novelraw Chapter 105 : Even for a Single Moment
Chapter 105 : Even for a Single Moment
Chapter 105 - Even for a Single Moment
“I’m sorry for being so late.”
Upon entering the company studio, Baek Hyeon-woo started by apologizing to Baek Yeon-ah and Kim Seon-hee.
“I wanted to deliver it as quickly as possible, but it took longer than I anticipated.”
“No, this much is fine.”
Baek Yeon-ah answered calmly, but Kim Seon-hee interjected from beside her.
“If it got any later than this, it would have really become a headache. Since we needed to make a quick decision on whether to include Laura's self-composed song or not.”
“I’m sorry, Team Leader Kim.”
“You should say sorry to the CEO-nim, not me. The more it gets delayed, the more tiring it becomes for the CEO-nim, who is in charge of producing.”
Still, the nuance wasn't a severe reprimand.
Because Kim Seon-hee was also one of the people who trusted Baek Hyeon-woo.
“But why did it really take this long? Team Leader Baek, you usually handle work so quickly that I thought you’d bring it over right away this time too.”
Originally, the time it takes to compose varies from case to case.
There are cases where it's finished in a day, and cases where it takes months.
So taking ten days couldn't really be called late.
However, in this case, there was no time to spare because it was a situation where a conclusion had to be reached as soon as possible.
“Actually, I scrapped it a few times.”
“Scrapped it?”
“Because I didn't like it.”
Both Kim Seon-hee and Baek Yeon-ah wore surprised expressions.
“Hyeon-woo, then are you saying Laura finished making the song but you rejected it?”
“There were cases where I scrapped it at an intermediate stage, but anyway, I made her remake it several times saying this wouldn't do.”
“I didn't know you could be so strict, Hyeon-woo...”
“I am strict when training them, though?”
“This is a bit different from training. Laura must have been very upset.”
Baek Yeon-ah worried about Laura, but Baek Hyeon-woo immediately shook his head.
“She wasn't particularly upset.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I stayed right by her side to care for her, so you don't need to worry.”
Saying that, Baek Hyeon-woo prepared to play the song.
“However, there is one thing I should tell you in advance.”
“What is it?”
“You said to just create the song, but we ended up adding lyrics as well. Is that okay?”
“That won't be a problem. Actually, I also prefer creating lyrics and melody together at the same time.”
Composition and lyric writing have a close relationship with each other.
Although there are cases where it is entrusted to a professional lyricist, it is also common for composers to start composing with lyrics in mind beforehand.
From the perspective of expressing a story, having the lyrics thought out in advance makes it easier to create the melody.
“We can tweak the lyrics separately later. Just let us hear the song first.”
“Then, I will play the version where Laura did the guide vocals first.”
Before recording the official vocals, a singing voice is sometimes inserted as a sample beforehand; this is called a guide vocal.
It plays an important role in conveying the composer's intention to the actual singer or producer.
“My head hurts from the countless sounds I hear──♪.”
Amidst a lo-fi style bass sound, Laura's singing began.
“Even though I’m breathing like this, it all gets buried──♪.”
As the song proceeded in earnest, Baek Yeon-ah and Kim Seon-hee closed their eyes and focused.
The sensibility of a medium-tempo pop dance track was filling the studio.
“Who will listen to my voice, who will recognize my voice──♪.”
There was not a hint of it feeling forced.
Both the captivating melody and the emotional singing voice were naturally revealing Laura just as she was.
“Even if I’m foolish like that, I will keep raising my voice──♪.”
As it led into the climax, the song's color became clearer.
That was a color that emerged because Laura expressed herself honestly, just as she was.
“Even if it’s just for a single moment──♪.”
After a buildup with a strong attack, the repeating vocals echoed in their ears.
The rich sound caught the ear addictively.
“For the person who will love my voice the most──♪.”
Just like that, the song ended.
In front of Baek Yeon-ah and Kim Seon-hee, who still had their eyes closed, Baek Hyeon-woo played the next audio file.
“Next, I will play the instrumental version without vocals.”
The track with only the accompaniment, sans vocals, flowed out.
Since they had already heard the version with the guide vocals, they would be able to easily imagine the feel of the Newstarz members singing their respective parts.
