We were in the waiting room before the live broadcast of MusicBOMB, TNet's music program.
"Would you like something to drink too?"
"Water, please."
I voluntarily took over water from Keun Sejin, who was distributing drinks, and continued monitoring.
Because I still had some free time.
'First of all, the album.'
The music trend was as expected... No, inflation was more severe than expected.
Both VTIC and TeStar.
'Is it competitive psychology?'
[TeSTAR "The Ocean of Wonder" - 1,317,215]
It had already sold over 1.3 million copies.
I looked at the album sales that exceeded the expected number in four days, and then thought of VTIC's first week sales and stopped thinking for a moment.
How were there crazy guys who sold over 2 million copies in the first week of a repackaged album?
'They're making a lot of money.'
I had to check the numbers more carefully in order to look equal to these guys in this situation.
I checked the music charts.
[#7 VTIC - HELP]
[#9 TeStar - Promise]
We were closely following the daily rankings.
24Hit was already tossing and turning, and there was a high probability that it would flip after a while.
This was because the response to this song was as good as expected.
It was easy to listen to and had a good sense of the season, so it seemed that people who had previously listened to TeStar's songs immediately added it to their playlists.
'It's nice to hear while driving.'
And the popularity to attract new listeners was good. There was also interest gained from the simultaneous release with VTIC...
"Certainly, I think Ahyeon looks the best here."
"Right? Ahyeon would look good even with a real mermaid tail~"
"Enough with the tails! We're not doing that!"
"Hey, Eugene's tail didn't even appear in the music video~"
"Haha."
Hmm. That virtue was definitely there.
The mermaid concept aggro exploded.
'It's a bit shocking to hear…'
Existing fans were so accustomed to how we made videos, so when they just listened to it, they could roughly guess what it would sound like while thinking, 'They're coming out dressed as mermaids in the music video!'
'It's either a children's animation or a B-grade movie.'
First of all, when people thought of the usual CG, they didn't get a rough angle.
- TeStar Mermaid Concept Opening
└A mermaid? The mermaid who lives in the sea? Did I hear wrong?
However, when people clicked on the music video, attracted by the hate, the mermaid concept only appeared briefly after a long time.
It was not CG, but actual animatronic tails were inserted separately in the middle of the cut scene to make it look like it belonged to the members.
It was just enough to understand that the guys in short sleeves playing in the water on the beach at sunset were mermaids.
'If I had to say something... It's a sensibility closer to an art film.'
Those who clicked expecting that a real topless TeStar would come out with glitter and CG tails were tricked.
-?? What is this, it's so much better than I thought
-It's a sentimental music video that they made well, but they poured a lot of funds into it
-Does that tail fin mean that they're mermaids? Ah, I understand
-The top is... It's Chungwoo... Okay. I'm satisfied with the silhouette.
It became a good internet story to see people who were attracted to aggro leave in confusion saying that it was surprisingly good. Thanks to that, the number of views of the music video went up.
And word of mouth spread that the song is good, and it was a big help to the music.
'Of course... Still, it's hard to avoid likes and dislikes.'
- I love mermaids ㅜㅜ The best concept
└That's not it
-Take it out and give it back to me ㅅㅂ They really aren't mermaids…
└ Then just watch the performance
└I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that mermaids will appear on stage. Please look at this, T1 guys.
There were various reactions from people like this to those who expected us to dress up as real mermaids, but if the majority was good, it was a success. Rather, it became noise marketing.
'I took this arrangement into consideration.'
Looking back a few years later, the music video wasn't so wrong that it would become a dark history, so there was nothing to regret.
Actually, I thought about giving the mermaid concept only as a hint, but... Then it seemed that the aggro would be lacking.
'We needed an impact.'
If we just went with the travel concept, we would never have made a two-way structure with VTIC.
The amount of mention would vary.
'Image is a battle of momentum after all.'
It was ambiguous because our side did not have the level of popularity as Youngrin to use
TeStar's popularity with VTIC's structure of fandom.
Besides, the concept that VTIC came up with this time was working even better overseas.
I just remembered the time I encountered them in the hallway.
-Hello, TeStar hoobaenims!
-It's been a while since I've seen you in person~
The VTIC guys were cheating. Anyway, they smiled and asked how we were doing, and we had a moderately harmonious conversation.
'There were a lot of staff and singers who came and went, so we had no choice but to be harmonious.'
And among the blessings from our side was this.
-Congratulations on your second place on the Billboard album chart. Sunbaenim~! I respect you!
-Ahaha, thank you!
These guys entered the Billboard charts while renewing their rankings.
It turned out that the bizarre cosmic horror concept was a well-known worldview with a fairly large tradition and scale in foreign countries.
Thanks to that, the fandom was hooked there as well, and it seemed that the US schedule was tight. I was sure that they were aiming for that.
