…. UH
…. my beautiful face ? and stunning voice ? obviously
…. no spoilers but uh, i learned how to dance
…. ariel-ssi and haseul-ssi were so nice !! we didn’t get to see them much bc of their schedules, but they helped us out a bunch ~ they’re real sweethearts
…. i feel bad i didn’t know them before all of this ㅎ
…. idk … there’s not much to say … i guess you’ll just have to see, like everyone else 👀
…. no perks to being besties with the contestants, sorry
✉ ⇢ JACOOOB
[ ✉ ] well those anyway ; D
[ ✉ ] man I would’ve loved to chill with em too :’<
[ ✉ ] oi oi! yer went from wantin’ to gimme yer spot to “nO SpoIL erS”
[ ✉ ] the betrayal I see how it is ㅋ ㅋ ㅋ ㅋ ㅋ ㅋ
❤ 💬 ➤
have you been watching the mgas this season? our team kt did so amazingly last night! i’m very proud and i hope you are too! team foh!cus has lion hearts instead of a boy other than xuxi ㅋㅋㅋ to all the contestants who continue and those who sadly do not, please hold onto that hope and the fight that got you to whatever point of the mgas you’ve made it to! no matter how many auditions, how many rejections until you make it to where you want to be, this is not the end for you but another beginning! i have as many friends who have debuted who came from the mgas that didn’t. i myself was street-casted ㅋㅋ is that believable when i wear these glasses and become ahreum? ( cough cough please watch game development girls too after you catch up on the mgas ㅋ ) to team kt too, i hope you’re proud of making it this far no matter what too because being a semi-finalist and a finalist is not an easy feat. could i even keep up these days? ㅋ to our lovely dancing kyul, i hope you continue to shine as bright as you have been and come back to me at kt ㅠ ㅠ please follow our lovely kt babies and support them no matter what the results in the finale! i know you’ll be amazed either way and you’ll see why i’m so proud! 💖💖💖💖💖
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2 weeks ago ✧ august 2019
190801 MGA SEASON 5 + EPISODE FIVE + #5050 FEATURING : TEAM KT
⟨ ━━ ❀ ° PART ONE: PERFORMANCE, LION HEART + I GOT A BOY ( LINES / SONG ) ⟩
it hits her all at once, the overwhelming emotions trapping her before swallowing her whole. she’s going through the motions - watching heejin and minho rise from their seat beside her as their names are called, numbly following them up onstage. kyulkyung isn’t sure she’s breathing air, mouth opening in surprise and eyes widening as her teammates lead the way. perhaps her reaction is a bit dramatic, but oh is it genuine.
the whole experience was so surreal - to even be considered for the top performance of the week when she had failed to do so the entire show. kyulkyung was tired of being average, of resting on that safe middle ground between being the best and the worst. average. want an ugly word. their names weren’t called when the top performance was announced, but she was too high in the clouds to notice - hand clasped tightly around heejin’s as they awaited the announcement. was it disappointing? maybe a little, but to finally be at the point was certainly an ego boost.
semi finalist.
the words were strange to her. the woman who had allowed herself to persuaded into something she once found silly was now officially a semi finalist for the mga’s fifth season. oh, she couldn’t wait to tell her mom.
her heart was still racing when the trio once again returned to their seats, following throughout the hug minho gave them - adrenaline coursing through every part of her being as the show went on without her. kyulkyung listened, watched more talented performers leave them and she wondered how she had even managed to make it this far. she didn’t doubt her worth or talent, just wondered what happened to suddenly have luck on her side.
after the disaster that was 2018, the woman entertained the idea of this just being some cruel joke. zhou jieqiong? making it this far on her own? joonho would’ve laughed in her face. but she tried to not think about that.
she’s slapped back into reality when the contestants suddenly awake with life, their bodies moving in shock and excitement rising in hushed tones. moving her eyes from where they stayed fixated on her shoes, they follow the movements of the new appearances on stage
from sphere entertainment, please welcome CONVEX’s very own JINKI and JINWOOK, as well as our star trainee and winner of the last season of the MGAs, GO HOJUNG!
her ears hang tightly onto the world CONVEX, hoping a familiar someone’s name will follow but much to her disappointment, she’s left with unfamiliar faces and dismay. but she perks up, attentive in her seat as she patiently awaits the coaches from TRC to be announced. JINSOUL - kyulkyung can’t help the tiny noise that passes her lips, excitement enveloping her entire form when she lays eyes on her best friend. “hey, that’s my best friend!” she attempts to whisper to minho and heejin - practically shaking in her seat and definitely way too excited.
i can’t believe she didn’t tell me, despite her thoughts, kyulkyung grins anyway. her anticipation only grows as time passes. please let me get onto trc’s team. please. please. please.
and no, not just because that would mean jinsoul gets to coach her.
she’s just a tiny bit disappointment when the TRC group announcement rolls around and her name is passed up. just the tiniest bit. however, this is short lived when her name is revealed under KT. the company is a bit surprising, solely for the fact that she wouldn’t have chosen it for herself. out of everything, she was expecting nova the most. but getting picked to perform in a group for a company run by katie lee, that’s pretty amazing.
❀
"semi finalist? oh, god i can’t believe.” yea, she can’t either.
kyulkyung laughs at her mother’s enthusiasm over the phone - feeling her cheeks grow hot at the woman’s constant, unrelenting praises. it’s nice to hear the complements and she allows her ego to inflate with each syllable. her mother always complemented her, but it was nice to hear something the woman herself could also feel proud of.
the mgas were different than anything else she had done in life. there was no reliance on anything other than what her talent alone had to offer. there was no behind-the-scenes magic that needed to worked, no amount of bills slipped under the table and secrets to be kept. the fact made her prideful if anything.
after last year, it seemed as if everything wrong she had done had constantly stayed on her back - a quiet monster, the chill that ran down her spine and kept her awake at night. it was hard to put it past her, but somehow she had managed to tuck it away far enough, bury it so deep within that it never even became an afterthought. the process took time and trust, especially with her mother who felt almost as guilty as her.
“you know after last year, i worried about you. i felt like i set a back example.” kyulkyung clenched the phone pressed against her ear tightly in her grasp, fighting back whatever emotions spewed up. biting down on her lip, the woman pushed through whatever words left her mother’s mouth through the phone. perhaps the worst part about the whole situation was that her mother felt responsible, took on her daughter’s worries and that was not okay.
the woman’s voice is strained through the phone and she fears she’s holding back tears. “but i’m proud of you, for doing something and making it this far. i really hope you make it this week, jie.” me too, mom. she answers, burring herself further beneath the sheets - feeling the dull ache of attachment to the woman who can only speak to her through a phone or stupid screen.
