novelraw Chapter 102 : I Will Try Talking to Her
Chapter 102 : I Will Try Talking to Her
Chapter 102 - I Will Try Talking to Her
“Who do you think made which song, Hyeon-woo?”
At Baek Hyeon-woo's question, Baek Yeon-ah countered with that question.
It was a question that seemed to test Baek Hyeon-woo's musical capabilities.
“Well.”
After pausing for a moment, Baek Hyeon-woo opened his mouth.
“The second song doesn't have much distinctiveness so it's hard to grasp, but the first song contains the creator's individuality, so I have a hunch.”
“Contains individuality?”
“Yes, I could tell after listening.”
He could tell even without referring to the music information window.
“The first song has a strong character of a so-called ‘hook song’.”
“Yeah, that's right.”
The ‘hook’ in hook song means a hook, literally.
In music, it refers to a short phrase that catches the ear.
A hook song refers to a song that is addictive because such hooks are repeated.
“Hook songs repeat specific phrases continuously, embedding them into the brain as if brainwashing. I think the intention to addict people like that can be glimpsed in this song.”
The music information window also showed Addictiveness as A.
It means that not only does it simply repeat the same phrase continuously, but the phrase itself is charming enough to addict the listener.
“On the other hand, the overall composition itself is very monotonous. It’s not a song with a colorful composition like CEO Seol Woo-myeong’s ‘After girl’, but a song that repeatedly emphasizes only easy phrases.”
“Correct. That’s why there are many people in music who dislike these hook songs. Saying they’re trying to get a free ride too much.”
The completeness visible in the information window was C.
If one tries to raise the completeness by adding details here, there is a high possibility that the addictiveness will actually drop.
Because the charm of a hook song comes from emphasizing only specific phrases with a simple composition.
“Then it’s obvious who made this.”
Recalling the time he listened to the assignment song last time, Baek Hyeon-woo spoke calmly.
“It seems like a song that reflects Kanade’s personality of wanting to get a free ride on everything.”
“That’s the correct answer.”
Kanade deliberately made a sluggish song for the last assignment too.
Saying that way, she could make fewer melodies.
Kanade’s personality of wanting to use shortcuts somehow was appearing in this song as well.
“Hmm... It’s not like Kanade is incredibly lazy or anything, but she always rolls her brain to be cunning where she thinks she can use shortcuts.”
Park Yeong-ho scratched his head and said.
“Though it is Kanade’s charm to hit an unexpected jackpot while doing that.”
“Yeah, true.”
Kanade didn't have much enthusiasm for composition.
He sent her to Big Sound Camp by cajoling her that she could play and eat for the rest of her life on copyright royalties, but she realized the reality there and her enthusiasm plummeted.
So she kept using shortcuts whenever she made a song... The last assignment song was a huge flop, but this song was a jackpot.
“It’s not like there isn't an aspect of stumbling upon it by luck, but it’s still worth evaluating.”
Baek Yeon-ah spoke slowly.
“It seems she used this composition because she wanted to make it easily somehow, but rather thanks to that, it gained a flavor that sticks right in the ears. Originally, the public prefers simple things over complex ones.”
It is common to lose mass appeal while trying to diversify the composition and add details to increase completeness.
Even Seol Woo-myeong once appeared on ‘Talking with O’ and talked about how difficult it is to pursue both mass appeal and completeness simultaneously.
“And Kanade’s bubbly sensibility is properly reflected in the simply repeated phrases. It’s a song that properly expresses the charm Kanade possesses as an idol.”
Saying that, Baek Yeon-ah looked at Baek Hyeon-woo.
“This is what you expected from the kids too, right, Hyeon-woo? Expressing the idol themselves through self-composed songs.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Baek Hyeon-woo nodded.
“From that perspective, I think we can say Kanade expressed herself most naturally. Since even the simple composition aimed at getting a free ride is just like Kanade.”
“Right, this is better than forcibly trying to make a great song.”
Neither Baek Hyeon-woo nor Baek Yeon-ah had the greed to top the charts with this song.
