A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 503

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Regression Guide for Idols Who Lost Their Original Intent Episode 503

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After rushing breathlessly through the final year-end award ceremonies, we were given a brief respite to catch our breath.

But while it was called a break, I had important work to do. Specifically, arranging the debut song for LnL’s direct junior group.

How could we let LnL collapse right after we built it up this far? If the very next generation failed, that wouldn’t do. Before my regression, the juniors avoided becoming flop idols, but they didn’t exactly blow up either.

This time the member composition changed completely, so I’m not sure how it’ll turn out. Oh, but at least the group name is exactly the same as before my regression.

The junior girl group’s debut preparations were in full swing, so why was I suddenly asked to arrange their debut song out of nowhere?

The reason was simple. The tragedy of a B-side track being better than the title track had repeated itself once again.

Is this what they call parallel theory?

If the junior boy group goes through the same experience next, this will solidify into a curse that’s been passed down through LnL for generations.

I can’t really blame the CEO’s instincts for this one, since they first received the debut song, continued practicing, confirmed the debut date, and then filled in the album tracks during preparation and rediscovered it while recording, so there were some extenuating circumstances.

But unlike us, while we compromised by doing title track activities with 【Come to My Universe】 and follow-up activities with 【One chance】, the junior group strongly pushed to change the title track before debut.

Even though the junior group’s original title track was incomparably better quality than 【Come to My Universe】.

Is this the generation gap? I guess it’s true that kids these days don’t hold back.

It sounds a bit like an excuse, but honestly, we couldn’t bring ourselves to suggest changing it because we were afraid the agency would go bankrupt and we wouldn’t even be able to debut.

No, even before consulting with us, with that limited staff they had already quickly arranged the concept, outfits, music video studio, choreography, and everything else – how could we tell them to scrap all that with their finances? We had to debut first, right?

Anyway, this time the agency’s financial state and scale were different from back then, and since the concept photos and music video shoots hadn’t happened yet, it was relatively easier to overhaul everything before debut.

But I ended up being asked to arrange it because the newly chosen title track’s dynamics were considered weak.

Actually, I tried to pass it off to Jiwon hyung and enjoy my vacation, but Jiwon hyung left for Hawaii one step ahead of me, so I had no choice but to take it on myself.

[NITENS_(Changed)Debut_Song_Demo.mp3]

[NITENS_(Changed)Debut_Song_Inst.mp3]

I opened the changed title track files on the USB I received and had a listening session first. The melody was good, but the song was definitely monotonous without a climax, leaving no memorable parts.

“Do you have any preferred direction for the arrangement?”

When I looked around at the five members and asked, the junior group’s leader immediately answered on behalf of everyone.

“We were worried our words alone wouldn’t convey it properly, so we put together a PPT in the USB with our debut concept, the parts we want to change in this song, the direction, etc., all organized.”

The fact that they didn’t leave everything entirely to me and wanted to incorporate their own opinions into the song was already commendable.

The PPT’s composition was as impressive as their smart answer – so clean it was incomparable to the Bonobono PPT we (specifically Kim Dobin) made to convince the CEO early in our debut. The readability was insane.

The arrangement direction explanation was also easy to understand because they pinpointed the direction precisely without being vague, even though they didn’t use professional music terminology.

“If you want to go more dynamic than easy listening as you want, it’d be better to keep the break starting from the 43-second mark. If you remove the break, the song becomes boring, so building up and making the latter half more rhythmical would get closer to what you juniors want. Or we could change the break section to a rhythm section.”

“If it’s not rude, could we listen to each of the arrangement versions you mentioned, Senior?”

“Listening to a song once is better than hearing ten explanations. I’ll play all three cases – break removed, break maintained with latter half modified, and changed to rhythm section – so pick whichever you like.”

Watching the heartwarming sight of the juniors actively giving opinions, asking me questions, discussing among themselves, and participating in the arrangement process reminded me of Rev from the past and made me randomly angry.

Damn, it was so hard for me to even push one follow-up song. Even having one meeting required going through countless opposition.

I did all the lyric writing, composing, and producing alone, sacrificing sleep time and even shortening my lifespan!

I didn’t even have a capable senior who could arrange songs for me like this! The G1 connection was of course thanks to Junbeom hyung’s help, but I opened that path by showcasing my own abilities!

No matter how I think about it, our members should be grateful to me. It’ll probably never happen, but if I regress to early debut again, I’ll definitely get their thanks first.

That way, all that suffering I’d have to do again would feel a little less unfair. Especially seeing the juniors’ harmonious scene with such good division of labor in front of me.

