God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 1
“Did you find some good kids?”
The ‘Tomorrow’s Star” crew was scouring the internet in search of performers who could become topics of conversation this season. They interviewed people who had potential to catch interest to see if there was a story to tell. If the growth story and singing skill surpassed expectations, they extended an invitation to audition.
It was enough if there was even a minute story. The writers could blow up that story so it would be suitable to air on the program.
Season 2 of ‘Tomorrow’s Star” had hit jackpot.
The winner of season 2, Heo Jun of Kyeonggi-do, Bucheon dreamt of being a singer while making a scanty living cleaning windows of large buildings. Short, chubby, and in no way considered attractive, he came out on top on singing ability alone and won $200,000.
The dramatic reversal story was that he was competing against 2nd place James Park, a 2nd generation Korean American.
2nd place James Park was the son of a successful businessman in America, at the time attending a prestigious university, and very handsome.
Up to this point was the reversal story that aired on broadcast. The reality?
1st place Heo Jun had an affiliated agency before his appearance on the program. The agency was small and only had a couple singers specializing in event performances. Heo Jun’s main source of income came from the money earned for singing at local events. Of course the pay was not generous.
Washing windows had been just one of the many part time jobs he had taken when he did not have many performances lined up. The writers were the ones who had inflated it to create a reversal story.
He was a good enough singer to be in 1st place. Once they were down to the top 3 contestants however, any one of them could have been the winner without question.
1st place was ultimately an issue of contract conditions. Who laid out the conditions more favorable to the broadcasting station? This was the decisive factor in determining 1st place.
Heo Jun’s company forfeited most of his profits to take this once-in-a-lifetime chance. When he debuted his first album, it blew up on the three main channels, cable music channels, and digital charts, also taking 1st place on all 3 main music programs.
Of course the broadcasting station took most of the profits that came from this. Only in principle was the $200,000 prize money a predecessor to the revenue the singer would make from selling his debut album.
These contract terms are never revealed to the viewers.
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 2
“Senior, take a look at this.”
“What is it?”
“There’s a boy who isn’t very famous, but is steadily gaining popularity. He’s called the pianist of Misari…..”
“Misari? Ha ha. He better not be an old man.”
The junior writer pushed her laptop over.
“What do you think?”
“Ha ha! What is this guy? Is he Won Bin’s little brother?”
[TN] Won Bin is an actor in Korea – famous for his good looks
The main writer of ‘Tomorrow’s Star’ watched the 5 minute video to the very end and pat the junior writer’s head.
“Our junior hit something big. Ho ho.”
“What do you think of the piano? I don’t know much about that.”
“Why weigh on it? He’s playing classical music. With that face, he could play ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ and it would be okay.”
The writers felt as though they had caught the biggest fish of the year. Without delay, they went to the cafe.
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 3
Upon hearing Yoon Kwang Hun’s response that Jun Hyuk could not sing, the writers held an impromptu meeting in the corner.
“Won’t he be okay until the team mission?”
“Exactly. He won’t make it to the top 10, but shouldn’t we have enough to air about him before them?
“Exactly! If he just goes on broadcast, he’ll be more popular than the top 10. We’ll have to push his story as much as possible before the main missions and change the direction later to that of a pianist.”
“Pianist?”
“These girls! You need to think a little. Once the program ends, we can make him go on variety shows and the game’s over when he plays the piano. Entertainment agencies will come flooding in to pick him up. They probably won’t give the winner a second look.”
The broadcast writers did not pay attention to Yoon Kwang Hun and spoke amongst themselves excitedly.
“Excuse me… “
“Yes? Oh, sorry. We were chatting too much on our own, right?”
“Sorry, but most of the agencies have already come with scouting offers.”
“Yes, we know. We figured it would be so. But if he gets popular on our show, the contract conditions change.”
“Contract conditions?”
“Yes. To start, you wouldn’t have to pay the advance fee.”
“Advance fee?”
“Oh, you don’t know about this stuff. A scouting offer doesn’t mean that they’ll just debut the child.”
As soon as Yoon Kwang Hun showed interest, the main writer took the opportunity and started explaining in detail.
“These days, it takes 5 to 7 years to debut an idol group. The costs alone come out to at least $500,000. When there are a lot of members, it’ll reach over $1 million. So they take about $40,000 to $50,000 per person.
“I heard people like that who take money from the kids are scammers. That proper companies don’t demand any money…..”
All of the writers burst out in laughter at Yoon Kwang Hun’s words.
“No, all agencies are the same. The fees for vocal training and dance lessons alone are incredible. And how much are the costs for creating and marketing a debut album? Even after they debut, it’s not like they start making money right away.”
“Among girl groups awaiting their debuts, there are even girls whose parents have invested $10,000 to $20,000 to have them placed in their groups.”
“Only the main member of the group won’t have to pay the company. Instead, she’ll basically be under a slave contract.”
Looking at Yoon Kwang Hun sitting silently with his eyes wide open, the main writer thought that her plan had succeeded.
“So if he goes on our show and presents himself well, you won’t have to pay the advance fee and he can skip years of training.”
She emphasized that it would not cost him anything, but Yoon Kwang Hun’s expression went back to that of apathy.
“I see. Anyway, I understand. I’ll talk to Jun Hyuk and get back in contact, but don’t hold your expectations. Jun Hyuk doesn’t have intentions to become a star or an idol singer.”
The writers had to leave without interviewing Jun Hyuk.
Do you think Yoon Kwang Hun fell for the agency lady’s lies?
Stay tuned….
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 4
When the writers left, Jun Hyuk slowly approached Yoon Kwang Hun.
“Boss.”
“Yea. What?”
“Should… should I go out on that show?”
“What? What show?”
“The audition program. ‘Tomorrow’s Star’.”
“Why? Why would you go on that?”
“From what I heard, the prize money is $500,000?”
Did he want the $500,000 prize money? Jun Hyuk had not revealed any concerns regarding money so far. It seemed like he had only been thinking of music, but had he been hiding it all this time?
Yoon Kwang Hun was slightly taken aback by this unfamiliar aspect of Jun Hyuk.
“But that show picks singers. You need to sing… Do you sing well? To think about it, I’ve never heard you sing.”
“I don’t need to sing. The piano or guitar is enough, don’t you think?”
“Without singing? I’m pretty sure that won’t do. Ha ha.”
“Geez. You still don’t know me? You know how these ladies wet themselves over my piano performances.”
“This kid. Talking like that again… Didn’t I tell you to watch the way you speak? People care a lot about manners in the classical world. You can’t reach the top anyway. Didn’t you hear those women earlier? They’re only putting you on the air until they reach the top 10. The prize money goes to the person in 1st place.”
At the words that only the 1st place winner receives prize money, Jun Hyuk stopped talking. Yoon Kwang Hun started to wonder about Jun Hyuk’s intentions. It seemed that to this day, he had only looked at Jun Hyuk through his musical talent. Only now 17 years old, it was an age to have a lot of interest in stars and celebrities, but he had forgotten because of the music.
“Jun Hyuk. What do you think? Do you want to become an idol singer?”
“I don’t care. I’m okay with anything as long as I can make music.”
“Okay. I’ll make it so that you can dedicate yourself to music in the best environment. Just wait a little.”
“Excuse me? No, it’s okay. I think that this right now is the best environment.”
Jun Hyuk wavered for a moment and started to say what had been on his heart.
“You changed the piano, drum set, electric guitar, everything to the best for me. Haven’t you spent more than $100,000?
“What are you talking about? No, that’s not it. What money do I have?”
“I know hangul and english now. I looked it all up. Everything. It was all really expensive.”
“So? Are you trying to go on the audition show to make back the money for the instruments?”
“There’s that and…..”
From the way his words trailed off, it was evident that he wanted to give the audition a try. He must have wanted to see how he was compared to other people’s music and talent. Yoon Kwang Hun also thought that it would not be a bad idea for Jun Hyuk to meet children with musical talents that differed from his own.
“Then watch the last season. If you still want to go on it after you watch it, go. I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s an experience.”
There was something that Jun Hyuk did not know. An orphan abandoned by his parents as soon as he was born. A pitiful child who had lived on the streets since the age of 5 and who had suffered all types of jarring experiences. Also as attractive as an actor and possessing innate musicality.
The broadcasting station and public would not pay attention to Jun Hyuk’s music, but concentrate more on his intriguing story.
It was worrisome that this might hurt him.
What will happen to Jun Hyuk now?
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 5
The broadcasting station received over a million application video clips, but the number of people who actually qualified was under 1%.
Of this already small number, it was the ones who were already known on the internet or known by word of mouth that had the most spots on the list. The anonymous applicants were just checked casually to see if they had anything unique in their resumes and weren’t really given too much attention. They started by choosing the applicants with unusual histories or funny videos. Because this was entertainment. More than talent, it was important to find something they could sell.