“……”
“……”
Baek Yeon-ah and Kim Seon-hee focused on the song with their eyes closed.
Even after the song ended, they kept their eyes closed, immersed in the lingering impression.
“How was it?”
When Baek Hyeon-woo, who had been waiting, asked the question, Baek Yeon-ah opened her eyes and answered.
“Honestly, in terms of completeness, the previous song was better.”
“That’s right. The details feel lacking.”
Kim Seon-hee also supported Baek Yeon-ah's opinion.
“Entering with a lo-fi feel in the intro seems a bit tacky, too.”
“Yeah, I agree.”
After saying that, Baek Yeon-ah looked at Baek Hyeon-woo and spoke again.
“Still... it has a charm that was missing from the previous song.”
“I agree with the CEO-nim’s opinion, too.”
“……!”
Hearing Baek Yeon-ah and Kim Seon-hee's words, Baek Hyeon-woo clenched his fist tight without realizing it.
It was because he heard the evaluation he had hoped for.
“Since you say Laura made it, I can feel the depth even more. I think it would be good to assign Laura the role of leading the vocals for this.”
“You're right. That brings out the feel better.”
Laura's guide vocals conveyed the song's image more clearly to the two of them.
To properly bring this feel to life, they needed to increase Laura's share of the vocals. Both of them judged so.
‘Both of them saw it correctly.’
Baek Hyeon-woo smiled.
It was a relief that both of them caught on well to what Baek Hyeon-woo had intended.
‘It was worth scrapping it several times.’
All this time, Baek Hyeon-woo had scrapped the songs Laura made several times.
It was because the stats visible in the music information window were not satisfactory.
However, Laura did not get discouraged and continued to create songs, and finally, she was able to complete a good song.
————
[My voice]
Mass Appeal: B
Lyricality: A
Addictiveness: A
Completeness: D
– Affinity with Newstarz (Main Vocal: Yoo Jeong-ah & Laura) is 95%.
————
It is true that it lacks significantly in terms of completeness compared to the last song, which had a completeness of B.
However, all the other parts were better than last time.
Especially, the fact that both Lyricality and Addictiveness came out as A was excellent.
‘A song that is emotional yet addictive... something like this is rare.’
It was also encouraging that the affinity reached 95% when Laura's vocal share was increased to be equal to Yoo Jeong-ah’s.
Actually, assuming Laura as the sole main vocal resulted in an affinity of 100%, but... since Laura's own vocal ability falls far short of Yoo Jeong-ah's, it was safer to have her share the main vocal role with Yoo Jeong-ah.
Just like when Yoo Jeong-ah and Seo Na-eun sang ‘Keep Your Eyes’ on ‘The Idol’, Yoo Jeong-ah would handle the highlight parts of the song, and Laura would take on the role of leading the song's flow.
“As you said, the completeness is lacking, but we can cover such parts through processes like arrangement.”
Baek Hyeon-woo explained in a calm voice.
“This is a song where Laura poured her heart and soul into honestly expressing her inner voice. At the same time, it is also a song that can represent Newstarz.”
Laura’s self-composed song ‘My Voice’ expresses Laura’s inner desire to be acknowledged and loved by people.
But is Laura the only one with such a desire?
Other members, including Seo Na-eun, would all have such desires to some extent.
“If Newstarz sings this song... I think it will be able to stimulate the emotions of many people.”
People often feel, ‘Ah, this is my story,’ while listening to a song.
The truer the emotions contained in the song, the more people empathize.
If it's a Newstarz song made by Laura, it will be able to move many people's hearts.
“I think it is a song that must be included in Newstarz’s next album, CEO-nim, Team Leader.”
When Baek Hyeon-woo said that, Kim Seon-hee looked at Baek Yeon-ah and opened her mouth.
“CEO-nim, we naturally have to include it, right? Since she made it this well.”
“Wait a moment.”
However, Baek Yeon-ah was deeply lost in thought.
‘Why is she acting like that?’
This was a reaction Baek Hyeon-woo hadn't expected either.
He thought if they refined it well, it would be sufficient as a track on the album... Was there something bothering her?
“Hyeon-woo-ya.”
Baek Yeon-ah, who had been lost in thought for a long time, slowly opened her mouth.
