Chapter 175
Chapter 175
**Dream (2018)**
**ORCA**
★★★★☆
The level of completeness of this second title track is astonishing for a group that hasn’t even debuted for half a year. Their occasional joke about already being in their second year of debut doesn’t sound like just a joke anymore.
All the lyrics, composition, and arrangement credits include the members’ names.
Having members directly involved in writing and composing is a double-edged sword.
Some audiences tend to overvalue artists’ direct involvement in creation, but if the creations do not match the group’s level, it can result in the worst-case scenario where the group cannot fully demonstrate its capabilities.
In this case, the means surpass the purpose.
However, if the producing member’s qualifications support it, they can create the best synergy based on their understanding of the group they belong to. ‘Dream’ is exactly that.
*(Omitted)*
I guess the credit for pulling Seo Moon-gyeol’s unique minor sensibility into the major domain goes significantly to the leader of Seed, Ban Ga-eul.
What’s notable is the significantly increased backing vocals compared to the previous work.
These voices, which are not separately noted in the lyrics, can be easily missed if not consciously noticed, but there is a clear difference between having voices that support and strengthen the vocal lines and not having them.
*(Omitted)*
If ‘Liberation’, their previous work, relentlessly called the boys into the harsh reality, ‘Dream’ consciously and perfectly shatters the last sweet and unrealistic dreams they held onto for escaping reality.
Their music never strays far from reality. It always ruthlessly urges listeners to face the reality before them.
What will this cold-hearted ambition bring to them in the future?
**By Zika**
—
**[Idols who received 4 stars from Sense this year: Lee Sae-byul, ORCA (new!)]**
– They give out stars sparingly here
– Sense? What about them?
– Isn’t Sense too subjective?
┗ Criticism is originally subjective
– Still, Sense is the most professional in reviewing recent music rather than old music. There are few who critique idol music properly…
┗ Agree. No need to worry too much about reviews here. Many well-performing songs get bad reviews here.
– Criticism is just for reference anywayㅇㅇ
– But I also think ORCA’s new song is good, and it’s a shame there are few tracks in the album. I want to hear more full tracks.
– People who leave comments saying reviews don’t matter: they care the most about reviews.
– I agree with many of Sense’s reviews, especially Zika seems decent.
– Lee Sae-byul and ORCA’s new song are good, right? The more I listen, the more I like it. They deserve the 4 stars.
—
Our comeback stage took place on MusicPangPang, MBS’s music show, the day after our showcase and filming for Idol Variety Battle.
Previously, we could only perform one song on MusicPangPang, but thanks to our performance on Idol Variety Battle, or maybe our improved standing, we were given time to perform a track from the album as well.
It had been a while since we went out early in the morning to get makeup done at the shop. During rehearsal, the broadcast station staff seemed friendlier than before, and as we went around handing signed physical albums to senior singers, it finally felt like we were starting again.
“Greetings!”
“On and on ORCA! Hello, we are ORCA!”
“Thank you. I liked your new song.”
“Thank you!”
“Good luck with your activities this time.”
There were definitely more senior singers who recognized us and openly welcomed us compared to last time.
Incidentally, Muk Hye-sung’s Chronicle was set to make a comeback next week.
After finishing our greetings, we were waiting until the live broadcast started.
“Guys, a team called OneBoys wants to greet you for a moment……”
OneBoys was a boy group that, as far as I knew, debuted this year.
“Greet us?”
“Who? Us?”
“Of course, you. Who else?”
“Oh my.”
I knew several groups had debuted in the past few months besides the notable teams like Liftin or Hundred.
But to think they would come to greet us, like we did with other singers, was unexpected.
Some members seemed a bit flustered.
How should I put it? It felt like having juniors just a few months after starting school.
“Why are you acting so amateurish? You’re seniors now.”
One of the stylists, who was in the waiting room with us, spoke in a cheerful tone.
“We’re seniors……?”
“We are… seniors……?”
“Should I let them in?”
Gwak Sang-hyun, who was standing by the door, looked at us, half-broken, and asked.
“Oh, hold on, I look a mess……!”
“Me too!”
While we were casually sprawled in the waiting room, trying to hastily fix our slightly messy hair and clothes, Gwak Sang-hyun glanced at us with a bewildered look.
[Messy? These imposters. Gwak Sang-hyun’s favorability -1, current favorability +42]
Ignoring our harsh thoughts towards each other, Gwak Sang-hyun promptly brought OneBoys, who were waiting at the door, into our waiting room.
