A-List to Playlist (2024) s01e01 Episode Script
Episode 1
1
The Big Bang.
Planets.
Cells.
Mankind.
These were some of the greatest
creations of the universe.
And in this universe is a man.
A challenge.
A story.
And it begins now.
A-LIST TO PLAYLIS
I'm Cho Jung-seok,
and I was born on December 26th, 1980.
When I was little,
I used to dance for my parents a lot.
Mostly Michael Jackson.
We had this old guitar at our place.
I was always playing it.
One thing led to another,
and I became an actor.
Starting in 2004,
I participated in
a lot of stage productions,
and then I moved on
to TV shows and movies.
That was my life.
But then you people
I shouldn't say "you people."
Anyway, we met up
for the first time in a while.
LAST SUMMER
I thought about what I'd do
if I were a YouTuber,
and I've always found joy
in working with music.
I have this urge to express myself.
I'm serious about it.
I've always felt that way.
SERIOUS ABOUT MUSIC
I honestly don't know anything
about writing songs or making an album.
But you know how it is.
When you're a novice, you think,
"How hard can it be?"
EXCESSIVE CONFIDENCE
If I do release an album
through this project,
it'll be 99% thanks to my connections
and 1% thanks to my own efforts.
Even we can't do the dance.
-You like champagne.
-Are we drinking it now?
I brought some whiskey.
99% CONNECTIONS
We ran some calculations,
and we have about 100 days.
WE HAVE 100 DAYS
-100 days?
-Yes.
Give or take.
And here we are.
I've never thought about
releasing my own music.
Never.
HE ONLY HAS 100 DAYS
After I finish working on my show,
Captivating the King,
I have around 100 days before my musical,
Hedwig and the Angry Inch opens.
I thought I might be able to manage,
but maybe I was too confident.
I thought I could make it happen
within that time frame.
But you are enjoying this, right?
Of course.
I just wish I had more time.
That's what frustrates me.
If only we'd begun sooner.
I need more time.
Hello.
Today's the day.
I know. I can't believe it.
This is the lease agreement.
"This is an agreement
to rent the studio for 100 days."
"The tenant must finish
a full-length album."
That's so much pressure.
Okay, I'm signing it.
LEASE SIGNED
We don't know
what kind of songs you'll write,
but I think the word "full-length"
is of the essence.
Does an EP count?
-Well, not exactly.
-What?
EPs aren't full-length.
Then what is "full-length"?
A full-length album
usually has at least seven to eight songs.
But in our earlier meetings,
we talked about making three songs.
I better brace myself.
Within 100 days?
I was already nervous,
but that number's putting me
even more on edge.
DEADLINE: 100 DAYS
GOAL: FULL-LENGTH ALBUM
100 days.
100 days.
CHEONGGYESAN, SEOUL
CHEONGRYONG VILLAGE
Is this it?
Wow, I mean
HIS STUDIO
(FOR 100 DAYS)
It's so big.
This is exciting.
LIVING ROOM
Awesome.
BEDROOM
I want to live here.
This place is amazing.
STUDY
KITCHEN
Wow.
I love it.
This is awesome.
ALL EXPENSES BESIDES THE STUDIO
ARE SELF-PAID
I'm so pumped up right now.
I love this place.
I mean it.
This here
is the master keyboard.
This is so exciting.
-I did a lot of research.
-On the web?
Yeah, on the web.
I saw on YouTube
that a lot of professionals use this.
I can put it here.
Isn't this so cute?
When it comes to MIDI,
it's all about the gear.
All set.
Yes, sir.
The frequency is Hey, it's Sang-hoon.
-Where are you?
-What's up?
-With me?
-Yes.
I'm working on music.
Why are you working on music?
I told you about it.
Where are you? Come over.
-Really? Can I?
-Yes, let's hang out.
But I don't want to bother you
while you're working.
Is this the right place?
Hey, are you here?
-Put these on.
-Damn.
What the heck?
He's one of my closest friends.
He's also the most
talkative person I know.
What is this place?
This is insane.
Do you really need all this space?
I think you may have overdone it.
Hello.
I'm Jung Sang-hoon,
a close friend of Jung-seok's.
Nice to meet you.
-100 days, huh?
-My first full-length album
has to come out 100 days from now.
Can you really do it within 100 days?
-Well
-Don't singers usually take years?
You're not writing
your own songs, are you?
You have a songwriter, right?
I am writing them.
-You are?
-Yeah.
But others might write some too.
Of course.
You're not writing most of them, right?
You're not getting it.
I might end up writing most of them.
I thought you were here to support me.
-You're unbelievable.
-Never mind. Congratulations.
THE ROOKIE SINGER'S AGEN
Pretty bad, huh?
It's not bad.
But you're not releasing it, are you?
Please give me some ideas.
Ideas?
Let's say
you finish a song.
When will that be?
You must have a timeline.
-For instance
-I don't know.
What?
But your album
But don't you think
you should have a plan?
You should know what needs to be done
and when it needs to be done.
You'll need someone
to take care of that stuff for you.
At least I think you will.
-Do you want to do it?
-What?
-Will you do it?
-I don't know.
Okay, I'll ask someone else.
-If you insist
-It's fine.
I'll ask around.
If you insist,
-I can't say no to you.
-I probably do need someone.
I'll have my hands full
just from learning music.
When your songs are done,
we'll have to release the album
with a properly designed album cover.
Maybe even a music video.
-A music video?
-Sure.
At least one for the title track.
All right.
Let's do it.
Now we're bound by contract.
What?
He needs a planner.
I think I should help him out
so he can make history
in the short span of 100 days.
It won't be easy,
but we might pull off a miracle.
Everyone knows
how "Gangnam Style" became famous.
We'll make it go viral.
We'll get 100 million views.
Are you drunk?
JUNG SANG-HOON JOINS THE PROJEC
I'll be your agent in a sense,
so call me Mr. Jung from now on.
Mr. Jung?
Mr. Jung.
AGEN
MR. JUNG
There's actually one more person
that I'd like to work with.
-One more person?
-Yeah.
Who?
Another Sang-hoon.
Another? Who?
Moon Sang-hoon.
Moon Sang-hoon?
-Yes, the guy from D.P.
-Yes, I know.
He has 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube.
-Yes.
-He's really creative.
Think of him as the head of marketing.
I'll be more like the control tower,
and you're the artist. You get it.
His pitch about a music video
and the need for an overall plan
convinced me
that we need someone with brilliant ideas.
It'd be a great idea
to work with Moon Sang-hoon.
I like it.
