Chapter 19: Wrong Song
June looked around the hall to see if Jaeyong was looking at anyone else. However, he couldn't be mistaken. RAVEN's leader was looking right at him!
Was he insinuating that June wasn't serious about becoming an idol?
June was probably the most serious out of everybody else in this room. The others want to debut because they long to continue singing and dancing on stage. June was the only one doing this for his sister's life!
He clicked his tongue and looked at this guy's stats.
[Lee Jaeyong, born in 1998
- Vocals: B-
- Dance: A-
- Visual: B+
- Rap: B+
- Charm: A-]
This lad was even younger than June when he was still Jun Hao. June ought to teach him a lesson if they crossed paths.
The two other members had similar skill sets as Jaeyong. They didn't have a grade that was less than C+. Well, that was only expected from already-debuted idols.
"I can see you're very passionate about this," Woo-jin noted. "You can start whenever you're ready."
The three boys went to their formation while Jaeyong signaled the sound team to start the music. A familiar tune started playing, causing most of the trainees to gasp in shock.
"They're doing their own song?"
"It's their most popular song, too. How come they made this decision?"
June frowned. This was definitely a risky decision. While it would be wise to perform something they've probably performed a hundred times, there was always a risk for comparison if they don't do it as well.
And since the main rapper, Luke, had left the group, this was the first time RAVEN would perform the song once again. June still wondered if they could pull it off, considering the song is very rap-heavy.
The song started with Jaeyong covering Luke's iconic rap part. June's frown deepened. He had heard this song before. It was one of Mei Ling's favorites when it came out. He had to endure listening to it for two weeks after that.
So, he already knew what it originally sounded like. Luke's rap tone best suited this type of trap beat, and part of why it became so famous is because of his part. However, with Jaeyong's tone, which is more fitted for boom bap, the rap was quite disappointing.
"Yo, listen up, I got a story to tell.
'Bout never giving up, even when life's a living hell.
Dreams are the fuel, the fire deep inside.
Struggles tryna bring us down, don't let 'em override."
The next parts were sung by the original members, and it sounded just like the recording.
However, an ambiguous feeling still surrounded the hall.
"I remember when I started, full of passion and drive.
Thought everything would be smooth, that I would surely thrive
But the road got bumpy, obstacles in my sight.
Challenges and setbacks tested my might.
But I refused to surrender; I ain't backing down.
I kept grinding, chasing dreams all around.
Every failure was a lesson, every setback a chance
To rise stronger, I took my stance."
It gave a sense that they didn't really improve their skills and became stagnant for the two years when they weren't active.
As the last chorus played, the mentors and trainees still didn't know how to react.
The performance was good, but it really wasn't any better than how they'd performed it before. June pursed his lips. It went just as he had expected. If they were a group that hadn't debuted before and did this exact performance, they would have gotten five stars—there was no doubt.
However, since they did their own song without any improvements, none of them would probably get five stars at all.
"I won't give up; I won't let go.
I'll keep pushing forward and let my true colors show.
When the going gets tough, I'll fight, I'll strive.
I won't back down; I'll keep my dreams alive."
The song ended, and yet the claps weren't instantaneous. It only started when June clapped, causing a domino effect.
Minho took the mic and let out a disappointed sigh. "You guys are good, but you're not any better."
Jaeyong's face fell while the two other members cast their heads to the ground.
"I feel like I'm watching the old RAVEN," Jihyun added. "I don't think this was the right song choice for you. Did you get lazy and just pick one of your songs to get it over with?"
Evan opened his mouth to speak, but Jaeyong brought his mic down. The two of them shared a silent conversation. They knew how much hard work and effort they put into the performance. However, retaliating will only make matters worse. They'll only be branded with a bad image at the very start of the season.
"Jaeyong's voice also doesn't match the first part of the song. I can't help but compare the original with this one," Bone continued. "It would have been better if you chose another song. You guys aren't RAVEN from now on. You're aspiring idols."
"That is noted, mentors," Jaeyong said despite the heavy feeling in his heart.
Minho sighed. "Who picked this song?"
Evan turned to their Japanese member, Akira. It was him who had suggested that they try to go back to the past and perform their old song.
"It was me," Jaeyong said, taking the blame for their wrong song choice. His two members wanted to say something, but he gave them a stern look.
"Ah, that's disappointing," Minho said. "Let us deliberate for a while before giving you your stars."
The trainees whispered among themselves as the mentors deliberated.
"Ah, what a shame. I was looking forward to their performance the most."
"Yeah, I'm even better than them, right?"
"I guess the group crumbled for a reason."
Jisung looked down at his lap as he heard the chatters around him.
"They're so mean, brother," he said to June. "RAVEN made a big decision to come here. I don't know why they're getting so much hate."
"It's normal," June said. "They've been placed on a higher standard, so the judging is quite biased. Besides, their song choice wasn't the best. I think they'll be around the same level as us."
"What?" Jisung exclaimed. "Then, does that mean we'll get to train with them?" he asked with sparkling eyes. "I can't wait! I'm going to ask for a picture with Jaeyong."
June shook his head. This young teen was still innocent, after all.
"Four stars—Evan and Akira."
