Chapter 296

Every time a high-profile group makes a comeback, there’s a template that inevitably pops up in entertainment communities.

[□□Group □□ What do you think?]

It’s basically a post evaluating the new song.

Naturally, when a debonaire group makes a comeback, this template quickly claims the top spot on the board.

[Debonaire ‘SAME’ What do you think?]

─No, the song is just insane! Do-hee Lee’s breathing is unreal!

─I’m a bit disappointed it’s all in English, but since it drops on Friday at 1 PM, it seems like they’re targeting Billboard charts.

─Debonaire goes beyond typical girl group styles; they really give off an artist vibe. Love it just from the songs alone, even without seeing the stage.

─Seriously, I didn’t expect this concept? They’re truly exceptional among girl groups. I’m always amazed at how they come up with such unique concepts every comeback. It doesn’t feel like a small company.

─Honestly, I’m a fan of another group, but I always love their title tracks.

Even with a great song, there’s the brain adaptation period, known as brain-auditioning, before reactions and opinions start to converge.

Most of the best comments align closely with nearly overwhelming praise.

This proves that the song takes care of both concept and public appeal.

Maybe that’s why the word-of-mouth from these posts on SNS and communities is so strong, it’s hard to believe they didn’t promote the comeback at all.

[Debonaire’s Random Comeback]

[Debonaire’s Friday the 13th Concept]

Currently, Debonaire’s comeback music video views were rapidly increasing.

─Ahhh haha!

─Kekekeke!

Fans’ emotional rollercoasters intensified.

─Seriously, no matter how much I try to endure, this isn’t okay!

─Do they think we’re fools?

An hour before the song dropped, the fan community was on edge, ready to protest due to the unilateral comeback notice.

─No, how do they keep being this good? The song quality is insane!

─(Proof) As soon as I listened to the song, I pre-ordered 100 copies!

─Ahhh haha this is what being an idol is all about! Haha!

─The Friday the 13th concept, sob sob sob.

─Is this a bipolar disorder community?

Now they’re posting interpretations of the music video.

[I think I understand the great meaning of Topist now.]

While a proper interpretation hasn’t come out yet, it’s pretty obvious the concept has vibes of bipolar disorder and dual personalities, right? Turns out the unilateral notice was the MacGuffin that helped the fans immerse in the music video more than anyone! Sobbing!

Just the grand grand tower!

─Whoa! Sobbing!

─Jackpot (notable intelligence)!

─Wow, I’m worshipping!

─GOAT!

Anyway, the hearts of the fans were pounding wildly, so it was definitely a successful start.

And what keeps that heat from cooling down easily is the agency.

The responsibility of Topist.

Initially, it took about two hours after the music video release for the copyright list to finally appear on the music sites.
It was a list of copyright holders.

─Oh my, the information on the Watermelon composer just dropped!

In the previous album, Do-hee was notably the main songwriter and arranger for the title track.

─Honestly, I expected Do-hee to be involved, but this time, not a single famous songwriter like Pedro is credited.

─??????

[Lyrics by: Debonaire]

[Composer: Debonaire]

[Arranged by: Do-hee Lee]

It was so simple, it hit harder.

─So, does that mean they all worked together on the lyrics and composition…?

─A group project?

─Oh my, Do-hee did the arrangement all by herself.

And of course, Topist promoted the song with press materials.

[Debonaire’s mini album title ‘SAME’ unveils… this time all members participated in writing and composing.]

[Debonaire’s new title track ‘SAME’ single-handedly arranged by Do-hee… driving three consecutive hits.]

[Debonaire explains the long silence as “dedicated to album work.”]

Then, by evening, as previously announced, materials were uploaded to Debonaire’s official SNS.

It was concept photos.

From group shots of the members wearing colorful suits seen in the music video, to solo shots of each member making artistic expressions in their own spaces.

─It was an unexpected notification, but they actually stuck to their schedule… so I can’t say anything against them…

─The work is pretty good, I’ll have to use it as my background photo.

The day’s schedule wasn’t over yet.

[DEBONAIR Debonaire ‘SAME’ MV Reaction]

Around 9 PM, a video of the members’ music video reaction was posted.

And the fans find new energy there.

[Do-hee: From the start, the melody feels so good—who composed this, really…? (It’s me.)]

[Woo-ah: I think the lyrics here are particularly nice? (Wonder why.)]

[Seo-yoon: This, this, I suddenly remembered the melody.]

As the members proudly promote themselves with satisfied faces.

[Na-eun: …Here too. (A shy promotion.)]

[Chiyo: Oh, I love that bridal dress—I mean, it’s the prettiest here.]

[Each person talking about their part competition]

Above all, it’s unusual that even after the music video reaction, a blooper reel was edited in.

While getting up after filming, the members engaged in casual talk.

[Do-hee: But the director really did an amazing job, didn’t they?]

[Na-eun: Right? It’s absolutely a jackpot.]

[Do-hee: But honestly, isn’t it a bit thanks to my script? The story and direction I mentioned, huh?]