After filtering through the 1st round, thousands of applicants went to the gymnasium or auditorium in their respective areas. These locations were filled with booths set up for each applicant to show off their talents and try to make it to the next round. The broadcasting station’s goal was to find qualifying participants in each area who were cool, admirable, or funny. Search for any real musical talent or ability was a farce. If it could sell, they wanted it – whether they could sing, dance, perform, or not.
On the day of the preliminary area qualifier, Jun Hyuk went to the auditorium with his acoustic guitar. When he arrived, the young writer he met last time came running out.
“Welcome Jun Hyuk. Come this way.”
It was obvious he was drooling at the marketable young boy.
In the waiting room the young writer led him to the main writer, Production Chief ,Kim Ki Sik and a well-dressed middle-aged woman who looked as though she had made countless men cry in her youth. The two had been holding a meeting.
“Producer Kim, this is the piano genius we told you about. This is Jang Jun Hyuk.”
Producer Kim Ki Shik was already at a loss for words. He could not take his eyes from the long curly hair, tall height, and well proportioned body. Now this. This is he could sell. This would bring viewers!
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m the producer in charge of ‘Tomorrow’s Star’.”
“Yes.”
Jun Hyuk awkwardly shook Producer Kim Ki Shik’s hand lightly and let go.
“We have great expectations for you because you most definitely stand out. Anyway, we’re going to make you and the top 10 the main focus until Star Week. Of course the top 10 varies, but the candidates we predict usually make it into the top 10.”
Jun Hyuk seemed to be half-listening, but Producer Kim kept chatting.
“Since you can’t sing, becoming one of the finalists will be difficult. This program does run on singing.”
Jun Hyuk only nodded his head. A person’s voice was just another instrument, but he could not understand why they made such a differentiation. Songs with lyrics just had text that made it easier to deliver. Ultimately, it was just a relaying of emotion and this could be fully accomplished with a melody from an instrument.
“And since you don’t speak very much, what do you think of going with a chic concept?”
“Chic?”
“Meaning when you’re going through screening and when you’re with the other contestants, you act indifferent and a little annoyed. Maybe even a little snobby?”
The writer next to him pitched in,
“With your image, you have to act a little snobby to look more attractive. We should go with a rebellious image and not that of the kind protagonist in a romantic cartoon.”
Jun Hyuk had no idea what these people were talking about. It wasn’t like they were filming a soap opera, but what was all of this with concept and protagonist?
“Jun Hyuk is naturally chic. You won’t have to worry about it. Jun Hyuk, just be yourself.”
The young writer sensed Jun Hyuk’s discomfort and spoke up again.
“But why the guitar? Aren’t you playing the piano today?”
Producer Kim had already placed a grand piano in the screening room, but there was a guitar case hanging from Jun Hyuk’s back.
“No, I’m going to play the guitar today.”
Producer Kim could not hide his inconvenience. He had already imagined him playing the piano, and a guitar did not have as much impact.
He did look forward to the expectation that Jun Hyuk would sing since he brought out an acoustic guitar.
“What’s the song you prepared for today?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet…..”
“What? Didn’t you bring the guitar to sing a song?”
“No.”
Producer Kim thought that it was an error in judgement to hang their expectations on a kid like this who did whatever he wanted. He even had the thought that with one mistake, they might have to edit out all of Jun Hyuk’s air time.
All that was remaining was to see how they could sell his looks.
After sending Jun Hyuk from the room, the middle-aged woman who had been silent turned towards Producer Kim.
“Producer Kim. Now that I look at you, you have an eye for seeing talent. How did you find him?”
“Our youngest writer found him. What do you think? You think he’ll be any good?”
“Any good? You’ve hit jackpot. Great, our XOR will sponsor on the condition that he makes it into Star Week no matter what.”
The Marketing Director of Korea’s representative casual brand XOR was already thinking of how to use Jun Hyuk as the model for their new line.
“Oh, Director. How can I decide that? There are other kids who can be used so…”
“Are you crazy? We just found a kid who could stand on the runway now and you want me to use something recycled?”
In contrast with the smiling Producer Kim Ki Sik, she held a straight face and waved her hand as if he said something ludicrous.
“Let’s do it like this, Producer Kim.”
“Yes, Director.”
“If you don’t think that child can make it to Star Week, pass him over to us now.”
“Excuse me?”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to make him our exclusive model altogether. He’ll need to have talent as a model of course.”
“So you want to have priority over him?”
“Exactly.”
“Then the sponsorship?”
“If that boy signs a contract with us, we’ll go through with the sponsorship. How does that sound?”
Jun Hyuk’s opinions were unimportant. No teenager in Korea would turn down this opportunity to be made into a model or celebrity.
“As is expected of you, Director. I’ll arrange for a meeting with the legal team.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik gave her a thumbs up.
But Jun Hyuk was not other kids. How would he react to this new idea?
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 6
The waiting room was full of tension and anxiety pumping from the hundreds of applicants. As Jang Jun Hyuk walked in, all eyes turned to him. The female candidates’ wonder and male candidates’ jealousy could all be felt at once.
The attention paid to Jun Hyuk only lasted a moment, and everyone went back to practicing for the audition.
Jun Hyuk plopped down on an empty chair and started tuning his acoustic guitar. Once he was finished tuning the guitar, he had nothing left to do. Naturally, the sounds nearby came into his ears.
“What’s with that bastard?”
“You can’t tell by looking at him? Some entertainment agency sent him. He must be a member of some idol group preparing to debut. They just sent out the best looking kid to gain attention.”
Jun Hyuk heard the two teenagers complaining because of the song they had just been singing.
It seemed like a self-written song. Jun Hyuk heard the rap for the first time and because the beat was alive, his ears had tuned to it.
Jun Hyuk put a finger on his guitar, and started playing the rap he just heard very quietly. No one paid him any attention because it was a simple rhythm, but the two boys reacted differently.
They were astonished that this annoying kid was playing their original song on his guitar.
The simple melody and rhythm went on for about 2 minutes and when they could no longer hear it, the two boys’ expressions changed from surprise to embarrassment. It had clearly sounded like their song, but the second half of the song was completely different.
“By chance, is the song you just played on the guitar our song?”
The two approached Jun Hyuk to check and he nodded nonchalantly.
“It seemed a little different… was it not?”
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 7
When it was his turn, Jun Hyuk went into the temporary studio that had been turned into the panel room. The only face he knew amongst the judges was that of Lee Sung Chul.
“Hi Jang Jun Hyuk. It says here that you’re 17 years old.”
“Hm… It says that you’re an orphan in your introduction… and that you’ve never attended school?”
“Yes.”
The female singer took over Lee Sung Chul’s questioning,
“Does that mean you’re living in an institution now?”
“No. I work and live at a cafe.”
“Cafe?”
“Yes. There’s a cafe in Misari.”
The female singer already looked ready to spill tears with a pitiful expression and only needed to hear a bit more of this sad story to do so.
“It says here that you wandered the streets after you got lost at age 5…..”
Jun Hyuk stared blankly at the female singer. She continued to speak because she thought that they had not understood each other.
“Tell us how you lived while on the streets…”
“Excuse me.”
“Yes.”
The camera had already closed in on Jun Hyuk’s face and the mic had been lowered to catch his wretched and sad childhood story.
“Isn’t this a place where we’re judged by our music? Why are you asking me about my past?”
Everyone in the room froze. The three judges and the production crew could only blink while the audition contestants sat with their jaws dropped.
All of their expressions were saying the same thing.
How could he be so daring in front of the judges?
Only the producer in charge of the program balled up his fists.
‘That’s right. This is it. This is what we need. Something new. Fresh. Spunky!’
There had been no need to request a chic personality from him. He was naturally chic, though he was not sure if it was due to his looks, music, or rough childhood.
Unlike the other children who suffered under the pressure, he had made everyone nervous within 5 minutes.
The female singer was speechless at Jun Hyuk’s bold retort and so veteran Lee Sung Chul took the mic.
“That’s right, music is everything. I am expecting your talent to be as great as you are bold.”
– Brother, drag it out a big longer.
The producer’s desperate request came through the earphones, but Lee Sung Chul ignored it entirely. He had seen countless children who mistakenly believed that they had a great talent. He thought that things like this kids’ attractive looks, advanced piano skill, and mediocre arranging skills had made him arrogant.
It was necessary to judge these types of kids ruthlessly so that they would look back at themselves and try harder. Though of course there were many kids who could not even do that.
Lee Sung Chul readied himself to give criticism and invective.
“Judging by the guitar you brought, it seems like you’ll be singing a folk song… Okay, what song did you prepare?”
“Jung Tae Chun’s ‘Poet’s Town’.”
Upon hearing the name Jung Tae Joon, the 3 judges and the young contestants watching the waiting room monitor began to murmur.
“Jung Tae Chun?”
“Who’s Jung Tae Chun?”
“I don’t know.”
Even in the studio, there were not very many people who remembered Jung Tae Chun. Lee Sung Chul and the composer were the only people to remember Jung Tae Joon’s lyricism that had stirred up the 70s.
Producer Kim pushed the staff urgently,
“Look it up quickly. What year is this song from?”