“i wasn’t going to tell you this in case it jinxed you this thursday but chun and i are coming in next week - just in time for the finals. he has a business down there, but i figured i’d tag along just to see my girl.” and lying in her bed that night, phone tucked between her ear and pillow, making it to the finals next week meant so much more to her.
❀
once again,the week goes by rather smoothly with her teammates. except for the fact that they are busy, busy, busy.
the coaches and teammates are alike in the ways that they are helpful to a girl with minimal singing experience. and lucky for kyulkyung, this week she’s in a room full of incredible talents. of course yukhei and her scream over each other their first meeting, having only spoke to the boy over suwoong’s phone a few episodes ago and having got along pretty well. he’s just as fun as the woman expected and paired with talent to combat his upbeat nature.
the girl known for her singing and musical talents, yuri is just as amazing to work with as she expected. their team is full of power vocals, yuri and sia bringing enough to the table and offering whatever tips they had to ever so curious kyulkyung. “c’mon please... think of me please?” she begs yuri to sing such an iconic song - phantom of the opera being a personal favorite of the woman. she could never get enough of the tragic story that was erik and christine. ugh, it made her cry every time.
“i’d say i’d help sing it, but that’s a disgrace to phantom of the opera. it’s a sin.” kyulkyung pulls a hand to her chest, bowing her head in sadness before shaking her head at the thought. yuri is the only one who could do it justice while she couldn’t bare the embarrassment for herself.
kyulkyung’s delighted witrh yuri’s compliance, elated to hear one of the songs from her favorite musical from personally one of her favorites on the show. before being teamed up together, the woman had always admired her from afar - completely losing herself in her voice and loving every moment of it. just as expected, yuri’s voice complements the song nicely and she can’t help the long drawl she lets out, pressing a hand against her heart and swaying ever so dramatically to the tone of the other’s voice.
all shenanigans aside, the woman found herself in a situation that left her bewildered. she didn’t mind to help usually, but sia’s call for help left her a bit nervous. kyulkyung didn’t have experience with cutting or mixing music, but the other girl needed help and who was she to refuse? “i don’t care to, but you’ll have to lead the way some.” the woman admitted with a tiny smile, eager to help out in any way that she can.
the process wasn’t too difficult, but it was a process. creating the choreography with nakyung for the dance break wasn’t nearly as hard as creating the mix, but eventually they got it done ( and kyulkyung was there to offer any extra help whenever someone needed it ). the fact that they had managed to pull it off was extremely exciting for the woman, even going as far as to do a mini celebration dance whenever they finished it. yes, she was embarrassed with herself afterwards but damn was she proud.
turns out she’ll be heading back to hook & crook after the show with a little bit more than dance and performance tips.
❀
thursday approaches quickly and this time, kyulkyung’s a bit nervous when she climbs onstage. the semi finals held a lot of more meaning than the other performances and after being in the top 3 last week, she’s sure there’s an expectancy for both her and her team. in fact, the entirety of team kt had at least one episode’s worth of top 3 experience under their belt and it makes her wonder if they’ll be watched that much closer.
her hair, now faded a bit after a few washes, hangs loosely atop her head - the white nature of her top and shorts a contrast to the red bandanna that’s tied around her thigh. she’s standing on stage with her team, head held high and signature smile wide despite the nerves that light up when the judges and eyes of their first live audience lays upon them. “hello! we are FOH!CUS.” the team greets before being met with the thunderous clap of applause.
the noise is enough to brighten her smile and settle whatever negative emotions she felt. kyulkyung did not get stage fright, well not anymore at least. the eyes of an audience was not foreign to her especially after her time with knb. it was all just noise to her, eager eyes there to watch them perform and their entertainment for the night. they’d give them a show worth while, especially with all the pretty faces and power vocals up there.
in the most arrogant way possible, kyulkyung thought team FOH!CUS was hard to forget.
“hello! constant #5050, zhou jieqiong here again!” she will never forget that tiny bit of chinese at the beginning of her introduction - not until the very end ( it’s kind of a habit at this point, honestly ).
as the group arranges themselves for the beginning of the performace, yuri finds herself in the center - surrounded by her teammates and introducing the audience to chi chi’s lion heart. the vocals are soft as are their movements, the singer’s tone and charisma alone enough to draw attention and set the mood of their performance. kyulkyung’s sure the audience’s heart fluttered just a little as did hers when she heard yuri sing the song for the first time.
ah 넌 달라진 게 없어 여전해
난 애가 타고 또 타
사냥감 찾아 한눈파는 너
kyulkyung’s voice follow’s the other girl’s smoothly, a nice transition into her sweet tone and flowing nicely with the music. luckily for her, the movements during this part are minimal for her at least - allowing her voice to carry unfaltering and comfortably. singing live was something she worried a lot about, but with tips and a lot of help, her confidence grew little by little. her smile is delicate upon her lips, her legs carrying her into the next series of moments as they draw into the chorus.
chi chi’s choreography isn’t hard to follow, but it’s nice and fun to watch. the song and melody allows for an easy smile from kyulkyung, putting on an image of a girl in love and innocence. their movements and choreography are soft and flows nicely against the music, but that makes it so much better when the shock of their transition settles in.
lion heart suddenly comes to a halt and everyone is moving into new position - a new light overwhelming them as the beat changes entirely. the mix that kyulkyung and sia put together takes over the stage, the group moving in sync with one another in a way contrasting themselves just a few moments prior.
nakyung and kyulkyung were responsible for creating the choreography, transitioning them into the beginning of i got a boy and creating a whole new mood for their stage. the woman’s presence changes drastically, a more coy, cheerful look overtaking her frame as the upbeat tone of the music sounds. personally, she prefers songs like this to lion heart - feeling more like herself with peppy beats and modern lyrics. hahaha! eh let me introduce myself - kyulkyung points to yukhei as speaks, here comes trouble, whoo! there’s a playful grin on her lips as she moves - raising a hand to motion a ‘come here’ movement with her fingers, 따라해.
어떨 땐 오빠처럼 듬직하지만
애교를 부릴 땐 넘 예뻐 죽겠어
preparing for their performance was once again fun for the woman - this being what she looked forward to most when she joined the competition. and honestly speaking, kyulkyung learned a lot more than she thought she would. working with people was one thing especially on a show like the mgas, the fierce nature of the competition threatening to bring out the worst in people but so far, that hadn’t been the case ( at least for her ).
the way they move alongside one another on stage is exciting - no doubt a visual and talent overload for their audience and she wonders if this what being an idol felt like. and if that’s case, it makes her want that contract even more.
making it this far was exciting, but left her greedy more than ever. there was a lot pending on today’s performance, on her advancement into the competition that she undermined completely. coming in with no expectations and following through with nothing but the highest, that was surely a shock. but not only did she want a contract presented to her in the end, kyulkyung would also love for her mother to at least see her perform once.