'If this is covered in the media, it may be pushed back due to the issue of enhancing national prestige…'
It was just fortunate that we secured at least a trendy hotness with the mermaid aggro before that.
I shrugged and stopped reminiscing.
Because the conclusion was obvious.
'In the end, we'll have to do well on stage.'
We needed to raise our current interest to the stage once more. Only then could this tight composition be maintained.
I put down my smartphone. Ryu Chungwoo, who had been accepting Kim Raebin's complaint about Cha Eugene, turned his head and asked a question.
"Stretching?"
"Yes."
Soon, it was time for the live broadcast stage.
TeStar's order was third from the back.
Next to us was a girl group that had been around for quite some time... The last was, of course, VTIC.
Wow!!
It seemed that there was an intention to arrange it like this to avoid direct comparison on both sides, but since we shared the venue anyway, it didn't mean much.
'There's a lot.'
I saw the nearly divided VTIC and TeStar fans standing under the stage, standing in formation.
There were many cases where the prerecorded part of the live broadcast stage was just standing and adjusting the range, but in the end, it was because the audience was focused, so they worked hard.
'This is also filmed for a fancam and goes around.'
We came on stage, waved our hands, and got into formation.
The first was a performance-type sub-song using a chair, close to Latin pop.
[Como tu dulce y amargo café
my dear]
Cha Eugene took on the Spanish language of the chorus and brilliantly omitted choreography and vocals.
'It has increased.'
That song grew more.
The thought of checking the status window flashed briefly, but disappeared the moment I realized that I was on stage.
[Your heart blooms like charm smoke in the hot air]
I sang the melody part of the introduction to the second verse. After performing the choreography of jumping and turning steps, we slid to the side and grabbed chairs to change the formation.
And Kim Raebin sat on a chair alone and rapped.
After that, he safely cleared the second verse chorus and the last climax was reached.
Adrenaline was soaring.
"Whoa."
Aaaaaaaal!
The reaction was also good.
'Anyway, the difficulty level of the performance gave strength to this side as well.'
I looked down at my feet just before the bridge as I prepared for the title that was to follow.
And without knowing it, I laughed.
It was a bit fun.
The point was that the current outfit was unbalanced even though it was a rather sticky sub-song.
It was because I was wearing clothes that matched the title that would be broadcasted live.
[Take your STAR
The day the stars fall]
We were all wearing jeans and a white tee.
* * *
'Good!'
Park Moondae's first homma unknowingly clenched her fist out of victory when she saw TeStar's first broadcast outfits.
She couldn't help it because the outfit she liked the most in the music video was shown first.
'If you hate it, you don't have eyes.'
Jeans and a white T-shirt, if you had a good body, it can't be bad!
Maybe they decided to exercise this time, and everyone was fit even with the light fabric. She almost instinctively prepared to pick the clip she would use.
At the same time, the future candidates' outfits automatically passed through her head.
Maybe they would wear outfits from the music video during the first week. Occupational clothes, summer clothes, beach clothes with robes…
'...And a mermaid-like outfit at least once?'
However, it was a costume that had never appeared in a music video, and since the mermaid was only a story concept, she quickly abandoned expectations.
'Looking at the first episode's choice, I think they're going to push it all the way without experimentation, but please let's go with that stance until the end, yes.'
The stage was beginning!
She immediately cleared her mind and focused her attention on the stage in front of her.
A refreshing background with blue sky and white sandy beach.
And the unfolding stage...
It was like a distillation of the fun of seeing and hearing in an extremely pure way.
[Island in the sky to sail
We Fly so far]
There was no walking line in the choreography.
In every step, whether it was slipping, jumping, or bouncing, elements that caught the eye and rhythm were added.
Moreover, the genre of the choreography changed depending on the part, drawing attention with the impressive movements that fit perfectly.
For example, Lee Sejin's bridge had a tango-like kicking motion, and Cha Eugene's chorus had a locking.
In the meantime, the blank space was created only by the difference in speed. There was no time for anyone to take a break.
It meant that it made people watch without getting bored.
[Make you fly!]
"Park Moondae!!"
When a cool live performance was added to it, there was a pleasant feeling like drinking a soda with ice.
In the meantime, when performing 'Take your STAR', the point choreography that subtly used gestures and gazes stuck to the song like a sticker.
It was extremely catchy.
'I think the song sounds better thanks to the choreography?'
Lee Sejin and Cha Eugene would have been satisfied if they heard it since they almost fought with only the choreography that they wanted to follow.
However, on the screen, they were flying around the stage, looking for the camera like ghosts and making use of their expressions and atmosphere.
The stage ate up time in an instant, just as the formation changed.
Once she woke up, it was the ending.
[To the island at the end of the horizon
Today will shine]
A close-up of Seon Ahyeon between the large formations that looked like waves using the camera work to the limit.
Emotional vocals and drums came and went, and the acrobatics that appeared for the first time was also impressive.
