NOVEL NEXT Chapter 72
After the second round of competition songs and members were all decided, and some individual interviews with the participants were wrapped up.
Our team entered the assigned room to start serious preparations and practice for the second competition, sitting facing the staff and camera.
And there were three people sitting next to me.
Hana Unni.
Ha-rang Unni.
Sara Unni.
– Do-hee~ I’m here~
Our eyes met, and Sara Unni, who was smiling brightly, eventually joined our team.
Yes, thus a super team has been born, composed of ranks 1, 2, 3, and 7.
With a super team like this, if we mess up, the backlash will hit us hard.
But everyone was just grinning, clearly not worried at all.
Well, it’s not like it would be easy not to shine with this lineup…
“Shall we first discuss the part distribution?”
The one leading us was the oldest, Hana Unni.
I had given up on being the leader early on.
No, honestly, I never had any intention of being one.
Since no matter how hard I try, the PD has already decided my image, and I’ll just be edited as the hardworking youngest… oh well.
“Then Ha-rang will handle the rapping, right?”
The only rapper is Ha-rang Unni.
There was really no one else.
“Yay~”
Now we just need to decide on the three vocal parts.
This song didn’t necessarily have a main vocal.
It’s not that there aren’t high notes.
There were a couple of high note parts where singing ability could really shine.
But the key point of this song was the killing part of the chorus.
In other words, it was the part that would capture the viewers’ attention and showcase our charm.
Generally, popular songs that have been loved for a long time fall into two categories.
One has an incredibly catchy chorus.
Or the other has a strong killing part.
This song actually had an attractive chorus and killing part that included both.
“Does anyone have a part they want to sing?”
Fortunately, Hana Unni and Sara Unni were both eager, not just for the killing part but also for the high notes.
Since there are three vocalists, there should be plenty of parts for each of us. Perhaps if I charm them well, I could snag the killing part…?
But before picking parts, there was an important priority to discuss.
That was arrangement.
“How about we figure out the arrangement concept first before dividing the vocal parts?”
The first thing is, how we arrange the song could lead to the disappearance of some parts and the emergence of new ones.
“I think Ha-rang Unni’s rap part is short, so we should pick a part to include.”
Secondly, there wasn’t much quantity in the rap part of ‘FATAL.’
That means if we allocate vocal parts in advance, it would be tricky to choose a rap part for Ha-rang Unni later on.
Hana Unni seemed to agree, nodding her head.
“Our youngest is quite smart. Then let’s listen to the original song again, and if any simple ideas come to mind, feel free to share!”
“Even if it’s just one idea, let’s share anything that comes to mind.”
Hana Unni played the original stage video on the tablet PC she received earlier.
-Your gaze (look me look…
When I think about it, this song’s characteristic is its groovy swing rhythm.
The sound of the acoustic guitar mingles with the unique tone of the synthesizer, giving a powerful impression that matches the strong end notes of the original singers.
A few ideas popped into my head.
Some of these ideas had already been planned since I chose this song.
When the video ended, I raised my hand.
“Unni, how about we do this in R&B style?”
‘FATAL’ is a song with a fast beat and a strong image.
In other words, it’s a lively dance track.
But our mission is the vocal & rap position.
“Since we’re in charge of the vocal & rap position this time, I think R&B could enhance the vocals and rap better than a fast beat.”
Ha-rang Unni gasped and agreed with me.
“Oh~ I agree. That sounds really good. How about this for the concept? It just came to me, but shifting to R&B gives a softer feel, right? So, the concept would shift from the strong, masculine allure of the original to a gentle, subtle seduction.”
Hmm… that makes sense.
Changing the genre changes the mood of the song itself.
So, we need to switch the concept too.
It’s a bit disappointing.
I wanted a more masculine concept…
Sara Unni also raised her hand to share an idea.
“Then for the ‘look me look me’ part, I want to add something like the sound of high heels. A feeling of approaching.”
High heels.
A perfect outfit idea came to mind.
“How about we wear formal suits with high heels?”
Hana Unni jumped up excitedly.
“Totally love that! Then we can stick with that for the performance outfits and stand in front of a stand microphone, singing, and then right after the first chorus, we can detach the mic and just do some light key choreography. What do you think?”
Once we decided on the direction of the arrangement, ideas started pouring out like a flood.
“Oh, and I have something else I want to do.”
This was another idea I had since the very beginning of song selection.
“What is it?”
Hana Unni asked curiously, but I lifted my backside off the ground and sat on a chair in front of the piano in one corner of the room.
“I’ll show you first.”
I started to play the piano, recreating the original song that I heard earlier.
“What? How are you playing that without sheet music? Have you practiced before?”
