’s seemingly perfect good looks would crack.

Dowook felt relieved after hearing all the evaluations of the song, and as his tension eased, he was rapidly feeling tired.

“Wow, hurry up and go to sleep!”

“Good job. Dowook.”

“Okay, go to sleep now! I think sleeping comes before eating. you.”

Director Oh Baek-ho sent Do-wook as if he was worried.

Do-wook returned to his lodgings and fell asleep as soon as he lay down on the bed.

***

Once the song came out, album preparation proceeded at a rapid pace like a sports car driving on the Autobahn.

The members who received the choreography opened their mouths. Even though it was difficult, it was because it was too difficult. It was a choreography that took my breath away just by looking at it. Before anyone could complain, choreographer Noh Tae-hyun announced the start of practice.

Noh Tae-hyun also knew how important choreography was to the title song of this album. The expectations within the company were high and there was pressure. Noh Tae-hyun literally risked his life and death to compose this choreography.

Since it was such a choreography, it was natural that it felt overwhelming for the KK members.

However, the members also tried their best to follow the choreography.

The sweat from the members was soaking the practice room.

Although it was difficult, preparations for the album were progressing smoothly. Nothing else seemed to be any problem.

The problem arose two days before the title song was recorded.

“Oh, Chief! “We’re in big trouble!”

Seok Ji-hoon came out of the room and called Manager Oh Baek-ho. The eyes of the members gathered in the living room turned to Seok Ji-hoon.