By pointing out each part they wanted modified and skillfully balancing ideals with reality during arrangement, the new debut song transformed into quite a satisfying result.

“Wow, is that the same song? The melody’s there but it sounds like a completely different song. Amazing.”

“Thank goodness Yuwol suggested we actively give our opinions… How many levels did this upgrade from the original debut song?”

I looked proudly at the juniors who were excitedly pouring out their impressions after listening to the intermediate version.

It’s better to debut with a cool song they like that’ll perform well. The experience of having your debut song become a dark history is enough with just what we went through.

Follow-up songs for debut activities are inevitably less impactful than debut songs anyway.

“Thank you so much for making time despite being busy!”

I threw a few words of encouragement toward the juniors who bowed 90 degrees, telling them to do well.

If this song does well, money will come to me too for the arrangement credit, so it better succeed, yeah yeah.

Ryu Jaehee, who had been watching this entire work process from one corner of the studio, sent applause – clap clap clap.

“You were cool for the first time in a while, hyung.”

“For the first time in a while? So you’re saying I’m usually not cool?”

I grumbled while giving Ryu Jaehee a light headlock. Now my original intent points didn’t decrease even without using neck massage as an excuse. It was truly remarkable progress.

“Still, our juniors are debuting in a better environment than us. I listened to their originally planned debut song and it wasn’t bad. The shock of first hearing 【Come to My Universe】 is still unforgettable.”

“This kid, look at him subtly changing the subject?”

But even as I said that, seeing how that memory remained vivid despite time rewinding, it must have been quite a shock indeed.

“Since we’re resting anyway, give me some solo album concept ideas. I’ll compose songs to match as much as possible.”

At my words, Ryu Jaehee immediately poured out keywords as if he’d been waiting.

“Ballad! Mature! Fresh! Spring or summer vibes! Match the seasonal vibes to the release date!”

Whether he still hadn’t realized how he’d changed or couldn’t let go of his attachment, seeing how he still consistently referred to himself as a hamster, I naturally thought he’d want a cutie concept, so this was quite unexpected.

I was worried that writing a cutie concept song while looking at that guy’s face would cause cognitive dissonance and bring on a third slump, so I was relieved it wasn’t that.

Spring and summer vibes have quite a big difference by my standards, so I’d need to confirm the release date first before thinking about the song concept.

“But didn’t you say you’re also preparing a full solo album, hyung?”

“Since they’re solos, we can go relay-style. You come out first then go back in, then I immediately get the baton and go in. Then Rev comeback in the second half. The schedule’s perfect.”

A world tour was also scheduled for the second half, but for now two solo activities and one group activity were confirmed. We have to grind to reach 20 million before entering the senior center, what else can we do?

“No, what I mean isn’t worrying about simultaneous releases or overlapping, but whether it’ll be hard to prepare mine while also preparing your solo album and Rev’s group album.”

“If it gets too hard, I’ll just do the title track for your solo album. Anyway, I’ve been working on my solo album bit by bit and already filled nine tracks.”

I shrugged as I replied.

“Whoa, so you just need to fill one more song?”

“No, four more. It’s 13 tracks total.”

Since it was my first solo album, I wanted to fill all tracks entirely with my own power if possible. I didn’t even include featuring. I’m planning to put all the featuring in the second album.

This was a project continuing to the second full album. Something I had only imagined before regression but couldn’t actually execute due to reality’s walls.

Following the grand prize, it was time to achieve another dream I couldn’t fulfill before regression.

Separate from Rev’s songs, how long had I kept my music buried in my heart? My chest fluttered pleasantly at the thought of finally being able to present it to the world.

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“Do we have any overseas schedules on the 26th of next month?”

At Cha Yeonho’s question, the manager who checked the schedule nodded and gave a brief briefing.

‘…I wonder if it’ll happen exactly the same as back then this time too.’

Same conditions and same schedule as the past, but there was no guarantee the accident he experienced would happen identically. And it was uncertain whether he would get injured to the same extent Won Taehyeok had.

Hoping member Won Taehyeok wouldn’t get hurt, he had unconditionally postponed schedules, changed time slots, and avoided them, but if he’d known this would happen, he should have at least experimented during those discarded time slots.

Whether the same accident would occur. Whether the degree of injury would change if the member who got in the accident changed.

Cha Yeonho, who had been casually continuing his thoughts while looking at Won Taehyeok, flinched.

‘Now I can’t even resent them since the members are keeping their distance…’

A bitter smile briefly crossed Cha Yeonho’s lips before disappearing.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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