Hana Unni said in surprise.
Yeah, now that I think about it, this is one of the moments I’ve dreamed of.
Showing off my perfect pitch on a broadcast.
Ah…
I first discovered I had perfect pitch during my vocal lessons with Teacher Kwon.
Vocal class.
I was able to play a song I had just heard right away.
Teacher Kwon was amazed and praised me as having perfect pitch.
Since I didn’t have this talent when I was five, it seems more like the result of daily piano practice rather than something I was born with.
“No, I’m playing it for the first time today.”
“Wait, so you’re playing it right away after hearing it once?”
“Wow… Jackpot. Genius.”
“Do-hee… so cute.”
The last comment from Sara Unni was a bit bothersome, though.
Anyway, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of comments would be posted after the broadcast… Heh.
“Oh, it’s nothing special~”
I waved my hand dismissively like it was no big deal.
Haah… Do-hee Lee is so chic.
You’re really the best.
You’re so cool.
It’s insane.
“Doesn’t seem like you’re downplaying it that much?”
Ha-rang Unni made a keen observation.
Still pretending otherwise, I said to Sara Unni.
“First, can you sing ‘Fatal’ to my playing?”
“Okay, got it.”
But isn’t it okay to like it a bit?
Disliking it would be more strange.
Sara Unni stood beside me and cleared her throat.
“I’ll raise it by five keys. Is that okay?”
“Sure.”
The average pitch range difference between women and men is about five keys.
‘FATAL’ is a male song, so I needed to raise it by five.
I started to play five keys higher than the original.
– Your gaze…
Sara Unni sang with a clear voice to my accompaniment.
As the song flowed, we were already at the last high note section, the chorus, the killing part.
The highest note of the original song is G#4.
And the highest note when raised by five keys is F5.
“Fatal love, I can’t hide my heart.”
Yet she handled the notes with no problems.
Continuing to the chorus.
“Fatal love, I can’t hide your heart.”
This time I changed the arrangement by using the bass notes in my left hand.
Then I closed my vocal folds and opened my mouth to create harmonies with her voice.
“Fatal love, I can’t hide your heart~”
“Fatal love, I can’t hide your heart.”
The harmonies I built were closer to the original key.
In other words, my voice was alto.
Sara Unni’s voice was soprano.
My alto wasn’t as low as that of professional female vocalists, but I was confident that I could produce clean low tones better than anyone among the trainees.
After the song ended.
“How does this sound? I would like to stack harmonies on a few parts like this.”
I casually glanced to the side, my eyes widening as I saw Hana Unni and Ha-rang Unni staring at me.
“Wow… this is awesome! Jackpot!”
“Agreed…!”
Before I knew it, my lips curled up in a smirk.
I gave a peace sign towards the camera.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Hana Unni’s voice, handling the mezzo-soprano part between me, an alto, and Sara Unni, a soprano.
Ha-rang Unni’s accompanying background vocals.
It was the R&B arrangement direction I had in mind.
*
Arranging meeting.
All we could decide were the concepts, directions, and elements.
The actual arranging skills belonged to the music director and the arranging teacher, so we needed to convey our opinions during the meeting.
Hana Unni, our leader, answered the music director’s question.
“We want to arrange it with an R&B vibe, and in a subtle, alluring concept that differs from the original.”
After contemplating, the music director opened his mouth.
“Yes, I think the concept is well established. Do you have more in mind?”
A bit much…
Hana Unni stepped forward to show the heavily annotated lyrics to the music director.
“First, I think we need a footstep sound here, and harmony should go in here and here, and we should raise the key by five… in the very beginning…”
The music director and arranging teacher, who first listened with satisfaction, looked uncomfortable as our requests piled up.
Of course, it’s not our problem.
Get to work!
*
While rehearsing for the second round of competition, the production staff began calling the trainees one by one.
In the middle of a room surrounded by cameras.
On the desk was a draw.
It seemed like a new self-PR video.
“Just pick one?”
“Yes, since all the opinions from the directors who picked Do-hee Lee are here, you just need to pick one from there!”
The lively voice of the female staff member.
I find it scarier when the staff are cheerful.
Of course, every staff member has been nice to me during the advertisement and music video shoots.
It’s not that the staff from Deodo3 weren’t friendly.
They were friendly.
But still.
These people were always exhausted from the long, arduous work, so suddenly being cheerful felt… a bit off.
A terrifying basket.
I reluctantly picked one slip and unfolded it.
– Dress up in cute animal clothes and mimic that animal during the PR time –
Ah.
“Now show us towards the camera!”
The production team checked my slip.
The staff grinned as they brought out a bunny pajama.
Ah.
Please no.