If it could be included in the new album to make Newstarz's world more colorful and make fans love Newstarz more, that would be enough.
From that perspective, Kanade had brought a sufficiently good song.
“Then... the problem is the second song.”
Park Yeong-ho said while stroking his chin.
“So the second song was made by Laura, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
A song where the completeness is decent, but no particular charm is felt.
That was Laura’s self-composed song.
“It seems she studied composition diligently. But that’s all there is to it.”
“How should I say it, it feels like it just has the appearance.”
“Right. She just diligently completed the form.”
Baek Yeon-ah sighed while giving a cold assessment.
“Well... it’s not that a song like this is absolutely unacceptable. In fact, there are many idols active with songs of this level.”
“If we ask a publishing company for just any song, we often get songs of this level.”
“Yeah, we’ve had that happen a few times too...”
Baek Yeon-ah fell into contemplation.
“If this was a song by an unknown composer thrown at us by a publishing company, I would have just rejected it. Because I really want to make this album properly. But... considering it’s Laura’s first self-composed song, I feel like it might be okay to just include it.”
That was her dilemma as a producer.
If thinking only about the completeness of the album itself, it should be excluded.
But if thinking from the perspective of making it more colorful by including self-composed songs in the album, it might be within the acceptable range.
“Hyeon-woo.”
Baek Yeon-ah, who was agonizing over it, eventually asked Baek Hyeon-woo for help.
“What do you think we should do?”
“…….”
Not only Baek Yeon-ah but also Park Yeong-ho looked at Baek Hyeon-woo.
When such a troubling situation occurred, they had no choice but to rely on the unique sense Baek Hyeon-woo possessed.
“I’d like you to put it on hold for now.”
Baek Hyeon-woo answered in a calm voice.
“I know we don’t have much time to spare. Still...”
Why Laura could only make a song of this level.
He needed to find out the reason and make a judgment.
“I will try talking to Laura once. Let's come to a conclusion after that.”
……
“I'm sorry. I failed to check that part beforehand...”
“No, it's alright.”
The day of the Big Sound Camp lecture.
Baek Hyeon-woo headed to the seminar center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the lecture was held, with Lee Su-gyeong.
His plan was to leave Kanade in Lee Su-gyeong's care after the lecture ended and take only Laura with him.
“There wasn't anything special from what you saw, right, Su-gyeong-ssi?”
“Yes, Laura was just the same as usual.”
As they waited at the seminar center while conversing, the students who had attended the lecture began to come out in groups of twos and threes.
“Huh? Hyeon-woo-ssi?”
Just then, a woman approached while calling Baek Hyeon-woo in a bright voice.
“Long time no see. Right?”
“Seong Hae-won-ssi...”
It was Choux-pop’s Seong Hae-won.
Since she flirted with him every time they met, she was someone Baek Hyeon-woo wanted to keep at a distance.
“I think this is the first time seeing you here, Hyeon-woo-ssi; did you come to pick up Laura and Kanade?”
“Yes, well...”
“That’s a bit of a shame. If I didn't have another schedule, I would have asked you to buy me a cup of coffee.”
“……”
“Ah, shall we set up a separate appointment? How about it?”
Seeing Seong Hae-won flirting with Baek Hyeon-woo with a foxy smile, Lee Su-gyeong covered her mouth with her hand in amazement.
“Team Leader, you're quite popular.”
“It’s not like that...”
Seong Hae-won merely viewed Baek Hyeon-woo as an interesting toy.
So even if Seong Hae-won made advances, it was only burdensome for Baek Hyeon-woo.
“Seong Hae-won, after today... Ah.”
Joo Ga-hee, who was approaching while calling Seong Hae-won, flinched upon seeing Baek Hyeon-woo’s face.
“Long time no see. Is your body holding up okay these days?”
“……”
Joo Ga-hee bit her lip and avoided Baek Hyeon-woo’s gaze.
At that, Seong Hae-won glared at Baek Hyeon-woo.
“Hyeon-woo-ssi? Why do you treat Ga-hee so kindly? Are you interested in Ga-hee?”
