❝ joy to the world
everyone has the same heart and rhythm
same body and water yah
let men their songs employ
@fmdduri, sometime beginning of november
“i can’t believe i am going to be singing this song. we used to sign it in choir and when i was still back in the uk.“ he mutters, loud enough for duri to hear him. he isn’t complaining per say, he is just impressed at how many memories this whole event had brought for him. as much as jihoon was a fan when it came to the winter weather, the uk had left him permanetly hating christmas as a holiday. having to listen to mariah carrey everywhere he went, multiple times in the grocery shop from the start of november until february wasn’t something many were able to endure. if you did, jihoon is eternally jealous.
he looks at the sheet the vocalist is holding, eyes trying to find what lines he was going to sing. “did they already tell you what you’re singing?” he asks, leans a bit closer to duri and squints. maybe he really should had brought his contact lenses today “the rap is a bit obvious, but i don’t mind it.” jihoon adds, smile pulling on his lips. it wasn't often he took part in such events, but his manager said to give it a go. do something different than hit the gym and wait for schedules to roll by or the next variety opportunity. so he took it, with a little bit of encouragement. getting to meet new people and do new things, never really hurt anybody, it was experience afterall.
perhaps it was because of the way the song was written with all its vocal runs and little adlibs right in the beginning, suji was called back in even after her own recording for dear santa has ended. it wasn’t a huge inconvenience seeing that she wasn’t super busy with anything at the moment. however, she was a little confused because she felt that the whole recording session had gone smoothly. either the producer was so tired during dear santa’s recording session that they okay-ed anything or they listened to her vocals once more and decided it wasn’t a fit. either way, she was back in the recording studio.
what that also meant was bumping into her groupmate who seemed to be in there for her own recording time. she doesn’t think it’s a secret anymore, but she doesn’t really hang out with minjung outside of equinox activities so this was her first time seeing her own member since their last schedule together. “hey,” she says as she makes her way towards the couch she’s waiting on. not close enough to be much of a bother but still near enough so that her existence is still evident. “are you waiting or have you finished already?”
christmas paints itself in vibrant reds and frosty greens — dark forest greens lined in front of her as she separates each branch from the trunk, paying no mind to the cameras that catch each furrow of her brow and her tongue pressed firmly against her cheek.
she takes two steps back, recollections of the image in her head versus the reality lined in front of her. dissatisfaction in the disparities of her height and tree that towers over her frame — but the solution is simple. her solution stands a few feet away, and minjung turns her gaze towards the younger idol, smile stretched across her face. “haneul, what are you doing sitting around? we’ve got a tree to decorate and unless you plan on being the grinch, i think you have to stand tall and make yourself useful like this tree over here.”
christmas is holiday cheer. yet, somehow she’s managed to find herself wedged between a work schedule, and the lighthearted nostalgia that taints her heart when her hands fish through the box of decorations, plucking out a set of lights only to hand it right over.
“can you weave this around the top part of the tree? i can only reach so high.”
points available: up to 11 for muses on the album / 3 for muses not on the album
deadline: november 21, 2021, at 11:59pm est / november 22, 2021, at 1:59pm kst
now that base has contacted and gotten confirmation and from the idols who will be involved in base christmas: the magic of the season, the idols will begin to prepare the album this month.
idols not involved in the album will also have the opportunity to film a short video talking about the season or the end of the year to participate in a teaser for the album release during this period.
all prompt completions for this period should be tagged #famedbasemagic1.
in-’verse info
during this three week period, all songs on the album will be recorded. songs 1 through 5 on the track list will be recorded some time between november 1 and november 14 with dates depending on when the artists of the song are available. “all i want” will be recorded throughout the week of november 15 to november 21. all recording will take place in a large studio space rented out by the team in charge of the album instead of at any of the companies.
everyone recording on the same song will generally be asked to be present all at the same time for at least one recording session day so that the production team can get behind the scenes footage for everyone on that day. some idols may be called back in on additional days to put down more vocals for songs. at this time, idols may briefly cross paths with other idols as their scheduled recording times run into one another.
