Chapter 54
It had been about a day since the teaser for We:uS's debut album title track was released.
[We:uS 'HERO' Official Teaser]
[Views: 4,245,126]
We:uS's 'HERO' teaser video was catching up to the views of BLUELED's 'VILLAIN' teaser video, which had been released earlier, at a terrifying pace.
With an impact that made it hard to believe they were a rookie group just making their debut, BLUELED's fans were panicking, while We:uS's fans were cheering with anticipation for the title track, regardless of the charts.
-Crazy! What's with the teaser quality? I can already feel the hit vibes...!
-My heart is fluttering just from watching the teaser ㅠㅠ
-Is it really true there are still 10 days left until debut...? How am I supposed to survive until then!!
-The title is HERO! It suits them so well! Captain Sunwoo Rin, the guardian of Guk.A, has descended upon the music industry!!!
-If the teaser video is this good, what about the MV,,,? It's really real this time, right? Can I look forward to it?
Of course, not all reactions were purely positive.
-They gave all the screentime to Sunwoo Rin in the teaser. Were the other kids just put there as props...
-In terms of skill, the other members seem better than Sunwoo Rin. But I guess the center is still Sunwoo Rin?
With the aftermath of the audition not yet fully settled, voices of fans expressing dissatisfaction about the other members' screen time began to be heard after watching the teaser video.
It was an unavoidable phenomenon since the group was formed through an audition. There were still more fans who liked individual members of We:uS than fans who liked We:uS as a whole.
Amidst some fans expressing dissatisfaction with the teaser video like that.
1.[BLUELED 'VILLAIN' Official Teaser]
2.[We:uS 'HERO' Official Teaser]
The moment We:uS's teaser video rose to 2nd place on the video site's real-time popular video list.
Centered around the two teams' title track names, the communities that had been quiet began to burn with excitement once again.
-Wow... We:uS's new title track is called HERO...
└Huh? What's wrong with that? Isn't it just a common title?
└Look at BLUELED's title track name!
└Heol...?! What, no way!
The contrasting title track names of the two teams—Hero and Villain.
Along with the titles that seemed like they had been coordinated from the start, the situation of the two teams having their debut and comeback schedules overlap on the same day intertwined, creating an even greater impact than before.
-Hero VS Villain... Of all days, they release on the same day and even the titles ended up like this ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-This really doesn't make sense unless the two agencies coordinated it?
└They couldn't have coordinated it, don't you know BLUELED's agency and Musicnet don't get along?
└This is really destiny... ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Since it's come to this, both teams should consider it fate and fight with the determination to die ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-BLUELED making a comeback after a member left following an incident and a year and a half, versus We:uS making a glamorous debut after receiving the spotlight from the audition. I can't even predict which team will win.
└If it's Villain vs Hero, of course Hero wins ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└They need to be somewhat in the same weight class to fight, putting a debuting rookie against BLUELED... I think We:uS will get crushed miserably...?
Amidst the increasingly heated debates in the community ahead of We:uS's debut.
Changes also began to occur within We:uS's fandom.
-Honestly, whether it's about screentime in the teaser or whatever, the MV hasn't even officially come out yet and the kids are working hard preparing for debut, so I wish people would stop saying things that drain their energy.
└I didn't really like Sunwoo Rin during Guk.A either, but now that we're all on the same team, dividing the fandom by members looks a bit bad.
-With everything going crazy outside because of BLUELED already, let's not disperse our firepower among ourselves! Please...!
Due to the massive external enemy called BLUELED, the influence of individual fans formed through the audition within We:uS's fandom was actually decreasing, and a virtuous cycle was taking place where internal cohesion was growing.
***
The agency CEO's words about "investing properly" were not just empty promises.
"Jungwoo."
"Yes..."
"Is music video filming originally supposed to be this massive in scale?"
As I spoke while looking at the set where the final group choreography would take place, Woo Jungwoo shook his head and answered.
"At least among the sets I've seen, this is the most incredible."
"Right..."
Inside the set that strongly conveyed the feeling that they had poured money into it.
The members of We:uS were barely holding on to their fading spirits as they prepared for the filming that was nearing its end.
'It was a crazy forced march.'
While filming the music video, I realized that filming the teaser video was just child's play.
'No, making the concept cool is good and all. But they should think about the people filming the music video too...'
When the company's video production and content team, who had planned an incredibly complex story that even I had difficulty understanding, first brought the storyboard, I was confused whether this was really the story for a music video or if they were telling us to film a movie.
But with the strong argument that idols these days need at least one "worldview" and the generous CEO's permission, the proposal passed without any issues.
At first, the members were just delighted, saying it was amazing, at the music video filming set that exuded tremendous capital power even to my untrained eyes. But now...
"What happens to us if this album somehow fails?"
"Well, if we run around doing events and activities for about 5 years, we'll somehow fill it up, right?"
"Ugh..."
Jokes about how it would be a big problem if we failed showed that everyone was feeling burdened on top of being exhausted both mentally and physically.
Fortunately, it was somewhat comforting that the reaction to the teaser video wasn't bad.
"By the way, is it really a bad fate or a good one with BLUELED... How did our title track names end up being exact opposites?"
When Sim Sungha brought up BLUELED, I could see the exhausted members' eyes regain their focus.
"What's the view count right now?"
"BLUELED's teaser passed 10 million. Ours is around 8 million."
"Still, considering we were uploaded about 3 days later, haven't we almost caught up?"
"That's true."
After Woo Jungwoo's confession last time, although no one said it outright, it seemed everyone had developed considerable hostility toward BLUELED.