“It was released in 1978.”
As soon as the staff searched the song’s history on the internet, the producer quickly spoke into the mic,
“Brother, it’s from 1978.”
Lee Sung Chul who had heard the information via the earphone needed to provide lip service to the viewers.
“Was it 1978 for Jung Tae Chun’s ‘Poet’s Town’? I think it was released around then… A teenager singing a song that’s almost 40 years old? Wow.”
The composer continued with Lee Sung Chul’s light banter,
“Will you be able to capture the emotion of a song that was created more than 20 years before you were born and is 10 years before your generation? We look forward to it.”
Jun Hyuk started playing the guitar after placing it on his lap and breathing in gently.
Everyone’s expressions were full of expectation as the soft guitar prelude came out. Could this teenager remake this song that only their parents’ generation could know? How would he express Jung Tae Chun’s heavy tone of longing? This kid’s voice did not have the suited huskiness to it yet.
However, everyone’s expectations collapsed.
As the 10-second prelude ended, the suspense-filled judges became bemused. Instead of singing the lyrics ‘Open the window hm – and look out,’ his 10 fingers started dancing smoothly on the guitar strings.
For the 4 minutes following, there was no voice to be heard and only the melody of the acoustic guitar. When the last of the steady fingering came to an end, the only sound in the studio was the rustling of Jun Hyuk placing his guitar back in its case.
While the three judges sat blankly unable to speak, the producer could be heard shouting urgently through the earphones,
“What are you all doing? You have to talk!”
The first person to speak was the female singer.
“Isn’t there someone on the internet who plays the guitar similarly? Jung Sung Hwa? It sounded to be at that level.”
“We’re very different.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said that we’re very different.”
The singer could not speak, baffled by Jun Hyuk’s snappy replies, and the composer took the mic,
“It is the finger style, but you put in a lot of sliding.”
“Yes.”
“I also get a much rougher sense… I think it would have been better to play this on an electric guitar.”
Jun Hyuk formed a small smile as though he appreciated that there was a person who could hear properly.
“First off, the guitar technique is top level. Most teenagers concentrate on playing the faster components, but Jun Hyuk focused on saving the sentiment of the music. We could say that you were gifted as a guitarist. It was a good performance.”
Lee Sung Chul was the last to speak after the composer’s commentary ended.
“Performing an instrumental is taking a great risk. You are starting with a limitation by forfeiting the delivery provided by lyrics and relying solely on the sound of the instrument. Why did you choose to do an instrumental when it’s such a disadvantage?”
“Because I handle the guitar much better than my voice.”
“You’re saying you play the guitar better than you sing?”
“Basically.’
The producer discovered the smile that had momentarily appeared on the monitor.
‘That kid. He’s being cocky. To the judges and the evaluation.’
He pressed the switch on the mic and yelled,
“Brother, push him more. We need to get a full idea of how cheeky he can be.”
“It isn’t that you can’t sing?”
“A classic guitarist can perform for an hour merely with a guitar, but there is no vocalist who can sing for an hour without accompanying music. There needs to be a piano playing at the bare minimum because the human voice is an imperfect instrument.”
Lee Sung Chul, who had proudly been lauded as the best vocalist throughout his entire life, was left speechless.
“John Lennon’s music can be considered masterpieces, but John Lennon doesn’t sing so well that he gives people goosebumps, does he?”
He had never heard of such insolence. How could a teenager like this pass judgement on John Lennon?
Lee Sung Chul however showed a completely different reaction to Jun Hyuk’s assessment of John Lennon because they were the exact words that he had said on air.
“That’s right. Anyone who wants to make music needs to have his own set of standards. I would like to hear another guitar performance from you, except on the premise that you play in a wholly different style. What do you think? If you pass this round, can you show us a completely different performance?”
“I can play the ‘Poet’s Town I just played in a different style right now. Do you want to hear it?”
“Producer Lee, let’s stop for a second.”
Lee Sung Chul asked to stop recording at Jun Hyuk’s provocative actions. The monitor that the contestants were watching as well as the mic were turned off.
“Wow. That bastard is trouble, isn’t he?”
“Yeah. Arrogance to that extent is an illness.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik who had been watching the stunned contestants outside came running in.
“Alright. Let’s hear it. Let’s see how good you are. Go ahead and play it.”
At Lee Sung Chul’s order, Jun Hyuk pulled out his guitar and started playing again.
Lee Sung Chul and the other judges, the producer and staff did not realize that 30 minutes had passed until after they had heard eight different versions of ‘Poet’s Town’.
The composer was the most astonished. He did not have the confidence to create eight completely different versions of a song even if he were given a month’s time.
This child however, accomplished this difficult task impromptu. Moreover, without modifying once. Even if he had anticipated this situation and come prepared, each song was impressive.
Lee Sung Chul wanted to work with Jun Hyuk as an arranger for his next album, the composer wanted to see his ability to create music, and Producer Kim had the feeling that he had caught the biggest fish of the season.
Jun Hyuk found them inadequate as they were showing such excitement and surprise over such a simple and easy feat.
What is going on?!
“Isn’t this better? I changed it a little because it sounded a bit flat.”
“No, no. You’re right. It sounded way better…..”
Jun Hyuk chuckled at the two boys stuttering in surprise.
“Can we ask you to play that again?”
The two rappers asked cautiously and Jun Hyuk held his guitar again.
“The beat is too fast. I lowered the BPM to 130, so try to match that.”
Jun Hyuk played the guitar with a percussion rhythm and the two rappers matched it, murmuring.
Jun Hyuk stopped playing all of a sudden and spoke,
“There isn’t much time, so just do it as if this were the real evaluation.”
As the music started again, the two boys rapped freely. After repeating it two, then three times, they fully memorized the beat and could not stop smiling at Jun Hyuk, forgetting that they had been complaining about him.
“Excuse me… Would we be able to…”
After the two rappers learned the beat Jun Hyuk altered for them, they had trouble speaking and hesitated. Jun Hyuk saw this and smiled as he spoke.
“It’s okay. If you like this, you can use it.”
They bowed to Jun Hyuk and hurried off.
The person who was most surprised was not the rapper, but the VJ in charge of Jun Hyuk. The general producer had given him a special order to stick to Jun Hyuk.
He took his camera and ran to Producer Kim Ki Sik.
“Excuse me, Producer. Will you take a look at this?”
Producer Kim saw the tape and moaned with delight.
“Wow! This kid is a total catch.”
“Right? This is…..”
“And he’s no joke on the guitar. That rhythm… You’re saying he heard those rappers practicing for a moment and made this, right?”
“Yes. I couldn’t even really hear those rappers practicing.”
The regret he felt when he saw the guitar instead of the piano had already disappeared. He only just remembered Jun Hyuk’s improvisation skill on the piano as it had been shrouded by his handsome face. This boy might be beyond his imagination.
“If you see something good like this while you’re filming, come show me right away as you did now. We need to get interviews.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik ran to the judges’ waiting room with the videos of Jun Hyuk playing the piano at the cafe and the clip he just saw. Lee Sung Chul (who was recognized as the best vocalist in Korea, a former girl group member (who had be a popularity zenith about 10 years ago), and a successful composer (who would not be recognized by the average person) were chatting in the waiting room.
Immediately after they watched the tape that Producer Kim showed them, the composer snapped his fingers and said,
“He learned classical music.”
“Classical?”
“Yes, you can tell by his hands. All 10 fingers are stuck to the keyboard. This is difficult without training. He has for sure received lessons to fix his bad habits.”
Producer Kim handed over a couple sheets of paper.
“This is this kid’s story. He’s only 17 years old and it’s as though he’s filmed a full-blown soap opera.”
Lee Sung Chul looked over Jun Hyuk’s whole story and spoke,
“But why this song?”
“Unfortunately, he can’t sing.”
Lee Sung Chul threw the paper he was holding.
“Then it’s the end. What is he going to do without singing?”
“That’s why we were just thinking of taking him to Star Week. And from the guitar he brought with him, it seems like he might be thinking of singing an easy song…..”
“So? You’re asking us to give him leeway?”
“Yes. Ha ha.”
Unlike the disdainful Lee Sung Chul, the composer showed interest.
“It’s a remarkable talent if he could improvise this rap after hearing it from afar… Why did this kid come out on this program? If he just studies for a few more years, he could become one of the best composers or arrangers.”
“It would be a waste to hide this face in a studio. He would be able to debut as an idol singer right away with just a little preparation. Add the piano to that, and he’s all set to go out on professional broadcasts. Don’t you think that’s what he’s going after?”
With the female singer’s driving words, they settled the preliminaries.
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 8
“Shouldn’t we get the contract in advance?”
“We need to. I’m thinking of selling the song he played today, too.”
When the southern Kyeonggi Province preliminaries ended, the production crew had the intuition that Jun Hyuk’s music would make history. They first needed to make sure they were on contract if they wanted to get the money from the sales.
“More importantly, you know today’s judge Cho Eun Young, right?”
