Rockstar Again - Chapter 68



Only Noblemtl

Episode 68. A Man Called A (6)

In a situation where we are just going up on stage, not on our own stage, song selection is more important than anything else.

This means that the fans didn’t come to see us, they came to enjoy the stage.

This is especially true when multiple singers take turns performing on stage.

The band in front of us might eat us up, or we might ruin the show for the band behind us.

“Phew… … .”

I took a light breath.

There is no other reason why song selection is important.

If we want to stimulate an audience that doesn’t expect it from us, it’s hard to be soft.

Self-composed song?

Of course, I have confidence.

But I have no intention of taking out the undercooked rice.

It’s not that my brothers’ playing is immature, it’s that I don’t like it.

I participated in a competition show as a way to quickly improve my skills, but on that stage, I wrote my own song?

I can’t allow it.

So.

-How about Highway Star? Dong-ha, you’re awesome with that. It’s kind of symbolic.

It was Dongsik’s opinion.

―Hmm… … Actually, if you want to bring out Dong-ha’s vocals, Guns N’ Roses might be a good choice. But that would be too obvious if it was shown on My Pick. Hmm… … If you want to go all out from the beginning, how about Led Zeppelin? Isn’t Immigrant Song good?

This is Youngpil hyung.

―AC/DC would be good. The songs are mostly strong and have straight riffs that repeat, so hooking would be easy. Above all, it’s popular.

Even Taeju hyung.

They actively shared their opinions.

Basically, our song selection direction is hard rock with a fast tempo.

Because I have to forcefully bring up the emotions of the audience that are not moving.

There was also a queen among the candidates.

From Skid Row to Aerosmith to The Who.

Legends have been rife, but our final decision was somewhat surprising.

Well, I guess it’s not that surprising?

This song was popular in our country’s indie scene for a very short time. The melody line is exactly the type of taste that our country’s fans like, and decisively.

―It would be best to highlight Dong-ha’s strengths as much as possible. Although high notes aren’t his only strength, he’s still strong in one room.

High notes.

It’s not a 4-octave ultra-high note that’s close to a low note, but a 3-octave Mi.

It was quite popular in the US, but its heyday was very short-lived.

These guys debuted in 1990, and their album came out the following year, in 1991.

NEVERMIND by Nirvana, the slaughterer that killed hard rock and metal.

That’s why I like Nirvana, but I also hate it.

“Who is A?”

After hearing the host’s words, I stopped thinking and took a quick look around.

To the right of me is Youngpil, holding a synthesizer in front of him.

Behind him is Dong-sik hyung, just like he always has. Isn’t it? Should I say it’s been 31 years… …?

Anyway, pick up your drumsticks and take a deep breath.

On the left, that is, on the right side looking at the stage, Taeju hyung is waiting for my signal, wearing his bass, having finished setting up.

I feel like I’m going to die.

I raised my hand.

Then the host starts talking about A and B, but I can’t hear them very well.

Are you nervous?

No way.

Did I say my first love was Deep Purple and my second was Led Zeppelin?

It was crazy.

My love is here.

Love blinds, and now I am blind.

Very lightly through the microphone.

“Firehouse. Overnight sensation.”

And then suddenly.

-Jagajagajajang! Jagajagajajang!

My hands glide over the guitar.

-Dung, dung, dung, dung!

Unlike a clueless bear, Dongsik’s drums join in, keeping the beat.

Tae-ju and Young-pil also came in and we became one.

We, who are one, run hand in hand.

If it’s real running, it would be faster to run without holding hands, but we’re different.

We are a band.

Running faster when holding hands.

A fast sprint at BPM 154.

To those of you sitting in the audience, I have a gift for you.

Whatever it is, I will now remove the stone that is weighing down somewhere in your heart.

Because that’s what rock bands do.

“Woahh …

The microphone blasted fire above the galloping performance.

* * *

Lee Yu-jin, who had only come to please Park Min-jae, opened her mouth.

“what……?”

Unlike the songs of the previous bands, this song is in English.

He starts out of the blue, and starts screaming from the very beginning… … He doesn’t hold back.

I can’t even hear the lyrics properly.

It is not due to a lack of vocal pronunciation or volume.

It’s English.

What kind of sensation, what kind of overnight sensation.

Even though I only hear those words occasionally.

It feels like my blocked stomach has been cleared out.

Actually, some bands that came out before also had songs with high notes and fast rhythms, but something… … is different.

Because it’s higher pitched?

I don’t think so? The band called Hwanhon had similar high notes.

Then… …sing it better?

That seems right, but does that mean I feel like my insides are being ripped off?

“Hey… …Why is this good?”

I asked without knowing it, but there was no answer.

I glance to the side and see stars in Park Min-jae’s eyes. Four people are trapped inside the stars.

Feeling the absurd power and sense of presence, Lee Yu-jin looked straight ahead again.

There are four unidentified men running as if they are going to die today.

Guitar sounds that stimulate your ears and drum sounds that feel like they are pounding directly into your heart.

The high notes of the vocals pouring through it all.

The music-crazy Paradise High School horror members, including Lee Yu-jin and Park Min-jae, will be in their third year of high school in a few months.

Giving up on studying doesn’t mean you’ve given up on life.

South Korean teenagers who give up on their studies begin to reflect on themselves more deeply than anyone else in the world.

But there is no exit.

Because I don’t know.