And with three people,
we'll be like a triangle,
the most stable shape there is.
We'll be infallible.
MOON SANG-HOON
Hello?
Hello, this is Moon Sang-hoon.
Of course, Sang-hoon.
It's nice to meet you.
-Come in.
-It's a pleasure.
-You made it.
-My goodness.
Hi, Sang-hoon.
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
-It's good to see you.
-Likewise.
Your performance really shocked me.
-On D.P., right?
-Yes.
-You're such an amazing actor.
-You were unbelievable.
Did I deserve this?
Did I deserve this?
He was amazing.
That's how acting should be done.
-It felt so real.
-It was inspiring.
It was so good.
I'm actually very nervous
to be sitting next to you two.
ACTORS OF 27 AND 21 YEARS
I look up to both of you so much.
But in terms of YouTube,
we're the ones who should look up to you.
-I know.
-1.36 million subscribers.
-All his comedy works
-How many does your channel have?
I don't have one anymore.
My bad.
He's actually my agent now.
Right.
I'm like the head
of this company, so to speak.
I just remembered an idea
that I was saving for later.
A company named Jungsang Productions.
As in "normal" in Korean.
And they go on tours doing performances
that are absolutely not normal.
It's a good name for a company
with Jung Sang-hoon as the CEO.
I like that.
I was wondering what to name our company.
But we're not using my whole name.
Plus, "Jungsang" can also mean "top."
It can mean we strive to be the best.
It'd be "Jung" from Jung-seok
and "Sang" from Sang-hoon.
That also works.
-It's both of our names.
-That's true.
ON EGGSHELLS
-We can keep our options open.
-JS for short.
-We'll think about it.
-For sure.
We don't have to decide now.
THE ROOKIE SINGER'S AGENCY
JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS
We're working on
a music project right now.
Do you think Jung-seok
would make a good musician?
I'm here to make sure that he does.
-Really?
-Yes.
We're aiming for seven songs,
but he might not be able to
finish all seven
or even just one.
And he might write really terrible songs.
-Right.
-What then?
-What if his songs are terrible?
-Right.
I haven't heard his music,
-so I can't really say.
-Let's suppose.
Okay, let's suppose it is terrible.
But if we sprinkle some
delicious behind-the-scenes videos
of our beloved actor
Cho Jung-seok's journey on top
Just like how sesame seeds or parsley
can make any food look good.
-"Sesame seeds or parsley"?
-Exactly.
-So presentation is everything.
-Exactly. That's all you need.
ON EGGSHELLS AGAIN
Such videos can get people engaged
and make them think about
Jung-seok's experience
and the thoughts
he must have put into writing his songs.
So basically, it doesn't matter
if the album lacks substance?
-Well
-We can fix it
with your figurative sesame seeds, right?
-Mr. Jung.
-Yes?
You keep saying things
like "lacks substance"
-and "terrible."
-Hold on.
-You keep badmouthing my music.
-All right.
We can't just think about the good stuff.
No, we have to prepare for the worst.
We have to think of
the worst-case scenario.
What's the worst-case scenario
you can think of?
You two getting into a fistfight.
This is the third time you've argued
since I've been here.
THE ROOKIE SINGER'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL
A YouTube channel
is an absolute necessity.
If you can do it
-It's a must.
-Yes.
Covers are dominating
the YouTube algorithm nowadays.
-Covers?
-There are singers who only do covers.
I noticed that too.
I'll play you one.
Guess who's singing this.
ORIGINAL SONG:
"TILL THE END OF TIME" BY THE BLACK SKIRTS
Who is this?
-Do we know this person?
-Absolutely.
Is it Gummy?
It sounds a lot like her.
-Is it AI?
-AI.
It is, right?
This is on the rise
in the algorithm right now.
So here's what I thought might work.
We'll have the camera
angled below the neck
and have you sing
without showing your face.
So it's you singing the actual song,
but we'll tweak it to sound like an AI.
-We change it.
-Exactly.
AI is meant to imitate humans,
but we'll do the opposite.
Nice.
Imagine if people liked the cover,
and it turned out to be Cho Jung-seok.
That kind of twist can be exciting.
That's a great idea.
I think such a revelation
might make people
appreciate my songs more.
If people get hooked,
they'll start watching
other videos you made.
This could work if you're up for it.
You're really smart, Sang-hoon.
-Really?
-I love your ideas.
If we do create a channel,
what should we call it?
Hit me with some names.
Coming up with names is my favorite part.
-It should be straightforward.
-Okay.
I like Cheonggyesan,
so it should have "Cheonggyesan" in it.
What about "Daengi's Dad"?
-Daengi?
-Daengi.
It was my daughter's nickname
while my wife was still carrying her.
I like "Records."
"Cheonggyesan Daengi Records."
YOUTUBE CHANNEL CREATED!
-You've been appointed.
-I'll do my best.
-As the head of PR and marketing.
-Yes, sir.
MR. MOON, HEAD OF PR & MARKETING
-Let's do great work together.
-Yes, thank you.
-I look forward to it.
-Thank you.
-Thanks.
-Thank you.
JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS
CEO: JUNG SANG-HOON
ARTIST: CHO JUNG-SEOK
HEAD OF PR & MARKETING: MOON SANG-HOON
It's crazy how we have the same name.
I know.
I feel like we think the same way too.
-It's done.
-Are you having a meeting?
Yes.
I have to go somewhere for a minute.
Thanks again, Sang-hoon.
You can continue without me.
I set the email address
for our account as "cgsd100,"
short for "Cheonggyesan D-100."
D-100?
This deadline thing is killing me.
At least we have 100 days.
DISCUSSING THE ROOKIE SINGER (WITHOUT HIM)
Since he's not here,
I must say I'm a little worried.
Have you heard his songs?
Not yet.
He doesn't have any.
Between you and me,
things are looking pretty bad.
Does he have demos?
No, he doesn't even know how to make one.
He doesn't have anything right now,
and we're running out of time.
JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS'
STRATEGY MEETING CONTINUES
And at this point
I haven't run this by Jung-seok yet,
but how about we bring some experts in
to listen to his songs?
Like K-pop idols
with their monthly evaluations.
He does need to be evaluated.
Earlier, he said things like,
"Don't say my music will be terrible."
-But we have to be honest with him.
-Sure.
He wouldn't dare talk back to experts
if they said it was terrible.
That's true.
It's better than
having the listeners say that.
Exactly.
Better now than later.
You know those scenes in movies
where a singer goes to a producer,
only to get thrown out
and then his bag thrown out after him?
Let's give him that experience.
