Chapter 62

Chapter 62

While the round proceeding other participants gathered sitting in the big waiting room and practicing.

Also watching the on-site situation with the big monitor hung in the waiting room.

“Wow! Look at those clothes what?”

“Looking like that really seems idol.”

“Wow, those cool?”

Inside the screen neatly dressed Oktap hung big.

Cheap costume urgently procured but.

All five good proportions so clothes look excellent.

“Wow, but really all five tremendously good-looking.”

“Kim Jihu? That kid can do celebrity right away?”

“Was Kang Min that good-looking?”

“Hey, even so Cha Seoha overwhelming.”

“No because like that idol controversy arises.”

“Bad example of good-looking.”

To other participants also Oktap a big subject of interest.

Skillful high school band that suddenly appeared in the scene.

Troublemaker who dragged big and small controversies but coolly overturned the board.

Plus good-looking appearance.

Attention concentrating on what song such guys brought.

There were also teams hoping did well.

Controversy subsided but still recognition of Oktap as annoying band remaining.

And a little later.

“Oktap will standby!”

Around the time various emotions toward Oktap fully filling the waiting room.

Oktap’s stage that finished tuning started.

Kim Jihu’s synthesizer of blunt texture picking out chords.

Other instruments not yet appeared but most people watching this stage could know the song’s identity.

Because too famous song.

“Michael Jackson?”

“Beat It?”

“Oh? Doing this?”

“Jackson...”

Park Cheolhwan had imagined what song Oktap would bring this round.

As expected one of two.

One popular rock music Oktap usually does well.

And another music with more depth than last round.

Neither.

The music of the emperor of pop.

A song with popularity and orthodoxy. Chose a song catching both rabbits.

“Smart guy.”

But that not necessarily only good choice.

Covering a masterpiece follows that much risk.

If doing moderately can’t receive good score.

Led by Kim Jihu’s synthesizer all instruments joining and the song we well know found its appearance.

Excellent rhythm sense directed and a stage not greatly different from original started.

And soon the vocal joining last.

Cha Seoha’s voice fully contained in the mic and not many modifiers needed to explain his vocal.

“Does well.”

“Really does well.”

Shin Myeongcheol sitting beside Park Cheolhwan and other judges gave short evaluations.

Does well.

No different opinion to Park Cheolhwan either.

Not simply singing well.

Cha Seoha like Michael Jackson did crouched upper body a lot rode rhythm with right leg and didn’t stop finger snap with left hand.

Cha Seoha copying the emperor of pop as is.

While well melting the advantage of vocal he has and the individuality of gesture.

Not full-scale dancing but the feel of gestures shown shortly shortly excellent.

“Vocal especially excellent.”

“But this time almost no arrangement.”

“Right, trying to see match with full cover?”

At the words of judges sitting beside curiosity also welled in Park Cheolhwan’s heart.

This stage just started where trying to head ahead.

Clearly Park Cheolhwan who couldn’t acknowledge Oktap but at some moment unknowingly expecting this stage.

As the song reached the chorus Cha Seoha sang as if roaring.

Slight husky mixed in the basically possessed beauty and fierce emotion perfectly ductile.

“Wow!”

“Kya... That friend tremendous as expected.”

The weapons Oktap has various.

Kim Jihu’s thoroughness.

Heo Junseong’s passion.

Lee Doyoung’s delicacy.

Kang Min’s skill.

But primarily what visible to eyes and audible to ears inevitably Cha Seoha’s outstanding appearance and his vocal.

This stage’s intention certain no matter who looks.

Let’s concentrate on ‘seeing stage’ putting frontman forward.

That intention accurately hit judges of course participants in the waiting room.

Even production team.

All people unknowingly matching body to rhythm nodding or shaking arms and trembling legs.

As judges’ words definitely no arrangement to say so.

Despite the song almost running toward the end a song proceeding almost at cover stage level.

Like that after the second chorus ended Cha Seoha exited to the back of the stage.

“Now guitar solo will come out.”

Park Cheolhwan thought so.

Right before second chorus, or right before bridge.

Because generally the part guitar solo comes out.

Or might show synth solo like last time.

The bassist looking still immature no way to do solo.

While Park Cheolhwan thinking such.

‘Why staying still?’

The guy who scraped guitar like crazy in the last round quiet.

‘Ah, surely trying to do drum solo?’

While the question grazing the head the answer to the question walked out from the back of the stage.

Cha Seoha who quickly put on the jacket and wore the fedora appeared again from the back of the stage.

“What.”

“Trying to do what?”

“No, surely?”

Colleagues sitting beside each reacted.

They seemed anticipating something and the same thought arose in my head too.

And that thought became reality.

A part similar to intro played and Cha Seoha like Michael Jackson did in this song rode the rhythm and appeared shaking the right hand gradually.

Shouted ad-libs into the mic held in the right hand whenever bored.

Choreography appropriately mixing the dance Jackson danced in other songs in life.

Close to movements full of restraint not the powerful choreography singers these days show.

Concentrated on basics rather than complex techniques.

Movements that reached some realm that can’t dance practicing one or two days.

