When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar

# 149

Today, not tomorrow (3)

Do-wook judged that his English skills were insufficient to convey his opinion without any misunderstanding, so he delivered the story through Kim Won.

“I wish I could sing a little more calmly and without any technique. I’m not saying you should sing it in a dry way…. The song itself has a very sweet atmosphere, so if the vocalist sings a sweet voice, it can be too sweet….” ”

Hmm….” “

“And I wish I sang it with a little more sincerity…”

Kim Won and album production team leader Sim Jun, who were listening, nodded.

LIL and Dan Wilson, who knew nothing about Korean, looked at Do-wook and Kim Won as if they were curious about what Do-wook was talking about.

Kim Won took turns looking at Dan Wilson and LIL and relayed Dowook’s words.

Kim Won explained that the synergy between the sweet melody and the sweet voice seemed too strong, so it would be better to take away a little bit of technique and emotion. Additionally, it was emphasized that the lovers in the lyrics are ‘true lovers.’

Dan Wilson, who heard Kim Won’s words, made an unknown expression for a moment, then looked at Do-wook and smiled lightly.

On the other hand, LIL frowned and opened the microphone to speak.

“In my interpretation, I think it is right to sing it like this to save the song. “It’s a love song.”

Dowook looked a little troubled by LIL’s rebuttal.

Of course, the way LIL sang just now wasn’t bad either. it was good. However, the slightly exaggerated vocals were not much different from the way LIL originally sang other songs.

It was said that it was not the best for the song Do-wook made.

“Then…”

It was when Do-wook was trying to suggest that we sing it the way we originally sang it and sing it the way Do-wook suggested.

Dan Wilson, who was sitting next to him, called LIL.

“I think it would be better to follow what Mr. Kang says?”

LIL’s eyebrows immediately wrinkled at Dan Wilson’s words. Dan Wilson was the person who created what LIL is today.

LIL knew that Dan Wilson required new attempts and changes from him. That was the intention of this collaboration album from the beginning.

Even if I just kept doing what I had been doing, I was in an environment where I could easily fall into mannerism. Dan Wilson didn’t want LIL to stop already and become a coward who couldn’t do anything later when he really needed to make a change.

‘Did that young Asian producer even think like that? I guess that’s not true…’

LIL thought and had no choice but to nod.

Of course, Do-wook didn’t think specifically about it. However, the method that Do-wook thought would work, that is, the method of increasing KK’s proportion by attempting a completely new genre, was completely consistent with Dan Wilson’s intention.

Dan Wilson was surprised to hear the song Do-wook sent at that point, and was now once again surprised by Do-wook’s comments.

Dowook was pinpointing exactly what LIL needed.

‘Currently, LIL relies too much on his own skills. In fact, expressing emotions is not really empathized, but is just a technique. If this singing style continues for a long time, it will just become a singing machine.’

While Dan Wilson thought, LIL worked on his neck again.

People outside the recording studio calmly waited for LIL to come up with a new interpretation of the song.

The KK members repeated their parts with their eyes and ears in a recording studio full of tension.

Soon LIL’s song started again.

“Where is the love? “I’m sailing through the light—”

This time, it was definitely more plain and without any technique than the previous sung.

When the technique was removed, LIL’s true voice was revealed. A husky voice echoed dreamily through the recording studio.

It really was a voice that seemed to miss a lover in a distant star.

Everyone’s eyes opened wide to LIL’s song. No, in fact, it was a voice that made me want to close my eyes. The expressions of all those who heard the song brightened, but LIL did not see such a reaction. It was because I fell in love with the song.

‘This is it! You must be feeling it yourself as you sing it.’

Dowook thought. In fact, LIL thought that the song was much better after hearing it with his own ears.

LIL naturally closed her eyes and savored the song. As I sang, I was falling more and more into the song.

In many ways, it was comfortable to let go of the technique and strength that I had tried to melt into the song. Of course, there were some inconveniences as I let go of the skills that had become a habit, but I felt emotionally comfortable.

Instead of thinking that I was singing a song, I could think of it as telling a story about lovers in love. So I fell in love with the song, and even though I sang it calmly, I felt the emotion.

Even after her part was over, LIL, who had been immersed in the song for a while, came out of the recording studio booth.

Dan Wilson smiled with satisfaction and gave an expression that said, ‘Look!’ LIL originally trusted his producer, but was surprised once more.

LIL looked at Dan Wilson and then at Dowook, then greeted Dowook.

“It’s a beautiful song.”

“Thanks to LIL’s voice, it became a beautiful song.”

LIL smiled happily at Do-wook’s answer. It was said that it was the first enjoyable recording in a long time.

***

The subsequent recording proceeded smoothly.

As expected, the one who was the smoothest was Kim Won. Kim Won finished recording in just two takes.

Before coming to the United States, the members were worried about Jung Yoon-ki, who was in charge of the rap part, which was not written in English, but surprisingly, he did a good job. When I was practicing rapping, I also practiced a lot with foreign songs, so my English pronunciation was pretty good when I was rapping.

Hyungseo Ahn also had a lot of practice singing pop songs, so he had no trouble singing his part.

