Chapter 179
With Seon Taeyang’s explanation, Oh Yoori realized something.
The girl group that she thought was a ticking time bomb, “Girl Revolution”, was actually in a state of exploding in real time.
‘There are still 5 years and 5 months left on the contract… I don’t think I can last that long.’
Yoori thought that if a scandal were to erupt involving either Summer or Autumn tomorrow morning, she would just accept that it’s finally happening. Seon Taeyang’s judgment was accurate. This was indeed a mess.
As she squeezed her head, contemplating the unsolvable dilemma that she had never even imagined, someone spoke to her.
“…Yoori, do you have a moment?”
Recently, Han Gyeoul had been deliberately avoiding Seon Taeyang.
“Older Sister Gyeoul? Do you have a problem?”
Gyeoul hesitated and revealed her timid personality as she spoke.
“Um, well… I messed up, so I haven’t been able to talk to Teacher Taeyang lately. He must be angry, obviously disappointed, but…”
However, her next words were steady and firm.
“Still, I want to go back to how we were before. I want a relationship where I can laugh next to Teacher Taeyang.”
“…”
“But I’m such a fool that I don’t know how to do that…”
Gyeoul hung her head low and murmured.
“Could you help me a little?”
Listening to Gyeoul’s shy plea for help, Yoori thought about her own shuddering experiences with the bloody confessions on the rooftop and in the airplane.
‘This is what a girl’s romance is. …What Summer and Autumn are doing is a thriller.’
“I’ll help you for sure!”
Yoori was convinced that she had to support such a wholesome intention.
*
During one of his regular part-time job shifts, when Yoon Jong-hoon shared his recent worries about the direction of his work, his response was simple.
“James Oh’s words? Just ignore them, they’re completely useless.”
That wasn’t the answer Yoori was hoping for.
“Well, it’s not that he’s wrong, right? Isn’t it a valid expression to wish for a uniqueness in music, something different from others?”
“No, it should be dismissed. After all, that guy probably can’t express clearly what that uniqueness even is. Can you judge purely based on intuitive grounds without theoretical definitions or structures? Sounds good in theory. So, if I disregard all theories, structure, and model answers, can I just slap notes together and get praised for being avant-garde?”
“No, that wouldn’t be the case.”
“Then that means that ‘uniqueness’ isn’t about wanting an avant-garde breakthrough.”
Yoon Jong-hoon spoke passionately, as if he had built up frustrations that were bursting forth.
He spoke passionately.
“I never liked that guy from the start. According to the artists drunk on their ‘art bottles,’ it’s all predictable. …Sure, he’s lucky to be holding on now, but it wouldn’t be strange if he suddenly goes into a slump and disappears after ranting about his ‘inspiration’ running dry. Well, I admit he’s lasted much longer than others in the meantime, but that won’t last either.”
Thinking about the future James Oh would face from the previous round, it was a surprisingly objective analysis.
However, his harsh words about my coworker made me uncomfortable, so I defended myself.
“But isn’t it true that James Oh, as a composer, has built up an incomparable amount of variations and narratives, and has translated that into actual results? In that case, I believe his instincts can be seen as a significant basis when considering precedents.”
Upon hearing my words, Cheon Jong-hoon sighed and said.
“What do you think a composer is?”
“Are you asking for a definition?”
“Yes, a definition. Don’t you have your own idea of what it means, now that you’ve long crossed the threshold of being an amateur?”
“….”
James Oh had previously mentioned ‘artist’ in that definition.
But I didn’t want to repeat those words. Yet, I couldn’t come up with a suitable answer either.
Watching me, Cheon Jong-hoon pulled out books from beside his desk one by one and placed them in my hands.
The original texts about music that he had forced me to read piled up on my hands.
Just when I began to suspect this was some kind of elaborate torture due to their considerable weight, Cheon Jong-hoon spoke.
“A composer is a being that deals with ‘systems.'”
“…Can I put these books down? My hands are hurting?”
Then Cheon Jong-hoon glanced at me and began to remove the books one by one while continuing to speak.
“And a system is history. It’s the model answers discovered by past great composers through countless trials. Yes, just like the books resting on your hands, it’s history.”
After he cleared all the books by hand, Cheon Jong-hoon manipulated the audio and played a medley of hit songs while saying.
“Why do we study music? Why do we analyze killer codes and listen to songs that have already dropped off the charts? It’s because we know those are model answers to gain the public’s love.”
Hearing his words, I blurted out what popped into my mind.
“So, what do you think about the idea that composition is art?”