“Yeah.”
“She wanted to release a remake single.”
“Ha ha. Why suddenly a song?”
“It seemed she had tact and intuition. She just wants to get noticed along with Jun Hyuk.”
“Will Jung Tae Chun permit a remake of his song? It’s been a while since he’s lived in seclusion. He won’t be up for a former girl group member turned fashionista or whatever she is singing his song. Don’t you think so?”
“Cho Eun Young knows that too. She’s asking us to make it happen in exchange for all of the profits made from the song.”
“Keke. She’s thinking she can get a permanent spot on some variety show if she can just make this song popular. Demand at events will increase too.”
“That’s right. She’s really clever in that area.”
“Since it’s something we’ll have to do anyway, let’s rush it a bit. Let’s arrange a meeting with the legal team first… Tell them to make sure they get Jun Hyuk to sign the contract.”
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 9
As soon as Jun Hyuk entered the cafe the day after he participated in the preliminaries, there were two men waiting for him.
“Hello. We are from MV channel’s legal team.”
“Legal team?”
“Yes. We came to go over your contract.”
They passed a packet over the table. Yoon Kwang Hun did not pick up the contract and waited for them to speak.
“There isn’t much to it. There will be some issues with the digital tracks once ‘Tomorrow’s Star’ starts, dealing with copyrights and arrangement fees. Lastly, it explains how the digital sales will be handled. Since you’re Jun Hyuk’s guardian, all you have to do is sign it.”
“Okay. I’ll look over it and get back in contact.”
Yoon Kwang Hun spoke without touching the contract on the table.
“Excuse me?”
“I can’t just sign a contract, can I? I said I’ll look over it and let you know.”
“Sir, there really isn’t much to it. And it’s hard to continue with the broadcast without this contract.”
“That means Jun Hyuk can’t participate, right?”
“Yes because copyright issues are always very sensitive.”
“Exactly. It isn’t possible for the information to be simple if it’s such a sensitive issue, is it? I’ll look over it and call you again tomorrow.”
The contract surely contained a lot of unfair points. Kids who were desperate to become stars signed these contracts without looking at it because they would not be allowed to appear on the show without it.
The broadcast’s legal team could never have anticipated that Jun Hyuk was not one of those kids who were desperate to become famous and that Yoon Kwang Hun was not an ordinary cafe owner.
“Sir, you don’t have to sign right away. However, if you read it now and have any questions, we can go over them with you. Wouldn’t that be better?”
Yoon Kwang Hun skipped the general information on the contract and read carefully through the section concerning revenues.
The contract contents were abominable. The best way to make sense of it was to say that their intentions were to stick a straw in Jun Hyuk.
“What is this here? Is it saying that after the broadcast ends, 20% of what Jun Hyuk makes for the next two years goes to the station?”
“Ah, yes. If Jun Hyuk becomes a star, it would be because of our station.”
“Outside of music as well? This is saying that even if he shoots an advertisement, 20% of that will also be shared?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t that also be attributed to our program?”
That was not the end of it. It also said that the station would hold distribution rights to Jun Hyuk’s songs for three years after. Yoon Kwang Hun did not say more about this section.
They would need a distributor anyway and MV channel was top-tier.
However, he could not help but ask when an unforeseen item appeared.
“What are arrangement fees? Jun Hyuk will end up improvising existing songs to sing or play. The station will be taking all of the royalties?”
The legal team answered as if they had been waiting for this.
“Ah, let us explain that part. What goes on air is the contestant arranging the music to sing, but really, professionals are assigned to them. The experts are the ones who arrange the songs perfectly to fit the contestants. Consider it for a moment. Without being a genius, it would be impossible for them to perfectly arrange their mission songs in a matter of hours.”
“So that means pre-selected songs have already been arranged and the contestants only practice them?”
In other words, it meant that the contestants only sang what the station ordered them to.
“Ha ha. Well the song selection isn’t something that our legal team deals with, but it is true that specialists are used in arranging the songs.”
The man on the legal team spoke quickly as he saw Yoon Kwang Hun’s disapproving countenance,
“Excuse me, sir. All contestants of ‘Tomorrow’s Star’ signed this contract over the last five years without exception. Jun Hyuk passed the preliminaries, but he will be edited out completely and we’ll make it as though none of this had happened if this contract isn’t signed.”
“Okay, do that.”
“Excuse me.”
“Didn’t you say that you would make it as though none of this had happened? I’m telling you to do it.”
There is a weak party when negotiating a contract. If MV channel has approached Jun Hyuk with a contract the day after the audition, it means that they were resolved not to lose him.
Tomorrow’s events were unpredictable with Jun Hyuk. He did not want this contract to put Jun Hyuk in a situation where the station was reaping all of the profit for his skill.
Yoon Kwang Hun was also not in a place to sign the contract because he was not Jun Hyuk’s guardian by law.
Will Jun Hyuk sign? Will the MV channel get their evil way? What will happen now?!
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 10
“Producer Kim, the legal team called and Jun Hyuk has refused to sign the contract.”
“What?”
“The cafe owner looked at the contract and said that it was unfair to them… They completely took it apart and sent it back but…..”
“But what?”
“It says that they’ll share the profits of only the music that goes out on our program and nothing else.”
“Geez. They’re saying they have the upper hand, are they? He’s trying to make as much off of the kid as he can. Shit.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik did not want to lose Jun Hyuk. He knew that it was hard to find a musician of this level, not a singer.
He wanted to examine his intuition again.
“Producer Kim, today’s not the day. It feels like we’re holding auditions for the national talent show. How come there’s no one useful?”
The program’s main music producer was grumbling about the contestants’ low potential as if it were the producer’s fault.
“Brother, there’s not one good person?”
“Why are you asking when you know? That handsome kid. The guitar performance.”
“You’re talking about Jun Hyuk?”
“Shit, I cried. How could that kind of emotion come out of a guitar?”
“Then you know those rappers from yesterday? The duet group from Pyeongtaek. What do you think of them?”
“Oh yeah, those kids were good. The guitar and those two stood out the most.”
“Jun Hyuk heard that rap once and arranged the music for them. He changed the chorus a little bit too.”
“Really? After hearing it once?”
“I’m telling you that’s what happened. And that’s after he just happened to hear them practicing next to him in the waiting room. Can you do that too?”
“After hearing it once and on the spot? And hearing it for the first time on top of that? That kid really is a genius.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik made up his mind to sign Jun Hyuk even if he had to modify the contract. If a music producer with 30 years of experience in the industry said that he was a genius, there was no doubt that he was a genius.
Even if they adjusted the profit share so that they were only receiving a small amount, geniuses always made up for it. It was possible that Jun Hyuk alone could bring in more money than all of the other contestants would combined.
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 11
“Jun Hyuk.”
“Yes, sir.”
“MV channel’s legal team just came and they left the contract.”
“The contract?”
“Yeah. The music rights or advertisements that will arise… Anyway, you have to sign a contract like this to be able to continue going out on the program.”
“Okay. You know those types of things well. You always brag that you were good in school… Didn’t you say that you graduated from the best university in Korea and went to a really famous college in America too?
Jun Hyuk gave him a look full of suspicion.
“I knew it…..”
“What do you mean you knew it?”
“I’m just saying I knew it. He he. Does it make sense that someone who was doing so well is now selling coffee in a cafe?”
“Hey! This kid. You want to see my diploma? There were a lot of waves in my life.”
“Oh sure. Then you can handle the contract or whatever it is.”
“But that’s a separate problem. It’s a legal issue.”
“Legal?’
“Yeah. You and I are technically strangers. You need a guardian since you’re still a minor…..”
“Oh. Weren’t you my guardian?”
“We need to have that recognized by the country. That would be a legal guardian.”
“Then we can just do that.”
Jun Hyuk carefully looked at Yoon Kwang Hun.
“Jun Hyuk, there are two ways for me to become your legal guardian. One is to adopt you and become your father and the other is to just be your legal representative and custodian.”
“But sir…”
“Listen to everything I have to say.”
Yoon Kwang Hun stopped Jun Hyuk with his hand as if he knew what he was going to say.
“Okay.”
“A legal custodian’s rights as a guardian disappear automatically once you become an adult. After that, you would decide everything on your own. I am satisfied with being your legal custodian.”
“…..”
He had thought for sure that Yoon Kwang Hun had thought of him as someone like his child, but now he was saying legal custodian. Jun Hyuk’s face was full of disappointment.
“Truthfully, I think of you as my son but a father… it’s a parent’s duty to provide care from birth until adulthood. I didn’t do this. If I were to act selfish, I would adopt you as my son, but I don’t qualify.”
“Sir. You’re the one adult adult who gave me a meal without expecting something in return.”
Jun Hyuk’s eyes flushed with tears as he felt Yoon Kwang Hun’s sincerity.
“Hey, this is getting depressing. Let’s stop talking about it. Just know that I’ll become your legal custodian. I was going to do that this year anyway. You need to make an ID card since you’re 17 years old.”
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 1
“Did you find some good kids?”