In fact, Seok Ji-hoon and Park Tae-hyung’s part was less than two bars, so it was correct to say that there was no problem.

The distribution of parts was done by Dan Wilson in direct consultation with Dowook when the guide for the song with the lyrics was completed.

As a producer, Dan Wilson was fully aware of the musical colors and skills of the many singers with whom LIL would collaborate on this album.

As he has more than ten years of experience as a producer, in the case of KK, after listening to one or two songs, he quickly figured out each person’s color and ability and allocated parts.

Other than requesting some adjustments to the distribution of parts suggested by Dan Wilson, Do-wook had no complaints. It was the moment when I confirmed that he had accurate judgment.

However, what was disappointing was that Seok Ji-hoon and Park Tae-hyung’s parts were relatively few. Actually, there weren’t that many other members.

‘Because it’s not KK’s album…’

Do-wook thought. The only thing that could make up for that was that there was a part in the second verse where the members came together and built harmony, like the a cappella version of ‘Windy Day’.

‘K-K’s presence will definitely be there in terms of rap and harmony.’

As a composer, he needed to give direction to the other members, so Dowook’s turn was the last.

Because he was a little exhausted, Dowook’s recording proceeded after an hour’s rest.

LIL, who left the recording studio first due to other schedules during the break, delivered homemade sandwiches and coffee to the KK members through their manager.

“Then shall we go?”

Dan Wilson asked Dowook who entered the recording studio.

Now it was time to return to the singer’s position. Dowook nodded. As a composer, Do-wook gave all kinds of advice to the members and even to LIL, but it was different when he was a singer.

If everyone could sing like that right away just because they knew theoretically, everyone would have become the best singer.

Dowook put his headphones back on and started singing to the accompaniment that was playing.

“Where is the love? “I’m swimming in the river you’ve been—”

The part sung by Do-wook was a part where the same melody was repeated right after the chorus sung by LIL.

Dan Wilson focused on the song he heard.

Once again.

Dan Wilson asked Dowook to sing again about five more times without any comment. Compared to other members, the recording time was taking longer.

Since it was not mentioned why it had to be sung again, Do-wook sang the same part continuously in the same way.

When I sang the same part for the seventh time, I finally got the OK sign from Dan Wilson.

Dowook looked at Dan Wilson with a sigh of relief.

“great. “You were nervous, right?”

“Ah yes. thank you.”

Dowook realized that tension that he had not felt was seeping into his voice. Dan Wilson had Do-wook continue to sing in an attempt to bring out his unique comfortable breathing. Dowook recognized Dan Wilson’s intentions and expressed his gratitude.

And even though the OK sign had already been given, Dowook sang the same part once again. I wanted to bring out the best voice.

“You’ve been—.”

Dowook finished the song by dragging out the last note.

Dan Wilson couldn’t help but be impressed. The mid-low voice was attractive in a completely different way from LIL.

‘It’s the perfect tone that goes well with any song. Perfect. But paradoxically, at the same time, the potential for development is enormous.’

Dan Wilson stood up, thinking.

The recording of the song ‘Call you the love’ with KK, which will be included in LIL’s special album, has been completed.

‘Even though this song may not cause a storm of response… I think it will receive steady love from quite a few people.’

Dan Wilson shook Do-wook’s hand for his hard work. Dowook held the hand of world-renowned producer Dan Wilson.

***

Shortly after, LIL’s special album was officially released in the United States and around the world.

contained a total of eight songs. Among them, the title was ‘Waterfall’, the same as the album name, and was a collaboration with Ray, one of America’s most loved rappers.

Along with the heavy sound, LIL’s refreshing vocals like a waterfall were excellent. Ray’s rap of ‘maximum skill level’ was added to enhance the level of perfection.

‘Waterfall’ proudly ranked first on the JTunes chart, the No. 1 music site in the U.S., showing LIL’s potential.

KK’s song ‘Call you the love’ was included on track 5, the second track after the title, and despite the fact that there were many collaboration songs with numerous stars, it was ranked 14th, the third highest ranking on the album. .

The ranking, which was not very high at first, gradually increased, reaching 14th place and then 10th place the following week.

American local media recommended ‘Call you the love’ as a song from LIL’s album that reveals new charms.

In addition, ‘Call you the love’ was highlighted as a song that whispers love among American teenagers and was shared on various social media channels. At the same time, the ranking went up.

Those who fell in love with ‘Call you the love’ wondered who KK was. The name of KK, a singer who was largely unfamiliar to Americans, was becoming increasingly known.

The reaction in Korea was beyond words.

Despite being a pop song, it ranked first on all music charts.

Dowook smiled happily as he looked at ‘Call you the love’, which was proudly on the music charts. Dowook and the members returned to Korea, rested, and prepared to work on their next album.

Do-wook picked up the cell phone he had placed next to his desk.

‘father’.

Dowook found his father in the call list and made a call.

-Yes, Dowook.

My father’s voice came from the other end of the phone. At one time, it was very awkward to call him father, but now I was used to it.

“Is it okay to call now?”

-That’s why I called you.

“yes. “What I asked you to do is…”