Damn Idol Episode 189
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It was an absurd story, but Self Made had been swallowed up by Sedalbaegil.
People no longer said that Sedalbaegil had done something on Self Made.
Rather, Sedalbaegil had done something on Self Made.
That was a fairly significant difference in perception.
Originally, it should have been quite strange for Sedalbaegil to be working on album production on Self Made.
Wasn't it a variety show?
—No, but wasn't Self Made not supposed to be this kind of program? Why are they only working on albums nonstop overseas, hahaha
So this kind of reaction was justified.
But the viewers' reactions were not.
—What do you mean no? Haha, this was originally a program where Sedalbaegil self-made.
—Yeah. In Season 1, unknowns self-made, and in Season 2, Sedalbaegil self-makes, so what.
They didn't find it particularly strange that the content of Self Made had changed.
This was something that happened because the content that was Sedalbaegil was bigger than Self Made.
It was also something that happened because PD Gang Seokwoo was shrewd.
PD Gang Seokwoo knew that the nature of the program
But because of that, he thought that fun was all the more important.
It didn't matter if the program's nature or intention changed.
But it couldn't be boring.
—Hahahahahahaha no, am I the only one who finds Iion funny? Hahaha
—He can't speak English but he's talented at Spanish, that's freaking hilarious hahaha
—Hahahaha Iion acting all dignified in front of the younger members and then crumbling is comedy gold hahaha
—The amazing thing is that no one sees him as dignified.
—Hahahahahahaha Even though album work became the main storyline, the runtime itself had more of the Sedalbaegil members' American escapades.
There was also an episode where Yankos Greenwood, who was not far away, visited their hotel after Chris Edward left.
"Make sure to put out a pop-jazz album sometime. I'll be looking forward to it."
Yankos Greenwood gave advice to the Sedalbaegil members, had a deep conversation with Han Sion, and introduced them to a Hollywood art team.
"The Giving Tree, oof…"
—Honestly, I don't know this guy well but he seems like a freaking cool person, hahaha
—He seems to have that unique magnanimity of someone who's made it.
Soon, a scene of filming a music video with the art team appeared.
It was the unit Masked Bandit, which the viewers were already well acquainted with, and Choe Jaeseong's.
Scenes of Han Sion and Onsaemiro filming also aired, and the two's unit album was officially revealed as well.
However, what the viewers were curious about was that the Sedalbaegil members took unit filming far too much for granted.
And.
"[Doesn't it feel like the 2nd album is going to be a hit somehow?]"
"[Didn't they say you shouldn't utter the word hit?]"
"[Who said that?]"
"[They say in the broadcasting industry, saying that is considered bad luck.]"
"[It's fine. We're in America, after all. The nationality of superstitions must be different.]"
"[Oh……?]"
What they found odd was that the subject of the members' conversation seemed somehow to be not "unit album" but "2nd album."
—So fucking confusing, hahaha
—I wish someone would just straight up ask them.
It probably wasn't that he had heard the viewers' wish, but PD Gang Seokwoo threw the same question at Han Sion, who was resting.
This wasn't a directed scene.
In reality, PD Gang Seokwoo at the time had no idea in "what way" Sedalbaegil was preparing the 2nd album.
"[Han Sion.]"
"[Yes?]"
"[Are you filming a unit album right now, or a Sedalbaegil album?]"
"[You'll naturally find out when the Self Made broadcast is about to end.]"
"[Still, give me a hint.]"
"[I suppose the answer is that it's a unit album which is also the 2nd album.]"
—Ah, I got it. Wow. Finally got it.
—What?
—2+2+1 = 2. That's it.
—What is it?
—It's just that Han Sion doesn't do it often, but I think he's freaking good at sampling too? Sampling techniques were used brilliantly in the 1st album as well.
—What's sampling?
—It's taking sources from other songs and modifying them to make a song. If the copyright is perfectly cleared, you don't have to modify it.
—Thanks, Speed Wagon.
—Anyway, so what?
—Wouldn't the Sedalbaegil 2nd album be made by sampling the 2-member unit, 2-member unit, and 1-member unit albums?
—Oh?
—That sounds plausible.
—But wouldn't that be fucking messy?
—As if Hipsion would let that happen.
—That's credible.
—Don't tell me it's a pilgrimage concept?
After that, rumors about the 2nd album slowly unraveled bit by bit.
But there were still many puzzling parts.
And so, on screen, the last day they spent in America arrived.
From early morning, the Sedalbaegil members wandered around the hotel where they were staying and invited people here and there.
As it turned out, they were planning to rent a yacht and have a party on the water for their last day, and they had invited those with whom they had built connections over the past month and more.
There were singers they had busked with, and there was also the owner of the Mexican restaurant they had visited incessantly raving about how delicious it was.
After such a round of merrymaking, after the guests had left, the yacht anchored at the port.
Sitting there, the Sedalbaegil members had all manner of conversations.
"[What would you like to be doing in about 10 years?]"
"[Being discharged from the army.]"
"[Hey…….]"
At first, words went back and forth in jest, but then the Sedalbaegil members revealed their inner thoughts.
On broadcast, only talk of the objectives and honors they could achieve as singers came out, but in reality, there had been far more conversation than that.
