It’s always like this.
Even though I think about avoiding comments for my mental stability, I end up grabbing my phone like this during the waiting time.
─I really didn’t expect that this song would come out, but I absolutely love it… The title and lyrics are both amazing.
─simply beautiful
─lyrics by Do-hee! this is art 😭😭😭
─Thank you! God bless you!
─I didn’t expect that Ash Wednesday in Kpop, Happy Ash Wednesday!
─I love the lyrics that gently sing about hope…
The comments on the music video sorted by popularity.
This time, there were definitely more English comments than usual.
Is this a positive sign?
“The latest comments are all good too.”
There were surely many people saying good things, but it’s still day one to gauge the reactions.
Ooh—
Then my phone buzzed.
“What is it?”
[Kim Sara Unni: @Do-hee Lee]
It was a mention notification from the Seven group chat.
[Kim Sara Unni: I’m loving this song so much; I’ve been listening to it on repeat! (Bunny hugging emoji)]
[Kim Seo-yoon: Honestly, my voice sounded really good, right?]
[Kim Sara Unni: (Nods vaguely emoji)]
[Kim Seo-yoon: I didn’t expect anything from you.]
But seriously, Kim Seo-yoon is checking messages even in the bathroom.
She was lecturing us about digital detox.
[Ha-rang Unni: But Do-hee really needs to be slapped a bit.]
[Kim Seo-yoon: That’s definitely true.]
[Kim Sara Unni: No way, don’t do it.]
[Ha-rang Unni: It’s so annoying to think about how she did her own promo during my comeback live (Bunny stepping on emoji).]
[Kim Seo-yoon: Should I come over and slap you right now?]
Why is this chat so lively today?
Do these people not have schedules lately—
[Kim Ye-eun Unni: Real talk, Do-hee must die.]
…?
[Kim Ye-eun Unni: (Deleted message)]
[Kim Ye-eun Unni: Why are you saying that to Do-hee?]
“I was wondering why there are so many deleted messages in this chat…”
Looks like there really is a two-faced person here.
Kim Park Ye-eun, I’ve got to give you credit for your tenacity. But I’ll let it slide today since it’s comeback live day.
“Phew… Really, I’m super busy today, so I’ll let it pass just this once.”
First off, for Ha-rang Unni…
[I: Did you think I would do follow-up activities with a couple’s song?]
[I: Besides, since you called me first, I have no guilt, okay?]
[I: Just listen to our song.]
[I: Coincidentally, the theme of our song that came out yesterday is forgiveness, lol.]
Wrapping it up with a Do-hee-style apology.
[Ha-rang Unni: Dragon stop? Yes, forgiveness! 😂😂😂]
.
.
[I: 😂😂😂😂]
[I: Oh, I really laughed so hard.]
Just then, Kim Seo-yoon, who had gone to the bathroom, entered the waiting room.
“What’s so funny?”
Now, there are 5 minutes left until the music video releases and about 30 minutes until the live broadcast.
I check my face once, just for good measure.
Hmm.
“But Unni, don’t you think my face looks pretty good today?”
“Not bad, right?”
“This is the ugliest thing I’ve seen this year.”
“Okay, we’re breaking records today again.”
*
The speakers of Double-G, a producer team and review YouTuber active in Korea and the US, were playing Debonaire’s release tracks on repeat.
— “I promise, despite everything…”
“What do you think?”
Listening to the song several times before the review was a given, but this time they listened for a long time and really got into it.
Every time the music, which lasted over three minutes, ended, they were singing along, harmonizing, and smiling.
“It has to be true that Do-hee Lee conceived and worked on this from start to finish.”
It’s not like they discovered this because the music video director mentioned recently that Do-hee wrote the script herself.
[Do It Anyway]
Lyrics: Do-hee Lee
Composition: Debonaire
Arrangement: Do-hee Lee
It wasn’t just because the entire production team was listed as Do-hee Lee.
“It’s tough for all the direction to have a cohesive theme like this if it hasn’t been handled by the same person from start to finish.”
Just by listening to the song, you could intuitively tell.
The pitch of the lyrics matched the scale’s characteristics, and there seemed to be a light intentionality in the flow of the music video.
Moreover, there were traces of the creator pondering what emotions they wanted to draw out.
What goals they set in the drafts to achieve that.
In the final lyrics, how the character of the song was concretized, etc.
“Really… the structure is just beautiful.”
“Yeah, each day is expressed so precisely, really, really accurately.”
It’s a beauty that’s so faithful to its essence.
“What time is it now?”
“Just 3 minutes left.”
In three minutes, it would be 7 PM on the 19th.
Today was the album release day, and there was no doubt that the last title would come out.
“So what day is it today, they say?”
“I checked the community, and everyone says it’s the beginning of the 24 solar terms called ‘Usso.'”
Noah asked back with a look.
What’s “Usso”?
“It means snow turns into rain, ice melts into water, signifying the weather warming up, the arrival of spring, and the sprouting of plants.”
I see.
“There’s also a saying that it’s the day the Daedong River thaws, so maybe it’s a bit like that?”
While nodding, Noah kept picturing how he would express the solar term ‘Usso’ in his head over and over again.
“Hyung, it’s now 7 o’clock.”
7 PM arrived quickly.
And as the two refreshed the page.
They burst out laughing.
“I swear, I’ve never seen a community post get it right!”
The title alone had gone completely off the mark.
[DEBONAIR ‘Just Another Day’ MV]
“It’s nothing special, but everyone was talking about ‘Usso’ and whatnot.”
Meanwhile, the two also instinctively caught on to what Do-hee’s intent was.
“That has to be intentional, right?”
“It was definitely on purpose. This song should be the last track of the album.”