The ‘Tomorrow’s Star” crew was scouring the internet in search of performers who could become topics of conversation this season. They interviewed people who had potential to catch interest to see if there was a story to tell. If the growth story and singing skill surpassed expectations, they extended an invitation to audition.
It was enough if there was even a minute story. The writers could blow up that story so it would be suitable to air on the program.
Season 2 of ‘Tomorrow’s Star” had hit jackpot.
The winner of season 2, Heo Jun of Kyeonggi-do, Bucheon dreamt of being a singer while making a scanty living cleaning windows of large buildings. Short, chubby, and in no way considered attractive, he came out on top on singing ability alone and won $200,000.
The dramatic reversal story was that he was competing against 2nd place James Park, a 2nd generation Korean American.
2nd place James Park was the son of a successful businessman in America, at the time attending a prestigious university, and very handsome.
Up to this point was the reversal story that aired on broadcast. The reality?
1st place Heo Jun had an affiliated agency before his appearance on the program. The agency was small and only had a couple singers specializing in event performances. Heo Jun’s main source of income came from the money earned for singing at local events. Of course the pay was not generous.
Washing windows had been just one of the many part time jobs he had taken when he did not have many performances lined up. The writers were the ones who had inflated it to create a reversal story.
He was a good enough singer to be in 1st place. Once they were down to the top 3 contestants however, any one of them could have been the winner without question.
1st place was ultimately an issue of contract conditions. Who laid out the conditions more favorable to the broadcasting station? This was the decisive factor in determining 1st place.
Heo Jun’s company forfeited most of his profits to take this once-in-a-lifetime chance. When he debuted his first album, it blew up on the three main channels, cable music channels, and digital charts, also taking 1st place on all 3 main music programs.
Of course the broadcasting station took most of the profits that came from this. Only in principle was the $200,000 prize money a predecessor to the revenue the singer would make from selling his debut album.
These contract terms are never revealed to the viewers.
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 2
“Senior, take a look at this.”
“What is it?”
“There’s a boy who isn’t very famous, but is steadily gaining popularity. He’s called the pianist of Misari…..”
“Misari? Ha ha. He better not be an old man.”
The junior writer pushed her laptop over.
“What do you think?”
“Ha ha! What is this guy? Is he Won Bin’s little brother?”
[TN] Won Bin is an actor in Korea – famous for his good looks
The main writer of ‘Tomorrow’s Star’ watched the 5 minute video to the very end and pat the junior writer’s head.
“Our junior hit something big. Ho ho.”
“What do you think of the piano? I don’t know much about that.”
“Why weigh on it? He’s playing classical music. With that face, he could play ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ and it would be okay.”
The writers felt as though they had caught the biggest fish of the year. Without delay, they went to the cafe.
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 3
Upon hearing Yoon Kwang Hun’s response that Jun Hyuk could not sing, the writers held an impromptu meeting in the corner.
“Won’t he be okay until the team mission?”
“Exactly. He won’t make it to the top 10, but shouldn’t we have enough to air about him before them?
“Exactly! If he just goes on broadcast, he’ll be more popular than the top 10. We’ll have to push his story as much as possible before the main missions and change the direction later to that of a pianist.”
“Pianist?”
“These girls! You need to think a little. Once the program ends, we can make him go on variety shows and the game’s over when he plays the piano. Entertainment agencies will come flooding in to pick him up. They probably won’t give the winner a second look.”
The broadcast writers did not pay attention to Yoon Kwang Hun and spoke amongst themselves excitedly.
“Excuse me… “
“Yes? Oh, sorry. We were chatting too much on our own, right?”
“Sorry, but most of the agencies have already come with scouting offers.”
“Yes, we know. We figured it would be so. But if he gets popular on our show, the contract conditions change.”
“Contract conditions?”
“Yes. To start, you wouldn’t have to pay the advance fee.”
“Advance fee?”
“Oh, you don’t know about this stuff. A scouting offer doesn’t mean that they’ll just debut the child.”
As soon as Yoon Kwang Hun showed interest, the main writer took the opportunity and started explaining in detail.
“These days, it takes 5 to 7 years to debut an idol group. The costs alone come out to at least $500,000. When there are a lot of members, it’ll reach over $1 million. So they take about $40,000 to $50,000 per person.
“I heard people like that who take money from the kids are scammers. That proper companies don’t demand any money…..”
All of the writers burst out in laughter at Yoon Kwang Hun’s words.
“No, all agencies are the same. The fees for vocal training and dance lessons alone are incredible. And how much are the costs for creating and marketing a debut album? Even after they debut, it’s not like they start making money right away.”
“Among girl groups awaiting their debuts, there are even girls whose parents have invested $10,000 to $20,000 to have them placed in their groups.”
“Only the main member of the group won’t have to pay the company. Instead, she’ll basically be under a slave contract.”
Looking at Yoon Kwang Hun sitting silently with his eyes wide open, the main writer thought that her plan had succeeded.
“So if he goes on our show and presents himself well, you won’t have to pay the advance fee and he can skip years of training.”
She emphasized that it would not cost him anything, but Yoon Kwang Hun’s expression went back to that of apathy.
“I see. Anyway, I understand. I’ll talk to Jun Hyuk and get back in contact, but don’t hold your expectations. Jun Hyuk doesn’t have intentions to become a star or an idol singer.”
The writers had to leave without interviewing Jun Hyuk.
Do you think Yoon Kwang Hun fell for the agency lady’s lies?
Stay tuned….
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 4
When the writers left, Jun Hyuk slowly approached Yoon Kwang Hun.
“Boss.”
“Yea. What?”
“Should… should I go out on that show?”
“What? What show?”
“The audition program. ‘Tomorrow’s Star’.”
“Why? Why would you go on that?”
“From what I heard, the prize money is $500,000?”
Did he want the $500,000 prize money? Jun Hyuk had not revealed any concerns regarding money so far. It seemed like he had only been thinking of music, but had he been hiding it all this time?
Yoon Kwang Hun was slightly taken aback by this unfamiliar aspect of Jun Hyuk.
“But that show picks singers. You need to sing… Do you sing well? To think about it, I’ve never heard you sing.”
“I don’t need to sing. The piano or guitar is enough, don’t you think?”
“Without singing? I’m pretty sure that won’t do. Ha ha.”
“Geez. You still don’t know me? You know how these ladies wet themselves over my piano performances.”
“This kid. Talking like that again… Didn’t I tell you to watch the way you speak? People care a lot about manners in the classical world. You can’t reach the top anyway. Didn’t you hear those women earlier? They’re only putting you on the air until they reach the top 10. The prize money goes to the person in 1st place.”
At the words that only the 1st place winner receives prize money, Jun Hyuk stopped talking. Yoon Kwang Hun started to wonder about Jun Hyuk’s intentions. It seemed that to this day, he had only looked at Jun Hyuk through his musical talent. Only now 17 years old, it was an age to have a lot of interest in stars and celebrities, but he had forgotten because of the music.
“Jun Hyuk. What do you think? Do you want to become an idol singer?”
“I don’t care. I’m okay with anything as long as I can make music.”
“Okay. I’ll make it so that you can dedicate yourself to music in the best environment. Just wait a little.”
“Excuse me? No, it’s okay. I think that this right now is the best environment.”
Jun Hyuk wavered for a moment and started to say what had been on his heart.
“You changed the piano, drum set, electric guitar, everything to the best for me. Haven’t you spent more than $100,000?
“What are you talking about? No, that’s not it. What money do I have?”
“I know hangul and english now. I looked it all up. Everything. It was all really expensive.”
“So? Are you trying to go on the audition show to make back the money for the instruments?”
“There’s that and…..”
From the way his words trailed off, it was evident that he wanted to give the audition a try. He must have wanted to see how he was compared to other people’s music and talent. Yoon Kwang Hun also thought that it would not be a bad idea for Jun Hyuk to meet children with musical talents that differed from his own.
“Then watch the last season. If you still want to go on it after you watch it, go. I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s an experience.”
There was something that Jun Hyuk did not know. An orphan abandoned by his parents as soon as he was born. A pitiful child who had lived on the streets since the age of 5 and who had suffered all types of jarring experiences. Also as attractive as an actor and possessing innate musicality.
The broadcasting station and public would not pay attention to Jun Hyuk’s music, but concentrate more on his intriguing story.
It was worrisome that this might hurt him.
What will happen to Jun Hyuk now?
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 5
The broadcasting station received over a million application video clips, but the number of people who actually qualified was under 1%.
Of this already small number, it was the ones who were already known on the internet or known by word of mouth that had the most spots on the list. The anonymous applicants were just checked casually to see if they had anything unique in their resumes and weren’t really given too much attention. They started by choosing the applicants with unusual histories or funny videos. Because this was entertainment. More than talent, it was important to find something they could sell.