귀 기울여 주는 너 너
her mother’s words drive her confidence, fuel the endless stream of energy that courses through her as they near the end of their performance. kyulkyung didn’t have a lot of lines, but she didn’t asked for many - leaving the singing up to the professionals and taking as many notes as she could. the coaches and her teammates helped equally and she matched their drive with one of her own, practicing up until the very last moment because she didn’t need the embarrassment up on stage.
she’s not as perfect as she’d like to be, but she knew what she had to work with and milked it for its worth. what she lacked in singing she made up with her dancing and countless expressions, enjoying every minute she was up on that stage.
as the performance neared its end, kyulkyung couldn’t help the bottomless pit of worry that began to sizzle deep within her stomach. no matter how good they did or how much the crowd loved their performance, one of her teammates would be going home.
it hurt to think about, but she supposed that’s just the nature of a competition and she’ll do anything in her power to make sure that person isn’t her.
☆ MGA5 EPISODE TWO ; JULY 4
#5008 HA SUNGWOON ; interview
much like the last episode, the ceos retire to discuss the results of the performances while the contestants are ushered one by one into private rooms to be interviewed on the day’s events. sungwoon wonders if this will become a staple from now on. if so… he’s not entirely sure how to feel—the interviews broadcasted last week were interesting, to say the least. he supposes it adds some excitement to the broadcast along with giving viewers a glimpse into the personalities of the contestants. it also feels like russian roulette, like the producers are waiting for someone to inevitably say something damaging during their interviews and metaphorically shoot themselves in the foot.
but maybe the moment of reflection is a good thing too. sungwoon appreciates getting the chance to reorient, to breathe and consider the day’s events and performances in one go. he never truly struggles to answer, so his complaints are probably less valid than most. rather than being truly worried, he’s eager to get this over with and get to the results.
when his name is called, sungwoon rises and gives his friends a double thumbs up before following the staff to the interview room. a quick touch up of his hair and makeup later, he’s seated in a familiar chair in front of the interviewer in a set-up not much different from last week. he greets the interviewer with a smile and makes some idle small talk about the weather and how their day is going so far until the cameraman indicates it’s time to begin.
showtime.
so, welcome back, sungwoon. you’ve managed to survive the first cut, but what did you think of the results last week otherwise?
ah. he expected this one. cutting fifty people from the competition at one time is a lot. of course they’d be asked about it. “i didn’t expect there to be quite as many eliminations from the beginning, so it was a little nerve-wracking, to be honest.” sungwoon is grateful his friends survived alongside him, but admitting as much might sound like rubbing salt in the wounds of people who were separated from their friends.
he decides to keep it neutral. “all my predictions for who would make it to the next round came true, though! well, except one.” poor chan. sungwoon really thought he was good, but his opinion doesn’t count for much when it comes to rap. “i guess that disqualifies me as a psychic? unless i make sure to include a disclaimer that there’s a 16% error margin on all predictions?” he laughs, embarrassed as he realizes his mental math might be a little off. “actually, don’t fact check me on that number.” math isn’t his strong suit, but he refuses to be make a fool of himself over numbers on national tv.
shaking his head slightly, he taps his fingers against his knee in thought. “it was disappointing to see so many talented people go home,” sungwoon adds slowly. “but it’s a competition and, well, i have to believe the ceos made the decisions they did for a reason.” they clearly know what they’re doing, and it’s not for him to question them yet.
how did you feel when you realized you were through to the next round?
“i was relieved, mostly,” sungwoon admits readily. a sigh escapes his lips as he thinks back to the moment his name was called—he’d felt weak and weightless at the same time, even more so when the others made it through safely. sungwoon would like to say he never had any doubts, but that isn’t entirely true. there’s always room for doubt. “i would’ve been mortified to get eliminated so early in the competition.” honestly, he’d be equally mortified to get eliminated now, but it feels unnecessary to add that into his answer. “it also felt right, you know?” he continues with a sheepish smile. “i felt acknowledged by the judges, and that went a long way towards boosting my confidence for today’s performance!”
many people have expressed concern about the number of previous mga contestants participating in this season. as one of the people highlighted as a former contestant during the episode, how does the backlash make you feel?
well, this is one he didn’t expect. of course sungwoon is aware of the backlash—the previous episode literally broadcast one of the contestants’ thoughts on the subject, and the netizens seem united in the opinion that this year has too many old faces. and as one of the old faces, his opinion on the subject should be pretty clear: it sucks, and he doesn’t agree that just because they’ve been on the show before, they have no place on it now. he’s not sure why the interviewers would ask this, unless they’re hoping he gives them something juicy to air? sungwoon is determined to avoid that trap, to think carefully over his response before he gives it.
honesty is the best way to play this, in his opinion. “it’s not the greatest, i’ll admit.” wringing his hands together, he shoots the interviewer a distracted, what can you do, kind of smile before raking his fingers through his hair. “i think it’s disingenuous to act like being on the show one year means we can never come back or to claim we’ve used up our one and only chance. it’s not like we stopped dreaming just because it didn’t work out the first time.” for many, including sungwoon, participating in the mgas increased his desire to stand up on stage.
“i also believe people might be under the impression that we’ve had tons of opportunities for success following the show last year?” being on tv might’ve brought a little bit of localized fame for a brief period of time last year, but all that is gone now, leaving old contestants as forgotten relics of a different time. “but i can tell you that’s not really true—personally, at least. no companies were looking to sign me, and i didn’t have any other prospects.” a bitter pill to swallow, but there it is! he chuckles and rubs the back of his neck. “compared to a lot of other competitions, the mgas are accessible, so yeah, i gave them a shot again, but because this might be the only way i ever make it. i’m sure others feel the same way.”
god, he said a lot more than he intended to. sungwoon takes a deep breath and shakes his head, forcing a smile he hopes looks natural. “if the new contestants are worried about facing the old ones, well, a little healthy competition never hurt anyone, right?”
i see. moving on, how do you think you did this week?
