Chapter 114: Replacement (3)
Reina observed Hyun-Woo with her chin resting thoughtfully on her entwined hands. He seemed quite composed, casually adjusting the microphone with his headset on.
“Cough. Hmm." His occasional coughs suggested that his throat might not be in the best condition, but the anticipation still hung in the air. Park Yoon-Chan and Reina really liked his voice; it was quietly powerful.
Even during the Pick We Up, she had noticed that Hyun-Woo's voice was effortlessly pleasant. She thought that he had the best skills among the main vocals.
Soon, the intro of ‘Once Again’ filled the air. Hyun-Woo took a deep breath before he started singing.
Is there a place to step,
Or nowhere to stand?
Suddenly, anxiety creeps in?
“...Wow.”
His voice had the power to draw people in with a mere sigh. Indeed, live performances had such a unique charm.
In Chronos's songs or on Pick We Up, there hadn't been a chance to fully appreciate Hyun-Woo's vocals as there were a significant amount of distributed parts and voice adaptations. Hence, this showcased Hyun-Woo's solo live performance in its purest form.
Reina closed her eyes, smiling subtly.
‘How can his voice be so stable?'
Despite his throat condition seemingly affecting his power, his voice was clearer, grittier than Park Yoon-Chan's, yet still strikingly sweet.
Despite the unchanging reality,
I gaze at the dawning day and murmur,
Once more, just once more?
The lyrics were crafted to grab the listeners’ attention as well. As a result, the flood of radio messages from the listeners slowed down for a moment. It was a song to comfort the blunt youth, who rose repeatedly despite breaking down.
Reina held this song in high esteem. ‘Such a talent shouldn't be confined to a group.'
She hoped that someday... his voice would shine more prominently, not just on a radio show but recognized by many. While Reina immersed herself in Hyun-Woo's performance, the song reached its climax, and soon, Jin-Sung's rap part commenced.
The boy's hope is trampled even with gritted teeth and effort,
Nothing goes as planned,
Blocked on all sides,
Enemies everywhere?
Though Jin-Sung showed some unfamiliarity with rapping, as he usually shared the rap part with Goh Yoo-Joon in Chronos, he managed it well enough. His voice might not compare to Kim Jin-Wook's, but it wasn't lacking at all.
Reina felt the studio's atmosphere shift warmly. Suh Hyun-Woo stood beside Jin-Sung and looked at him. The other members also wore the same fond look, akin to watching a younger sibling proudly take their first steps. Hyun-Woo even nodded gently, helping Jin-Sung keep the beat.
Jin-Sung naturally locked eyes with Hyun-Woo and continued his rap.
'...What's this?' Reina suddenly felt an overwhelming warmth in her chest. ‘Why am I feeling this fondness here?’
— Look at[1] how the members are looking at Jin-Sung so affectionately... aaah
— The youngest love from the members... awww
— Hyun-Woo AHAHA helping Jin-Sung with the beat? Aww
The fans, too, were experiencing the warmth through the radio, sharing Reina's sentiments.
Reina smiled reminiscently of the Pick We Up keyword contest and then quickly reduced her smile, as she couldn't afford to show too much personal bias. Otherwise, her fond face would be captured and circulated around the idol forums.
...Though it might be too late for that?
As Jin-Sung's rap part concluded, Hyun-Woo gave him an approving smile, quickly regaining his composure.
It's going to be okay.
At the end of this long run, there'll be a finish line,
It's alright,
Dreams do come true after trials?
Hyun-Woo sang the final lines, and as the music swelled to its climax, he stood silently until the song ended before removing his headset. Reina, who had been staring blankly at them, belatedly turned to face the front.
- Okay! That was Joo-Han's composition and Hyun-Woo's lyrics for ‘Once Again.’ It's incredibly moving. What a live performance!
Returning to his seat, Hyun-Woo bowed his head in thanks.
“Thank you!"
- Will this song be released as a single?
“Um, no plans yet, but we'd love the opportunity."
It was indeed challenging for a newly debuted idol group to release a solo track. Reina pushed her disappointment aside and continued the show.
***
The live performance left me somewhat discontented. Already strained from the day's exertions, my voice had roughened from the intermittent coughing. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't produce the sound quality I desired. However, pushing aside the lingering dissatisfaction, I forced a relaxed expression onto my face.
- The song intrigues me. I have a few questions, especially about the rap part expertly performed by Jin-Sung. Is it initially featured by Kim Jin-Wook from Pick We Up?
“Yes, we've had a connection since the team performance in the show. He's an exceptional rapper, and when I approached him, he generously agreed to feature in it.”
Truth be told, it was more of a reluctant agreement, secured through persistent negotiations and a bribe of a coffee gift card.
- It seems like you've maintained a strong bond with the other groups, even securing a feature with one of them. You must be quite close with Jin-Wook, right?
“Well, somewhat.”
‘Not exactly.’
- Reading these rap lyrics...
Reina leafed through the lyric sheet with pure admiration.
- They resonate with such affection for you, Hyun-Woo. It's not something one could pen without a deep fondness.
“Haha, do you think so?” It was a rapid compilation and was completed in three minutes, as indicated by Jin-Wook’s grudging comment.