We could bring him to HYBE headquarters
and have him thrown out by their security.
LOVES I
I think he should go in blind.
Wow.
I love that idea.
Let's bring in experts.
I think it's best if Jung-seok gets advice
-from songwriters and lyricists.
-Agreed.
-And they'll give him feedback.
-Okay.
Our opinions are meaningless
because we work with him.
All we can tell him is,
"That was amazing!"
-We can only say if we like it or not.
-Exactly.
He needs some stone-cold criticism.
-Like, "Jung-seok."
-"Jung-seok."
-"That's"
-"It's so boring."
-Nice. What else?
-"This sounds too familiar."
-Or?
-"This isn't what you set out to do."
And then?
"Just stick to acting."
A FEW DAYS LATER
-The weather's gotten warmer.
-It's nice.
I can practically hear the snow melting.
-I know, it's so nice.
-Right.
It makes me want to go out.
It makes me crave boiled duck.
-Exactly.
-I bet there are some good places around.
Of course.
THE MEETING BEGINS
In our last meeting,
we said the first thing we need to do
-was for us to listen to your songs.
-Right.
We need to hear
whatever you have right now.
We have to know what we're working with.
But I have nothing.
-Nothing at all?
-No.
-Not even a little?
-No.
I only have a few bits and pieces,
like a verse or something.
Let's just hear the verse then.
I can play that for you.
I'll play it on the guitar.
-The verse?
-Yes.
Actually, I have a demo
on my portable drive,
but I forgot to bring it today.
But I do have some material here
that I worked on yesterday.
I have to tell you something.
Please use our cloud drive
for your songs from now on.
Forgetting your portable drive
-is not an excuse.
-Okay, I will.
But if it's a lack of inspiration,
we totally understand.
No pressure on that front.
Okay.
We were wondering
what professional musicians would think
-about your songs.
-Okay.
We think we should have
some songwriters listen to your songs.
I totally agree.
So you're open to the idea?
Of course. I'd love to do that.
-Really?
-Yes.
But I'd like to finish a verse.
-With the melody and everything.
-Of course.
They need something to work with.
-While we're on the subject
-Okay.
-What is it?
-Mr. Moon and I
had an idea.
Considering our schedule
this has to happen next week.
Next week?
We're going to rent out a small venue.
A tiny one.
It's not a concert hall.
-Just a place with some speakers.
-It could even be here.
Are you serious?
HICCUP
Is this for real?
Seriously?
So I have to go out there
and sing with my guitar?
That could work,
but there are other options.
No, but think about it.
I'm okay with letting people
listen to the songs I wrote,
but I don't know about singing live
in front of people.
I'm not prepared for that.
It won't be easy,
but it'll motivate you to complete a song.
Who will be the audience?
We might not have one at all.
(BUT WE MIGHT)
-So it'll just be us and our crew?
-Yes.
In that case
Don't get too stressed out.
So when exactly next week?
-Next week, it's
-Which day?
It's six days from now.
THE MONTHLY EVALUATION IS IN 6 DAYS
-Six days from now?
-Yes.
Probably.
This is crazy.
Thinking about singing live
is making me nervous.
The pressure is on.
THE SONGWRITING BEGINS
Okay, I'm going to write something.
I think this is good.
HE ALSO WRITES THE LYRICS
Gosh.
This is really hard.
It's hard to finish a song.
Even a demo is hard.
BECOMING A SINGER-SONGWRITER
IS NOT AN EASY TASK
Why did I agree to do this?
IT EVEN CONTINUES AT HOME
Today is Saturday, right?
I have two days left.
2 DAYS UNTIL THE EVALUATION
I wish I had more time.
I'm terrified right now.
MEANWHILE,
JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS' GRAND SCHEME
I've never done this before.
I've never deceived Jung-seok
to this extent.
We lied and told him
that we got a very small venue
-so he wouldn't stress out.
-Yes.
We can't have him sing on the street.
A GRAND STAGE
We've invited four people
whose names anyone would recognize.
They've collectively written enough songs
to fill up an entire karaoke songbook.
Well, maybe not that many.
A GRAND PANEL OF MENTORS
Jung-seok will be very surprised.
Who will be the audience?
-So it'll just be us and our crew?
-Yes.
AND A TINY LITTLE LIE
But it'll be extremely helpful
for his music.
Absolutely.
And that's why we're doing this.
The end justifies the means.
Let's do this.
THE DAY OF THE EVALUATION
PREPARED BY JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS
Man, it's cold.
Get a shot of my shoes too.
I wanted to do well today,
so I'm wearing the shoes G-Dragon gave me.
-Really?
-Yes.
I was never going to wear them.
I've been saving them.
But I really want to do well.
So today,
it's basically just our crew, right?
I'm going to leave if I see a crowd.
-How many is a crowd?
-What? I don't know.
Ten people?
EVALUATION VENUE
Okay, thank you.
-Hello.
-Goodness.
-Our artist is here.
-Welcome.
I didn't get any sleep.
-You didn't get any sleep?
-No.
You must be exhausted.
I have to practice the guitar.
-But you just got here.
-I have to.
You must be really nervous.
Obviously.
I mean
What is all this? It's not a concert.
-No.
-Of course not.
CAUGHT OFF GUARD
This is nuts.
-He'll do well.
-Of course.
He's like the straight-A student
who always says he didn't study.
Oh, boy.
It'll be fine.
Why do you guys seem more nervous than me?
Of course we're nervous.
-Are there a lot of people today?
-No.
All things considered,
it's your first time
performing in front of people.
Plus, we don't know
how the crew will react.
KEEPS ON RAMBLING
HIS PALMS GET SWEATY
They could be harsh critics.
We were very nervous.
We didn't tell Jung-seok
about the mentors,
so I thought he might get mad at me.
I was a bit scared.
I honestly didn't know how to act.
-You should keep practicing here.
-Okay.
We'll be out there.
We'll go there first.
And clean up the room.
WHILE THE ROOKIE SINGER IS BUSY PRACTICING
-We're ready.
-Great.
THE TWO SANG-HOONS ARE BUSY SETTING UP
I'll leave our artist's profile here too.
-He's about my height, so this will do.
-Okay.
Do you think Jung-seok might come in,
see the mentors, and suddenly yell,
"I'm not doing this!
How could you do this to me?"
I hope not.
We should make sure
-that everything goes smoothly.
-Right.
-We have to help Jung-seok.
-Absolutely.
Hey.
Hello.
-Hello.
-Nice to meet you.
LOCO & GRAY
KIM EA-NA
AND YOON JONG-SHIN
-Good to see you.