After filtering through the 1st round, thousands of applicants went to the gymnasium or auditorium in their respective areas. These locations were filled with booths set up for each applicant to show off their talents and try to make it to the next round. The broadcasting station’s goal was to find qualifying participants in each area who were cool, admirable, or funny. Search for any real musical talent or ability was a farce. If it could sell, they wanted it – whether they could sing, dance, perform, or not.
On the day of the preliminary area qualifier, Jun Hyuk went to the auditorium with his acoustic guitar. When he arrived, the young writer he met last time came running out.
“Welcome Jun Hyuk. Come this way.”
It was obvious he was drooling at the marketable young boy.
In the waiting room the young writer led him to the main writer, Production Chief ,Kim Ki Sik and a well-dressed middle-aged woman who looked as though she had made countless men cry in her youth. The two had been holding a meeting.
“Producer Kim, this is the piano genius we told you about. This is Jang Jun Hyuk.”
Producer Kim Ki Shik was already at a loss for words. He could not take his eyes from the long curly hair, tall height, and well proportioned body. Now this. This is he could sell. This would bring viewers!
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m the producer in charge of ‘Tomorrow’s Star’.”
“Yes.”
Jun Hyuk awkwardly shook Producer Kim Ki Shik’s hand lightly and let go.
“We have great expectations for you because you most definitely stand out. Anyway, we’re going to make you and the top 10 the main focus until Star Week. Of course the top 10 varies, but the candidates we predict usually make it into the top 10.”
Jun Hyuk seemed to be half-listening, but Producer Kim kept chatting.
“Since you can’t sing, becoming one of the finalists will be difficult. This program does run on singing.”
Jun Hyuk only nodded his head. A person’s voice was just another instrument, but he could not understand why they made such a differentiation. Songs with lyrics just had text that made it easier to deliver. Ultimately, it was just a relaying of emotion and this could be fully accomplished with a melody from an instrument.
“And since you don’t speak very much, what do you think of going with a chic concept?”
“Chic?”
“Meaning when you’re going through screening and when you’re with the other contestants, you act indifferent and a little annoyed. Maybe even a little snobby?”
The writer next to him pitched in,
“With your image, you have to act a little snobby to look more attractive. We should go with a rebellious image and not that of the kind protagonist in a romantic cartoon.”
Jun Hyuk had no idea what these people were talking about. It wasn’t like they were filming a soap opera, but what was all of this with concept and protagonist?
“Jun Hyuk is naturally chic. You won’t have to worry about it. Jun Hyuk, just be yourself.”
The young writer sensed Jun Hyuk’s discomfort and spoke up again.
“But why the guitar? Aren’t you playing the piano today?”
Producer Kim had already placed a grand piano in the screening room, but there was a guitar case hanging from Jun Hyuk’s back.
“No, I’m going to play the guitar today.”
Producer Kim could not hide his inconvenience. He had already imagined him playing the piano, and a guitar did not have as much impact.
He did look forward to the expectation that Jun Hyuk would sing since he brought out an acoustic guitar.
“What’s the song you prepared for today?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet…..”
“What? Didn’t you bring the guitar to sing a song?”
“No.”
Producer Kim thought that it was an error in judgement to hang their expectations on a kid like this who did whatever he wanted. He even had the thought that with one mistake, they might have to edit out all of Jun Hyuk’s air time.
All that was remaining was to see how they could sell his looks.
After sending Jun Hyuk from the room, the middle-aged woman who had been silent turned towards Producer Kim.
“Producer Kim. Now that I look at you, you have an eye for seeing talent. How did you find him?”
“Our youngest writer found him. What do you think? You think he’ll be any good?”
“Any good? You’ve hit jackpot. Great, our XOR will sponsor on the condition that he makes it into Star Week no matter what.”
The Marketing Director of Korea’s representative casual brand XOR was already thinking of how to use Jun Hyuk as the model for their new line.
“Oh, Director. How can I decide that? There are other kids who can be used so…”
“Are you crazy? We just found a kid who could stand on the runway now and you want me to use something recycled?”
In contrast with the smiling Producer Kim Ki Sik, she held a straight face and waved her hand as if he said something ludicrous.
“Let’s do it like this, Producer Kim.”
“Yes, Director.”
“If you don’t think that child can make it to Star Week, pass him over to us now.”
“Excuse me?”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to make him our exclusive model altogether. He’ll need to have talent as a model of course.”
“So you want to have priority over him?”
“Exactly.”
“Then the sponsorship?”
“If that boy signs a contract with us, we’ll go through with the sponsorship. How does that sound?”
Jun Hyuk’s opinions were unimportant. No teenager in Korea would turn down this opportunity to be made into a model or celebrity.
“As is expected of you, Director. I’ll arrange for a meeting with the legal team.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik gave her a thumbs up.
But Jun Hyuk was not other kids. How would he react to this new idea?
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 6
The waiting room was full of tension and anxiety pumping from the hundreds of applicants. As Jang Jun Hyuk walked in, all eyes turned to him. The female candidates’ wonder and male candidates’ jealousy could all be felt at once.
The attention paid to Jun Hyuk only lasted a moment, and everyone went back to practicing for the audition.
Jun Hyuk plopped down on an empty chair and started tuning his acoustic guitar. Once he was finished tuning the guitar, he had nothing left to do. Naturally, the sounds nearby came into his ears.
“What’s with that bastard?”
“You can’t tell by looking at him? Some entertainment agency sent him. He must be a member of some idol group preparing to debut. They just sent out the best looking kid to gain attention.”
Jun Hyuk heard the two teenagers complaining because of the song they had just been singing.
It seemed like a self-written song. Jun Hyuk heard the rap for the first time and because the beat was alive, his ears had tuned to it.
Jun Hyuk put a finger on his guitar, and started playing the rap he just heard very quietly. No one paid him any attention because it was a simple rhythm, but the two boys reacted differently.
They were astonished that this annoying kid was playing their original song on his guitar.
The simple melody and rhythm went on for about 2 minutes and when they could no longer hear it, the two boys’ expressions changed from surprise to embarrassment. It had clearly sounded like their song, but the second half of the song was completely different.
“By chance, is the song you just played on the guitar our song?”
The two approached Jun Hyuk to check and he nodded nonchalantly.
“It seemed a little different… was it not?”
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 7
When it was his turn, Jun Hyuk went into the temporary studio that had been turned into the panel room. The only face he knew amongst the judges was that of Lee Sung Chul.
“Hi Jang Jun Hyuk. It says here that you’re 17 years old.”
“Hm… It says that you’re an orphan in your introduction… and that you’ve never attended school?”
“Yes.”
The female singer took over Lee Sung Chul’s questioning,
“Does that mean you’re living in an institution now?”
“No. I work and live at a cafe.”
“Cafe?”
“Yes. There’s a cafe in Misari.”
The female singer already looked ready to spill tears with a pitiful expression and only needed to hear a bit more of this sad story to do so.
“It says here that you wandered the streets after you got lost at age 5…..”
Jun Hyuk stared blankly at the female singer. She continued to speak because she thought that they had not understood each other.
“Tell us how you lived while on the streets…”
“Excuse me.”
“Yes.”
The camera had already closed in on Jun Hyuk’s face and the mic had been lowered to catch his wretched and sad childhood story.
“Isn’t this a place where we’re judged by our music? Why are you asking me about my past?”
Everyone in the room froze. The three judges and the production crew could only blink while the audition contestants sat with their jaws dropped.
All of their expressions were saying the same thing.
How could he be so daring in front of the judges?
Only the producer in charge of the program balled up his fists.
‘That’s right. This is it. This is what we need. Something new. Fresh. Spunky!’
There had been no need to request a chic personality from him. He was naturally chic, though he was not sure if it was due to his looks, music, or rough childhood.
Unlike the other children who suffered under the pressure, he had made everyone nervous within 5 minutes.
The female singer was speechless at Jun Hyuk’s bold retort and so veteran Lee Sung Chul took the mic.
“That’s right, music is everything. I am expecting your talent to be as great as you are bold.”
– Brother, drag it out a big longer.
The producer’s desperate request came through the earphones, but Lee Sung Chul ignored it entirely. He had seen countless children who mistakenly believed that they had a great talent. He thought that things like this kids’ attractive looks, advanced piano skill, and mediocre arranging skills had made him arrogant.
It was necessary to judge these types of kids ruthlessly so that they would look back at themselves and try harder. Though of course there were many kids who could not even do that.
Lee Sung Chul readied himself to give criticism and invective.
“Judging by the guitar you brought, it seems like you’ll be singing a folk song… Okay, what song did you prepare?”
“Jung Tae Chun’s ‘Poet’s Town’.”
Upon hearing the name Jung Tae Joon, the 3 judges and the young contestants watching the waiting room monitor began to murmur.
“Jung Tae Chun?”
“Who’s Jung Tae Chun?”
“I don’t know.”
Even in the studio, there were not very many people who remembered Jung Tae Chun. Lee Sung Chul and the composer were the only people to remember Jung Tae Joon’s lyricism that had stirred up the 70s.
Producer Kim pushed the staff urgently,
“Look it up quickly. What year is this song from?”