“like i said, i’m never satisfied.” he feels like this will be a familiar refrain if this question continues to come up again, but it continues to be true. he needs the persistent buzz under his skin, the nagging voice that tells him he can do better. it drives sungwoon to improve, and that’s worth the temporary discomfort. still, his feelings towards today’s stage is largely positive overall. “i know my performance wasn’t as exciting as some of the others. that’s always the risk when you do a ballad, right?” sungwoon was well aware of it from the beginning. “and for once i didn’t play an instrument. that was nerve-wracking, let me tell you.”
he straightens up in his seat. “but i wanted the focus to be on my voice today.” no bells and whistles, just sungwoon showing the judges what he’s capable of. “so i chose to sing a korean song, one that ended up becoming pretty personal for me. i think… i did all i could up on the stage, and i hope it resonated with everyone who listened. that’s all i can really ask for.”
who do you think is the best under each skill?
oh, now that’s an interesting question. sungwoon wouldn’t have been able to answer it last week due to the sheer number of people performing, but after watching the episode and sitting through today’s stages, sungwoon is in a better position to judge the rest of the contestants. the interviewer catches the grin spreading across his face and asks him if he’s thinking of naming himself, to which sungwoon responds “oh, no. no,” with a laugh. he wouldn’t dream of it. “i’ll try not to name only empty enigma members either, but you can’t blame me if a few slip in.”
for singers… sungwoon feels like quite a few of them are strong. this is the only category he feels qualified to talk about at length, in any case. “i think heejin is a strong singer, maybe the strongest in the competition. i enjoy her vocal color, and i think her voice is powerful. she has a strong stage presence too, so i definitely think she’s someone to watch for.” he wants to mention a few other singers as well, but he’s determined to keep his picks to one each this time. or… maybe two. two picks, maximum. “hyojin too! he sang one of my favorite day6 songs, and his range is insane. i can’t wait to hear more from him.”
dancers are harder to comment on; sungwoon doesn’t know enough (or feels confident enough) to choose the best in this category. “uh, i think i’m only qualified to talk about who i liked the best, so take all this with a grain of salt.” he probably shouldn’t say park woojin, but the first name that comes out of his mouth is—”park woojin, for sure. though to be clear, i would pick him even if we weren’t friends. his performance was powerful and captivating—i think he’s easily the best dancer here.” he wants to mention kenta as well, but he doesn’t want to come off as too biased either. “i also think yugyeom is a good dancer. i don’t know how i feel about him in general, but i won’t deny talent when i see it.”
rappers are possibly harder to talk about than dancers, so sungwoon takes his time running through the list of performances before answering. “i think the number of female rappers in the competition this year are pretty cool, so i’d have to pick one of them. sakura, maybe? i was surprised by her performance, but in a good way.” his second choice is so obvious, sungwoon wonders if he even has to state it out loud. “and mason, obviously. he’s a good rapper, maybe one of the best, but that’s a given.”
were there any performances you liked?
sungwoon hates questions like these, mostly because he never has enough time to mention everyone he wants to. just saying ‘all of them’ would save a lot of time, but he’s pretty sure that isn’t allowed. also, it’s not truthful either. there are performances he definitely didn’t enjoy. the question is about ones he did, however, and sungwoon runs through the ones he remembers well enough in his mind before blurting out the first one that stayed with him. “daniel’s!” wait, that really isn’t going to help him sound less biased. his face warms and he scratches his cheek while rushing to gather his thoughts. “okay, honestly. i know he’s not the best of the rappers, but he wrote his own rap and the lyrical content was straight fire. his performance had me hyped up. how can i not mention it?”
aside from daniel, there are a few others he wants to mention. “eunji’s dance was… i know i mentioned her last week as a talented singer, but she’s a phenomenal dancer as well. her performance was really powerful and compelling. park jinyoung—i liked his voice, and i thought his song choice was very appropriate for his tone. personally, he’s one to watch for me as well.” pausing, sungwoon leans back in his chair and rubs his chin in thought. “yeji? i thought she did a great job too—really, a lot of the girls have been killing it this year. i wish i could mention them all because they deserve it.”
were there any you didn’t like?
“guys, seriously,” he laughs, letting his arms fall to his sides. “have people answered this?” how many have taken the bait and actually said something negative about their fellow contestants? the interviewer won’t answer that for him, so sungwoon is left wondering when he should bite or not. maybe he should, but gently? “there were a couple of performances i was let down by,” he admits. “kyungsoo, for one. i really enjoy his voice, but i wasn’t sold on his song choice, so i think that colored my opinion of his performance.” toxic isn’t a choice he’d make personally, and while he respects it, sungwoon isn’t sure it’s appropriate for this stage of the competition. “i also enjoyed suwoong’s performance last week, but not as much this week… i don’t know, i think he could’ve taken it a bit more seriously?” sungwoon shrugs. “they’re both good performers; just not my cup of tea.”
is there anyone you are certain will move onto the next phase of the mgas?
“is it time for sungwoon the psychic’s predictions again?” he taps his forehead, thought he’s… not exactly sure why. “uh, well, i think everyone i mentioned as the best of their categories will go through. special shout out to mason, because he’s going all the way to the finale! mark my words.” he doesn’t know if he has any solid picks outside of those. “yuri? she has a powerful voice and the necessary star power.” hm, maybe that’s all? no, wait, he remembers one of the dancers leaving an impression and struggles to pronounce her name properly. “jieqiong? she’s pretty and talented; i would expect her to go through.” sungwoon figures he’d better stop there—or he’ll end up naming half the contestants in the competition. “let’s see how many of these work out! remember, 16% error rate!”
is there anyone you are certain will be eliminated today?
“my third eye broke; i can’t answer that,” sungwoon says, completely straight faced. several moments pass before his expression cracks into a distant smile. “no, seriously—i’m not sure what criteria the judges are basing their assessments on, so i can’t answer. you’d think it would be straightforward, but someone who’s average in a skill can get far based on their sheer charisma and stage presence, right? so i think it could be anyone’s game.” he won’t speculate further; it’s not his place. and he’s worried that if he does start to consider who might be eliminated, a few familiar names could potentially pop into mind.
that’s all for now. thank you!