Nine guys who seemed around our age crowded into the not-so-spacious waiting room.
It would have been rude to keep them standing there any longer, so we didn’t complain and politely welcomed OneBoys.
“First, let us greet you!”
“Hello, we are OneBoys!”
The members of OneBoys, who said it was their first activity since debut, seemed quite nervous, freezing awkwardly after just saying hello.
Realistically, we weren’t the first ones they greeted today, and among the performers, we were probably the easiest to approach. Yet, they were so tense.
Considering they were freshly debuted rookies, it was understandable to be cautious and nervous.
Though, it was somewhat amusing that I, who hadn’t even debuted for six months, was thinking this way.
It seemed like I had already adjusted to the second round.
Ah, surely we didn’t look as foolish as that when we went to greet others.
“Oh, Chang-yeon! Long time no see! I think the choreography for your new title track ‘Jeong’ is really cool. If Jupiter CT used to focus seriously on vocals, this time it feels like you’ve nailed the choreography as well.”
“You seem prepared for this.”
“Huh, how did you know?”
“I just know everything. Give it a try.”
“It’s a bit embarrassing…”
“What’s embarrassing? You’re good at it! Do you want to join our team?”
Hmm, probably not.
‘What did the senior singers do when we greeted them?’
I couldn’t recall clearly.
At that moment, in the midst of the awkward atmosphere, Kang Ji-woo spoke cheerfully.
“We can’t lose. Let’s greet them too.”
“What?”
Gyun Seong-ha looked at Kang Ji-woo with a skeptical expression, as if doubting his ears, sensing that the greeting wasn’t going to be a simple “Hello.”
“On and on!”
Kang Ji-woo had already started the greeting boldly, something we had done dozens of times.
“ORCA!”
We reflexively followed him, matching his hand movements.
“Hello, we are ORCA!”
Surprised by the sudden counter-greeting, the OneBoys members widened their eyes, then relaxed a bit and responded with slightly less tense voices.
“Wow! This is the first time seniors have greeted us in the same way.”
“We’re not really seniors. There’s not much difference in our debut times.”
“Right. Just be comfortable.”
“I was born in ‘97. Who is the oldest in OneBoys?”
Kang Ji-woo used his top-notch social skills to chat with a few members of OneBoys for a while.
“And this is our debut album…”
One of the members, who seemed to be the leader, handed over an album he was holding.
I, who was closest, received the album.
“Thank you. This is the first time we’ve received an album like this!”
“Oh, really? It’s an honor!”
“But Raon, you’re so handsome.”
“Oh, it’s just because I’ve got all my makeup on.”
[Why the humility? Acting skill +1]
Shut up! I don’t want to be an annoying senior, even if I’m an annoying junior.
[Unfortunately, you were annoying enough. Reputation +2]
Damn it.
Anyway, after exchanging a slightly more friendly greeting than at first, OneBoys left, and a little while later, a girl group came to greet us as well.
Seeing all this, I realized how quickly the market in this industry changes, even while we take a short break.
* * *
That night, after finishing the music show and returning to the dorm, Kang Ji-woo said to the members.
“Guys, I’m tired, so you don’t need to stay up until midnight to wish me a happy birthday.”
“Oh, such confidence.”
“Right. Makes us not want to congratulate you.”
“I wasn’t planning on staying up anyway…”
“Guys…”
In any case, everyone was tired, so we pretended to give in to Kang Ji-woo’s words.
Although we didn’t congratulate him at midnight, we did wish him a happy birthday early in the morning while on the way to the shop.
Yes, today was Kang Ji-woo’s birthday.
Kang Ji-woo fully enjoyed the privilege of having a birthday while promoting.
“Airi! Today’s my birthday!”
Birthday congratulations came from all over.
He had already received congratulations from the staff who adored him, with banners and all in the waiting room.
The most envious part was something else.
The fans at the studio had subtly changed the chant in the middle of ‘Dream’ to give a surprise birthday shoutout to Kang Ji-woo.
– Kang Ji-woo! Saeng! Il! Chuka-hae!
Not expecting this, Kang Ji-woo teared up slightly but still managed to prove he could sing well no matter the situation.
After finishing the schedule and returning, we started a B-app live broadcast to celebrate Kang Ji-woo’s birthday.
It was to prepare a meal for Kang Ji-woo, who often took care of our meals.
The chef was Seo Moon-gyeol.
Ban Yo-han, aiming to redeem himself from his previous cooking disaster on the Idol Variety Battle, had once again enlisted Seo Moon-gyeol as his avatar.