“It was released in 1978.”
As soon as the staff searched the song’s history on the internet, the producer quickly spoke into the mic,
“Brother, it’s from 1978.”
Lee Sung Chul who had heard the information via the earphone needed to provide lip service to the viewers.
“Was it 1978 for Jung Tae Chun’s ‘Poet’s Town’? I think it was released around then… A teenager singing a song that’s almost 40 years old? Wow.”
The composer continued with Lee Sung Chul’s light banter,
“Will you be able to capture the emotion of a song that was created more than 20 years before you were born and is 10 years before your generation? We look forward to it.”
Jun Hyuk started playing the guitar after placing it on his lap and breathing in gently.
Everyone’s expressions were full of expectation as the soft guitar prelude came out. Could this teenager remake this song that only their parents’ generation could know? How would he express Jung Tae Chun’s heavy tone of longing? This kid’s voice did not have the suited huskiness to it yet.
However, everyone’s expectations collapsed.
As the 10-second prelude ended, the suspense-filled judges became bemused. Instead of singing the lyrics ‘Open the window hm – and look out,’ his 10 fingers started dancing smoothly on the guitar strings.
For the 4 minutes following, there was no voice to be heard and only the melody of the acoustic guitar. When the last of the steady fingering came to an end, the only sound in the studio was the rustling of Jun Hyuk placing his guitar back in its case.
While the three judges sat blankly unable to speak, the producer could be heard shouting urgently through the earphones,
“What are you all doing? You have to talk!”
The first person to speak was the female singer.
“Isn’t there someone on the internet who plays the guitar similarly? Jung Sung Hwa? It sounded to be at that level.”
“We’re very different.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said that we’re very different.”
The singer could not speak, baffled by Jun Hyuk’s snappy replies, and the composer took the mic,
“It is the finger style, but you put in a lot of sliding.”
“Yes.”
“I also get a much rougher sense… I think it would have been better to play this on an electric guitar.”
Jun Hyuk formed a small smile as though he appreciated that there was a person who could hear properly.
“First off, the guitar technique is top level. Most teenagers concentrate on playing the faster components, but Jun Hyuk focused on saving the sentiment of the music. We could say that you were gifted as a guitarist. It was a good performance.”
Lee Sung Chul was the last to speak after the composer’s commentary ended.
“Performing an instrumental is taking a great risk. You are starting with a limitation by forfeiting the delivery provided by lyrics and relying solely on the sound of the instrument. Why did you choose to do an instrumental when it’s such a disadvantage?”
“Because I handle the guitar much better than my voice.”
“You’re saying you play the guitar better than you sing?”
“Basically.’
The producer discovered the smile that had momentarily appeared on the monitor.
‘That kid. He’s being cocky. To the judges and the evaluation.’
He pressed the switch on the mic and yelled,
“Brother, push him more. We need to get a full idea of how cheeky he can be.”
“It isn’t that you can’t sing?”
“A classic guitarist can perform for an hour merely with a guitar, but there is no vocalist who can sing for an hour without accompanying music. There needs to be a piano playing at the bare minimum because the human voice is an imperfect instrument.”
Lee Sung Chul, who had proudly been lauded as the best vocalist throughout his entire life, was left speechless.
“John Lennon’s music can be considered masterpieces, but John Lennon doesn’t sing so well that he gives people goosebumps, does he?”
He had never heard of such insolence. How could a teenager like this pass judgement on John Lennon?
Lee Sung Chul however showed a completely different reaction to Jun Hyuk’s assessment of John Lennon because they were the exact words that he had said on air.
“That’s right. Anyone who wants to make music needs to have his own set of standards. I would like to hear another guitar performance from you, except on the premise that you play in a wholly different style. What do you think? If you pass this round, can you show us a completely different performance?”
“I can play the ‘Poet’s Town I just played in a different style right now. Do you want to hear it?”
“Producer Lee, let’s stop for a second.”
Lee Sung Chul asked to stop recording at Jun Hyuk’s provocative actions. The monitor that the contestants were watching as well as the mic were turned off.
“Wow. That bastard is trouble, isn’t he?”
“Yeah. Arrogance to that extent is an illness.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik who had been watching the stunned contestants outside came running in.
“Alright. Let’s hear it. Let’s see how good you are. Go ahead and play it.”
At Lee Sung Chul’s order, Jun Hyuk pulled out his guitar and started playing again.
Lee Sung Chul and the other judges, the producer and staff did not realize that 30 minutes had passed until after they had heard eight different versions of ‘Poet’s Town’.
The composer was the most astonished. He did not have the confidence to create eight completely different versions of a song even if he were given a month’s time.
This child however, accomplished this difficult task impromptu. Moreover, without modifying once. Even if he had anticipated this situation and come prepared, each song was impressive.
Lee Sung Chul wanted to work with Jun Hyuk as an arranger for his next album, the composer wanted to see his ability to create music, and Producer Kim had the feeling that he had caught the biggest fish of the season.
Jun Hyuk found them inadequate as they were showing such excitement and surprise over such a simple and easy feat.
What is going on?!
“Isn’t this better? I changed it a little because it sounded a bit flat.”
“No, no. You’re right. It sounded way better…..”
Jun Hyuk chuckled at the two boys stuttering in surprise.
“Can we ask you to play that again?”
The two rappers asked cautiously and Jun Hyuk held his guitar again.
“The beat is too fast. I lowered the BPM to 130, so try to match that.”
Jun Hyuk played the guitar with a percussion rhythm and the two rappers matched it, murmuring.
Jun Hyuk stopped playing all of a sudden and spoke,
“There isn’t much time, so just do it as if this were the real evaluation.”
As the music started again, the two boys rapped freely. After repeating it two, then three times, they fully memorized the beat and could not stop smiling at Jun Hyuk, forgetting that they had been complaining about him.
“Excuse me… Would we be able to…”
After the two rappers learned the beat Jun Hyuk altered for them, they had trouble speaking and hesitated. Jun Hyuk saw this and smiled as he spoke.
“It’s okay. If you like this, you can use it.”
They bowed to Jun Hyuk and hurried off.
The person who was most surprised was not the rapper, but the VJ in charge of Jun Hyuk. The general producer had given him a special order to stick to Jun Hyuk.
He took his camera and ran to Producer Kim Ki Sik.
“Excuse me, Producer. Will you take a look at this?”
Producer Kim saw the tape and moaned with delight.
“Wow! This kid is a total catch.”
“Right? This is…..”
“And he’s no joke on the guitar. That rhythm… You’re saying he heard those rappers practicing for a moment and made this, right?”
“Yes. I couldn’t even really hear those rappers practicing.”
The regret he felt when he saw the guitar instead of the piano had already disappeared. He only just remembered Jun Hyuk’s improvisation skill on the piano as it had been shrouded by his handsome face. This boy might be beyond his imagination.
“If you see something good like this while you’re filming, come show me right away as you did now. We need to get interviews.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik ran to the judges’ waiting room with the videos of Jun Hyuk playing the piano at the cafe and the clip he just saw. Lee Sung Chul (who was recognized as the best vocalist in Korea, a former girl group member (who had be a popularity zenith about 10 years ago), and a successful composer (who would not be recognized by the average person) were chatting in the waiting room.
Immediately after they watched the tape that Producer Kim showed them, the composer snapped his fingers and said,
“He learned classical music.”
“Classical?”
“Yes, you can tell by his hands. All 10 fingers are stuck to the keyboard. This is difficult without training. He has for sure received lessons to fix his bad habits.”
Producer Kim handed over a couple sheets of paper.
“This is this kid’s story. He’s only 17 years old and it’s as though he’s filmed a full-blown soap opera.”
Lee Sung Chul looked over Jun Hyuk’s whole story and spoke,
“But why this song?”
“Unfortunately, he can’t sing.”
Lee Sung Chul threw the paper he was holding.
“Then it’s the end. What is he going to do without singing?”
“That’s why we were just thinking of taking him to Star Week. And from the guitar he brought with him, it seems like he might be thinking of singing an easy song…..”
“So? You’re asking us to give him leeway?”
“Yes. Ha ha.”
Unlike the disdainful Lee Sung Chul, the composer showed interest.
“It’s a remarkable talent if he could improvise this rap after hearing it from afar… Why did this kid come out on this program? If he just studies for a few more years, he could become one of the best composers or arrangers.”
“It would be a waste to hide this face in a studio. He would be able to debut as an idol singer right away with just a little preparation. Add the piano to that, and he’s all set to go out on professional broadcasts. Don’t you think that’s what he’s going after?”
With the female singer’s driving words, they settled the preliminaries.
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 8
“Shouldn’t we get the contract in advance?”
“We need to. I’m thinking of selling the song he played today, too.”
When the southern Kyeonggi Province preliminaries ended, the production crew had the intuition that Jun Hyuk’s music would make history. They first needed to make sure they were on contract if they wanted to get the money from the sales.
“More importantly, you know today’s judge Cho Eun Young, right?”
“Yeah.”