“If you view art from a cultural perspective, that’s true. But if you consider art as a means to spread the misconception that it’s your own ideology or individuality, I don’t agree.”
Cheon Jong-hoon looked at me intently and said.
“And James Oh would think the latter.”
“You’re telling me I’m the latter.”
“….”
When I fell silent at his words, he spoke again.
“I’ll evaluate the song you made this time… frankly, you did well. I never imagined you’d become this competent so quickly, even teaching others under me has made me feel like they were all completely clueless. I don’t even know how they got their fancy degrees and awards… Heck, it makes me question if those have any credibility at all.”
“It’s better to view subordinates with a warm perspective. Otherwise, they might leave.”
“Let them leave then.”
“….”
…He says that so easily.
Cheon Jong-hoon looked at me with a sulky glare, then turned his gaze shyly away and said,
“So, the gist of what I’m saying is that your song is more than capable of receiving positive evaluations from the public.”
“From the public?”
“Yes, the public. That’s all that matters. The reason we developed the study of music and formalized the direction of the system as a royal road is all for the public! …But what are you even worrying about right now?”
“Well, for a better song…”
“No.”
Cheon Jong-hoon cut me off and spoke more firmly than ever.
“What you’re actually pondering is creating a song that satisfies just James Oh.”
*
Back in the studio, I was bashing my head to squeeze out the elusive inspiration when there was a knock.
“Come in.”
“It’s me. Team Leader Seon.”
It was James Oh.
“Haha, come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?”
“No, there’s no need for that. I feel it would be too awkward to receive such treatment while interrupting your busy time.”
“Oh, come on, how busy could I be? It’s just making one song, right? Compared to you, who is working on four pieces, I can’t even compare.”
Honestly, having someone like James Oh, who gets paid by TwoBear, doing this kind of work felt almost like volunteer work. I didn’t want to whine about making a single song in front of someone like him.
Hearing my thoughts, James Oh shook his head.
“Team Leader Seon, that’s not all your work, is it?”
…True.
After finishing his words, James Oh, who had been gauging my reaction, cautiously said,
“How about proceeding with that sample song you showed me last time as the title track?”
“…Huh? You reacted negatively back then, didn’t you?”
“Oh, that… Ha. I was wrong.”
James Oh spoke to me with an expression of deep dismay.
“I shouldn’t have said that. Especially to you… Team Leader Seon’s work is objectively of the highest quality. It doesn’t even fall short compared to the songs I’ve made. Isabella is right. It’s worthy of a title track, and it’s going to get a good response.”
“Team Leader Seon’s work is objectively the highest quality. It doesn’t fall behind at all compared to the songs I’ve made. Isabella is right. It’s title-worthy. And it’s going to get a good reaction.”
He looked at me directly and said firmly.
“Let’s go with that song as it is. Please forget what I said before.”
I fell into silence for a moment, pondering his words before I asked, “Why did your thoughts change?”
“I realized late that I was evaluating it as a fan, not as a colleague working with the TwoBear music team.”
“…A fan?”
“Yes, a fan. An irrational, unreasonable being that expects way too much. I was wrong to nitpick at Team Leader Seon’s samples, which anyone would agree are excellent.”
“…”
“You don’t need to accommodate my insistence. I’m really sorry for causing you worry during your busy time.”
In fact, I’m so busy right now that finding time for this conversation is difficult.
I’m the one managing the schedules for the Girl Revolution kids, who are thriving in their respective fields, as well as being responsible for the personnel and planning of the new album.
I’m also the one formulating the PR strategies with the promotion team to report to the President, and I have endless discussions regarding the finances with Seo Soo-yeon concerning all of this.
On top of that, I’m mentally drained with the added responsibilities of Yeoreum and Gaeul.
Honestly, I wanted to nod in agreement to James Oh’s words.
He said the quality wasn’t bad, so the song’s completion must be up to standard.
Even recognizing that, I asked one question.
“What kind of expectations does Composer James Oh have for me as a fan?”
Without any hesitation, James Oh answered.
“The world’s greatest genius.”
“….”
…Haha.
That’s not even a funny remark. What on earth does he see in me to make such a ridiculous statement?
Meeting those raised expectations should have limits, and I couldn’t even grasp what that expectation was supposed to fulfill.
“…”
But then again.
“The deadline is in 7 days, right?”
“That’s right. Considering the schedule, that was the plan.”
“Well then, I’ll complete one more in 5 days. I need some time for revisions.”
“No, you don’t have to… Is that even possible?”
“Yes, it is.”
However, I didn’t want to simply ignore those expectations.
“Because I’m a genius.”
That was my pride.
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