And looking at Baek Hyeon-woo, she asked carefully.
“Can I touch this up and use it as the title track?”
Using it as the title track.
That doesn't simply mean putting it as the first song on the next album.
It meant she would use it as the main song for Newstarz's future activities.
……
“U-Use it as the title track?”
Laura freaked out upon hearing the news.
“You mean you’re going to use ‘My Voice’ as the title track for the next album?”
“Yes, the CEO-nim said she would try pushing for that.”
“N-No, how can that be!”
Laura flushed and raised her voice.
“It's my first self-composed song! Just sticking it somewhere in the album would be enough; how can you make it the title track!”
“The CEO-nim is the producer. So you should follow the CEO-nim's judgment.”
“Even so...!”
Shaking her head vigorously, Laura showed her resistance.
“Isn't it a good thing? It means the CEO-nim recognized your song that much.”
“I-It's embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing?”
“Because it's a song that lays my inner feelings bare...”
Laura said, sighing deeply.
“It feels like hanging a nude photo of myself in the middle of a main street.”
“Hey, why would you say it like that...”
Baek Hyeon-woo cleared his throat.
“At most, it's about the level of uploading your middle school diary to the internet.”
“That's even worse!”
“Is it?”
He couldn't understand her standards.
“Anyway, is this really okay? Honestly, I'm a bit worried.”
“Worried?”
“What if we make my song the title track and it flops completely...”
“Hmm...”
Actually, Baek Hyeon-woo hadn't considered making Laura's self-composed song the title track either.
Because its Mass Appeal was only a B.
However... that might just be because Laura is still a beginner at composition.
“The CEO-nim will fix it up a lot. We aren't using your original song as is, so you don't have to worry so much.”
Right now, Baek Yeon-ah is thoroughly disassembling Laura's original song and working on upgrading it.
She will remove all the tacky or amateurish parts and change it to have a sophisticated feel.
There are cases where adding details makes a song too complex and lowers its mass appeal, but there was no need to worry about that.
Because Baek Yeon-ah would upgrade it to be even more charming while maintaining the flavor of the original song.
“If I feel it's really not working, I'll tell her. That it seems insufficient to be a title track after all.”
Baek Hyeon-woo can objectively grasp the song's potential by checking the information window.
Later, if he checks the information window for ‘My Voice’ after the arrangement is finished and finds it lackluster, he can just suggest using another song as the title track.
“That doesn't sound very pleasant either, in its own way.”
Laura made a wry face.
“Then please look after it, Hyeon-woo oppa. Honestly, it's hard for me to judge how charming the song I made is.”
“Okay, don't worry.”
Baek Hyeon-woo answered in a gentle voice.
“Because I'll take responsibility for the songs you make in the future, too.”
“Really?”
“Yes, always.”
“…….”
Laura looked at Baek Hyeon-woo’s face without saying a word for a moment.
Then she approached Baek Hyeon-woo.
“Will you take responsibility... from now on and always?”
“Yes, I promise.”
“…….”
Laura, who had been keeping her mouth shut, suddenly leaned her head against Baek Hyeon-woo’s chest.
At the unexpected action, Baek Hyeon-woo was taken aback.
“Say it one more time.”
“What?”
“Say what you just said, one more time.”
Laura made that demand in a stiff voice.
Due to the height difference and angle, he couldn't see Laura’s facial expression clearly.
“I will continue to take responsibility for you from now on.”
“…….”
Laura didn't say anything for a while.
As if savoring Baek Hyeon-woo’s words, she stayed still with her head leaning on his chest.
“Oppa.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll work even harder from now on.”
That was a word of gratitude for continuously rebuking and encouraging her while she was making the song.
At the same time... it was also a word of gratitude for everything up until now.
“Whether my song becomes the title track or not... I’ll work harder on Newstarz activities, and I’ll work harder on composing too.”
Listening to those words, Baek Hyeon-woo felt a premonition.
Now Laura will grow one step further as an idol.
While challenging herself with composition and hitting a wall, Laura learned how to honestly reveal her inner self.
This is a change that will be of great help for Laura to grow as an idol.
In the future, Laura will receive more love from people.
Because originally, people are bound to love someone who opens their heart to them more.