Even during choreography practice, even on the music video filming set. Whenever they got tired, the members would always bring up BLUELED and refocus.
Especially after BLUELED's teaser was released, that atmosphere grew even stronger.
The members were shouting 'Now we have nowhere to retreat!' like some strange slogan while crying out to overthrow BLUELED.
While everyone was burning with enthusiasm, Woo Jungwoo looked at Baek Sihyun and spoke.
"Sihyun, can you check my choreo for the hook?"
"Okay!"
In one corner, I could see Woo Jungwoo adjusting the details of his choreography with Baek Sihyun's help.
Fortunately, it seemed Woo Jungwoo had also gotten his mind together, as he no longer showed signs of struggling alone.
Rather, I was relieved to see that he seemed to have gotten closer to Baek Sihyun than before the incident.
"Alright, filming will begin shortly!"
"Let's gather, guys!"
Looking at the busily moving staff, we stood in a circle before the filming that would be nearly the last.
"Okay, Yujin, just say one last word."
Thinking of the music video's concept, I said to Yujin Kim.
Then Yujin Kim hesitated slightly before answering in a small voice.
"Everyone, don't worry too much. Because... we're going to win anyway."
At Yujin Kim's appearance, I couldn't hold back and added one more thing.
"Is that confirmed information? I feel like I can't really trust it...?"
"Shut up."
Saying that, Yujin Kim walked away first, and we laughed as we followed Yujin Kim into the set.
***
After the fans' long wait, the first episode of We:uS's first reality program 'We Are We:uS!' was finally broadcast.
We:uS's reality episode 1 began with the members adapting to their dorm.
Through the members choosing their dorm rooms through a game, and each person's MBTI being revealed through the broadcast, fans began to cheer with joy.
-Heol, their MBTIs are exactly what I thought!
-Rin is definitely ENTJ... a born leader! Stir up We:uS entirely, Sunwoo Rin!
-No, what's wrong with INFP! Have some consideration for our Sihyun, Jungwoo...!
└One INFP here please ㅋㅋㅋ
Like that, the roommate selection ended, and the members were shown making rules for dorm life.
[Alright, then let's decide together what rules we need to follow while living together in the dorm.]
With Sunwoo Rin as the moderator, making the dorm life rules began.
[First of all, I think we should always eat meals together!]
When Kang Ajin raised his hand and spoke, the other members nodded.
[Hmm... That's a very important issue.]
[Eating alone is definitely hard...]
[No, but still, once a week or so, you might want to eat alone...]
Seeing the We:uS members seriously debating whether to eat together or separately, fans shook off all the stress that had accumulated since Guk.A.
-Seeing the kids looking peaceful makes me feel like the stress I received during Guk.A is being relieved.
-No, is eating together something to debate that seriously about ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Thinking about the time they fought over the center position, it's a tremendous change ㅋㅋ
└Ah... thinking about that time gives me PTSD.
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋ For now, let's enjoy the current peace!
Fans felt happiness even from the trivial scenes of the members conversing.
Especially fans who were worried that the members might be awkward with each other breathed a sigh of relief seeing the We:uS members getting close faster than expected.
-It's so nice seeing all the kids look close... ㅠㅠ
-Seriously, while watching this broadcast today, I made up my mind to walk the path of an all-fan starting today.
-There's no one particularly abrasive, and seeing everyone comfortable with each other is reassuring...
Like that, the first night in the dorm passed, and a scene of a company meeting appeared.
Finally, the appearance of We:uS beginning their album preparation work in earnest was shown.
-What? Are they showing the album preparation process today?
-I wasn't expecting it, but is the title track spoiler coming out today?
-Please show us just a little bit of the MV filming scene...!
-Aaah, I'm curious! I'm going to die of curiosity!!
Contrary to fans' expectations, content about the title track selection was strictly not broadcast.
But instead, a scene that made fans' hearts flutter was aired.
Sunwoo Rin and Yujin Kim wearing one long-sleeved T-shirt together was captured on screen.
-Aaah, that's the scene from the preview.
-Rin and Yujin frowning at each other is so cute ㅋㅋㅋ
-In the meantime, only Ajin escaped alone.
-Jungwoo and Sihyun are roommates already, and they even received the same penalty there.
But soon, a video that surprised fans even more than the long-sleeved T-shirt was revealed.
-Is this a b-side track from this album?
-Yujin's self-composed song is included in this album?
-Wow... wait wait, I can only hear a little bit of the melody, but the song is really good.
The recording scene of
While fans were rejoicing at the unexpectedly revealed information about this album's b-side track.
The broadcast ended just like that with the scene of them recording in the studio.
And before the fans who were waiting for the next episode's preview, an unexpected video appeared.
[Pre-release Video]
[We:uS – Our Spring]
The members could be seen sitting on chairs inside the studio preparing for a live performance.
Soon, Yujin Kim's self-composed song and this album's b-side track, 'Our Spring' live video was revealed at the end of the broadcast.
Fans' reactions went into overdrive at the completely unexpected pre-release video.
-Ahhhhhhh... the song is so good!!!
-Crazy, it's crazy...! This is a b-side track?? No way! Let's change it to a double title right now. Agency people, please!!
└The song is really too good to just be a b-side track ㅠㅠ Let's add a little choreography and make it a double title!
-Ahh, I want to hear the live in person... They'll perform at the showcase too, right?
With fans' expectations reaching their peak through the 'Our Spring' live video released through the reality broadcast on April 11, two days before the showcase.
Time flowed quickly, and finally April 13, the day of We:uS's showcase, arrived.
And then.
April 13, 00:00.
BLUELED's full album was released on music sites before We:uS's album.