all of the idols on the album will also participate in a reality show that will be uploaded to the base youtube channel in ten minute clips to give a more personal look at the “magic team”. this show will involve all of the idols coming together to learn and do various activities related to the holiday season. on november 15, all idols on the album will be scheduled to show up at a large kitchen around 8am, where they’ll all learn from one of seoul’s top pastry chefs and make christmas-themed treats such as designed cut out cookies, gourmet chocolates, bûche de noël, and homemade candy canes. that night around 6pm, the idols will meet back together at a warehouse, where they’ll talk to a man who helps design large christmas tree displays throughout the city (example). they’ll then be sorted in small groups of three or four and be instructed to come up with a christmas tree decoration design of their own. as this is all being filmed, this will be made into a competition with the promise that the best design will be used on a real public christmas tree display.
base is also seeking idols, whether they are involved in the album or not, to film a personal video on thoughts and feelings related to either winter or the end of the year to include in a teaser video for the project. idols participating in the video who are not otherwise involved in the album will be encouraged to do so by management who will have the request passed along to them.
these short clips will be included in the magic of the season video base will be uploaded to their youtube channel to tease the release of the album. in order to be included, the idol must submit a video discussing one (or multiple) of the following topics:
what is your favorite winter or winter holiday (christmas, new year’s, seollal, etc.) memory?
what is your favorite winter activity?
what is your favorite part of winter / christmas / new year’s?
what are your wishes for your fans, friends, and family as 2021 comes to an end and 2022 begins?
what moment from 2021 are you most grateful for?
idols will be filmed against a blank wall like in these video examples.
mun info
though it is now past the deadline listed on the original post, muses may still be submitted to participate in the project, but you may not join in on writing for the schedules until your muse has been added to the original post.
the “album teaser clip self-para” listed down below in the points roundup refers to the prompt at the end of the in-’verse info section with the questions the muse must discuss at least one of. this should not be written in interview format since it will not be conducted like an interview. the muse will be provided a number of ideas for what they can discuss (the questions listed) and then are asked to briefly talk on camera about it/them without being directly asked any questions.
any further questions should be directed to the main’s ask box!
points roundup
total available points for muses involved in the album: 11 points (none of the prompts count toward monthly limits.)
+2 points each: up to two album recording threads of at least six posts by the deadline (for up to four points total)
+2 points each: up to two baking or christmas tree threads of at least six posts by the deadline (for up to four points total)
+3 points: album teaser clip self-para of at least 400 words
total available points for muses not involved in the album: 3 points (does not count toward monthly limits.)
+3 points: album teaser clip self-para of at least 400 words
duri had been very excited about the fact that base had presented him with a contract for a christmas album. he was someone who really enjoys the season, enjoys the decorations, and the music that comes with it - especially that of the older christmas music that comes from the states. so, to get the chance to do a christmas song, he had jumped on it. plus, it had seemed that bc entertainment really pushed for him to sign the contract as well. but, duri wasn’t someone that needed much convincing for it, that was for sure. so, of course, when he would be arriving, a smile would beam upon his face.
duri was someone that was sure to arrive early, going to the meeting point. he had brought coffee and water for everyone that was involved in joy, just because that’s something that’s very much in his nature. plus, he thought it would be needed for the day. you could also always use water when recording. he’s sat there, awaiting for others to arrive. as he hears footsteps, he looks up from the dog videos on his phone, before his smile is beaming. “haru!” he calls out with greeting. “are you apart of joy too?” he asked.
summary: teaser video
date: sometime in november
location: gold star media building
word count: 417 words
ooc note: n/a
suji thinks that her fans have probably heard enough about her love for winter.
however, she realizes that not everybody who will watch this short video would be classified as an equinox fan, and she knows that it’s practically implied that she needs to film one as she’s a participant of the actual project. while she would assume that having her voice on one of the tracks should be enough, her manager thinks otherwise.
it’s why she’s called into the gold star media building on a day that should have been a day off. a visit to the shop seems extra so instead, there’s a few staff members in the empty practice room already. there’s also been a white sheet attached to what would have been a wall of mirrors. probably a set rule or something.
not a lot of time is spent on her hair and makeup because everybody knows the occasion isn’t worth all the effort so it’s not long before she’s standing in front of the makeshift white wall with a camera pointed to her face. her manager quickly gives her a cue to indicate that he’s begun filming.