-Hello.
-Hello.
-Happy New Year.
MENTORS FOR THE MONTHLY EVALUATION
-We're judges again.
-I know.
-You're amazing.
-I feel like this is all we do now.
My latest hit was
"I AM," which I wrote for IVE.
There are also IU's
"Good Day" and "You & I,"
and many more.
KIM EA-NA, LYRICIST:
KOREA'S MOST BELOVED LYRICIS
WITH OVER 300 HITS
GRAY, PRODUCER:
TRENDSETTER OF THE MUSIC SCENE
LOCO, RAPPER:
1ST WINNER OF SHOW ME THE MONEY
YOON JONG-SHIN, MUSICIAN:
SINGER-SONGWRITER OF 35 YEARS
AUDITION SHOW JUDGE OF 16 YEARS
It's nice to meet you.
We're honored to have you, Jong-shin.
A PANEL OF MENTORS JUST FOR JUNG-SEOK
This is where we did the auditions
for Superstar K.
Really?
Right here?
This all seems a bit over the top.
-We apologize.
-Goodness.
We wanted to go all out.
I can't wait to hear his songs.
What did you think, Sang-hoon?
As his fan, I like them a lot,
but you might see it differently
since you're the old hands
in the industry.
"Old hands"?
Are you calling our valued guests old?
-I like that term.
-I like it too.
-We're old hands.
-For sure.
In that case, as the old hands,
please be as critical as possible.
Jung-seok doesn't know you're here.
-Does he have no idea?
-None.
TOTALLY CLUELESS
Which floor am I going to?
I feel like things have
gotten out of hand.
-Do you think so?
-Yes, honestly.
I'm leaving if I see more than 20 people.
I even forgot my guitar pick.
-Don't you need it?
-I'll just play with my fingers.
It's fine.
BACKSTAGE
I want to go home.
Oh my god.
How many people are out there?
Just tell me.
I'm losing it here.
We will now begin the monthly evaluation.
We present the first artist
of Jungsang Productions.
Let us invite Cho Jung-seok to the stage.
A round of applause, please.
-Please come out.
-Is that my cue?
It's only natural for him to be nervous.
He has to have good songs
to have invited all of us here.
I was a bit concerned.
Is that my cue?
I'm so screwed.
I'm done for.
Come out, Jung-seok.
Please come out.
No, you can't be serious.
HE FINALLY MEETS THE FOUR MENTORS
No, you can't be serious.
-It's okay, Jung-seok. Please come out.
-Jung-seok.
We're so sorry.
They're just lookalikes.
We hired impersonators.
I thought it'd just be our crew.
I had no idea
that they prepared something like this.
I don't know. I'm just confused.
I just wanted to go home.
-Wow.
-Wow.
-Awesome.
-Hello.
Please give Jung-seok
another round of applause.
I got chills.
-This is cool.
-He really had no clue.
You must be shaken, Jung-seok. I'm sorry.
Yes. This is bad.
I'm barely keeping it together.
This is something
right out of those audition shows.
-No pressure.
-Okay.
Thank you so much for your time.
As you know, I'm not a singer,
but I've been working on some songs.
I don't know how I ended up here.
Before we begin,
I'd like to explain
how this process works.
If they like what they hear,
they'll turn the light on
in front of them.
Let me try it.
You can turn it back off if you'd like.
I'll hand out the lyrics
for the first song.
Okay.
Jung-seok will now explain
what kind of thoughts went into
writing the song and the lyrics.
I thought I was just performing my songs.
When they handed out the lyrics,
I wanted to crawl into a hole.
It's called "I Just Wanna Loving."
The grammar is so off.
THE TITLE?
"Loving" Which part?
After "I Just Wanna"
-It should be "Love."
-Not "Loving."
-He took an artistic liberty.
-It's cute.
-Are we letting it slide?
-Yes.
GRAY and Loco, are we allowing this?
I actually can't stand
these kinds of things.
I didn't think there'd be criticism
before he even started.
They're coming at you hard
about the title alone.
We should be objective.
-I like it.
-I can't allow it.
I love it.
Please excuse my poor English.
Please explain the song.
It's a song about love.
It's about still wanting to be loved
even while having a lovers' quarrel
and the contrast between two emotions.
-Should I start?
-Yes.
"I JUST WANNA LOVING"
THE FIRST SONG WRITTEN BY THE ROOKIE
A SONG ABOUT THE EMOTION OF LOVE
I was trying to play the first chord,
but my fingers wouldn't move
as if they were frozen.
"I JUST WANNA LOVING (WORKING TITLE)"
LYRICS AND MUSIC BY CHO JUNG-SEOK
I see you smiling in the faded picture
It fades further away as time goes by
Along with tan on my face
Memories with you
They all go away too fast
Please don't go crazy just for one night
Please don't go crazy just for one night
Please don't go crazy just for one night
Waiting for you, waiting for you
Waiting for you
Baby
All right.
I've never been so nervous in my life.
I'm surprised that three of our judges
turned their lights on.
Allow me to explain why I turned it on.
-This is just a demo, right?
-Yes.
That means
-it still needs a lot of work.
-Okay.
But I can see where it's going.
I turned my light on
because I recognized his potential.
He knows how to write a song.
Not everyone could write a song
even if they wanted to.
It wasn't so amazing
that it had to be on his album.
I actually liked the beginning
with the Korean lyrics.
But the part after that
was a bit less catchy,
which was a bit disappointing.
It was the vibe in the beginning
that kept me enjoying
the rest of the song.
-It's good to hear some positive feedback.
-Yes.
Three of the judges
turned their lights on,
but one didn't.
Let's hear from Ms. Kim.
If I were a producer,
I would say your voice
was being wasted on this song.
You have a great voice
that can really make a song shine,
but this song is rather laid-back.
It's a bit bland.
-I see.
-That's how I saw it.
I didn't have much time,
but I worked really hard for this day.
Sadly, my performance wasn't satisfactory.
I felt like I tried to sing
like I was someone else,
which was disappointing.
When writing lyrics,
stick to the words that you actually use.
You don't use the word
"faded" a lot, do you?
No, I don't.
And yet, you used it in your lyrics.
That could make them sound cliché.
I'm a firm believer
in using everyday words
in your lyrics.
If you swear a lot, use swear words.
You've gotta be bold.
-You can use any word you want.
-I see.
Plus, writing lyrics is an area
where you can really make use
of your amazing talent.
Let's say you just got your script.
It might just say your character is
"a handsome playboy,"
but I'm sure you don't leave it at that.
