Damn Idol Episode 144
* * *
Broadcasting stations bet their lives on ratings.
Because of that, it was not uncommon for them to force things.
‘But in this case, isn’t it too much of a forced move?’
The anguish of the Gayo Taste CP was justified.
Sedal Baegil’s album had sold more than expected, but the music show criteria tally was next week anyway.
So, for Sedal Baegil to be put up as a first-place candidate, State Of Mind would have to be nominated as a digital single, but…….
It was impossible because they had zero broadcast points.
The music video views were high, but since it was before overseas fans had latched on, not to that extent either…….
Their digital score was high, but they couldn’t take first place with just that.
Yet, an order had come down from higher-ups to try and put Sedal Baegil in first place if possible.
Saying that music shows had long stopped reflecting public sentiment (written as ‘public sentiment,’ read as ‘where the money flows’) anyway.
But the CP instead trembled at those words.
Things had never ended well whenever the higher-ups said such things.
In the end, he judged that it would be a forced move for Sedal Baegil to take first place this week.
Instead, he spoke to Han Sion.
“Honestly, I was tempted……. It won’t work. Let’s take first place next week.”
“Next week? But don’t we not have broadcast points, so it won’t work?”
“It’ll come out. We just have to promote. I’ll get you plugged into some radio and variety shows. And I’ll somehow make it work.”
At the CP’s words, Han Sion nodded.
Honestly, Han Sion thought this was rather unexpected.
He hadn’t expected the CP to take his implied request to be put on the #1 candidate list this seriously.
He hadn’t even expected to be promised first place next week.
Han Sion had simply wanted to be refused.
He had something he wanted to say after receiving a “That won’t do no matter what” answer.
A grand fanservice for the fans who had been anxious.
“No, CP-nim. The system must be maintained. There’s no need to overdo it. Of course, if you help us with the bookings, we’ll gratefully accept…….”
“Really?”
“Yes. Instead, I have one small favor to ask…….”
“What is it?”
“How about creating just one heartwarming story?”
“A heartwarming story?”
* * *
Commonly, a “music show” means pre-recording plus live broadcast, but fans’ accompaniment usually ends with the pre-recording.
That was because pre-recording attendees were chosen by the agency, while live broadcast attendees were chosen by the broadcasting station.
So usually, when the pre-recording ended, the fandom gathered at the station dispersed, leaving only the successful fans who could watch the live broadcast.
But today, Titi’s case was a bit different.
Even before the pre-recording began, an issue regarding Han Sion’s parents had erupted, and by the time the pre-recording ended, an unpleasant issue had covered the whole world.
Unless they were a specific member’s solo fan who hated Han Sion, their worry was no small matter.
“What do we do…….”
So even though the pre-recording had ended, a great many people lingered near the broadcasting station.
Or there were many who had gone through today’s pre-recording schedule together and were worrying somewhere near the station.
It wasn’t like they could do anything just because they were near the station, but that was how hearts worked.
Fortunately, the issue concluded well, and the fans breathed a sigh of relief.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely refreshing.
‘The wave of sympathy is too big…….’
‘At this rate, they might just be seen as pitiful…….’
It was while the fans were harboring such worries.
A notice went up on Sedal Baegil’s official homepage.
Those among the pre-recording attendees who could were asked to reassemble with their number bracelets, membership cards, and IDs.
It wasn’t compulsory; since they knew many people were near the station, they asked those who could to do so.
By this point, the fans thought Sedal Baegil was trying to do additional fanservice.
Because such a big issue had occurred and been settled.
The easiest thing would be providing more goods…….’
‘Maybe they might even come out in person……?’
The possibility was extremely low, but even imagining it was thrilling.
The fans headed to the place listed in the notice with such thoughts, rushing over.
Almost everyone reassembled.
Even if they were out-of-town fans who had come up to Seoul after winning the pre-recording, many had made plans since they were already in Seoul.
And they realized their imaginations were wrong.
They weren’t giving out more goods, nor could they meet them in person.
But their imaginations had been wrong in a good direction.
“Gayo Taste CP Jo Yeong-dong has specially granted you permission to enter. —Jo Yeong-dong.”
They would watch the live broadcast.
Moreover.
“We’ll try to let you meet the members briefly after the broadcast ends, so please follow the instructions well. You’re not going into our audience seats.”
They would meet Sedal Baegil afterward.
“Music show photocards will only be additionally given to those who follow the instructions well.”
They were even getting goods!
From today, the word “unsuccessful fan” was erased from their dictionary.
They were successful fans.
* * *
-Wow, I think this is my first time watching a music show since being discharged, haha. How many years has it been, hahaha
-Back when I was in the military, Dropout, Hazel, and Promise Girls were the Big 3 rookies. Who are the rookies these days?
-When they were rookies? Then it was about 7–8 years ago?
-What an old man....
-Ah, I don’t know about any of that. When is Sedal Baegil coming out?
-When’s the text voting? I gotta cast a vote for Sedal Baegil.
-Hahahaha isn’t Sedal Baegil not even a first-place candidate? Why text vote?
-Huh? Why aren’t they first? They’re dominating the digital charts.
-Because their broadcast and album scores are zero... Honestly, I’m curious why they started promotions this week. Shouldn’t they do it next week when the album is out to even try for first place?
-You wouldn’t say that if you knew how hard it was for Sedal Baegil to get on music shows; where would they find the capacity to match schedules?
-Why do they need to break into music shows? Don’t they just appear?
-It’s because of those big agency bastards, obviously.
-But the pre-order numbers still haven’t come out.