“my favorite part about winter is probably the fact that my birthday falls within it!” she claps her hands a few times with forced enthusiasm before moving onto her next statement. “ever since i debuted with equinox, most of my winter memories have been filled with end of the year programs and award shows, but it’s always a blast to be able to meet with our fans as well. our solstice never fail to plan a mini event for me even in the midst of our busy schedule.”
the poor timing means that she’s never gotten to really celebrate her birthday, but fans have not failed to bring mini banners or simply scream a quick happy birthday before an equinox stage. that’s all she needs from them anyway. “i can’t ever describe in words how appreciated and loved those little gestures make me feel.”
while her judgement says that what she’s said is probably more than enough, another manager in the back of the room makes a gesture for her to continue for a little longer. “another year is already coming to an end. even if you didn’t achieve everything you wanted this year, i hope you remind yourself of everything that you have been able to achieve because that’s all that matters. stay warm and safe, everybody! here’s to a brighter 2022!”
date: november 2021.
word count: 422 words.
summary: -.
notes: -.
the make-up artist finishes dusting light powder over her cheeks and mirae gives her a polite ‘thank you’ in exchange before she goes scurrying off back behind the camera that’s set up. her days lately are back and forth from the salon to music shows to radio stations to fan signs, and her skin barely has time to breathe. she makes a mental note to stop by the spa soon to give her skin some peace of mind.
“ready to go?” she hears her manager ask from where he stands behind the camera on its tri-pod. she shoots him a thumbs up and moments later, after pressing a button on the camera, he shoots her one back.
the topic she’s been tasked to discuss is one that’s come up on camera before, sometimes on less contrived terms and sometimes as an even more obvious ploy. fans want to feel close to their idols about knowing everything about them, from their likes to their dislikes to their childhoods. the only problem is that the holidays had never been something big in the hwang household growing up. colder temperatures meant more layering of clothes and more finding excuses to get out of the house and into a warm convenience store to momentarily forget their heat wasn’t working. parents hadn’t been exchanged as a show of love between her parents, much less as some shoehorned fake tradition between the family as a whole.
no one wants to hear about that, though. no matter how ‘real’ she was, she knew how this whole thing worked, and being drably and deflatingly honest wasn’t going to make anyone happy, be that the viewers of the producers of the video. she’d done some searching to think of what she could talk about, and it’d repeatedly come back to focusing outward instead.
“this year, i was so happy to be able to meet with eos during “kill bill” and “decalcomanie” promotions, but i was most excited about being able to hold a concert in korea for the first time in four years. the cheers of eos are the best on earth, and they made my whole year. i hope we were able to make yours as well.”
the video is meant for a broader audience than selene’s fans, though, so she doesn’t go on a fan-gushing tangent for too long. “i hope everyone can stay warm this winter season and enter 2022 refreshed and bright. keep an eye on your dreams, and let’s work hard to achieve them in 2022.”
summary / gyujeong comes through for an interview forced on him with gold star where he’s forced to give bullshit answers about the holidays
warnings / none
wc / 416
holidays are shit inside his memories.
young boy leaves house, never looks back. spends time inside a family he makes in the underground scene, only to be swooped up by the desperation to survive — lands himself in a top three company. in the end, all it resorts into is the years of last resorts, lonely holidays and the toss back of reminders that tell him holidays are nothing more than couples shoved in your face, and the fake glamour of family time preached inside the nightly news.
but he can’t explain that to the cameras when hair and makeup’s beaten his stylings into a red sweater and reindeer ears, held against his will yanking out each response they’ve already pre-written for him.
so, his only resort is to stay sitting in front of the cameras with a lackluster sheen. his manager’s words are already setting the guidelines for what to say, what to avoid — aka, it’s a scapegoat for: what the fans want to hear.
by the time the camera rolls and he heaves in one deep inhale before exhaling out (his throat already scratches for another taste of nicotine, but he swallows it down, swallows his pride while he’s at it too).
“hi, i’m haon of platinum — and you’re watching this teaser.”
voice too monotonous, and he’s ascertained that only the first five seconds will make the cut. who cares, he doesn’t.
the voice of the director calls out: what are your wishes for your fans, friends and family as 2021 comes to an end and 2022 begins?
easy question when the answer’s already lined out. “what i want to say is a message for my fans — i want to thank all my fans for their loving support not only on my solo projects this year, but also platinum as a whole. we wouldn’t be here for ten years and counting had it not been for your love and support.”
the cough from the outside leaves him with the indirect criticism: he sounds too monotone, needs to amp up the sincerity in each word spoken.
“and what i want to emphasize is that i hope everyone stays healthy throughout the end of the year and into the next. even if this year was hard, know that this year is coming to a close and the next year brings new opportunities and new beginnings. i hope you all achieve everything you wanted in the next year, and let’s grow stronger together.” bullshit.
