Chapter 67
An interlude began, but what she heard was familiar yet unfamiliar. A melody she knew well was being played in a way she had never heard before. It was definitely [On a Cloudy Day].
‘Is it because they’re playing it with a band instead of MR?’
But Seyoon thought the sound felt different. It wasn’t completely unfamiliar, but it wasn’t the sort of music she heard often, either.
[On a Cloudy Day] was also a ballad with a sad feel. A ‘rock ballad,’ was it? It was a song filled with lyrics about painful love and parting, along with Juhyeon’s signature powerful, emotive high notes.
But the interlude of [On a Cloudy Day] being played now was a little different. If the previous [On a Cloudy Day] was the sort of song a twenty-something guy who had broken up with his girlfriend would sing at karaoke after getting drunk and feeling sorry for himself…
The current [On a Cloudy Day] was more like something a person who had suffered tremendous pain in life would scream out while trying to forget it all.
On a cloudy day
I went to meet you
“Aaaaah!!”
While she was still wondering, the vocals came in, and Seyoon reflexively screamed. Thunderous cheers erupted from all around her at once.
Then Juhyeon appeared on the stage screen, and another tremendous roar went up. Seyoon screamed with all her strength, then pounded Sehyeon on the back while they covered their ears.
Will I ever meet you someday?
I walked down that road
After the cheers died down, the first emotion the fans felt was pleasant bewilderment. Why did the song sound like this? He had never released a song like this before. Had it been specially rearranged for the concert?
Though bewildered, the audience felt lucky to be hearing a ‘special concert-version arrangement.’ [On a Cloudy Day] was one of Juhyeon’s signature songs, but it was an ordinary easy-listening rock ballad that was hard to call particularly distinctive.
On a cloudy day
You’re nowhere to be found
The melody grew increasingly turbulent. A shuddering sense of loss. Sorrow being howled out. Yet every one of those emotions was pressed tightly beneath the surface, like the vastness beneath an iceberg hinted at by the tip visible above the water.
Now who am I supposed to walk that road with?
‘It feels more immersive than usual.’
Seyoon instinctively felt that way.
She had attended countless Juhyeon concerts, but never one that had seized and immersed the audience from the very beginning like this. It wasn’t simply because he had started with an emotional song; he had used similar arrangements many times before.
‘What could be the reason?’
For no good reason, Seyoon found herself wondering that. Then the answer came crashing down on her immediately.
“I’m looking for yoo-ou!”
In the original song, this was the climax that should have been belted out without end. But what she heard was a restrained high note.
And just before the heightened emotions in the audience could cool down,
——the guitar sound exploded. A slightly rough, weighty tone, with a note that soared to the edge of the sky.
At the same time, the screen showed the session band. A guitar solo that carried on the vocalist’s emotions, played with her gaze slightly lowered. The playing shot straight forward while also winding gracefully, all brought to life by a girl with slender hands.
“What?”
A murmur arose because someone no one had expected appeared on the screen.
But it lasted only an instant. The audience quickly became absorbed in the performance—or, more precisely, the guitar playing refused to let them escape their immersion.
“Did you enjoy that?”
A chorus of “Yes!” poured out from the audience. Seyoon shouted an answer too, then glanced sideways to see what Sehyeon was doing. Instead of answering, they repeatedly shook their head and clapped in admiration.
“I imagine you were surprised when a familiar song suddenly came out sounding completely different. This is a song specially prepared for this concert! But first, I’d like to introduce the session-band members. From the string section, Mr. Park Jihwan! Mr. Kim Hyeoksu! …”
Every time Juhyeon called someone’s name, that session musician appeared on the screen. Each of them waved in their own way.
“And! The main members of today’s session band! The main bassist of the band ‘Group Sound,’ who arranged this song, Ms. Choi Iseo! Keyboardist Jeong Hyeona! Drummer Yoo Seoha! And finally… bandmaster Ha Suyeon!”
Amid thunderous applause, the band members each reacted differently.
Choi Iseo smiled broadly and waved.
Jeong Hyeona hid behind the keyboard, perhaps out of embarrassment.
Yoo Seoha gave them a brief demonstration on the drums.
Ha Suyeon smiled faintly and dipped her head slightly.
“Our session-band members worked incredibly hard during rehearsals. …Ms. Ha Suyeon is nothing short of a genius. The song you just heard was rearranged entirely by Ha Suyeon, who finished it in just a few days.”
While explaining anecdotes from rehearsals, Juhyeon began praising Ha Suyeon’s genius. Apparently deeply impressed, his speech praising ‘Ha Suyeon’ continued until the staff signaled for the next song to begin.
* * *
After performing the drama OST [Before Our Meeting Ends], which had been the reason she started this whole thing,
Leaving behind applause and cheers even louder than those for the first song, Myeongjeon quickly waved to the staff and began setting up her equipment. She was preparing for the concert’s climax.
“We agreed to sing that blues song, right? I want to take this opportunity to change my image, which is all about being a ballad singer. Is there anything we could sing at a concert? Something related to rock that’s famous but not famous, you know?”