You would think about the words
a playboy might use.
Actors usually study their characters
beyond what's in the scripts.
The same kind of detail
can come through in your singing.
Acting and singing are
very similar in that sense,
which is why great singers
are often great actors
and great actors are often great singers.
-That makes perfect sense.
-It really does.
Thank you.
All we could say about this song
was "we love it"
and "let us hear it again."
It's definitely a lot more helpful
to hear the old hands' feedback.
We've already said so much
about the first song alone.
-I know.
-And we appreciate that.
THE SECOND SONG
This second song
-is called "Jung-seok in Medium."
-I like the title.
It's a strong title.
It's really impactful.
It's a song I wrote
about a girl from church
I really liked as a teenager.
The girl from church.
I worked on this song with Young-min,
a.k.a. Berry from Rocoberry,
who played the piano accompaniment.
I came up with the melody
and wrote the lyrics.
A FEW DAYS AGO
I wanted to see how you wrote songs.
-You're the best there is.
-Stop it.
PRODUCER BERRY (AN YOUNG-MIN)
I became friends with Young-min
through my wife.
I took this opportunity to ask him
whatever questions I had
about songwriting.
He helped me with the intro,
and then I added the melody and lyrics.
Let's try that again.
How's this?
-Are you playing it on your guitar?
-There's an instrumental.
Okay, let's hear it.
I'll play the guitar on top of it.
"JUNG-SEOK IN MEDIUM (WORKING TITLE)"
LYRICS BY CHO JUNG-SEOK
MUSIC BY CHO JUNG-SEOK AND BERRY
Among the countless stars up above
I'll be the light that shines on you
The love I wished for
Like your beautiful eyes
My love for you will last forever
'Cause you hold me warmly
Like the sun in the sky
I will always be your light
You and I, loving for you tonight
I've been longing for
The day to be with you
I'll always adore you, my love
I'll always be there
For you
It goes something like that.
Ms. Kim turned her light on
after just four measures.
That's amazing.
-He did it.
-Absolutely.
-It was exhilarating.
-I was over the moon.
I was punching Sang-hoon out of joy.
All right.
Why did you call it "Jung-seok in Medium"?
It's in a medium tempo.
It's a working title.
-He should keep this title.
-Don't you like it?
He was being literal.
I know it's a working title,
but it is an interesting approach
to titling your songs.
Something like "I Think It's a Ballad,"
or "Kind of a Dance Song."
Having titles like that
could actually help your first album
really grab people's attention.
It could even be the name of the album.
"Jung-seok in Medium"?
And make everything medium.
Even his clothes.
Have him wear medium-sized clothes.
-Have his steaks cooked to medium.
-Exactly.
Isn't his voice perfect for this song?
I loved it.
-His voice is very strong.
-In this song,
you started out
in the most pleasing vocal range.
The song starts right off
with the voice
that everyone wants to hear.
I'd like to make a personal offer here.
If you wouldn't mind,
I'd like to help with the lyrics.
This song has a lot of potential.
The melody could turn out great
with the right lyrics.
She's the best lyricist in the country.
I'd
I'd love that.
This old hand is trying to get involved.
You really caught her eye.
Thank you so much.
However
in my personal opinion,
this song was pretty conventional.
And these kinds of songs need
a rather drastic bridge.
-It needs a twist.
-I just think
it'd be much better
if you incorporated a line
or a rhythm
that listeners wouldn't expect.
But that can be done
in the arrangement stage.
I didn't turn on my light
because I also used to worry
about my songs sounding too cliché
or too similar to each other all the time.
Whenever that would happen,
I would force myself to use rhythms
I wasn't used to.
I produced a lot of tracks
using that method.
You might be able to expand your horizons
by taking that approach.
Thank you so much.
I'm taking mental notes of everything.
I'm very grateful.
Those were the two songs
we've officially prepared for today.
Just those two?
But there's another song he was practicing
while warming up earlier.
I personally think
that song was as good as the others.
We wouldn't have mentioned it
if you hadn't turned the lights on.
What do you think?
-He looks angry.
-It was his idea.
I don't even have lyrics for this one.
It's just some noodling
that I have recorded on my phone.
It was from back in 2017.
Gummy actually sang the demo.
-We can't be fooled.
-The one and only.
-Don't be fooled by the demo.
-The great Gummy.
Let me put my guitar down.
DEMO WITH GUMMY (2017)
MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTALS BY CHO JUNG-SEOK
SUNG BY GUMMY
This one's my favorite.
-Really?
-Yes.
It's really cool.
It was quite ordinary, yet refreshing.
It sounded like a skit track.
SKIT TRACK: A RECORDING
OF WHATEVER THE ARTIST WANTS
It might be nice to just release it as is.
Right out of an iPhone.
I want to hear more.
I want to hear them giggling
while they sing
and maybe some rustling of a blanket.
I got chills just thinking about it.
-That'd be hip.
-Definitely.
-I loved the part they sang together.
-Right?
It could be a special track.
It'd be special because
not all home recordings sound like
home recordings these days.
It could even transition
into an actual song
with a full band sound.
That'd be pretty cool.
I think it'd make a good song.
I'm so glad we played it for them.
Who came up with the melody?
We did it together.
We liked the way it sounded,
so we just started recording.
I think it's really important
that you share these songs with others
instead of keeping them to yourself
for too long.
Would you turn your lights on
for this one?
-Yes.
-Absolutely.
All four lights.
-All lights are on.
-Four lights.
We got such an overwhelmingly
positive response.
All four lights are on.
I'd like to thank you once again.
And this is how passionate
I am about music.
Take a look at my shoes.
These were a gift from G-Dragon.
-Oh yeah.
-Those are nice shoes.
I just kept them at home all this time,
but I wore them for the first time today.
Because I wanted to do well.
The shoes are the reason
that I never got zero lights.
Thanks, G-Dragon.
"Great actors are also great singers,
and great singers are also great actors."
Our artist is the best of both worlds.
His songs are coming into shape,
like a baby taking its first steps.
He just grew two little baby teeth.
AFTER A VERY LONG DAY
Let's drink.
-Great job today.
-Well done.
To be completely honest,
today was such a long day.
Well done, Jung-seok.
-You did great.
-That was crazy.
I was like, "Why are those people here?"
"Why am I getting feedback
from judges I saw on TV?"
"Where am I? Who am I?"
"Why are they here?"
These questions just came flooding in.
-That's when reality hit you.
-That's exactly it.
But it was all so overwhelming.
It really was.
I felt all kinds of emotions.
Of course.
Whether it be good or bad,
I just want to write songs
that people will enjoy listening to.