“thank you! you’ve worked hard.” sungwoon rises and bows to the interviewer and the staff before returning to his seat. he steals a bottle of water from one of the empty enigma members and polishes it off with a cheeky smile. “i need this, guys. i talked a lot,” he complains when they ask. when do you not? someone answers, and sungwoon glares at them playfully before promising to buy another bottle during their break. it’s much easier to stick to smiles and lighthearted conversation before eliminations, and sungwoon does his best to keep the atmosphere cheery.
contestant #5029 - lee hohyeon
duo performance with @rkyuri
K/DA - POP/STARS (0:00-0:56, 1:20-2:19)
line distribution
he had made it through yet another elimination. of course he had, hohyeon didn’t have much of a doubt he was going to make it through. and while he had been slightly pressed by the idea that they didn’t think he was one of the best rappers, it was a darn sight better than being one of the worst. but now he had made it through it came the new challenge and with it a vocalist he was going to have to put up with for a whole week.
easier said than done when he hardly... liked vocalists very much. the whole time he always thought they stole all the spotlight away from rappers. everyone seemed to think they were more impressive and that simply annoyed him. and now he was expected to pair up and work with one. he knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and he had been right about that.
hohyeon would have much preferred to be paired up with a dancer, or even another rapper, but no, they had paired him up with a vocalist. it had been pretty hard going at first, the problem of coming up with a song the both of them actually liked and wanted to perform together. hohyeon had eventually mentioned pop/stars mostly because it was what he had been listening to on repeat for awhile. it was quite a surprise that yuri actually took to the idea after listening to the song herself. so, now there they were after a week of some arguments, some tears and a lot of sweat and hard work ready to put this all together in front of the ceos and the remaining contestants.
it was ever so slightly nerve wracking to know that it wasn’t going to be all down to him this week. if yuri didn’t perform well enough, then the both of them could end up being sent home. they needed to put on a good performance, get the crowd involved and impress everyone. not that hohyeon was worrying very much about him managing to do that, but he couldn’t help but side eye yuri as they found their seats and sat down next to each other.
‘rocky’ was downplaying how the week had currently gone for the two of them. first it was the song choice, then it was the fact hyeon had somehow gotten her to agree to dancing with the chorus. and that had taken a lot of effort on his part. the girl was not a dancer. sure, she could get the basics steps and it wasn’t like she had two left feet or anything like that, but she was not on the same level as him and it was clear. luckily, the choreography was pretty simple, nothing too pressing and it had only taken him about an hour to get it down. the rest of his time was trying to get it in yuri’s head as well.
well, he had done his best, there was not much else he could do about it now. either they were going to sink or swim in this performance. all the sixteen year old could really hope was that they had both put in enough work to actually pull this off.
already he was slouching in his seat somewhat, one arm hooked over the back of his chair as he watched the stage. it was a slightly different setup to last week. not that he really thought it made much of a difference, so long as everyone could see them perform and no one ended up falling off the stage or tripping on air, then it would be fine. why should he be worried about a change of scenery, anyway?
only when it was their turn to be called up to the stage did the boy straighten up in his chair. this was their moment and he couldn’t put this performance off any more. it was time to see if they actually could work together and make it through this in one piece and not have a falling out on stage. now that would be one of the worst things to happen and up there with forgetting his lines or forgetting a step. and there was no chance he was letting himself mess up and be sent home, not after making it this far in the competition.
not that the third episode was all that far, really. but hey, it was better than being eliminated before even making it past the audition stage.
“let’s do this,” he muttered under his breath, sending a small nod towards yuri as he stood himself up from his seat and made his way towards the stage. as per usual, all the eyes on him was hardly bothered him in the slightest, easily switching over to his ‘nice boy’ persona with a bright smile. it was something he had gotten rather good at over the course of this competition, the ceos and audience would hardly like him half as much if he was more like the ‘real’ him. that him was rude and brash and a little bit of an asshole. no, it was probably better if he died all that down and acted nicer and friendlier to everyone. lay off the snappy comments and judgemental looks.
once he was sanding in the middle of the stage, the confidence came back to him, easily relaxing his shoulders as he grinned at the judges. that stage was where he belong and this performance was simply going to blow everyone away. it was a popular song, a proper headbanger and he would be surprised if everyone could just sit still and listen to it. especially with what he was planning on telling everyone.
“hello, we are riot!” he spoke in unison with the girl beside him, the smile on his face the whole time as he cleared his throat again, “i’m riot’s cool rapper, lee hohyeon.”
but now they had got the intro over and done with, the time to start was now. this was going to be fun, he could already tell, the tingle in his fingers before he started to perform, the confident look in his eye as he looked over towards his partner. yeah, they were going to do this and become instant fan favourites. this was going to be the performance of the whole episode.
as soon as the music started he was moving, bringing the mic close to his lips, “i want to see you all moving in those seats.” he stared at the ceos for just a moment before turning towards the other contestants, a slight smirk on his face as he looked at them. they better get into this, it was going to be even more fun if everyone had a good time and actually got into the performance instead of just sitting there and being boring about it.
you know who it is
coming ’round again
you want a dose of this right now it’s riot uh!
he hadn’t even really started rapping yet and he was already getting into the performance, feeling every note as he held the mic close to his mouth. but not close enough that they could hear him breathing, obviously.
i’m a goddess with a blade
소리쳐봐 내 이름 잊지 못하게
loud loud loud loud
i could take it to the top
절대 멈추지 못해
내가 끝내주는
bad gal gal gal
he didn’t bother changing the lyrics so that they were male gender, he didn’t see the point in it. instead he rapped with confidence, a flame burning in his heart and determination in his eyes. they were going to own the stage and proved they deserved to go further in this competition. hohyeon would like to think they were talented enough to go all the way to the finals and walk away with a contract. that was the dream and what he was aiming for.
though he wasn’t a fan of vocalists, he did have to admit that yuri was clearly talented. as she started singing after his short verse he had a smile on his face. trying to hype her up and keep the crowd hyped up as well. this room was their own personal concert and he was going to make sure that everyone was watching and everyone was paying attention to them. when yuri sang the words to keep their eyes on her, hohyeon raised two fingers, pointed them towards the crowd before pointing them back to himself. eyes on them, not on the person sitting next to them or even the ceo’s.
they had decided to cut the song, removing the first chorus. so it cut straight to his next rap part, by hohyeon was prepared for this. he should be after knowing the song off by heart after listening to it so much before this competition even started. and then the week of going over and over and over just to make sure they were completely prepared to put on the best performance they possibly could when the time came for that.
hey! you ready for this? lessgo!
see 언제든지 내 모습 magic
단 한 번에 내가 잡어 절대 기죽지 않지 uh!
pow pow 네가 뭘 알아
견딜 수 없어, 원해도
원하는 게 얼굴에 보여
i’m trouble and you’re wanting it
i’m so cold
when i move that way
you gonna be so blown I’m the realest in the game uh!
he was rapping at the other contestants, voice almost a challenge if they listened to the lyrics, feet moving him about the stage like he owned it. he even managing to send a grin over towards his partner as he kept up the flow and the rhythm of the verse. this was a duo performance, after all and he didn’t want to try and outshine his partner. they were in this together, and while he still might not be the biggest fan of that, it was better they work together than against each other. while this was still a competition, for this round they were on the same team and they were both going to make it through. as a team.
