＊. EVENT COLLAB / THIS. POINTS +3 SINGING +2 CHARISMA. 1264 WORDS.
he’s not exactly the type to get inspired from songs in the form of singing, but some can be certain exceptions that make him feel like reigniting the love he has for singing. it’s once in a blue moon kind of occasion, dribbling within the mind in a classic ricochet. this one song has been tickling his fancy constantly, swirling inside the thoughts. a cover is due to be made, and he’s seeking someone who can cover the rapping parts than he could ever do, which isn’t a feat, really. even the most novice rappers can beat him in a rap battle effortlessly, so he’s not a contender in this forte. definitely not up his alley, but he knows someone who might have the musical and rhythmical inclination for it. the song that he wishes to cover since the beginning of listening to it is rather simple, the beat slow, soothing. the sad meanings are almost overlooked upon listening merely for the melody, but that’s how he likes his songs, fitting for his somber voice.
his invitation for jaebum is not ignored, thank goodness. it seems that nowadays people are getting busier and busier, with their lives occupied with school and work. it’s not uncommon for him to get turned down for a recording due to their being shy, too, so jongin doesn’t blame anyone. his subscribers are also there mostly for his dance covers and routines, as far as he’s aware, so he’s not really sure when he wants to upload song covers, but does it anyway. it’s his channel, after all, and knowing that he’s not at all shabby in singing might also attract more traffic into his channel. the influx of anything is acceptable, he’s not picky. so, when jaebum agreed to cover the song with him, he’s halfway elated. well, he hasn’t heard the man rap per se, just his singing, but as a former band vocalist, jongin is almost sure that jaebum would know not to embarrass himself in front of an audience when he’s not too well-versed in this, for example.
the arrival of the day, after he finishes with today’s practice at the studio, leaves jongin excited since he has prepared all the materials needed for the recording. he’s memorised the song, training for his parts. he is pretty much ready, and he hopes that jaebum is, too, especially since jaebum will be the one rapping and plucking. multitasking is one hell of a task, and jongin himself knows how much of a pain it can be, even when so far he’s managed to do so, especially with dancing and singing. tonight, however, he simply has to sing, so that’s even easier for him. the arrival at home leaves forty minutes for him before jaebum’s arrival, so he jumps into the cold shower real quickly, washing his hair too, which color has almost faded from silver back to the light blonde, bleached. needs a touch-up, for sure. he makes a mental note to do so as he dries his hair, gelling it up. it’s still presentable for the recording even when the root is peeking already. after all, isn’t the music the only thing that matters?
his thoughts come to an abrupt end when the doorbell of his apartment rings. he half-sprints towards the door, opening it for jaebum. grinning, he steps aside to let jaebum in. ❛ ready for it, hyung? ❜ he asks as he heads towards the rather spacious second bedroom, transformed into the dance studio. not the best chamber to reverberate the acoustic, enhancing the quality, but it’s the only room with the soundproof walls. they need to be seated on the wooden floor, but that should suffice. ❛ feel free to put your bag anywhere, ❜ he says, gesturing towards the room. in a corner, the camera is propped, sitting on the side sitting space covered with cushion. ❛ we’ll be sitting on the floor for the recording—hope that’s okay with you. ❜ his eyes follow jaebum as jaebum prepares himself, sitting on his usual corner before doing the smurf-ing to warm his vocal up. ❛ anything you want to eat after we finish, by the way? my treat. thanks for agreeing to do this with me, you’re saving the career that i don’t have. ❜ he chuckles. ❛ i really love the song, too. i suck too badly at rapping, though. ❜
he stands up temporarily to check the camera, then, ensuring that the aperture covers enough of them, the sign where they will be sitting marked with crisscrossed tapes. he hums when the camera is ready, looking at jaebum, wondering, ❛ ready for the recording, hyung? shall we practice first or record immediately? ❜ quirking his eyebrows, he agrees when jaebum asks for them to try seeing their dynamics without any practice. that’s just how jongin likes it, anyway, for everything can be edited later. ❛ alright, let’s go with the intro then, ❜ he decides, moving to the camera to start recording. after clicking the button, he moves backward to sit cross-legged next to jaebum. ❛ so yes, hello again, people! this is your resident kai, with im jaebum. today we’re going to sing a cover for you, called home is far away by epik high and oh hyuk. ❜ he looks at jaebum to start with the instrument, then.
the soft plucking of the guitar fills the room with the echo, the harmony delivered by the strings in absence of the piano. he counts the starting point with a relative ease after listening to the song so often, and jaebum’s idyllic play also helps him slow into the right entrance: got a long way to go / but there are no vacant taxis / seems like it’s gonna rain / my drooping shoulders bear the burdens of today / i want to take a bit of a rest / home is far away. the chorus slides the atmosphere into the right chill ambience, and jongin watches closely as jaebum falls into the rhythm of the rap as the melodic guitar keeps playing, followed by another chorus that jongin sings. the next part with the rap is another tempo that jongin nods along with slightly, not as fervently as he would with upbeat songs that he often dances to. jaebum’s voice is heavier than the singing voice, or perhaps that’s just jongin, but either way it fits seamlessly into the song even sans the beats.
the song mellows in, carrying jongin as he stays in the mood still. wearing the ache as he sings the chorus, he has always been expressive when it comes to singing, dancing. he sways along the melodies, too, as the rap part pours in, until the bridge comes: could you please stop for a moment for me? / it’s hard to keep walking along / the wind is blowing, and still… closing his eyes as he sings the part, he doesn’t open his eyes as he sings the chorus again, followed by jaebum’s part. the outro eventually comes, and he picks up on where jaebum partakes, complementing the part until the diminuendo is replaced by the fading plucked strings. he grins at it, then, before fixing his gaze on the camera again to close the video. ❛ so, that was it, thanks for tuning in! if you liked it, don’t forget to subscribe to my channel and jaebum hyung’s, as i will link his on the description below. see you next time, please let us know in the comments if you’d like to see another collaboration, thanks! farewell for now. ❜
› › › ft. im jaebum ( @rkjaebeom ).