That's my goal.
I don't know what to do.
Should I collaborate
with the best?
I should ask first, right?
-How have you been?
-Hey.
Subtitle translation by: Yenny Kang
The Big Bang.
Planets.
Cells.
Mankind.
These were some of the greatest
creations of the universe.
And in this universe is a man.
A challenge.
A story.
And it begins now.
A-LIST TO PLAYLIS
I'm Cho Jung-seok,
and I was born on December 26th, 1980.
When I was little,
I used to dance for my parents a lot.
Mostly Michael Jackson.
We had this old guitar at our place.
I was always playing it.
One thing led to another,
and I became an actor.
Starting in 2004,
I participated in
a lot of stage productions,
and then I moved on
to TV shows and movies.
That was my life.
But then you people
I shouldn't say "you people."
Anyway, we met up
for the first time in a while.
LAST SUMMER
I thought about what I'd do
if I were a YouTuber,
and I've always found joy
in working with music.
I have this urge to express myself.
I'm serious about it.
I've always felt that way.
SERIOUS ABOUT MUSIC
I honestly don't know anything
about writing songs or making an album.
But you know how it is.
When you're a novice, you think,
"How hard can it be?"
EXCESSIVE CONFIDENCE
If I do release an album
through this project,
it'll be 99% thanks to my connections
and 1% thanks to my own efforts.
Even we can't do the dance.
-You like champagne.
-Are we drinking it now?
I brought some whiskey.
99% CONNECTIONS
We ran some calculations,
and we have about 100 days.
WE HAVE 100 DAYS
-100 days?
-Yes.
Give or take.
And here we are.
I've never thought about
releasing my own music.
Never.
HE ONLY HAS 100 DAYS
After I finish working on my show,
Captivating the King,
I have around 100 days before my musical,
Hedwig and the Angry Inch opens.
I thought I might be able to manage,
but maybe I was too confident.
I thought I could make it happen
within that time frame.
But you are enjoying this, right?
Of course.
I just wish I had more time.
That's what frustrates me.
If only we'd begun sooner.
I need more time.
Hello.
Today's the day.
I know. I can't believe it.
This is the lease agreement.
"This is an agreement
to rent the studio for 100 days."
"The tenant must finish
a full-length album."
That's so much pressure.
Okay, I'm signing it.
LEASE SIGNED
We don't know
what kind of songs you'll write,
but I think the word "full-length"
is of the essence.
Does an EP count?
-Well, not exactly.
-What?
EPs aren't full-length.
Then what is "full-length"?
A full-length album
usually has at least seven to eight songs.
But in our earlier meetings,
we talked about making three songs.
I better brace myself.
Within 100 days?
I was already nervous,
but that number's putting me
even more on edge.
DEADLINE: 100 DAYS
GOAL: FULL-LENGTH ALBUM
100 days.
100 days.
CHEONGGYESAN, SEOUL
CHEONGRYONG VILLAGE
Is this it?
Wow, I mean
HIS STUDIO
(FOR 100 DAYS)
It's so big.
This is exciting.
LIVING ROOM
Awesome.
BEDROOM
I want to live here.
This place is amazing.
STUDY
KITCHEN
Wow.
I love it.
This is awesome.
ALL EXPENSES BESIDES THE STUDIO
ARE SELF-PAID
I'm so pumped up right now.
I love this place.
I mean it.
This here
is the master keyboard.
This is so exciting.
-I did a lot of research.
-On the web?
Yeah, on the web.
I saw on YouTube
that a lot of professionals use this.
I can put it here.
Isn't this so cute?
When it comes to MIDI,
it's all about the gear.
All set.
Yes, sir.
The frequency is Hey, it's Sang-hoon.
-Where are you?
-What's up?
-With me?
-Yes.
I'm working on music.
Why are you working on music?
I told you about it.
Where are you? Come over.
-Really? Can I?
-Yes, let's hang out.
But I don't want to bother you
while you're working.
Is this the right place?
Hey, are you here?
-Put these on.
-Damn.
What the heck?
He's one of my closest friends.
He's also the most
talkative person I know.
What is this place?
This is insane.
Do you really need all this space?
I think you may have overdone it.
Hello.
I'm Jung Sang-hoon,
a close friend of Jung-seok's.
Nice to meet you.
-100 days, huh?
-My first full-length album
has to come out 100 days from now.
Can you really do it within 100 days?
-Well
-Don't singers usually take years?
You're not writing
your own songs, are you?
You have a songwriter, right?
I am writing them.
-You are?
-Yeah.
But others might write some too.
Of course.
You're not writing most of them, right?
You're not getting it.
I might end up writing most of them.
I thought you were here to support me.
-You're unbelievable.
-Never mind. Congratulations.
THE ROOKIE SINGER'S AGEN
Pretty bad, huh?
It's not bad.
But you're not releasing it, are you?
Please give me some ideas.
Ideas?
Let's say
you finish a song.
When will that be?
You must have a timeline.
-For instance
-I don't know.
What?
But your album
But don't you think
you should have a plan?
You should know what needs to be done
and when it needs to be done.
You'll need someone
to take care of that stuff for you.
At least I think you will.
-Do you want to do it?
-What?
-Will you do it?
-I don't know.
Okay, I'll ask someone else.
-If you insist
-It's fine.
I'll ask around.
If you insist,
-I can't say no to you.
-I probably do need someone.
I'll have my hands full
just from learning music.
When your songs are done,
we'll have to release the album
with a properly designed album cover.
Maybe even a music video.
-A music video?
-Sure.
At least one for the title track.
All right.
Let's do it.
Now we're bound by contract.
What?
He needs a planner.
I think I should help him out
so he can make history
in the short span of 100 days.
It won't be easy,
but we might pull off a miracle.
Everyone knows
how "Gangnam Style" became famous.
We'll make it go viral.
We'll get 100 million views.
Are you drunk?
JUNG SANG-HOON JOINS THE PROJEC
I'll be your agent in a sense,
so call me Mr. Jung from now on.
Mr. Jung?
Mr. Jung.
AGEN
MR. JUNG
There's actually one more person
that I'd like to work with.
-One more person?
-Yeah.
Who?
Another Sang-hoon.
Another? Who?
Moon Sang-hoon.
Moon Sang-hoon?
-Yes, the guy from D.P.
-Yes, I know.
He has 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube.
-Yes.
-He's really creative.
Think of him as the head of marketing.
I'll be more like the control tower,
and you're the artist. You get it.
His pitch about a music video
and the need for an overall plan
convinced me
that we need someone with brilliant ideas.