[Umm~ UmmUmm]
Even the members bowing their heads to the last melody and sitting cross-legged were used as a point choreography.
The song ended with the smiling members making gestures such as putting their arms around their shoulders or resting their chins on each other.
Well-maintained handsome faces were captured on the screen one after another.
[TeSTAR - Promise]
"Hoo."
The homma took a deep breath again only after the title appeared on the screen and the closing close-up of Park Moodae disappeared.
'It's so fun.'
So, to conclude...
'This works.'
It seemed like it would start with a choreography challenge. Word of mouth had already been written, so it was obvious that all sorts of videos were already uploaded with this stage release.
She had a clue from the music video, the choreography wasn't insanely difficult, but it was just impressive and addictive.
Just looking at real-time social media right now, similar reactions poured out.
-Is it over already?
- They're really good at it. They're mermaids and whatever, so they have to be good at the stage ㅋㅋㅋ
-After watching the stage, the song sounds better. Is this hallucination?
-The stage restaurant is uniquely delicious
- I'm going to get tired of watching TikToks of people doing this with their back and hands like this (video)
"Done."
What VTIC fans were saying was that the trend in Korea was TeStar!
She predicted the future satisfactorily. And that prediction was going to flow very much like reality.
However, TeStar was not the only one who digested the attracted attention through consumption.
* * *
"The joy of exploding music! MusicBOMB~"
"The number 1 this week is... Congratulations! VTIC!"
The music show MCs politely handed over bouquets and trophy to VTIC.
It was natural. Today, last week's results were included due to the counting period, so if VTIC was not in the first place, it'd be manipulation.
"First of all, to TICAs who cheered us on until we won this award today…"
I smiled hard and clapped at the guys who were talking about winning first place. Everyone was doing it.
There was no idiot here who couldn't manage his facial expression.
Still, they would think of various things in their hearts, but in my case... Yes, I could say that I was evaluating them.
'These bastards are definitely doing well.'
It was the first time for me to hold each of these guys on their title stage and properly watch them.
And quite... It was impressive.
'They dug a very good well.'
They said that the music video was also a compilation of content that their fans would like, and the stage was the same.
'Intense and stimulating high quality.'
It wasn't to the extent that they lost their popularity, but the intro's performance like fighting a snake was a composition for the fan base.
'And their stage skills are so outstanding.'
There was no reason to not have any new fans this year.
"MusicBOMB! See you again next week!"
I bowed my head to the waving top performers, and came down from the stage to conclude.
Although the results of this activity were different, it seemed that there was no way that either of us would fail on stage.
And in fact, the response came out similarly.
In the weeks that followed, TeStar continued to climb up the music charts through word of mouth and social platform users' picks.
And in the end, what was to happen happened.
---------------------------------
[TeStar just caught up to VTIC's songs]
Climbed up after hitting 5th place. As for the real male idol music, TeStar seems to have hit the top (screenshot)
---------------------------------
-Crazv
-It's fun, TeStar ㅋㅋㅋ
-To be honest, the song was chosen very well.
└That was composed by Kim Rabin
└ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ You're taking care of the name of the producing member. I've seen it once or twice, but at this point, you're just putting the name at the end.
└ It's the first time (screenshot)
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-It's worth having the comeback a week later. The album sales are also deceiving.
-I knew it would go well, the stage was so good, the story of the music video was good
-Luck
└It's fierce
- The atmosphere is really bloody. Will it be like this until the final decision?
VTIC and digital music rankings were reversed.
In fact, there was a mess for a while, with people wondering if there was a conclusion, but it quickly subsided. VTIC was so fancy that even global records were speechless.
Starting with 'No. 1 in 76 countries, interviews and awards ceremony invitations, and even the number of comments and music video views in English and American countries.
It was amazing.
Thanks to their sparkling status, people who listened to them continued to come out, and the title song of VTIC continued to remain at the top of the domestic charts.
It was the same not only in terms of music, but also in terms of overall popularity. We were on the side of holding out.
'It's close.'
As planned, we swept all the way to No. 1 this week, but it was still unknown how the perception would change when it was around August.
'Still, what is satisfactory is that the two-way system has been solidified.'
Now, 'how dare you put TeStar with VTIC' was almost unheard of.
This tension must be maintained until the end of the year.
I decided to keep that in mind and waited for the decisive end to come.
And like that, the days of the music broadcast come back again.
It was the music broadcast during the 3rd week of TeStar's comeback.
And it was VTIC's last domestic music broadcast for this album.
Actually, they should have stopped appearing last week, but since it was a special feature, TNet seemed to be holding on to the crotch of their pants.
And I realized that this was the first critical timing.
'We have to catch public opinion.'
However, I did not know that we would encounter an unexpected and not very welcome situation in this special feature.
A prospective junior appeared as a guest on the special stage.
It was this season of