-No tracking numbers yet ㅠㅠ
-What the hell are you guys talking about? What’s a pre-order? What’s a tracking number? Why do they need to break into music shows?
It had been quite some time since music shows had declined in popularity, but even so, there was no one who didn’t know what a music show was.
Even if they didn’t watch, the fact that they knew of its existence was always an element that made broadcasting stations harbor expectations.
Of course…….
SBN Gayo Taste
Week 1 – 0.8%
Week 2 – 0.9%
Week 3 – 0.8%
That expectation had betrayed the broadcasting station for years, and music shows were now only used as a means for the channel to exert influence over the entertainment industry.
But now.
For the first time in a very long while, anticipation awakened.
“Th-the ratings just before this surpassed 2%, no, they’re almost at 3%?”
“What?”
It was to the point where the SBN master control room staff rubbed their eyes and looked again.
Thus the broadcast began, and all sorts of talk poured onto real-time boards and social media.
This attention was an opportunity for someone.
-Oh, what was the name of that rookie group just now?
-They’re good. So full of talent.
Several times more viewers than usual were watching the music show.
Of course, most of them were waiting for Sedal Baegil.
-Ah, why won’t they come out already.
-They probably changed the broadcast order, haha. Gotta milk it.
-Ugh, I hate these ajae swarming in over one issue. Such bandwagon mentality;
-Hahaha, didn’t Han Sion plant that article himself? To look pitiful.
-Are you guys insane? Is that something a person should say?
-They say young people these days pour out harsh words on the internet, and it’s true. The world’s going to the dogs.
-The end times, hahaha
Comments of all sorts—including support, trolling, and hate comments—were mixed together like a hodgepodge.
Most people who would normally have been chattering on their private accounts had flocked to the real-time boards.
Around then, Sedal Baegil appeared.
It wasn’t the stage, but an interview.
[Today marks your debut stage, but let’s welcome a rookie who is already shining brilliantly!]
[Hello. We are Sedal Baegil.]
-What, Sedal Baegil was a debut??? How many digital chart #1s do they have?
-Résumé, Colorful Struggle, State Of Mind, Kpop Struggle. A debut group with four #1 songs total!
-Lies. Kpop Struggle didn’t get #1.
-It got pushed down by State Of Mind.
-Hahaha why don’t they have a team greeting? Don’t they usually put something at the beginning?
-Info) Sedal Baegil is a name roughly made up during Coming Up Next, so they don’t have stuff like that.
-LOL hahaha
-Han Sion is handsome? Somehow the image in my head was a bit more damp and sticky-looking.
-What do you mean ‘damp and sticky-looking’?
After a brief interview and stage preview, Sedal Baegil exited.
As soon as word that Sedal Baegil would appear soon circulated the internet, many more began watching the music show belatedly.
Most of them weren’t interested in idol groups, but in today’s issue.
Of course, there were positive comments too.
-Wow, I completely stopped being a fan after getting a job, it’s really been a while.
-Now they’re all so much younger than me. What should I call them?
-The term used for that is “dongsaeng oppa.”
-Hahahaha crazy
-When are our Sedal Baegil dongsaeng oppas coming out?
They were people who had been away from the music industry for quite a long time.
As time passed, when the music show was about 80% done.
Sedal Baegil’s stage approached.
The beginning was the pre-recorded song, Colorful Struggle (Kpop Remix).
-What, isn’t this not Colorful Struggle?
-It’s the remix version!
-Ah, I wanted to hear the original.
-This is good too, haha
Colorful Struggle, which had spread to the public through the Color Show and Billboard entry, was an extremely famous song.
It was so famous that a song composed entirely of English lyrics had topped the Korean digital charts.
But Kpop Struggle was a bit different.
This song had been quite famous too.
It had been revealed to the public first through an intentional leak, and was also inserted into the intro of S.O.M’s music video.
But if you asked whether it had spread to the general public, it was ambiguous.
It had also failed to take #1 on the digital charts due to State Of Mind’s monopoly.
But…….
A good song had power.
-Wow, that was so sophisticated.
-What is this. Is this hip-hop?
-Sounds like lo-fi soul, haha. I think they used some chipmunk technique too.
-Doesn’t the chipmunk technique require raising the pitch?
-Nah, it’s a stereotype created by Kanye, the representative musician. The dictionary definition is adjusting pitch, so you can lower it too.
Low-saturation lights poured down, decorating the stage.
Sedal Baegil had practiced countless times to match the timing of the lights shooting down with the choreography’s timing.
Because even being off by one second could look sloppy.
Honestly, it was only possible because it was a pre-recorded stage, but…….
-Wow, idols do stuff like this these days?
-No, I’m a bit taken aback. It’s so different from the Sedal Baegil image I knew... I wonder if an old fan’s heart is awakening?
-What’s with the razor-sharp synchronization;
-It makes me happy to see Mr. Han Sion performing actively on stage. I hope he overcomes difficult obstacles and moves forward.
People were marveling.
[...Did you rock it?]
-Yo, who’s that platinum blonde? Freaking handsome.
-It’s Yi I-on. Sir ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-Wow, how can a person look like that.
-This is our first time seeing it too ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Did you say platinum blonde?
-Ah, is this the first reveal?
-Yes TTTT
-Only Han Sion’s hair is black, haha
-He’s secretly a Confucian boy.
-No no no, from the perspective of a true fan who’s watched Sedal Baegil since debut, he’s more American macho than Confucian boy.
-It’s not even been a year since debut? What do you mean ‘watched all along.’
-Such criticism is trivial.
While people were chatting about Kpop Struggle, the stage on screen changed.
It was State Of Mind, revealed for the first time outside of the music video.