- He must cherish you deeply as a younger brother. It'd be delightful to witness both of you perform this piece live on a music show someday.
“I hope for such an opportunity too. I wish Jin-Wook would debut soon.”
Kim Jin-Wook himself had declared that there'd never be a joint live performance of this song.
Still, why did everyone, including our agency, think Jin-Wook and I were close? As I mulled over this, Reina continued her questioning and asked Jin-Sung.
- Jin-Sung, your rap was commendable. As the main rapper in Chronos, you've proven your reliability once again!
“Thank you. It was somewhat rushed, but as I've been familiar with the song from the start, I performed with pleasure.”
- Listeners, did you notice how tenderly the Chronos members watched Jin-Sung rap?
“Ah, did we really?” Goh Yoo-Joon responded, surprised by Reina's comment.
- Yes! It was evident how much the youngest member is cherished.
The conversation about “Once Again” concluded, and Park Yoon-Chan's turn arrived.
- Yoon-Chan prepared...oh my, I'm so thrilled that I might cry. He's chosen my third album track ‘No Nights for Me.’
“Yes, I've performed the rearranged version on a show previously. It's a personal favorite, and I've always wanted to sing the original version.”
- I'm overjoyed! I had a fantastic time during the previous rendition, and personally, I adore Yoon-Chan's voice.
“Ah! Thank you so much, senior!” Yoon-Chan responded, visibly touched.
- The song suits your tender falsetto perfectly, so I'm eagerly anticipating it.
“For sure!” Yoon-Chan approached the microphone.
- Now, let's hear Yoon-Chan sing Reina's ‘No Nights for Me.’
A grand, medieval tune filled the air, perfectly complementing Park Yoon-Chan. Although it was originally Reina's composition, it had become synonymous with Park Yoon-Chan in our minds.
I watched Yoon-Chan with keen anticipation, wondering how his delicate voice would interpret the original version. His voice was slightly higher than usual and delicately conveyed the song's essence. He showcased his rapidly improving skills, handling the challenging high notes and emotional depths with aplomb.
When had he become so adept at conveying emotions? I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
He wisely opted for falsetto for the climactic high notes, a decision that enhanced the performance.
I caught a glimpse of Reina's reaction, and she seemed thoroughly pleased.
“Yoon-Chan's doing great,” Joo-Han whispered.
I grinned and nodded in agreement. “He's worked hard. Impressive.”
As Yoon-Chan's song concluded, Reina stood up, applauding enthusiastically.
Seeing this scene, Yoon-Chan bashfully scratched his neck and then returned to his seat.
- Oh my gosh, it was perfect!
“Thank you. The final high note was a bit disappointing th—”
- Not at all! Your unique touch made it all the more enjoyable.
Yoon-Chan smiled, a hint of shyness in his expression.
- If we delve deeper, I remember being particularly impressed by Yoon-Chan when Chronos first covered this song.
“Really?”
-Yes, a total reversal! Up until then, his talents hadn't fully shone, but suddenly, he surged forward, and that moment is still vivid in my memory.
Yoon-Chan nodded. “Honestly, I was incredibly grateful to my fellow members during that cover.”
- What specifically made you feel grateful?
“Being relatively less experienced, I was unsure of what to showcase.”
- Oh, was that so?
“They spontaneously suggested to focus the song around me, so I was truly grateful. It felt like they were creating opportunities for me.”
- Once again, I must say, Chronos shares a deep bond. It makes even the onlookers feel good. Now, over to Yoo-Joon.
“Yes!” Goh Yoo-Joon answered energetically, his confidence contrasting with the previous nervousness of me, Jin-Sung, and Yoon-Chan.
- Yoo-Joon has selected Radical Mood's <Blue Night>. Ah, this song is known only to the true connoisseurs.
“Yes, I performed it during the debut group audition back in my trainee days.”
- Oh, it must hold a special place for you then.
“Indeed. I've always loved it, feeling it suits my voice well. I've always wanted to share it with everyone.”
“This song is also one of Hyun-Woo's favorites,” Jin-Sung added.
- Really, Hyun-Woo?
I nodded. “I really like it. I do love the original, but personally, I prefer Yoo-Joon's rendition better. I've asked him to sing it whenever there's a chance.”
“Don't get me wrong. I haven't sung it for him.” Goh Yoo-Joon's firm response filled the studio with laughter.
- Well, with Hyun-Woo's endorsement, my anticipation grows. Shall we listen? Yoo-Joon will perform Radical Mood's ‘Blue Night.’
Goh Yoo-Joon moved toward the microphone as the song started. From the very start, his deep voice slowly built the emotion and enveloped the studio. I then closed my eyes.
‘That guy, my friend, really sings beautifully.’
Reina flinched in surprise before turning to watch Goh Yoo-Joon perform. Meanwhile, I felt a subtle sense of pride, smiling as I listened to Goh Yoo-Joon's song. With his performance, the radio show approached its conclusion.
1. There is a type of radio broadcast or show that includes a visual component, typically streaming video along with the audio broadcast. Viewers can see the radio host and any guests, as well as any additional visual content that complements the audio content of the radio show. ☜
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