novelraw Chapter 104 : Because It's Your Song
Chapter 104 : Because It's Your Song
Chapter 104 - Because It's Your Song
Laura originally had an interest in composition.
Because there were times when she would randomly hum melodies that popped into her head.
So when she heard the suggestion to learn composition because self-composed songs would be included in the next album, her heart fluttered.
To think she could sing a song she made herself, rather than a song made by a composer whose face she didn't even know!
At Big Sound Camp, which she attended with high hopes, Laura received a refreshing shock from the very first lecture.
Because they openly acknowledged that it is impossible to handle the entire composition process alone while maintaining a busy idol schedule, and that one has no choice but to receive help from others.
They said that since co-writing in formats like song camps is common these days anyway, composing with others is not something to be ashamed of.
Producer Park Cheol-woo, the instructor, taught techniques for idol singers to proactively participate in composition within that reality.
The lecture content was very practical. Park Cheol-woo was generously providing the know-how he had gained from cultivating many ‘composing idols.’
Laura tried to absorb as much of the material taught in the lectures as possible.
Because she thought that even if she couldn't handle every process alone from start to finish, she wanted to participate in as many parts as possible to imbue it with her own color.
She wanted to become an idol who was good enough at composing to confidently say, “This is a song I made.”
So Laura studied desperately. She even cut down on her sleep to work on assignment songs.
However, when the Big Sound Camp lectures entered their latter half.
The day came for a one-on-one interview with Park Cheol-woo to receive an evaluation of her assignment song.
Until then, Park Cheol-woo’s students had evaluated the assignment songs, but on that day, Park Cheol-woo personally provided the evaluation.
Laura played the assignment song she had made herself with confidence.
She was confident because Park Cheol-woo’s students had always given her good evaluations.
However, after listening to the assignment song, Park Cheol-woo snapped in a cold voice.
That he couldn't feel what story she wanted to tell at all.
The moment she heard those words, Laura felt her heart sink.
It was because she had forgotten what Park Cheol-woo had emphasized in the first lecture: “Put your stories into your songs.”
All this time, Laura had only thought about becoming technically proficient.
Because she wanted to become an idol who possessed proper composition skills and could create songs on her own.
However, having focused only on those aspects, she had neglected what Park Cheol-woo emphasized in the first lecture.
Laura urgently tried to resolve this problem.
She had already learned a lot of composition techniques. Now that she was technically proficient, the problem would be solved if she just infused her own story into it.
Thinking that, Laura made a new song.
No, she tried to make one.
She struggled to make one.
But she couldn't do anything.
When she thought about composing by infusing her own story, nothing came to mind.
The story I want to tell?
What is that? Do I even have something like that?
No matter how much she thought, nothing came to mind.
The more she thought she had to include her own story, the blanker her mind became.
In that state, CEO Baek Yeon-ah, who had decided to be the producer for the next album, asked her to submit a self-composed song.
Not an assignment song to cultivate composition skills, but a new song to be included in the next album and presented to the fans.
A new song that had to show the story of Laura, a member of the girl group Newstarz.
The thought that she had to write such a song paralyzed her even further.
As the date CEO Baek Yeon-ah requested approached, Laura urgently began listening to self-composed songs by other girl groups.
She tried to get ideas by listening to songs by other idols who compose their own music, such as Sweetheart.
The result born from diligently listening to other songs like that was... a song that only plausibly imitated them, devoid of any charm.
……
The sound of flowing water was heard from afar.
In a dark riverside park, Baek Hyeon-woo and Laura were sitting on a bench.
Laura was leaning her head on Baek Hyeon-woo's shoulder. From a distance, it would look like a couple sticking close together on a date.
However, from up close, one could easily tell that wasn't the atmosphere.
Because Laura's face was wet with tears.
“I’m really like an idiot.”
Leaning her head on Baek Hyeon-woo's shoulder, Laura spoke in a subdued voice.
“In the end, I was just digging my own grave all alone.”
Usually, Laura does not try to show weakness in front of others.
She doesn't consult others about her worries, nor does she reveal her inner feelings.
Just as she always put up an iron wall against men who approached her, she always builds a wall around her heart.
This is because Laura’s pride is that strong.
The more difficult her heart feels, the more solidly she builds the wall so that others won't notice.
That was the girl named Laura.
However, today Laura was able to honestly confess everything in front of Baek Hyeon-woo.
This was because Baek Hyeon-woo had demolished Laura's wall beforehand.
He thought that if her body and mind were in a comfortably relaxed state, she would be able to talk about her inner thoughts honestly.
“Really, I had no story I wanted to tell.”
“……”
“I had no message I wanted to convey to the world, and no words I wanted to say to the fans. My head was completely empty.”
The sturdy wall Laura usually built up did not exist right now.
She was confessing without hiding even the parts she herself considered shameful.
“I didn't even have the desire to just have a fun time comfortably like Kanade. There was nothing welling up from inside me that I could put into a song.”
“……”
“What was in my head was just...”
Sniffling, Laura said.
“I just wanted to make a cool song and be acknowledged.”
“……”
“By the fans, by the people of the world... and by you, Hyeon-woo oppa.”
Although Laura is popular for her cool and haughty image, her inner feelings are not like that.
She is merely a girl who wishes to be acknowledged and loved by others.
“I wanted to be praised, told that I did really well, that I'm a composition genius. I wanted to hear that Laura is the best. I just wanted to receive praise and feel conceited.”
Saying that... Laura recalled the events that had happened so far.
The things that happened after debuting as an idol... and the things after Baek Hyeon-woo came as her manager.