It'd be a great idea
to work with Moon Sang-hoon.
I like it.
And with three people,
we'll be like a triangle,
the most stable shape there is.
We'll be infallible.
MOON SANG-HOON
Hello?
Hello, this is Moon Sang-hoon.
Of course, Sang-hoon.
It's nice to meet you.
-Come in.
-It's a pleasure.
-You made it.
-My goodness.
Hi, Sang-hoon.
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
-It's good to see you.
-Likewise.
Your performance really shocked me.
-On D.P., right?
-Yes.
-You're such an amazing actor.
-You were unbelievable.
Did I deserve this?
Did I deserve this?
He was amazing.
That's how acting should be done.
-It felt so real.
-It was inspiring.
It was so good.
I'm actually very nervous
to be sitting next to you two.
ACTORS OF 27 AND 21 YEARS
I look up to both of you so much.
But in terms of YouTube,
we're the ones who should look up to you.
-I know.
-1.36 million subscribers.
-All his comedy works
-How many does your channel have?
I don't have one anymore.
My bad.
He's actually my agent now.
Right.
I'm like the head
of this company, so to speak.
I just remembered an idea
that I was saving for later.
A company named Jungsang Productions.
As in "normal" in Korean.
And they go on tours doing performances
that are absolutely not normal.
It's a good name for a company
with Jung Sang-hoon as the CEO.
I like that.
I was wondering what to name our company.
But we're not using my whole name.
Plus, "Jungsang" can also mean "top."
It can mean we strive to be the best.
It'd be "Jung" from Jung-seok
and "Sang" from Sang-hoon.
That also works.
-It's both of our names.
-That's true.
ON EGGSHELLS
-We can keep our options open.
-JS for short.
-We'll think about it.
-For sure.
We don't have to decide now.
THE ROOKIE SINGER'S AGENCY
JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS
We're working on
a music project right now.
Do you think Jung-seok
would make a good musician?
I'm here to make sure that he does.
-Really?
-Yes.
We're aiming for seven songs,
but he might not be able to
finish all seven
or even just one.
And he might write really terrible songs.
-Right.
-What then?
-What if his songs are terrible?
-Right.
I haven't heard his music,
-so I can't really say.
-Let's suppose.
Okay, let's suppose it is terrible.
But if we sprinkle some
delicious behind-the-scenes videos
of our beloved actor
Cho Jung-seok's journey on top
Just like how sesame seeds or parsley
can make any food look good.
-"Sesame seeds or parsley"?
-Exactly.
-So presentation is everything.
-Exactly. That's all you need.
ON EGGSHELLS AGAIN
Such videos can get people engaged
and make them think about
Jung-seok's experience
and the thoughts
he must have put into writing his songs.
So basically, it doesn't matter
if the album lacks substance?
-Well
-We can fix it
with your figurative sesame seeds, right?
-Mr. Jung.
-Yes?
You keep saying things
like "lacks substance"
-and "terrible."
-Hold on.
-You keep badmouthing my music.
-All right.
We can't just think about the good stuff.
No, we have to prepare for the worst.
We have to think of
the worst-case scenario.
What's the worst-case scenario
you can think of?
You two getting into a fistfight.
This is the third time you've argued
since I've been here.
THE ROOKIE SINGER'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL
A YouTube channel
is an absolute necessity.
If you can do it
-It's a must.
-Yes.
Covers are dominating
the YouTube algorithm nowadays.
-Covers?
-There are singers who only do covers.
I noticed that too.
I'll play you one.
Guess who's singing this.
ORIGINAL SONG:
"TILL THE END OF TIME" BY THE BLACK SKIRTS
Who is this?
-Do we know this person?
-Absolutely.
Is it Gummy?
It sounds a lot like her.
-Is it AI?
-AI.
It is, right?
This is on the rise
in the algorithm right now.
So here's what I thought might work.
We'll have the camera
angled below the neck
and have you sing
without showing your face.
So it's you singing the actual song,
but we'll tweak it to sound like an AI.
-We change it.
-Exactly.
AI is meant to imitate humans,
but we'll do the opposite.
Nice.
Imagine if people liked the cover,
and it turned out to be Cho Jung-seok.
That kind of twist can be exciting.
That's a great idea.
I think such a revelation
might make people
appreciate my songs more.
If people get hooked,
they'll start watching
other videos you made.
This could work if you're up for it.
You're really smart, Sang-hoon.
-Really?
-I love your ideas.
If we do create a channel,
what should we call it?
Hit me with some names.
Coming up with names is my favorite part.
-It should be straightforward.
-Okay.
I like Cheonggyesan,
so it should have "Cheonggyesan" in it.
What about "Daengi's Dad"?
-Daengi?
-Daengi.
It was my daughter's nickname
while my wife was still carrying her.
I like "Records."
"Cheonggyesan Daengi Records."
YOUTUBE CHANNEL CREATED!
-You've been appointed.
-I'll do my best.
-As the head of PR and marketing.
-Yes, sir.
MR. MOON, HEAD OF PR & MARKETING
-Let's do great work together.
-Yes, thank you.
-I look forward to it.
-Thank you.
-Thanks.
-Thank you.
JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS
CEO: JUNG SANG-HOON
ARTIST: CHO JUNG-SEOK
HEAD OF PR & MARKETING: MOON SANG-HOON
It's crazy how we have the same name.
I know.
I feel like we think the same way too.
-It's done.
-Are you having a meeting?
Yes.
I have to go somewhere for a minute.
Thanks again, Sang-hoon.
You can continue without me.
I set the email address
for our account as "cgsd100,"
short for "Cheonggyesan D-100."
D-100?
This deadline thing is killing me.
At least we have 100 days.
DISCUSSING THE ROOKIE SINGER (WITHOUT HIM)
Since he's not here,
I must say I'm a little worried.
Have you heard his songs?
Not yet.
He doesn't have any.
Between you and me,
things are looking pretty bad.
Does he have demos?
No, he doesn't even know how to make one.
He doesn't have anything right now,
and we're running out of time.
JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS'
STRATEGY MEETING CONTINUES
And at this point
I haven't run this by Jung-seok yet,
but how about we bring some experts in
to listen to his songs?
Like K-pop idols
with their monthly evaluations.
He does need to be evaluated.
Earlier, he said things like,
"Don't say my music will be terrible."
-But we have to be honest with him.
-Sure.
He wouldn't dare talk back to experts
if they said it was terrible.
That's true.
It's better than
having the listeners say that.
Exactly.
Better now than later.