This was the question Juhyeon had thrown at Myeongjeon during rehearsal. Myeongjeon had wondered, ‘Why is he asking a session musician a question like this?’ But it was only natural for Juhyeon. After all, wasn’t she a child who looked like a genius at a glance?
Juhyeon considered himself a talented person too, but if there was a true genius, it was no shame to ask that person’s opinion, regardless of their age or experience.
“A song that’s famous but not famous?”
“Yes. Something that people who know a few songs have probably heard, but that’s a little different and fresh…”
It was a truly difficult question, but Myeongjeon thought for a few seconds before answering. Juhyeon asked, “Isn’t that a Nirvana song?” But when Suyeon said, “It’s a David Bowie song,” he was rendered speechless.
The session-band area under the spotlight had been decorated like a small live club. With the session musicians gathered closely together, Juhyeon sat on a small chair and began to speak.
“For this song, I’m going to cover one of my favorite songs. It’s been quite a while since I last did a cover, and this is my first time doing one at a solo concert. There are quite a few things I’m trying for the first time today…”
Juhyeon laughed, “Ahaha,” while the audience applauded and repeatedly called out that it was fine and that they liked it.
“We’ll get right into it. David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold the World!!”
Applause burst out reflexively, and the song began. It opened with a psychedelic yet uneasy riff that seemed to express David Bowie’s feelings exactly.
Juhyeon’s low, almost muttered voice that followed gave the audience a small shock. Juhyeon, who had always sung ballads, could try a song like this too. It really was time for a change.
And when Ha Suyeon, the guitarist, began doubling the part… the audience received a second shock. This one was pure shock.
Because it fit so perfectly.
Seyoon suddenly snapped back to reality. Following Juhyeon’s cue, thunderous applause resounded throughout the audience. She continued clapping along unconsciously and thought she might lose her mind.
‘This is insane. This is insane…!’
After being a Juhyeon fan for more than ten years, attending his solo concerts, never missing his music shows, and listening to his albums…
Seyoon had never once imagined that Juhyeon had this side to him. She had thought he would sing sweet or sad ballads forever, and that she too would remain satisfied listening to songs like that forever.
That wall of assumptions came crashing down today, because of the high school girl playing guitar at the center of the stage.
“What did you say!!”
“The Man Who Sold The World!!”
Apparently caught up in the excitement, Juhyeon kept repeating the second verse and encouraging the audience to sing along. The screen rapidly displayed the lyrics and showed them which part to sing, and the audience followed the rhythm as best they could, singing along to a song they were hearing for the first time.
And the whole process was being carried along smoothly by that high school girl.
Seyoon could see ‘Ha Suyeon’ directing the band with constant glances and gestures as she played guitar. With foot taps, nods, and nonverbal motions Seyoon couldn’t understand, ‘Ha Suyeon’ guided the band so they could naturally follow Juhyeon’s continuing ad-libs.
‘What did he say those kids’ names were? Juhyeon oppa introduced them earlier, but what did he call them?’
The thought came naturally to Seyoon. But unable to remember, she decided to post a question on the fan café after the concert, never dreaming that a great many people had made the same decision.
* * *
“Great work!!”
When the concert ended, the staff and session band gathered and exchanged loud greetings. Then applause poured out. Juhyeon came straight over to Myeongjeon while clapping and held out his hand.
“Ms. Suyeon, you worked incredibly hard.”
“Oh, it was nothing… I didn’t really do anything.”
‘If someone did this much work for this pay, everyone in the world would starve to death,’ Myeongjeon thought, but that wasn’t something she could say out loud. Newcomers were supposed to take jobs at a loss, after all.
“No, seriously, you worked incredibly hard. We couldn’t have had such a satisfying concert without you, Ms. Suyeon. Would you perhaps consider joining us for the regional concerts too, instead of just the Seoul concert…?”
“I have to go to school.”
“Oh, right! You’re a student!”
Juhyeon smiled awkwardly. As Myeongjeon lightly twirled a strand of hair, Juhyeon continued speaking.
“Anyway, you were an enormous help. I’d been thinking for a while that I wanted to try making different music… Thanks to you and everyone in our ‘Group Sound’ band, I feel like I’ve found some motivation.”
As he said that, Juhyeon pulled out two business cards. One had Juhyeon’s contact information and email address on it, while the other was for someone Myeongjeon didn’t recognize.
“If you’re thinking about releasing an album or some music, and if you ever need a male vocalist… please contact me. I’ll definitely do the featuring for you.”
“And this one is for some people I know well in the music business. When it comes to mixing and mastering, they’re among the top five in Korea, even counting the Big Three agencies. Their schedules are packed, but they’re close friends of mine, so if you tell them I introduced you, they’ll do the work for you.”
Myeongjeon accepted the two business cards and bowed to Juhyeon. As she watched Juhyeon walk away, Iseo and the girls approached her.
“What are they?”
“A mixing-studio business card. And he says he’ll do a feature if we contact him…”
“Wow! Amazing.”
As the children cheered, Myeongjeon thought.
With this too having come up, it was definitely the right time to start making an EP.