“I just checked if she was staying healthy.”
“This is a bit suspicious, you know? Even when Ga-hee collapsed at The Idol, you ran over super urgently; are you really interested in Ga-hee?”
When Seong Hae-won pressed him like that, Joo Ga-hee frowned and pulled Seong Hae-won’s arm.
“Stop saying disgusting things and let’s go.”
“Ga-hee-ya, don't be shy. Let's hear it for sure at this opportunity. Who Hyeon-woo-ssi likes more between me and you...”
“I said let’s go!”
Joo Ga-hee shouted shrilly and forcibly dragged Seong Hae-won away.
While leaving the spot like that, Joo Ga-hee glared at Baek Hyeon-woo one last time and threw out a remark.
“It's annoying, so don't ever talk to me again.”
“……”
With those words, Joo Ga-hee went outside without looking back.
Even while being dragged away by Joo Ga-hee, Seong Hae-won said, ‘See you next time,’ and smiled with her eyes until the end.
“Team Leader, you really are popular.”
“Where on earth do you see that to say such a thing? She told me not to ever talk to her again.”
“Ey, if you really don't talk to her ever again because of that, she'll be very heartbroken, you know?”
Lee Su-gyeong laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
“You even received handmade cookies last time. I saw it all in the video.”
“You watched that video too?”
“I told you I was a fan of yours, Team Leader. Of course I watched it.”
“That was... just done because the agency made her do it. It wasn't Joo Ga-hee's true intention.”
It was the instruction of Section Chief Seong Su-ho, who judged that filming a video conveying gratitude was necessary for a proper wrap-up.
“As you saw earlier, Joo Ga-hee dislikes me very much.”
“Really? To me, it didn't really feel like that...”
Beside Lee Su-gyeong tilting her head, Baek Hyeon-woo fell into thought.
‘But I didn't know Seong Hae-won and Joo Ga-hee were also taking the Big Sound Camp lectures.’
It seemed DP Entertainment also intended to level up the Choux-pop members as artists by teaching them composition.
Starting from the next album, wouldn't they start showcasing the idols' self-composed songs in earnest?
‘If the timing overlaps, comparisons will be inevitable.’
It’s no exaggeration to say that Choux-pop, which includes Joo Ga-hee, is Newstarz’s nemesis.
What if the self-composed songs made by Choux-pop members receive higher evaluations than those made by Newstarz members?
Newstarz members' morale will drop, and the fandom atmosphere will stagnate as well.
On the other hand, the Choux-pop side will become much more triumphant and try to trample on Newstarz.
‘I can't let that happen.’
This was for the Newstarz members, but also for the producer, Baek Yeon-ah.
While he was lost in such thoughts, Laura and Kanade came out.
Seeing Baek Hyeon-woo with Lee Su-gyeong, the two widened their eyes.
“Did Hyeon-woo oppa come along to pick us up today?”
Laura snapped in a somewhat chilly tone.
“Since you've only been taking care of So-yeong unnie's drama side lately.”
“I have something to talk about with you, Laura.”
“……”
Hearing Baek Hyeon-woo’s serious voice, Laura’s expression hardened stiffly.
“Is it because of the song I submitted to the CEO?”
“Laura, that is...”
“I knew the song I made wasn't great, but I didn't know it was bad enough for Hyeon-woo oppa to come personally to scold me.”
Laura sighed without even listening to Baek Hyeon-woo.
Watching that, Kanade widened her eyes.
“Uh, serious atmosphere...?”
“It has nothing to do with you, Kanade-ssi, so let's go on our own.”
While Lee Su-gyeong took care of Kanade, Laura approached Baek Hyeon-woo.
“Where are we going to talk?”
“Let's go outside first.”
“Alright.”
When Laura was about to follow Baek Hyeon-woo outside.
Lee Su-gyeong called Laura from behind.
“Laura-ssi.”
Towards Laura who turned her head to look, Lee Su-gyeong smiled brightly and waved her hand.
“Have a nice date.”
“……!”
Hearing the unexpected words, Laura’s face flushed bright red.