Park Cheolhwan looked at the judges beside.

Now everyone not saying any words.

‘Only me not concentrating now.’

Other judges super concentrating on Cha Seoha’s choreography.

Park Cheolhwan in the midst of greatly regretting the words he said in the last round.

Cha Seoha in the last part of the choreography took off the fedora and presented a performance pointing at Park Cheolhwan with finger.

‘Hey, ajeossi, watch clearly. This is Oktap.’

Clearly conveyed.

On one hand the thought of kids arrogantly pointing finger at adult also arose.

And the thought of dance in band audition fine even like that.

That attitude clearly rock.

Moderately rebellious and overflowing with confidence and knowing how to express oneself.

That clearly rock and in some genre called hip-hop.

“Ha, really...”

Following Heo Junseong’s flashy guitar solo.

The song returning to the main point again.

And up to the outro.

A perfect stage that didn’t let go of concentration until the end.

Park Cheolhwan who appreciated the stage until the end had no choice but to cleanly acknowledge his defeat today.

* * *

And the same time participants’ waiting room.

“Waaaa!!”

“Wow, crazy! Star star!”

“Cha Seoha that person really crazy?”

“No, this not idol band controversy burning again?”

“Crazy crazy. Just celebrity.”

“Dance on earth when learned?”

Stirring no thought of stopping.

Most people fully soaked in the aftertaste of the stage Oktap showed just now.

Only some among them giving opposing opinions.

“Came to ensemble and dance? Is that right?”

“If like that why came out here not going on idol audition?”

“Ah, the opposing band if lose to dancing band fucking unjust.”

“Wow, that a bit...”

There were a few teams who disliked Oktap even before broadcast appearance.

Even among them some no heart at all to turn mind even seeing the level stage Oktap presented.

* * *

The opposing team’s stage ended and S.L.Y Band and we stood in a line in front of the stage.

“Yes, both teams worked hard. Will proceed meeting briefly.”

Judges entered meeting to determine the winner.

Situation not knowing what talks coming and going.

Only air full of tension hovered in the studio.

The first to break silence not the judges side but Heo Junseong.

“Worked hard. Watched the stage too well.”

Heo Junseong sending encouragement greetings to the band standing beside.

As expected good at attaching.

“Ah, thank you. Watched Oktap stage well too.”

“Right. We usually Oktap fans.”

“Wow, really? Thank you.”

Like that while promoting friendship with quiet voice Shin Myeongcheol judge of Bulryang Onion grabbed the mic.

“Yes, meeting ended. Then will announce the winner.”

Shin Myeongcheol putting down the mic again.

After briefly taking time grabbed the mic again.

“Congratulations. Oktap advanced to the next round.”

Because shared warm conversation with S.L.Y Band until a little while ago not blatantly showing liking but the guys’ expressions full of joy.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Shin Myeongcheol continued ment after calling.

“S.L.Y too Oktap too did too well. When placing only the quality of playing hard to distinguish superiority but the weapon Oktap prepared seemed acted quite good.”

“Thank you.”

And another judge sitting beside also grabbed the mic.

“Oktap’s playing in fact nothing special. Not that technician outstanding and not that suction good when looking intuitively. Right?”

“Yes, right.”

“But skill very good. Masters of playing hope returning to basics.”

Universally the more a person played long the more pursue delicacy of rhythm accuracy of melody rather than complex technician.

That judge accurately pierced the appearance we pursued and judged.

Only thankful.

And another judge’s evaluation.

Seoul 1977 Band’s Jeong Hyeok judge.

“I gave one vote to S.L.Y.”

Also keeping in mind that evaluation might divide.

But the words continuing behind not something that came from the area of mere appreciation.

“Honestly speaking. Lee Doyoung?”

“Yes.”

“Currently Lee Doyoung’s playing has feel of being carried by Oktap. You also know?”

“...”

“Think will know. From main round stage have to prepare thoroughly.”

Park Cheolhwan’s evaluation in the last round was sharp point.

But that remark of Jeong Hyeok judge had problem.

How shameful to say such words after seeing Lee Doyoung’s true appearance.

Well, first the fact we won no change so decided to stay quiet for now.

And Park Cheolhwan judge who grabbed the mic.

Anticipated what words that gentleman will give.

“Cha Seoha.”

“Yes.”

“Earlier while dancing glared at me right?”

“Not glared. Staring seems the right expression.”

“Hahaha, fun friend...”

Park Cheolhwan judge briefly looked at me intently.

“Me also so. Seniors said not drumming like that, have to do like this, have to do like that. No matter what said didn’t listen.”

Park Cheolhwan recalling the past.

Somehow his eyes full of melancholy.

“That eye light as if defying me very good. In dancing today there might be noise but the stage of Oktap I saw no matter who says was rock.”

“Thank you for looking well.”

“Yes, thank you for wearing clothes that suit.”

With Park Cheolhwan judge’s words ending applause continued.

After hearing even the regrettable impression of eliminated S.L.Y we organized the stage and came down.

As expected, the taste of victory sweet.

And if that together with my friends more so.