[Seo-yoon: (deadpan face)]

That, on one hand, provided laughter while being excellent bait.

[Chiyo: If it’s according to Do-hee’s story, I totally got burned at the stake.]

[Woo-ah: Seeing your dress hem burning at the end? Doesn’t that mean you were burned at the stake?]
Woo-ah: At the end, when I see the hem of the dress you wore burning? Wasn’t that just a burning at the stake?]

[Chiyo: Ugh…]

─Hahaha, even while filming their reactions, they’re still joking around.

─But did Do-hee come up with the music video direction and story? Whoa!

─Seems like the kids were really serious about this album…

─I heard that Yoo Hyung-woo directed this music video. Even if it’s poorly described, it should’ve turned out amazing! Hahaha.

And the next day, that too was captured and started appearing all over the community.

[Debonaire’s ‘SAME’ entering Real-time Hot Back at #1 within a day]

[Do-hee, who claims she came up with the music video story and direction (feat. does she have no conscience? says Seo-yoon)]

[Kim Chiyo: “The youngest tried to burn me at the stake.”]

Debonaire’s YouTube wasn’t taking a break.

▷Ding!

─What’s this? What’s been uploaded now?

*

“Oh, looks like the support guide for ‘SAME’ has come out.”

Bae Ha-young naturally thought at the sound of the notification.

It was customary for the support guide to come up the day after a music video release.

But it wasn’t that.

▷Noh Hyun-seo: Hey hey, did you see what just dropped? It’s crazy cute!

▷Cherry-nim: Guys, guys, something dropped right now!!!

The Debonaire Home Mama group chat was already hyped up without needing to fuss.

[DEBONAIR Debonaire ‘EUPHORIA’ MV]

Since it clearly stated in the title it was a music video.

They clearly promised a comeback next week, so I thought the second title would drop alongside the album release next week as well.

But honestly, Do-hee in the thumbnail was just way too cute to think further.

‘Check skirt and t-twin tails…!’

It’s natural for the youngest in the group to take on the cute role, so I figured I’d see it often.

Especially with a debut song that expressed a little bouncing imp.

‘Born Ideals’, which had even rejected that hairstyle.

‘What on earth had happened for our Do-hee to…!’

Even though my heart was already fluttering, I was dying to see what kind of adorableness she would show in this video, so Bae Ha-young clicked on it.

And immediately, on the screen, Na-eun was seen watching members walking towards a maze garden from a balcony resembling a vintage private school.

An intro that was the complete opposite of the song I’d heard yesterday played.

[Hello-?]

No acoustic feel from piano or organ, just pure electronic synth.

Above all, there was a melody that tickled my heart and Na-eun’s cute voice.

[It’s time to bring out our inner selves.]

‘…This feels so second generation, right?’

How should I put it? K-pop with the theme of a girl’s first love, expressed with a fluttering and cute sensibility unique to the second generation.
[Debs, are you ready?]

It might feel a little outdated and rural.

Yesterday, we were all wearing different colorful suits, but today, we each donned our own colorful plaid skirts.

[Ok, then!]

Swinging our hips left and right, smiling as idol-like as anyone could.

[Why do you keep grumpily humming

(Heart pounding, why do I feel this way)

Oh, since when could I only see you, you forever?]

It’s a song that naturally lifts your mood and brings a smile.

[Your gaze is sweet, like cotton candy

(In the sparkle of your eyes, a shining world)

Oh, I’m falling, gradually melting, euphoria]

Despite Bae Ha-young being surrounded by countless items and places linked to the previous music video in a subtle way,

she was so busy weeping at Do-hee’s adorable braids and lively choreography that she didn’t notice until it was over.

Only after the music video ended…

[Debonair, Valentine's day]

“Ah…?”

I snapped back to reality.

*

“Sigh…”

“Stop sighing already. We came all the way to the filming set.”

“Look, you don’t understand my feelings, do you? You keep saying you relate because you’re so empathetic.”

Hypocrite.

Double standards.

Kim Seo-yoon.

“No, did someone else come up with the concept? And you insisted it had the perfect rhyme with ‘you forever’ and ‘euphoria’ from the very start.”

“…But honestly, the vibe was great, right?”

“Oh, exactly! Just accept it. It’s cute and fits the concept perfectly, so what’s the problem?”

“Right~”

Meanwhile, Na-eun Unni is sitting behind me, twirling my braids and laughing, which is stressful in its own right.

“This reminds me of Do-hee back in her trainee days. Do-hee’s mom used to send her with a complete princess hairstyle on weekends, right?”

“Yeah.”

Although she would loosen it all up when she got to the practice room.

“But Do-hee, you know this concept demands those cute hairstyles to shine, right? Everyone will only talk about you!”

I know Na-eun Unni is trying to comfort me.

Normally, I would have just chuckled and thought, “Is that so…?”

“Really?”

“Of course!”

But this hairstyle is not it.

It truly embarrasses me.

“If it’s so great, why don’t you try it, Unni?”

Wow, she seriously just walks away without a word.

Hypocrite, fraud.

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