Chapter 205

Typically, idols have a press showcase before their fan showcase.

This way, the articles can be released right as the fan showcase begins.

However, Debonaire was different.

“They’re holding the press showcase together with the fan showcase…”

Music critic Lee Young-soo was invited to Debonaire’s showcase and calmly settled into the reporter’s seat.

Even though he was running late from work, this was still alright.

Topist had shown some effort, after all.

It seemed they wanted to capture the live reactions of fans in the article as well.

“Or maybe they just didn’t want the members’ first stage to be a press showcase.”

The press showcase was quiet and subdued.

It was customary.

The reporters were busy writing their articles and needed to fully listen and watch the stage for their pieces.

Of course, it was none of his business.

“But if that’s the case, the article might be a bit late…”

But in a way, Topist had preemptively provided song information in pamphlet form to ensure that articles could be published even during the fan showcase.

“I’ll just write the song review after watching the music video at 6… and gather fan reactions separately during the showcase…”

Anyway, as Lee Young-soo read the pamphlet, he felt intrigued.

“The title track Debonaire… has a Latin vibe, huh?”

Korean idols typically didn’t do Latin pop.

“Could it be that they’re aiming for the Latin pop market with this title…?”

The Latin pop market was significantly larger than the public expected.

It was the second largest after the English-speaking pop music market.

Of course, Lee Young-soo quickly concluded that it was just a means to target the traditionally strong South American market for K-pop.

However, there was still a lingering question.

South American K-pop listeners might actually dislike blatant Latin pop.

“If they want to listen to Latin pop, they’ll just stick to their own country’s music. Why would they listen to K-pop?”

Looking at this, it made him think that Topist might be a bit directionless compared to the big four entertainment companies.

Still, excitement lingered.

“Oh… but it’s also a disco track?”

It clearly had an explanation about capturing the public’s interest with disco.

Lee Young-soo, now in his 40s, had been a nightlife enthusiast once, and he had a nostalgia for disco.

“Because the essence of dance tracks is disco music!”

K-pop mostly takes the form of dance tracks.

And if you were to name the genre that best represents dance tracks, it would undoubtedly be disco.

In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that most idol songs today are derived from disco.
It wouldn’t be entirely wrong to say it was derived from disco.

“House, synth-pop, hip-hop… they’re all disco derivative genres.”

Of course, each genre has its categorization and is independently evolving in its own direction.

Among them, hip-hop seems to have strayed the farthest from disco.

Perhaps because of this style, it’s often seen sweeping the top tiers of the Billboard charts.

But trends tend to cycle back around.

Entering the 2020s, the hip-hop genre began facing a general stagnation.

“Last year, hip-hop didn’t even make it to number one on Billboard.”

Instead, the new trend is undoubtedly the retro boom.

A cultural trend that started brewing in the 2010s.

Ultimately, entering the 2020s, this became the strongest trend.

“The global trend isn’t something Korea can escape either.”

Naturally, this tendency is also observed in the K-pop songs at the top of the Korean charts.

Of course, there’s not a single disco song blatantly proclaiming retro at the top.

Still house, synth-pop, hip-hop.

But there’s a blind spot.

Even when there are subdivisions in each genre, they tend to choose those genres strongly influenced by disco.

Without explicitly using disco.

While simultaneously being able to convey sophistication.

“There’s a tendency to look down on disco as ‘pung’ across generations… for idols who live by image…”

However, idols don’t blindly avoid disco tracks.

In fact, girl groups that borrowed from disco songs have consistently existed.

“In the 2000s and 2010s, every era’s representative songs had a mega-hit disco track from a girl group.”

It’s one of the steady sellers of girl groups.

A cute and pretty retro concept.

“Is debonaire a retro concept too? Hmmm… they gave off a confident vibe in the trailer, but… this is a bit disappointing.”

Nevertheless, Lee Young-soo habitually continued to write.

[Debonaire takes the existing retro vibe and makes it their own…]

And such thoughts were shattered at 6 o’clock.

While watching the music video to write a song review, it completely broke.

Usually, rookie girl groups’ concepts don’t care about girl crush or girlish; they’re fundamentally grounded in freshness, youth, and brightness.

That’s why they were confident it was retro.

“But this isn’t so much retro as…”

A mature Latin pop vibe paints the base sound.

The rookie girl group’s fresh and clear voice counterbalances the stickiness of Latin pop.

A cropped suit styled in a sophisticated feminine manner.

It may have strayed from the norm, but it tightly grabs onto the popular melody unique to disco.

How should I put it?