the grin on on his face the whole time, really taking the time to appreciate the vocals of his partner. he did have to admit that this was a good song choice, better than some simple duet they could have gone with instead. he was quite sure no one would have expected this sort of performance, but hyeon did love surprising people. and he was sure this was going to be memorable to everyone watching. and if it did end up that they ended up being sent home at the end of this well... at least they went out on a high.
but it was getting towards the chorus again and hyeon was already moving into position besides the older and shorter girl. just before it really went into the chorus he did send her a small wink of encouragement. they had practised this and he was confident that she was going to completely nail this choreography. they were k/da incarnate, they were going to own this stage and show everyone right here and right now that they could dance as well as put on a good performance.
right on cue his body started moving to the music, only using one arm to do the choreo as the other kept the microphone steady in front of his mouth so he could say the words at the same time. considerate the whole time of yuri, trying to stay in key with her and not trying to overpower her own voice. this chorus was mostly a joint performance. they were a team and they were going to finish as a team.
down down down down down down
they could try but we’re gonna wear the crown
his hands made a crown on his head, the grin still on his head as he let yuri shine again for a single line before they were back singing together. keeping up the movement at the same time. hohyeon wasn’t bothered about the girl messing up, he was confident that she wasn’t going to do that. not after how much he had helped her out.
round round round round round round
wish you luck but you’re not bringing us down
the lyrics were incredibly empowering. this was them challenging the rest of the room. give your best, but you can’t compete and bring them down. and good luck to anyone who tried to outshine them. this stage was theirs and they were not going to be giving it up without a fight.
but the song was coming to an end now and he only had one more line to worry about, focusing on just his body for a moment as he danced as yuri brought them towards the finale. only a couple more dance steps left, moving light on his feet right next to the older girl as they both spoke out the last line of the song.
down down down down
and that was that. hohyeon held the ending pose, standing right next to yuri, a large grin on his face and chest heaving slightly from the effort. but the teenager didn’t even feel tired, no, he was still hyped up after that performance. they had really gone out there and done that and he did have to say he was proud, of the both of them. from the less than friendly and rocky start at the beginning to cleanly pulling off that performance. and he liked to think they were not the only ones who had some fun. he could just hope that the ceo’s saw their talent and really hoped that the other contestants had enjoyed it as well and really did consider them as strong competition. they were not two people you could just walk over and get away with it.
“thank you,” he breathed out as he faced the ceo’s at the front completely, bowing to them, the grin never leaving his face as he leaned over to nudge the girl standing next to him slightly. he was still smiling the whole time as they left the stage and headed back towards their seats and sat once again.
hohyeon looked over towards the other girl sitting next to them. they really had come a long way from the beginning of last week, and he didn’t see her as an enemy anymore. no, they were more than that. that performance and pulled them together, and quite surprisingly, he was actually happy about that. so he smiled simply at her before leaning over and offering out a single hand, “friends?”
she could take the offer or she could turn him down, but either way, hohyeon didn’t really mind. she had helped him see that not all vocalists were bad and they could share a stage with a rapper and actually work together. it had just been childish of him before to think that they couldn’t. and it was not a mistake he was going to make in the future if they ended up making it further in this competition.
but he was confident and quite satisfied that yeah, they had put on a show.
That was something that she thought she would never hear again, but here she was, in front of a new crop of MGA contestants, playing the role of coach yet again.
Even though she was nervous about doing this again (the last time she coached, the end results led to her feeling like a disappointment to her team), she was determined to push those nerves aside and give them her best. That being said, she was glad when, as usual, Ariel was the one to speak up first when they were finally in front of their team. She was glad that they were on a team together this year, instead of facing off. Luda she didn’t really know that well, but she was thankful for her being there as well. She hoped they’d get to know each other better in the future as well.
When she was finally prompted to speak, she gave their team a genuine smile. “Hello, I’m Jo Haseul, main vocalist of Eclipse. I’ve been on the MGAs as both a contestant in season one and a coach in season three, so I know how exciting and stressful that this time can be,” she said, a little laughter escaping with her words. She’s not used to giving speeches like this. “I just want you to know that as a team, we’re here to support you in any way you might need it and you should all be proud. Not just because of how far you’ve made it, but for even trying in the first place. A lot of people don’t understand how hard it is to put yourself out there. I’m... not the most outgoing person, as I’m sure Ariel would be able to confirm, so I know how difficult it can be. So be proud that you took that first step towards reaching your dreams and keep working hard, because it seems to be working!” With that, she gives a slightly embarrassed bow of her head, stepping back, slightly hiding behind Ariel’s arm, but she is still smiling.
Actually getting into the flow of the team getting ready for their performance was interesting. The flow of ideas and the teamwork was fun to watch and she could see just how quickly the others seemed to fit in together as a team. She thought that they had done a pretty great job with their selections.
Her coaching style was one where she was there to offer any assistance that the others may need. She was quiet but friendly, her usual down-to-earth self. She could see a lot of her old self in these participants and she hoped that each of them got to have their moment in the spotlight.
Kyungsoo begun his preparation for the interview as soon as he stepped off of the stage. Being one of the first to perform, Kyungsoo had plenty of time to think about what he wanted to say. The interview questions were likely similar to the ones in the first episode and from what he saw in the episode, people’s interviews were more likely aired if they gave negative reactions. This meant, at least in his mind, if he wanted more screen time, he had to give interesting responses, possibly the sort that could start controversies.
He fixed his eyes on the stage, keeping note of interesting performances while also thinking about who he could potentially take a dump on. The safest option was likely Suwoong since the guy would never be able to truly hate him after all the free rides he got over the years. However, from what was shown of the first episode, there was already a strong rival thing between two family members. Perhaps a loving cousin relationship would suit the camera’s taste better. That, was literally the only reason why he actually got up and clapped during dear Susu’s performance when he ran around the stage like an idiot asking for more cheers. When he realized not many other people were standing up, Kyungsoo awkwardly sat back down again - it was such an embarrassing moment.
What? You think he should just be honest and answer however he want? Don’t be a fool. If this didn’t work out, Kyungsoo had to go back on his path to future CEO and any misbehaviour on this show could come back to hunt him. There was no way in hell he was going to let a televised survival show he entered on whim affect his public image, even if it was aired years before his potential success. An intelligent man must think ahead and Kyungsoo knew from a brief once over of the crowd of kids that there were quite a few who thought things through like he did, despite their young age.
Perhaps he shouldn’t risk railing on people yet. Maybe later, when he has more information.
What did you think of the results last week?