She also recalled the day Baek Hyeon-woo protected her from a strange man at the 3rd-anniversary fan meeting, and how she had vowed to one day hear him say she was the prettiest in the world.
She had worked hard with such a goal.
But it was just a vain effort.
“I'm sorry. For saying I'd make something like a song when I had nothing inside…”
Tears flowed from Laura's eyes again.
Only the self-composed song made by Kanade should be included in the next album.
At least the song Kanade made clearly shows qualities that are just like her.
A song that is nothing, made by herself who has nothing... is not worthy of being included in Newstarz's next album.
While she was thinking that, as Laura was shedding tears again.
“It’s all out now.”
Baek Hyeon-woo's calm voice was heard.
Not understanding what he meant, Laura looked at Baek Hyeon-woo’s face.
“Pardon?”
“I said it’s all out.”
Baek Hyeon-woo spoke to Laura in a gentle voice.
“Your story.”
“……!”
Laura gasped.
“What do you mean there’s nothing? You have such a proper story right here.”
“O-Oppa...”
“Putting a story into a song doesn't mean you have to include some grand narrative or message. It’s enough to just include what you are thinking, what you are agonizing over, and what you are dreaming of.”
Baek Hyeon-woo hoped that Laura and Kanade would express their individuality through their songs.
He expected that by doing so, they would receive more love as idols.
Therefore, technical completeness wasn't that important.
It was enough if Laura and Kanade expressed their own unique personalities through their songs.
“So... let’s try turning the things you just talked about into a song. You don't have to worry too much about the song's completeness, so prioritize expressing your thoughts as much as possible.”
“O-Oppa!”
Laura urgently raised her voice.
“P-Put these kinds of inner feelings into a song? You mean it’s okay to express such a pathetic and foolish side of myself?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“It doesn’t fit my usual image!”
Laura pointed at her own face with her finger and said.
“Even the company is selling me with a cool and haughty image! So I’m asking if it’s really okay to show such a pathetic side!”
“Actually, people will probably like you even more.”
Showing a gap in character is an effective strategy.
Kim So-yeong also used to show only a cool image, but she gained more popularity by revealing through broadcasts that she is often clumsy in real life.
Fans won't be disappointed and leave just because Laura reveals her inner feelings.
Rather, it is certain they will have more affection for her.
“At least for me... I find you more likable now that I know your inner feelings like this, compared to when I didn't know Laura very well in the past.”
“……!”
Laura's pale face flushed red.
“Laura, I was curious why you made a song like that. That’s why I brought you out today.”
Baek Hyeon-woo said, making eye contact with Laura.
“Wouldn't the fans be curious too? About what kind of thoughts Laura has.”
“……!”
“Laura, you don't have to struggle to make a ‘worthy’ song.”
Laura had been trying desperately all this time.
Thinking that she wanted to be recognized by creating a plausible song, she had struggled while even imitating the songs of popular groups like Sweetheart.
However, that was the wrong approach.
“It has value because it is your song.”
Because it is a song unique to Laura, it is valuable.
That was what Baek Hyeon-woo wanted to convey.
Under the streetlight illuminating the dark riverside park, Laura’s eyes trembled as she looked at Baek Hyeon-woo.
……
Ten days later.
Team Leader Kim Seon-hee of the A&R Team expressed her concerns to Baek Yeon-ah.
“CEO-nim, wouldn't it be better to just leave out Laura's self-composed song? We can't afford any more delays.”
To include a different new song instead of Laura's self-composed one, Baek Yeon-ah would have to start composing right now or request one from another composer.
Since waiting indefinitely would cause setbacks in album production, a decision had to be made quickly.
“Or let's completely overhaul the song Laura submitted last time. If we have Laura participate again only when composing the top line melody, it’ll look the part.”
The top line melody refers to the melody sung by the vocals in a song.
People who specialize in creating this are called top liners, and many idols who claim to compose only perform the role of a top liner.
Professional composers create all the other parts, and the idol participates only in crafting the top line.
So there would be no problem doing as Kim Seon-hee suggested.
Because that would be enough to market it as ‘Laura’s self-composed song.’
“Let's wait as long as possible for now.”
However, Baek Yeon-ah shook her head.
“Since she said she would bring a new song, we have to trust her and wait.”
“I'm telling you, the more we delay, the harder it becomes for you, CEO-nim.”
“Still, we have to wait.”
As Kim Seon-hee said, if they delayed any further, it would only be difficult for Baek Yeon-ah, the producer.
Even knowing that, Baek Yeon-ah continued to wait.
“Because Hyeon-woo asked me to wait.”
“…….”
When Baek Hyeon-woo's name was mentioned, Kim Seon-hee also fell silent.
Kim Seon-hee was also someone who knew well what amazing results Baek Hyeon-woo had achieved so far.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Just then, Baek Yeon-ah received a phone call.
After speaking for a moment, Baek Yeon-ah told Kim Seon-hee.
“Hyeon-woo says he's coming over now.”
“Pardon?”
“It seems Laura has completed her new self-composed song. He says he wants to let us hear it now.”
“……!”
Did he know that this was the time when they would start feeling anxious?
Baek Hyeon-woo brought the results at just the right time.
“CEO-nim, will it be different from the last song this time?”
“Well, I don't know. We'll have to listen.”
Anticipation and anxiety.
Baek Yeon-ah and Kim Seon-hee stood up, feeling those emotions intersecting simultaneously.
Last time, Baek Hyeon-woo recruited Seol Woo-myeong, who was in a slump, and brought back a wonderful song called ‘After girl.’
Could he pull off a miracle like that this time as well?