The rookie vibe has vanished.
Eojin.

Reinterpreted in the style of the 20s.

It had the vibe of a polished retro superstar.

‘But…’

I had to see the stage.

The retro superstar’s performance was the completion of the stage.

*

The same thought was running through Do-hee’s Home Mama’s mind as well.

Of course, it’s not the conclusion of a complex thought process.

“What is this? The song is good? The disco is classy…? Damn… but what? Crop suit Do-hee…? Is Do-hee going to be my older sister…? Crazy…”

The Home Mama quickly opened her SNS.

Dol Ahyee @Dol_Ahyee

“I don’t need to live a hundred years. I feel like I’m about to go to the Lord right now.”

Dol Ahyee @Dol_Ahyee

“Oh Lord, forgive me. I committed a crime today. I shouted ‘older sister’ at Do-hee, who’s at least ten years younger than me. But it’s all Do-hee’s fault. She seduced me first. Crazy cool beauty older sister…”

Meanwhile, the friend next to her was denying it.

“No… she’s still a kid…”

That was true.

“But today, she’s an older sister…?”

That was true too.

As the two repeated affirmations and denials in confusion, a new post appeared on her feed.

Kim Seo-yoon @Jonna_Seoyoon

“But where’s the main title for the double title? What’s Topist doing? Hurry up and release it??”

“Oh!”

And only then did I remember.

That there was supposed to be a double title.

*

At 7 PM, when the showcase began.

So far, the second title ‘Born Ideals’ hadn’t been released.

─ Originally, double titles aren’t usually released all at once.

└ Damn, that’s for the first team, but these kids are debuting today as rookies!

└ Yep, it’s Do-hee and Seo-yoon~ No matter how much you throw a tantrum, Topist won’t release it~ Haha.

Finally, the live streaming screen that had been stagnant with Debonaire’s logo began to move energetically with Debonaire’s catchphrase.

As excited chat messages flooded in various languages.

Do-hee’s self-composed piano piece started to play.

And the concept photos of the members transitioned according to the piano’s dynamics.

Calm, neat, chic, indifferent.

Each cold yet unique charm captivated the eyes, but in reality, people’s attention was completely focused on the upcoming first stage.

The scene of the showcase captured on screen was filled with lights when the climax of the piano finished its movement.

Lights illuminated the previously dark showcase venue, spotlighting just one person.
Crop blazer, string tank top, tailored pants.

Dressed in solid navy blue.

Just like the appearance of Do-hee from the music video.

─Wow, she’s unrealistically pretty…

For a moment, the perspective shifts from above to below.

Majestic sound mixed with the sound of rain, and occasionally the rumble of thunder is heard.

There’s also a small ripple on the floor as if created by the rain.

Moreover, around Do-hee, the largest concentric ripple is gently rising.

─What’s up with the stage? Did they spend too much money? Is it a showcase?

─I’ve never seen a stage like this ㅇㅅㅇ This is a real concert!

The entire stage features floor-level LED display panels.

Not just a simple showcase, but in the form of a show concert.

This time, Do-hee kicked her foot.

A large wave spread across the floor in that direction.

It looked as if water was filling up.

Then the camera captured the front again, and the background music intensified.

At this moment, a few noticed.

─Huh? This feels like The Phantom of the Opera.

─Right? I didn’t realize because the progression was a bit different, but once I thought about it, it fits.

─Wow, lol, this was a spoiler too!

This background music is a reinterpretation of The Phantom of the Opera using disco synth sounds.

Thanks to that, its special majesty flowed out stylishly.

Boom!

At that moment, a tremendous thunderclap erupted.

Do-hee turned sharply and spun around.

On the screen behind her, lightning flashed through the clouds.

Bright white light burst out, expressing the erupted lightning.

That light created shadows.

The pretty shadows of four figures reflected on the cloudy screen.

But just for a moment.

The light that had flashed like lightning quickly faded away.

It became calm again.

But the remaining afterglow still illuminated the background.

With the dazzling flash and large shadows gone, the circle became visible.

Four figures standing like models.

Black, dark gray, deep red, purple.

Is it a bralette or a tank top?

Crop blazer or standard?

The details are slightly different, but

the theme is the same for everyone.

Long straight hair and a refined suit look.

Four lines of white light were drawn on the floor.

The four members walked calmly along those lines.

And just like the intro of the music video.

The camera was capturing Do-hee’s front entirely,

and the members were hidden behind her.

As they stared expressionlessly at the camera with Do-hee, who was slightly moving her lips.

[I can see you calling devil more]

The stage immediately began.

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