“There were quite a lot of contestants eliminated. I’ll be honest, I lost a lot of familiar faces and now have to figure out who to sit with.” He smiled, giving his head a light shake. He didn’t like sitting with strangers but the idea of making new friends also felt exhausting. Kyungsoo will admit, he wasn’t the extroverted type like his cousin and most of his close friendships involved a persistent person who didn’t mind his silence, judgment and occasionally smacks to the shoulder. Just sit with Suwoong? Oh hell no. He’d rather get shot than sit with his loudass cousin and his pack of howling wolf friends. “You guys have to admit, I may not be a good dancer but I know a solid choreo when I see it. All of the dancers I really enjoyed made it through to this round.” Hoseok, Yena and Taeyang.
How do you think you did?
“Everyone certainly looked shocked when I threw my glasses on the ground. I hope I didn’t scare anyone but I was trying really hard to get in character. I think when you channel a certain persona, your voice naturally changes to fit it. I like telling stories with my performance.”
Do you still have those glasses?
He nodded, pulling them out of his pocket with an awkward smile. “In case I become an idol one day, these will be on sale as Do Kyungsoo’s smashed glasses during MGAS 5 performance. I was thinking about charging an insane amount of money.” His expression showed that he wasn’t serious. “Just joking, interviewer noona. I am planning on keeping them as a souvenir. A reminder that I was on the stage and I did a performance I am proud of.”
Who do you think is the best under each skill?
“I don’t listen to enough rap songs to be able to determine what is considered a skilled rap performance. Hyeon did catch my attention because of his song choice because it wasn’t fast all the way through and had slow parts. In addition, I liked the little movements he did with his hands while rapping. Those movements were small but they were quite on beat, I think.” Perhaps the kid was secretly an all star and can dance too. Kyungsoo wouldn’t be surprised. If he could move well with his hands already absent minded, then who’s to say what he could do with his feet.
Dance wise...hmmm. “Yeji chose a very passionate song and I definitely felt it in her expressions. Taeyang was good as always but of course, I still like Hoseok the most. Oh, Eric did a girl group song, didn’t he? I remember laughing during that because it was fun. Hyunggu did a mash up and I thought that was creative.”
Singers he shouldn’t talk about too much because of direct competition, but bringing up one or two should be fine. “Yuri was good. The song she chose was one of my favourites from the movie.”
‧ ₊ ˚ ♡ the skills challenge performance!
• • • singing be myself by gugudan // 0:09 — 2:03!
heejin despises the way her heart skips a beat the moment her name is uttered by one of the judges after an almost painful wait, flimsy syllables tossed out without a care in the world as if they hardly held any importance— as if they didn't make her up name, as if it wasn’t the very thing she'd desperately needed them to do. as if it wasn’t the very thing she was absolutely craving to hear. it's weakness she loathed having ( the sudden and intense need for verbal validation ), as if she hadn't already gotten enough of that throughout her short life so far.
no, she's become well accustomed to the sensation of praise, of meeting highly set standards with relative ease, hard work and a steady drive of determination propelling her towards the stars. it's here, however, now placed on such an imposing stage, eyes of skillfully perfected focus and unpredictability ready to pick her apart without any warning, that heejin can't help but feel her own walls of unwavering confidence finally begin to shake.
she hates it— knowing now just how terrifyingly easy nerves can be brought on simply by bated silence ( and just how quickly those nerves and can morph into questioning relief the very second good news is given ).
confirmation of her moving on to the next round only brings newer, more nagging thoughts to the surface. she'd done it— she'd proven herself yet again, a sure sign that she could do this, that she could pull through as she wanted to and secure victory. yet, that also meant the herd had been cut down significantly.
room for errors and mediocrity would become slimmer and slimmer the longer this went on, all until nothing short of perfection could be given without fear of leaving this whole ordeal empty-handed.
heejin refused to leave with nothing to show for herself.
♡
there's little rest to be had, skin anxiously prickling more and more with each passing day, her mind preoccupied with nothing but sing, sing, sing— correct your breathing here, don't let yourself strain at this part, keep yourself as steady as you possibly can. run through after run through, correction after correction, all painstakingly repeated and ingrained in her mind. heejin is rarely home during this period of time, hardly seen by anyone who doesn’t come looking ( or, in some cases, can’t spare the time to break from their own preparations ), her only true opportunities for rest being forced on her by her academic schedules ( even then, tucked far in the back of her classrooms, something she rarely allowed herself to do, her mind is far from her lessons— no, all she can think about is how she could do better, what she needed to do better, all in the hopes of earning another success ).
it's tiring, so tiring, but she can't stop. she won't let herself.
it's only the day before she ( and everyone else ) are set to show up and perform that she finally gives herself a moment to properly breathe.
she feels stiff, far more rigid than she'd like to be, and that's when she knows she needs to pull back, if only for a moment. sat snuggly in one of the secluded practice rooms located in her schools' music department, she simply sits, letting peaceful silence take her over.
jungeun comes to mind, images of the blonde submerged deeply within her own element while on stage during the first round playing out as if she had seen them earlier that day, and heejin can't help but wonder how her own practice has been coming along— with her phone grasped loosely between small hands, the brunette almost hits the call button. almost.
it almost feels like a selfish thought, wanting to reach out for someone ( anyone ) who could possibly understand the growing exhaustion burning through her veins. who was she to distract others, though, when she'd done this to herself willingly? this had been her own choice, her own decision— she wouldn't pull for the blondes attention, not now, when her best friend was no doubt working just as hard ( if not harder ) for her own victory.
no, she had known what this would all entail the minute she'd sent in her application, bright-eyed and determined. she couldn't lose that fire, not this early over something so simple— heejin would figure this out.
her phone vibrates silently in her hands, catching her off guard, and it's only a moment before she sees what's been sent.
❪ ⤑ ✉ 3 new messages┆🌙💕 ❫
her lips break out into a gentle smile, tired eyes softening, and suddenly, she doesn't feel as beat up as before. eyes scanning his words, the warmth in her cheeks only grows, but it's pleasant— it's missed. with words so caring, so encouraging, at a time when she felt she needed them most, there's newfound vigor brewing in her body.
you will be awesome on saturday!
heejin could do this.