Lee Jin, who was lost in introspection without knowing it, ended up trapped in chaos.

The same goes for Lee Yu-jin, who was armed with a cheerful appearance but was actually an ordinary eighteen-year-old high school student.

The chaos grew when her best friend, Miso, suddenly became an idol and appeared on TV.

What can I do?

What kind of adult will I become?

What can I do?

Park Min-jae nods his head to the beat, whether he knows it or not.

It didn’t seem funny.

At least Minjae knows what he should do.

A child who confidently faces adults who ask, “What is that?” and “Does it make any money?” when he says he dreams of becoming a YouTuber, and even the ridicule of his friends.

Why was that friend so into old-fashioned rock? Why was he walking his own path without fear? Lee Yu-jin seemed to know at first glance.

Bomi and Ha-eun are seen shaking their heads as if they are under a spell.

I never thought, “Why are they like that?”

Because most people around me were doing it without even knowing what this music was.

Looking at the fans in the audience who had fallen into a mass hypnosis as if they had never been calm, Lee Yu-jin realized.

A truly proper rock sound dominates the area around it by about 100 meters.

“But where have I heard that voice before… … .”

The still unconquered Lee Yujin left the question that had crossed her mind and joined her friends.

Let’s listen and think about it later, but at least enjoy it for now.

* * *

Jang Pil-seong was a legend in the Korean indie scene.

But that was only the case in the indie scene, not the mainstream.

The primary reason was that the direction of the music was so difficult that the song itself was not popular.

The decisive factor was that the character was not suitable for broadcasting.

These days, the trend is for more and more celebrities to speak out, but Jang Pil-sung has gone beyond that level.

From the statement, ‘Idols are not singers.’

A representative example is the statement, ‘Even dogs and cows fall asleep while making music.’

So, the man who had all the fans of Korean idols as his enemies was Jang Pil-seong.

He is a legend in the indie scene, but for over 10 years he has only been known as a legend in the indie scene.

Jang Pil-seong’s life changed when he joined as a mentor.

There must be more than one life that has changed since became a huge hit.

Anyway, when Jang Pil-seong first joined Nae-ppodol, he received a lot of hate for his provocative comments, which was even more than he usually did.

-Still, it’s good that you’re trying. You seem to have some hope. But where are you making that sound?

He was able to recover his image a little by not neglecting children who were trying hard and giving them advice.

―You’re really great. Are you naturally talented at vocals? Do you take care of your voice? If you’re just naturally talented, don’t take care of it and it’ll all go away? A kid like you should be doing music for a long time. My mom makes a special drink with a little honey and persimmons. I’ll give it to you, so drink it regularly. If you run out, let me know.

He showed endless kindness to Lee Dong-ha and gave him a surprising charm, completely reversing his image.

Not as a vocalist with great skills in the indie scene who speaks foul language, but as a ‘tsundere mentor.’

Thanks to that, I appeared on TV shows more often and my bank account grew quite a bit.

The fact that the half-year of activities since becoming a mentor for Naepwidol brought in more income than the countless performances I’ve done in over 10 years was enough to make me go crazy.

There was nothing bad.

The event unit price itself has changed, so there can’t be a bad reason.

Because Jo In-chang was so attached to Lee Dong-ha, their ambiguous relationship ended when Lee Dong-ha ran away and all contact was lost, but Jang Pil-sung mentioned Lee Dong-ha whenever he had the chance during the broadcast.

―Dong Ha-yo? It’s a shame. It’s not that he lacks talent. It’s a shame that he doesn’t do anything with his great talent. If I were at the Cultural Heritage Administration, I would have registered him as a human cultural asset. He’s a great asset to the Korean music industry. Just wait and see. He’ll be a hit not just in Korea but around the world.

It wasn’t because the image had changed.

―Why do I praise him so much? Because it’s true. When I was his age, I couldn’t even keep up with him. Honestly, I still don’t know. I think I have more self-esteem, but when I listen to his songs, I feel like he’s being stubborn. I only did one song, but he can compose songs on the guitar.

-Producer? Oh… … That won’t work. Dong-ha has to sing himself.

People are surprisingly high on moving, and I’m just saying it because it’s true.

―Rock? If I say something like that, I think I’ll get cursed at by idol fans… … Dong-ha is the best at rock. I want Dong-ha to do rock. It would be strange not to be greedy when you see such a treasure. I’m a rock fanatic too. But it would be greedy. Who would tell him to do rock? He can do everything, so let’s make him do music that makes more money.

Jang Pil-seong laughed in vain.

Honestly… …I almost cried, but I barely held it back.

It’s not because I’m moving and sticky.

The reason why the talented person who had everything chose rock was because it touched the heart of Jang Pil-seong, who was holding on to the edge of rock.

“This fucking punk… … is really rocking out… … .”

I knew it right from the shouting.

Jang Pil-seong is not the type of vocalist who can easily have two people stand in front of him.

This killer vocalist is definitely a must-have for anyone looking to move.

It has to be that way.

He wants to say something, so he urgently gestures for the microphone, but the on-site staff only shakes their heads firmly. Due to the nature of this broadcast, the mentor does not stand up the band and give comments during the preliminary round.

Because of the direction of respecting artists.

“Oh, right… … Please give me the mic… … I have so much to say. I also have to figure out why you’re ignoring my calls… … and give you some doraji juice.”

Rockstar Again Episode 69