After Chaeyoung's performance is finished, a few more soloists were called.
Jun didn't find their performance that great. Neither do the judges. With how judges are treating the former trainees, Jun thought at least three of those girls have a high chance of being eliminated.
Then Duo performances began. Jun found the girls are more disoriented than them. The boys hardly have two solo performances and one duo performance.
But, so far, he saw seven solo performances and four duo performances and he has yet to see a group performance.
Finally, after two more duo performances, the first group came on to the stage. Everyone was surprised as they saw the girls.
Since the program hasn't started yet, the participants weren't provided any kind of dressing materials or cosmetics. That means, to each to their own.
Yet somehow, these five girls have matching clothing and ornaments. And they weren't just simple dresses either.
Those one-piece dresses were now glittering as the lights fell on them. Combining with their pretty faces with nice makeup, the boys felt it was indeed a feast to the eyes.
The leader of the group started counting.
"1, 2, 3…"
"Annyeonghaseyo (Hello), we are AFI Girls."
Since they were going to sing a song that he produced, JYP asked in curiosity, "what does the group name mean?"
The middle girl who looks tall and slim with long legs replied, "After forming the group, we learned that of us are from Ilsan city. So, it's All from Ilsan…"
"Oh! Ok." JYP nodded and then, gestured to continue.
After introducing themselves, mic stands were brought before them and they took the positions.
Instead of the original, a piece of slow melody music played by a piano started in the background while the leader started the song by saying a line in a straight tone.
"You know I still love you baby
And it will never change…"
The song continued with sync from all five of them.
"I want nobody Nobody but you
I want nobody Nobody but you." - All
"I don't want anyone else
I can't have anyone but you" – Kyuri
***
Jun felt that the song was nothing like the original song at all. Especially the tempo. While the original was considered a fast tempo song, they sang at a slow pace with each of the words can be heard clearly.
From start to finish, JYP was grinning from ear to ear.
As they finished the performance, he commented, "Ah! It's over already?"
"It's finished too soon…" He let out a laugh once again as he looked sideward.
YG can't help but agreed with his statement. "This nobody song is about a mature woman being sad and I see that…" As he looked at the notepad, YG then said, "The eldest of the group is only 18?"
They nodded in response.
JYP continued where YG left off, "As all of you are former trainees, I thought you would do a good job but didn't think you did better. It was better than my expectations."
He then asked, "Who did the arranging?"
The long-legged beauty raised her hand.
"Ah, so, it's Yuju-ssi…" JYP nodded implying that he got it, and then, wrote down the scores. He wrote some remark beside her name.
They got down from the stage and the next group is called.
After another five-member group, Jun get to see three seven-member groups.
Because of the mistakes here and there, none of them received compliments as much as AFI Girls…
The boy groups' evaluation began.
Although bravebrothers and YG praised a few people, Jun didn't find the performances that impressive at all. One, due to heavy rap content, and two, mistakes in vocalists.
He wondered whether why those judges can't see the mistakes when he can see them.
'Is it because my vocals improved, or is it because they don't plan on being strict like in the previous rounds?'
As a seven-member group, their turn came on the last.
"Okay, the next group, X7. Please, come on to the stage," Jongsu said on the mic.
The seven of them stood up together and everyone turned their heads, especially the boys who trained on the same floor. They are dubbed as Avengers on several occasions.
Jun slightly felt embarrassed about the attention he was getting, not because of the appearance but because of their overall team strength.
Seven of them reached the stage and stands in a line.
The introductions started from the left. As the team's visual, Jun stood in the center but it kinda made the ones who stood beside him, a little bit embarrassed. After all, he is the tallest in the group followed by Shonwu.
"Hello, I'm Na Songmin. 22 years old" "I'm Shonwu. 22 years old" "Kim Hojin. 18 years old" "Han SungJun. 20 years old" "Tong Joowon. 19 years old" "Kang Daniel. 17 years old" "Im Jihoon. 21 years old."
Then, their group said in perfect sync.
"We are X7, thank you." They finished with a bow.
"Oh!" YG exclaimed, looking at the group, and commented slowly, "they almost look like idols…"
Everyone has their own favorites. JYP has too. So, he didn't comment on YG's reaction as three of his favorites somehow ended up in the same group.
"Okay, get it into your positions."
"Guys…" Shonwu called them to gather together. Shonwu put a hand in the middle. Everyone followed the suit and put their hands on each other.
"1, 2, 3 … Hwaiting."
The other participants supported them with a clap as they took their positions.
Three of them sat down while the other four stood.
Powerful music suddenly started in the background and a big smile appeared on YG as the song was opened by Jun.
"Yeah…
Let me introduce you to some new thangs" – Jun
"Yo" - Joowon
"new thangs" – Jun
"Right" – Shonwu
"new thangs" – All
"Bass kick swingin' like I'm Bruce Lee" – Jun
"Bruce Lee" – Shonwu
"Bruce Lee" – All
"Shimmy shimmy shimmy I'm on fire I'm on fire
when I'm on this stage" – All
"I throw a straight punch right left Bruce Lee" – Songmin
"I'm flying around all day long Bruce Lee" – Shonwu
"Yeah yeah
Comin' up here now
Baby you don't understand this feeling logically." – Hojin
"Fighting for all day
Don't think and walk along the path that leads to your story"
"Before the dark yesterday swallows today" – Hojin
"My voice should spread out more, I can just shout out" – Jun
"To me no more trauma" – All
.
.
.
"new thangs new thangs new thangs
Na na na na na" – All
***
The swag in the performance made everyone nod their heads and some of them can't help but move their arms too and lip-syncing along, especially, the highlight of the song.
At two and a half minutes, Jun once again took the center. The six of them moved back a little bit and Jun continued to sing his favorite part of the song. Meanwhile, the audience who are familiar with the song became silent and stared at Jun wondering whether he will pull it off with the high note.
"The new worlds that spread in front of me
will come to me as if I can grab them
After the darkness I born again~ ah~~~"
*Wow* The newbies' reactions were clearly shown on their faces. They indeed felt overwhelmed by Jun's high note, not knowing that Jun can go even higher…
Followed by his high note, the dance break arrived, which was modified by Daniel and Shonwu a little bit to give more impact. Even JYP was taken aback.
.
.
"I'm flying all day long Bruce Lee." – All
Taking heavy breaths, Jun joined the line and bowed together. "Gamsahabnida (Thank you)"
Everyone was pleased with the performance with all smiles except for Jun. He frowned for a second, glancing at his teammate who made a couple of mistakes in the middle.