“She wanted to release a remake single.”
“Ha ha. Why suddenly a song?”
“It seemed she had tact and intuition. She just wants to get noticed along with Jun Hyuk.”
“Will Jung Tae Chun permit a remake of his song? It’s been a while since he’s lived in seclusion. He won’t be up for a former girl group member turned fashionista or whatever she is singing his song. Don’t you think so?”
“Cho Eun Young knows that too. She’s asking us to make it happen in exchange for all of the profits made from the song.”
“Keke. She’s thinking she can get a permanent spot on some variety show if she can just make this song popular. Demand at events will increase too.”
“That’s right. She’s really clever in that area.”
“Since it’s something we’ll have to do anyway, let’s rush it a bit. Let’s arrange a meeting with the legal team first… Tell them to make sure they get Jun Hyuk to sign the contract.”
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 9
As soon as Jun Hyuk entered the cafe the day after he participated in the preliminaries, there were two men waiting for him.
“Hello. We are from MV channel’s legal team.”
“Legal team?”
“Yes. We came to go over your contract.”
They passed a packet over the table. Yoon Kwang Hun did not pick up the contract and waited for them to speak.
“There isn’t much to it. There will be some issues with the digital tracks once ‘Tomorrow’s Star’ starts, dealing with copyrights and arrangement fees. Lastly, it explains how the digital sales will be handled. Since you’re Jun Hyuk’s guardian, all you have to do is sign it.”
“Okay. I’ll look over it and get back in contact.”
Yoon Kwang Hun spoke without touching the contract on the table.
“Excuse me?”
“I can’t just sign a contract, can I? I said I’ll look over it and let you know.”
“Sir, there really isn’t much to it. And it’s hard to continue with the broadcast without this contract.”
“That means Jun Hyuk can’t participate, right?”
“Yes because copyright issues are always very sensitive.”
“Exactly. It isn’t possible for the information to be simple if it’s such a sensitive issue, is it? I’ll look over it and call you again tomorrow.”
The contract surely contained a lot of unfair points. Kids who were desperate to become stars signed these contracts without looking at it because they would not be allowed to appear on the show without it.
The broadcast’s legal team could never have anticipated that Jun Hyuk was not one of those kids who were desperate to become famous and that Yoon Kwang Hun was not an ordinary cafe owner.
“Sir, you don’t have to sign right away. However, if you read it now and have any questions, we can go over them with you. Wouldn’t that be better?”
Yoon Kwang Hun skipped the general information on the contract and read carefully through the section concerning revenues.
The contract contents were abominable. The best way to make sense of it was to say that their intentions were to stick a straw in Jun Hyuk.
“What is this here? Is it saying that after the broadcast ends, 20% of what Jun Hyuk makes for the next two years goes to the station?”
“Ah, yes. If Jun Hyuk becomes a star, it would be because of our station.”
“Outside of music as well? This is saying that even if he shoots an advertisement, 20% of that will also be shared?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t that also be attributed to our program?”
That was not the end of it. It also said that the station would hold distribution rights to Jun Hyuk’s songs for three years after. Yoon Kwang Hun did not say more about this section.
They would need a distributor anyway and MV channel was top-tier.
However, he could not help but ask when an unforeseen item appeared.
“What are arrangement fees? Jun Hyuk will end up improvising existing songs to sing or play. The station will be taking all of the royalties?”
The legal team answered as if they had been waiting for this.
“Ah, let us explain that part. What goes on air is the contestant arranging the music to sing, but really, professionals are assigned to them. The experts are the ones who arrange the songs perfectly to fit the contestants. Consider it for a moment. Without being a genius, it would be impossible for them to perfectly arrange their mission songs in a matter of hours.”
“So that means pre-selected songs have already been arranged and the contestants only practice them?”
In other words, it meant that the contestants only sang what the station ordered them to.
“Ha ha. Well the song selection isn’t something that our legal team deals with, but it is true that specialists are used in arranging the songs.”
The man on the legal team spoke quickly as he saw Yoon Kwang Hun’s disapproving countenance,
“Excuse me, sir. All contestants of ‘Tomorrow’s Star’ signed this contract over the last five years without exception. Jun Hyuk passed the preliminaries, but he will be edited out completely and we’ll make it as though none of this had happened if this contract isn’t signed.”
“Okay, do that.”
“Excuse me.”
“Didn’t you say that you would make it as though none of this had happened? I’m telling you to do it.”
There is a weak party when negotiating a contract. If MV channel has approached Jun Hyuk with a contract the day after the audition, it means that they were resolved not to lose him.
Tomorrow’s events were unpredictable with Jun Hyuk. He did not want this contract to put Jun Hyuk in a situation where the station was reaping all of the profit for his skill.
Yoon Kwang Hun was also not in a place to sign the contract because he was not Jun Hyuk’s guardian by law.
Will Jun Hyuk sign? Will the MV channel get their evil way? What will happen now?!
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 10
“Producer Kim, the legal team called and Jun Hyuk has refused to sign the contract.”
“What?”
“The cafe owner looked at the contract and said that it was unfair to them… They completely took it apart and sent it back but…..”
“But what?”
“It says that they’ll share the profits of only the music that goes out on our program and nothing else.”
“Geez. They’re saying they have the upper hand, are they? He’s trying to make as much off of the kid as he can. Shit.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik did not want to lose Jun Hyuk. He knew that it was hard to find a musician of this level, not a singer.
He wanted to examine his intuition again.
“Producer Kim, today’s not the day. It feels like we’re holding auditions for the national talent show. How come there’s no one useful?”
The program’s main music producer was grumbling about the contestants’ low potential as if it were the producer’s fault.
“Brother, there’s not one good person?”
“Why are you asking when you know? That handsome kid. The guitar performance.”
“You’re talking about Jun Hyuk?”
“Shit, I cried. How could that kind of emotion come out of a guitar?”
“Then you know those rappers from yesterday? The duet group from Pyeongtaek. What do you think of them?”
“Oh yeah, those kids were good. The guitar and those two stood out the most.”
“Jun Hyuk heard that rap once and arranged the music for them. He changed the chorus a little bit too.”
“Really? After hearing it once?”
“I’m telling you that’s what happened. And that’s after he just happened to hear them practicing next to him in the waiting room. Can you do that too?”
“After hearing it once and on the spot? And hearing it for the first time on top of that? That kid really is a genius.”
Producer Kim Ki Sik made up his mind to sign Jun Hyuk even if he had to modify the contract. If a music producer with 30 years of experience in the industry said that he was a genius, there was no doubt that he was a genius.
Even if they adjusted the profit share so that they were only receiving a small amount, geniuses always made up for it. It was possible that Jun Hyuk alone could bring in more money than all of the other contestants would combined.
God’s Song
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part 11
“Jun Hyuk.”
“Yes, sir.”
“MV channel’s legal team just came and they left the contract.”
“The contract?”
“Yeah. The music rights or advertisements that will arise… Anyway, you have to sign a contract like this to be able to continue going out on the program.”
“Okay. You know those types of things well. You always brag that you were good in school… Didn’t you say that you graduated from the best university in Korea and went to a really famous college in America too?
Jun Hyuk gave him a look full of suspicion.
“I knew it…..”
“What do you mean you knew it?”
“I’m just saying I knew it. He he. Does it make sense that someone who was doing so well is now selling coffee in a cafe?”
“Hey! This kid. You want to see my diploma? There were a lot of waves in my life.”
“Oh sure. Then you can handle the contract or whatever it is.”
“But that’s a separate problem. It’s a legal issue.”
“Legal?’
“Yeah. You and I are technically strangers. You need a guardian since you’re still a minor…..”
“Oh. Weren’t you my guardian?”
“We need to have that recognized by the country. That would be a legal guardian.”
“Then we can just do that.”
Jun Hyuk carefully looked at Yoon Kwang Hun.
“Jun Hyuk, there are two ways for me to become your legal guardian. One is to adopt you and become your father and the other is to just be your legal representative and custodian.”
“But sir…”
“Listen to everything I have to say.”
Yoon Kwang Hun stopped Jun Hyuk with his hand as if he knew what he was going to say.
“Okay.”
“A legal custodian’s rights as a guardian disappear automatically once you become an adult. After that, you would decide everything on your own. I am satisfied with being your legal custodian.”
“…..”
He had thought for sure that Yoon Kwang Hun had thought of him as someone like his child, but now he was saying legal custodian. Jun Hyuk’s face was full of disappointment.
“Truthfully, I think of you as my son but a father… it’s a parent’s duty to provide care from birth until adulthood. I didn’t do this. If I were to act selfish, I would adopt you as my son, but I don’t qualify.”
“Sir. You’re the one adult adult who gave me a meal without expecting something in return.”
Jun Hyuk’s eyes flushed with tears as he felt Yoon Kwang Hun’s sincerity.
“Hey, this is getting depressing. Let’s stop talking about it. Just know that I’ll become your legal custodian. I was going to do that this year anyway. You need to make an ID card since you’re 17 years old.”