“Then... the time will come when you think of me not as a joint first place, but a sole first place, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you don't know, forget it.”
Saying that, Laura pulled away from Baek Hyeon-woo.
And smiling slightly, she murmured.
“Even if it’s just for a single moment.”
“……?”
Even if it’s just for a single moment.
That was the lyric that appears at the very end of the song Laura made.
There are countless voices in the world, and her voice is being buried among those many voices.
However, there might be someone who will love her voice the most in the world.
Being such an object of affection might be for just a very short single moment, but still, wishing for that, she will continue to raise her voice.
For the person who will love her the most in the world.
“I’ll become the best idol, so look forward to it!”
Laura left the spot with a smile and a wink.
With her silver hair swaying, with vigorous steps.
With an appearance charming enough that even Baek Hyeon-woo was captivated.
……
“Laura unnie’s self-composed song might become the next album's title track?”
The day they visited TVX for variety show filming.
Hearing the news in the waiting room, Kanade contorted her face.
“Kanade, this is strictly...”
Baek Hyeon-woo tried to explain carefully so that Kanade wouldn't get hurt.
If only Laura’s self-composed song becomes the title track, Kanade’s pride is bound to be hurt.
“If it’s the title track, it'll get played way more on music sites! Then a lot more copyright royalties will come in...!”
“Was it because of money?”
He thought she had grasped reality and given up completely... but it seemed she still hadn't given up on the life of living off copyright royalties like a pension.
“Manager-nim, isn't there a way to make my self-composed song get played as much as a title track?”
“Well...”
Kanade's self-composed song is also an addictive hook song, so if it catches a trend, it seems it would get quite a few plays.
However, since the arrangement wasn't finished yet, it was hard to predict.
“Wouldn't it work if we promote it hard?”
“Ah, will the company promote it separately?”
“No, you do it yourself.”
“You're too much...”
While they were having that conversation, a knock was heard on the waiting room door.
“Hyeon-woo-ssi, Kanade, have you been well?”
“Hello, PD-nim.”
“Ah, hello!”
It was PD Seo Dong-cheol who poked his head into the waiting room.
Usually, a PD wouldn't personally visit the waiting room of a mere performer, but since Seo Dong-cheol had a very close relationship with Baek Hyeon-woo, it was a common occurrence.
“Hyeon-woo-ssi, you’ve been appearing on entertainment news a lot lately. I guess you’ve become a full-fledged celebrity now.”
“It's all thanks to TVX...”
Baek Hyeon-woo began receiving attention even in entertainment news like this ever since he administered first aid to Joo Ga-hee on TVX's ‘The Idol.’
Because Seo Dong-cheol aired that scene as is, it became a hot topic, and after appearing on ‘I Go To Work Today’ as well, many people came to recognize Baek Hyeon-woo’s existence.
“Oh my, that worked out well.”
“What do you mean well?”
“You said you benefited from TVX, right? Since you said that, it makes it easier for me to bring this up.”
“…….”
Wearing a sly smile, Seo Dong-cheol spoke up.
“Hyeon-woo-ssi, could you appear on one more variety show?”
“Pardon?”
He had already appeared on ‘I Go To Work Today,’ but again?
“Are you filming Newstarz's daily life again?”
“No, not that.”
“Don't tell me I'm appearing alone?”
While Baek Hyeon-woo looked troubled, Kanade marveled from the side.
“Manager-nim, you really have become a full-fledged celebrity now. Even appearing on a variety show solo.”
“No, it's not that.”
Seo Dong-cheol immediately denied it.
“I'd like Kanade to appear with you.”
“Huh?”
At the unexpected remark, Kanade widened her eyes.
“Hyeon-woo-ssi and Kanade, the two of you as a set.”
“……!”
This caught Baek Hyeon-woo off guard as well.
Appearing not with all of Newstarz but with Kanade... just what was the intention behind this?
“I’d like the two of you to go to Japan.”
“Japan?”
Things he had heard before surfaced in Baek Hyeon-woo's mind.
Like the story that Kanade was originally selected as a member in preparation for entering the Japanese market.
Or the story that Choux-pop would embark on an overseas tour starting with Japan.
“Newstarz, shouldn't we let them start advancing overseas soon?”
Seo Dong-cheol grinned like a cunning strategist.