"Three stars—Jaeyong."
Evan and Akira felt quite bad for their leader, but Jaeyong continued to look unfazed.
"Thank you, mentors," they said in unison, bowing before they exited the stage.
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Chapter 20: Signal Song
June sighed in relief when the auditions finally ended. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was already evening. They've been filming for ten hours straight! It was no wonder he was so sleepy.
He stood up from his seat, but Jisung quickly pulled him down.
"What are ya doing?" June asked.
"Where are you going? The mentors still have an announcement."
June wanted to lie down already. Can the mentors wait until tomorrow to tell them whatever it is they're going to tell?
"Thank you for sticking with us, trainees. You are now given your own stars, which reflect the classes you will be in. Trainees with similar stars will train with you from here on out," Jihyun said.
"If you got the stars you desired, congratulations. However, if you aren't satisfied with your current level, do not fret. This is only the initial assessment. After three days, we will assess you once again and give you the stars you deserve."
June looked at the LED screen in advance. He already knew what was coming next.
Just then, the speakers busted a loud tune, startling some of the trainees. Even June, who usually wasn't as jumpy, felt his heart jump to the sound of loud music.
"In the depths of my mind, I had a vision so clear,
A dream so vivid it fueled my fears.
But I knew deep down I couldn't do it alone,
I needed the strength of those who called me their own."
The first verse sounded quite emotional and contemporary, setting the hopeful tone of the song.
"They say dreams are just fantasies, illusions we chase,
But with the right people, they become our saving grace.
Together we rise, we conquer, and we soar,
As dreams come true, we'll shout it out and so much more."
The difficult dance was finally shown.
"Dreams come true when we're together,
Hand in hand, in stormy weather.
With the people around, we'll reach for the sky,
United as one, our spirits flying high.
United as one, our spirits flying high!
So let's celebrate the dreams that come true,
With faithful friends, there's nothing we can't do.
Together we'll conquer, with dreams as our guide.
As dreams come true, we'll dance side by side."
The awe in the room was evident as the signal song faded. Azure outdid themselves once again. The song wasn't June's style of music, but the lyrics and tune already embedded itself in his mind, repeating over and over again. He already knew that the song would become a hit once it aired.
However, the trainees' amazement quickly turned to nervousness when they realized they would be performing this song.
"The pitch is quite high," Yuri, the capable vocalist, said.
"If it's high for you, then how would it be for me?" Steel asked in distress. "It sounds like it's in the female key."
"We have to do this while dancing?" a zero-star trainee exasperatedly asked. "I don't know. I give up!"
"Ah, the dance is easy," Jisung said. "But singing it would be quite hard."
June raised his eyebrows. The dance was easy? He could already see himself struggling with the choreography. He needed to complete his missions quickly to level up his dance skills.
"Settle down, trainees," Minho said. "I know the signal song has deeply touched your hearts, but we still have some things to say. As I said earlier, you will be reevaluated in three days. All of you will be reevaluated with the song you just heard—Dream on Cloud Nine."
"Three days?" a two-star trainee exclaimed. "I can barely learn a routine in a week. We're only getting three days?"
"The past seasons have done it," Woo-jin said. "So, for the people complaining without even trying, reevaluate your dreams again. Do you really want this?"
The room turned silent.
"Again, these three days would be filled with mentoring and training. Of course, we don't expect you to do this alone. Starting tomorrow, you will have general and specialized lessons per class. Then, after three days, you shall perform this song live in front of the mentors and trainees, where we will give you your new star level. Got it, trainees?"
"Yes, mentor," the trainees said in unison.
"Now, I'm sure most of you have watched the past seasons," Hyerin said. "Not only will the signal song be used for reevaluation, but it would also determine your standing on the signal song performance."
June nodded. The signal song of the season usually airs even before the first episode. The 100 participants were arranged like a pyramid, with the top class at the highest and the bottom class at the lowest. The top class got the most screen time, while those in the bottom class would be lucky if they were even included in the group shot. It was a harsh segregation of skill and popularity.
"This year, it's going to be different," Gun said. "If last year, all of the trainees were given the opportunity to stand on the same extravagant stage, it wouldn't be like that this year. Instead of filming just one performance video, each class will be given the opportunity to film a performance video of their own."
The trainees chattered.
"Well, isn't that a good thing?" Minx, who got two stars, asked the older trainees. "We no longer have to fight for screen time since we'd be a smaller number."
"That's honestly better!" another two-star trainee exclaimed. "I don't want to be fighting with the five-stars."
June continued to listen. Surely, there must be a hidden agenda. Azure wouldn't have set such a big budget to film five different performance videos.
"However, even if all classes are given the opportunity to shoot a performance video, it does not mean that you will have the same budget. Those with five stars will be given an unlimited budget for their performance, so they can use that for the costumes, effects, and the like. The budget for the video will lessen as the tiers go down."
"Oh, shocks! So we'll be stuck with pennies if we end up in zero stars? I don't want this system anymore. Let's just go back to how it was before," a zero-star trainee complained.
"So make sure to do your best, trainees," Minho said. "All performance videos will be uploaded on YouWatch one week from now, and the video with the most number of views within 24 hours will be aired on the Azure channel."
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