♡
walking onto set feels as daunting as it had the first time, her face blank ( save for the slight rise of a single brow ) as she lets curious eyes travel the space, taking it all in. the lack of people is noticeable right from the beginning, the area less stuffy with half the amount of original chairs gotten rid of, but that only makes heejin think— one hundred, such a large and strong number, cut down to a mere fifty with ease.
well, at least she was aware now that she had actual competition.
out of the corner of her eye, she spots unmistakable blonde hair filtering around the room, and heejin can't help but feel relief once more knowing they'd made it this far together ( just like she knew they would ). tearing her gaze away, she spots faces and silhouettes she's come to familiarize herself a bit more with thanks to the little celebratory outing yuzu had suggested the week before— short black hair recalls memories of pleasant conversation, of a possible friendship she wouldn't mind growing, and heejins legs take her to where ryujin is sat without protest.
she sits beside the younger girl with a grin, eyes shining with anticipation, and the thought passes by quickly— she wonders what the other has in store for them all today. while it seemed that singers made up the top percentage of contestants ( heejin being included ), the younger girl was grouped in with the dancers at second. while there were certainly others better at that particular skill, she couldn't deny that the other had a certain draw to her. similarly to kyulkyung, whom she'd also made sure to greet as she passed by, she was an entertaining act to watch.
of course, heejin had her own biases ( she would always sight jungeun as her personal favorite ), but that didn't take away from anyone else. ryujin was talented in her own right— it would be interesting to see her go far.
it's only once everyone's seated, noises sounding off and startling the brunette slightly, that it's finally time for things to start. unlike the first time, seeing who the judges are doesn’t cause her heart to beat wildly as it had before— now, it’s almost expected. after all, these were the ones who’d be taking the finalists into their companies when this was all over. who better than to pass judgments than them?
however, general nerves rear their ugly heads, and for a second, heejin can't help but question herself— question others.
what if she didn't stand out this time? what if she, despite all of the effort and time put into choosing her song and making sure it was perfect, fell short? would anyone going up before her be performing the same song as her? had her music choice in general been a mistake?
that last question had been one she'd thought of from the very moment she settled on her vocals— the choice had been difficult, but in her eyes, she felt like it was a necessary one to make. it hadn't been lost on her how, up until now, all of her performances had songs of the same caliber. similar vibes, similar emotions, similar technique. sure, they suited her ( at least, she felt they suited her better than anything else ), but she didn't want to grow stale, boring, in others eyes.
versatility was important no matter the skill.
so, watching as the first handful of singers go up and perform, her head nodding along to distant beats and rhythms as a way to soothe her own mind, heejin steels herself. there was no room for doubt anymore, not when her name was about to be called. she needed to be sure of herself, confident in her abilities and quality.
❝ CONTESTANT #5013, JEON HEEJIN— PLEASE TAKE THE STAGE. ❞
reaching for jungeun's hand quickly, she gives it a gentle squeeze, one that's gratefully returned as a sign of encouragement, and heejin rises from her seat. as she walks to the stage, she catches yuri's eyes and lets herself break out into a soft grin, nodding her head in acknowledgment. she would need to talk with the younger girl once it was deliberation time to tell her how good her performance was— well, would be, considering yuri was up after her.
she had all the faith in the world for her cousin.
brushing aside shorter strands of hair that weren't held in her low pony, heejin stands tall in center stage, a signature smile on her lips.
"hello, it's nice to see you all again—" she can't help but joke, a way of squashing any last remnants of nerves in her system, the mic picking up a small laugh as she bows. "i'm jeon heejin and today, while i'll be singing for you once again, i hope to show you a little bit of a more different side of myself. please enjoy this performance just as much as you enjoyed my last performance."
receiving nods to proceed, she awaits her music queue, ready to begin. her music starts and, immediately, she's heejin is focused.
날 향한 차가운 눈빛
둘러싼 소문만 참 많아
걱정 마 난 강인하니까
사소한 것에 겁내지 않아
더 강하게 ooh ah yeah
더 당당하게 ooh ah yeah
한계를 뛰어넘어 위험해도 좋아
더 색다른 날 보여줄게
unlike the first episode, she has no props— no guitar to play, nothing as additional help with the intent to enhance her showcase. now, everything is all dependant on her, on her voice and presence, those two factors being the sole reason she'd done so much in preparation. her vocals had to be spot on, carrying their own distinct flare while still delivering the most solid performance she could with the hopes of leaving her audience wanting more, facial expressions and body language all playing a role in only furthering that agenda.
her voice is clear, strong as it should be for the power the song holds, adlibs starting out smoothly just as she'd practiced countless times. right away, there's an attitude to be seen— nothing to be taken seriously once she's stepped down from the stage, but something to marvel and become immersed with as she sings.
flicks of her brow, blatant smirks forming here and there between the words that leave her lips, a sense of appeal heejin has only recently felt comfortable projecting. she's always been confident in herself, in her skills and what she's got to show, but this? this is a little different from her normal, a side to herself she'd rarely ever shown, usually in favor of something more soulful and indie.
hesitance aside, it's an image she likes— it's one she wouldn't mind expanding on.
be yourself 더 이상 망설이지 마
뭐든 네 멋대로
우리에겐 내일은 없어
난 규칙 따윈 몰라
모두가 깜짝 놀라
다쳐도 좋아 바로 지금
do it now
누가 뭐래도
nothing like what i do do do
내가 뭘 해도
good thing ( good thing )
좀 더 자유롭게 be myself
난 내 멋대로 살래
잘 지켜봐 yeah
as she comes to the pre-chorus, the tempo a tad slower, it's the perfect chance to show how smooth her tone can be, a dull fire emanating from her as she puts more soul into her performance. with something so pop, it's easy for ones vocals to flatline and become bland, easily overshadowed by synths and overproduction. heejin doesn't want this, no— she wants her voice to hold as much depth and pull to it as it can.
eyes closing, there's more focus, letting it all build up until the chorus breaks through, and her voice is lighter, rising and falling to hit her notes prettily ( she tosses a wink in at her almost whispered good thing, tone naturally on the huskier side with how lowly it's done ).
leading into the bridge, that same soulful quality returns, and she moves in time to the song, heel meeting the floor subtly in time to the beat.
내가 결정해
나다운 게 뭔지 oh
눈치 보지 말고
좀 더 자신 있게
나를 보여줄래
고민하지 마
nothing like what i do do do
끌리는 대로
good thing ( good thing )
너를 표현해봐 be yourself
세상을 너로 칠해
널 보여줘 yeah
what you do
hand on her chest, she's still pleasantly steady in her performance, inhaling away from the mic when she needs to, and she's entering the final stretch. this bridge, mellow, yet still holding a certain sultry quality to it, allows heejin the slight refresher she needs before letting herself peak in the end.
opening her eyes, she lets her gaze travel around all who watch her, a brow raised in invitation— an invitation to what? to that, she’s not quite sure. praise? criticism? jealousy?
challenge.
be myself be myself be myself
가장 나답게
위험해 위험해 위험해
be myself be myself be myself
이 밤이 가기 전에
위험해 위험해 위험해
her voices echoes around the room as she finishes, music ending with her, and all that's left to be heard are her receding breathes as she pulls the mic away from her face.
it's silly, recalling how worried she'd been the last week— jaehyun had said it himself.