It was likely one of Do-hee’s cute strategies.
At the end of a special moment, even the ordinary feels extraordinary.
“The timing fits perfectly too. The mundane Thursday arrived after the festive holiday that started last Friday. And the last title released that day was ‘Just Another Day.'”
After the Lunar New Year holiday that began, an ordinary Thursday finally arrived. And that day, the last title released was “Just Another Day.”
“Looking at it this way, it really has more structure, doesn’t it?”
And it must already be a successful operation.
Didn’t all the community predictions miss the mark?
“Now let’s play the music video.”
So how did they express this important song?
It’s amazing to feel my heart flutter over a song by a mere 19-year-old.
Noah, filled with excitement, clicked on the music video.
[What’s this~ Are you filming right now?]
What came into view was Woo-ah, seemingly being filmed by someone with a camcorder.
With minimal makeup, she looked like she was capturing everyday life, and the background was just an ordinary living room sofa.
[Woo-ah, you look super pretty right now!]
The returning cute voice belonged to Chiyo.
[Oh, seriously~]
Woo-ah, bashfully covering her face with her hand, was met with the bright sound of an acoustic guitar as the music began.
The strumming technique hitting all the strings.
‘She must have played it herself.’
The characteristic squeaky sound of acoustic guitars was also present when sliding the strings.
“Great start.”
And this time, the opening voice was Woo-ah.
[As another day comes to an end
A gloomy feeling creeps in beside me
What if tomorrow really
Doesn’t come at all?]
Though this was the first choice, it doesn’t seem awkward at all.
This is simply a rediscovery of how well her voice fits such a performance.
Meanwhile, the video showed behind-the-scenes moments of the album creation, showcasing a very ordinary scene.
Woo-ah was filming Do-hee, who was scribbling something in that famous songwriting notebook, while the surrounding members were laughing at something.
[I feel so foolish
Tomorrow, which is bound to come
What if it doesn’t arrive if I don’t fall asleep?]
On the other hand, the background shifted to a recording studio as the voice changed.
This time, it was Na-eun with a guitar and wearing a headset on screen.
A serious recording expression crossed with laughter outside among friends.
And then, someone’s finger zoomed in, tapping on the desk like a drum.
[But it’s okay I like you]
The cheerful drum joined the guitar-only accompaniment, adding another guitar as the blissful arpeggio delighted the ears.
[The white sunlight
Secretly fills the beginning without me knowing]
The members were gathered in the practice room as if having a picnic, playing instruments and singing together.
[Look forward to today,
It could be good]
And then suddenly, out of nowhere, something went wrong.
Seo-yoon snatched Na-eun’s guitar and chased after Chiyo.
[But you seem really tired]
Noah couldn’t help but smile.
Whether it was due to the music video or the naturally cheerful instruments that added to the end of the chorus, it was hard to tell.
This sounds less like a synth organ…
And more like a pitch-lowered flute!
Not to mention the percussion maracas that added an indie vibe.
A percussion instrument that brings life to the stage: Maracas.
[These mornings are new, yet not fresh at all, starting with always wonderful music, wondering if you’d like me.]
With drums joining in, the second verse became even more lively.
This time, the voice was Do-hee’s.
I can’t understand it no matter how I look at it. There are still people sneering that Lee Do-hee’s tone isn’t good.
“Is it really reasonable to think like that after hearing the year-end stage and this? She’s so charming.”
As if knowing that the wonderful music is herself, she’s joyfully playing the piano in front of the curtains where sunlight is streaming in.
[I’m such a fool, you, who came in, it’s clearly a new day, but I wonder how it feels like yesterday.]
Of course, the members seem used to it, not caring and looking from afar in the kitchen, oh, they’re just eating together.
[But it’s okay, I like you.]
The laughter that spills from those high school girls of that age led right into the chorus of the second verse.
And this footage felt like behind-the-scenes from the music video shoot.
[The white moonlight fills me with secret rest.]
Do-hee with braided hair and Chiyo, driving while holding onto those two strands like cow horns.
[Look forward to tomorrow, it might be nice.]
In a scene where papers are fluttering around in the whirlwind, a note got stuck to Na-eun’s face, while the director tries to hold back laughter.
[Today is somewhat beautiful.]
In the maze scene, Seo-yoon falls while running, causing Woo-ah to get stuck in the bushes alongside her. They were laughing for quite a while, covered in greenery.
And finally, as more instruments gradually disappeared, only the original guitar sound remained.
[Darn, going into the bedroom feels weird, I don’t want to lie down again.]
“Haha, the lyrics are really funny.”
The members’ location remained the same as before, cheerfully singing together in the living room of their dorm.
[Oh, I’m laughing again, tomorrow’s you, it’s Friday, right?]
The indie-feeling song ended just like that, following yesterday’s vibe.
But the music video didn’t end.
[Yes~]
Since they were clapping and laughing among themselves.
The camcorder screen faded out as those laughter sounds gradually diminished.
[Debonair, One of those days]
It was truly an unexpected turn of events.
Following perfectly idol-like two songs.
Two songs of perfect indie vibes, indeed.
So many thoughts arose.
Which song will grab the most attention?
As far as I know, there’s also the Wednesday playlist on YouTube, could yesterday’s song end up there?
“But… is there really someone among the top composers who can teach Lee Do-hee?”
“Hmm? I guess? There might not be any, right?”
“Is that so?”
My thoughts were a bit different. Of course, there are those who have achieved more, but…
The reason why geniuses are called geniuses in history is not just because they were extraordinary as kids, but…
Because they keep evolving endlessly, isn’t it?
“Somehow… I really want to write a column about this album.”
“Me too.”
It really felt so natural.
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