Onsaemiro said he wanted to become an independent person who wouldn't be swayed by his parents in about 10 years.
After the previous incident involving joining hands with Ryan Entertainment, Onsaemiro's parents had become slightly intimidated.
There had also been many bewildering aspects because Han Sion's attitude and handling of matters were so hard-line.
But they still couldn't give up their greed for the most precious treasure they possessed.
And they were pretending to be good people, trying to worm their way into Onsaemiro's circle.
Han Sion knew this and gave Onsaemiro advice, but Onsaemiro wanted to resolve it himself.
He couldn't rely on Han Sion's help forever.
Gu Taehwan and Iion didn't have big desires.
To be exact, they had things they wanted, but those wants weren't special compared to others.
Rather, Choe Jaeseong, who hadn't shown any inkling of his past until now, slightly revealed his inner thoughts.
"I grew up without being loved. Because I didn't have the caliber of talent my parents expected."
"Well……. That wasn't the whole reason, but anyway, that's how it was."
Han Sion had investigated Choe Jaeseong's background when Choe Daeho attacked, but he hadn't dug into the private details.
He had investigated Choe Jaeseong's background for the sake of protection, and while doing so, he had realized something.
Choe Jaeseong's background was no trivial matter, so Choe Daeho wouldn't cross the line to attack him.
Since he had cleanly wrapped up his investigation around then, he didn't know the personal details exactly.
He had some idea but hadn't pried, and Choe Jaeseong didn't seem to want to talk about it either.
On the outside, Choe Jaeseong appeared to be the most unassuming and easygoing person among the Sedalbaegil members.
He would freely crack jokes with people he had just met, and he would facilitate interactions among the Sedalbaegil members too.
But Han Sion thought that this was less Choe Jaeseong's true nature and more a manufactured personality.
Choe Jaeseong was someone with an exceptionally keen sense of social cues, but there was only one circumstance in which such an ability developed at a young age.
It was an environment where he couldn't survive unless he constantly read the room.
Therefore, in reality, Choe Jaeseong was the person with the thickest defenses in Sedalbaegil, and he still hadn't told the members anything about his past.
That was the same this time as well.
But there was a difference between having let it out and not having let it out at all.
And.
"[So I hope I'll still be loved by people in 10 years. More than now.]"
Only this line came out on broadcast instead of a detailed story, but Choe Jaeseong's words were sincere.
Lastly, Han Sion's words on broadcast were simple.
"[For me, well, 200 million album sales.]"
The Sedalbaegil members had heard it many times, but the viewers hadn't.
—So his goal is 200 million copies?
—What's with that specific number?
—At Sedalbaegil's pace, 200 million copies wouldn't be that hard? Since RIAA counts digital singles and mini-albums too.
—Could it be a goal related to his parents?
—OMG; seems right.
People guessed at the truth, and they guessed at falsehoods.
But it didn't matter.
Thus, watching the star-filled night sky from the yacht, the epilogue seemed to be drawing to a close, but…….
It wasn't the end.
The screen switched, and it showed Han Sion and Onsaemiro singing on a yacht filled with sunset glow.
It was a hint about the final unit album.
—Oh, as expected, here it comes.
—Hahahahahaha Masked Bandit was freaking strong, and Choe Jaeseong was freaking strong, but I wonder how strong this one will be.
—Look at Hipsion saving it for the very last.
—Wouldn't it be more cruel to release it first?
—Ah, really?
Then Han Sion began playing the guitar he held in his hands.
The reason the guitar and piano had been loved by people for so long was simple.
It was because they could be completed alone.
Han Sion could surprise the world with just one guitar and two vocalists.
Onsaemiro was a vocalist whose talent hadn't fully bloomed yet, but he still knew how to produce quite a good sound.
Moreover, he was a friend who would grit his teeth and follow along with whatever Han Sion told him to do.
And so the song began.
The title was
If nothing remains in the world
It would be a lie
Because the words that nothing remains
Still remain
As Onsaemiro's song began along with the acoustic guitar, the viewers began to focus on the song.
The truly great part of Han Sion's talent as a composer was that there was no instinctive sense of aversion when hearing a song for the first time.
Of course, everyone knew that Han Sion used various devices to eliminate that.
Like using Gu Taehwan's intro, or making people immerse instantly the moment they heard the beat.
But wasn't this time different?
From an unassuming acoustic guitar performance, an unassuming song began.
Even though they knew the level was high, was there any reason for it to be this good?
People thought such thoughts even as they focused on the song.
If the world I leave behind
Is empty
It would rather
Set me at ease
If the song that had somehow ended up with Drop Out was one targeting Hot 100 number one, this song was not like that.
It was Han Sion's favorite song, the song he had sung the most, and the song he had cherished the longest.
Because
The original is an English version, but there is also a version made in Korean.
The guitar climbed as if building to a climax, and Onsaemiro's voice formed a tone.
Once a vocalist reaches a certain level, they can form a tone with their voice.
It was a difficult part to explain, but it meant that the public held the vague sentiment that "this voice is the best in this range."
And with the tone Onsaemiro had created, Han Sion's voice jumped in and tore the melody apart.
The high notes that suddenly shot up instantly pulled the viewers' immersion to a peak.