You know those scenes in movies
where a singer goes to a producer,
only to get thrown out
and then his bag thrown out after him?
Let's give him that experience.
We could bring him to HYBE headquarters
and have him thrown out by their security.
LOVES I
I think he should go in blind.
Wow.
I love that idea.
Let's bring in experts.
I think it's best if Jung-seok gets advice
-from songwriters and lyricists.
-Agreed.
-And they'll give him feedback.
-Okay.
Our opinions are meaningless
because we work with him.
All we can tell him is,
"That was amazing!"
-We can only say if we like it or not.
-Exactly.
He needs some stone-cold criticism.
-Like, "Jung-seok."
-"Jung-seok."
-"That's"
-"It's so boring."
-Nice. What else?
-"This sounds too familiar."
-Or?
-"This isn't what you set out to do."
And then?
"Just stick to acting."
A FEW DAYS LATER
-The weather's gotten warmer.
-It's nice.
I can practically hear the snow melting.
-I know, it's so nice.
-Right.
It makes me want to go out.
It makes me crave boiled duck.
-Exactly.
-I bet there are some good places around.
Of course.
THE MEETING BEGINS
In our last meeting,
we said the first thing we need to do
-was for us to listen to your songs.
-Right.
We need to hear
whatever you have right now.
We have to know what we're working with.
But I have nothing.
-Nothing at all?
-No.
-Not even a little?
-No.
I only have a few bits and pieces,
like a verse or something.
Let's just hear the verse then.
I can play that for you.
I'll play it on the guitar.
-The verse?
-Yes.
Actually, I have a demo
on my portable drive,
but I forgot to bring it today.
But I do have some material here
that I worked on yesterday.
I have to tell you something.
Please use our cloud drive
for your songs from now on.
Forgetting your portable drive
-is not an excuse.
-Okay, I will.
But if it's a lack of inspiration,
we totally understand.
No pressure on that front.
Okay.
We were wondering
what professional musicians would think
-about your songs.
-Okay.
We think we should have
some songwriters listen to your songs.
I totally agree.
So you're open to the idea?
Of course. I'd love to do that.
-Really?
-Yes.
But I'd like to finish a verse.
-With the melody and everything.
-Of course.
They need something to work with.
-While we're on the subject
-Okay.
-What is it?
-Mr. Moon and I
had an idea.
Considering our schedule
this has to happen next week.
Next week?
We're going to rent out a small venue.
A tiny one.
It's not a concert hall.
-Just a place with some speakers.
-It could even be here.
Are you serious?
HICCUP
Is this for real?
Seriously?
So I have to go out there
and sing with my guitar?
That could work,
but there are other options.
No, but think about it.
I'm okay with letting people
listen to the songs I wrote,
but I don't know about singing live
in front of people.
I'm not prepared for that.
It won't be easy,
but it'll motivate you to complete a song.
Who will be the audience?
We might not have one at all.
(BUT WE MIGHT)
-So it'll just be us and our crew?
-Yes.
In that case
Don't get too stressed out.
So when exactly next week?
-Next week, it's
-Which day?
It's six days from now.
THE MONTHLY EVALUATION IS IN 6 DAYS
-Six days from now?
-Yes.
Probably.
This is crazy.
Thinking about singing live
is making me nervous.
The pressure is on.
THE SONGWRITING BEGINS
Okay, I'm going to write something.
I think this is good.
HE ALSO WRITES THE LYRICS
Gosh.
This is really hard.
It's hard to finish a song.
Even a demo is hard.
BECOMING A SINGER-SONGWRITER
IS NOT AN EASY TASK
Why did I agree to do this?
IT EVEN CONTINUES AT HOME
Today is Saturday, right?
I have two days left.
2 DAYS UNTIL THE EVALUATION
I wish I had more time.
I'm terrified right now.
MEANWHILE,
JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS' GRAND SCHEME
I've never done this before.
I've never deceived Jung-seok
to this extent.
We lied and told him
that we got a very small venue
-so he wouldn't stress out.
-Yes.
We can't have him sing on the street.
A GRAND STAGE
We've invited four people
whose names anyone would recognize.
They've collectively written enough songs
to fill up an entire karaoke songbook.
Well, maybe not that many.
A GRAND PANEL OF MENTORS
Jung-seok will be very surprised.
Who will be the audience?
-So it'll just be us and our crew?
-Yes.
AND A TINY LITTLE LIE
But it'll be extremely helpful
for his music.
Absolutely.
And that's why we're doing this.
The end justifies the means.
Let's do this.
THE DAY OF THE EVALUATION
PREPARED BY JUNGSANG PRODUCTIONS
Man, it's cold.
Get a shot of my shoes too.
I wanted to do well today,
so I'm wearing the shoes G-Dragon gave me.
-Really?
-Yes.
I was never going to wear them.
I've been saving them.
But I really want to do well.
So today,
it's basically just our crew, right?
I'm going to leave if I see a crowd.
-How many is a crowd?
-What? I don't know.
Ten people?
EVALUATION VENUE
Okay, thank you.
-Hello.
-Goodness.
-Our artist is here.
-Welcome.
I didn't get any sleep.
-You didn't get any sleep?
-No.
You must be exhausted.
I have to practice the guitar.
-But you just got here.
-I have to.
You must be really nervous.
Obviously.
I mean
What is all this? It's not a concert.
-No.
-Of course not.
CAUGHT OFF GUARD
This is nuts.
-He'll do well.
-Of course.
He's like the straight-A student
who always says he didn't study.
Oh, boy.
It'll be fine.
Why do you guys seem more nervous than me?
Of course we're nervous.
-Are there a lot of people today?
-No.
All things considered,
it's your first time
performing in front of people.
Plus, we don't know
how the crew will react.
KEEPS ON RAMBLING
HIS PALMS GET SWEATY
They could be harsh critics.
We were very nervous.
We didn't tell Jung-seok
about the mentors,
so I thought he might get mad at me.
I was a bit scared.
I honestly didn't know how to act.
-You should keep practicing here.
-Okay.
We'll be out there.
We'll go there first.
And clean up the room.
WHILE THE ROOKIE SINGER IS BUSY PRACTICING
-We're ready.
-Great.
THE TWO SANG-HOONS ARE BUSY SETTING UP
I'll leave our artist's profile here too.
-He's about my height, so this will do.
-Okay.
Do you think Jung-seok might come in,
see the mentors, and suddenly yell,
"I'm not doing this!
How could you do this to me?"
I hope not.
We should make sure
-that everything goes smoothly.
-Right.
-We have to help Jung-seok.
-Absolutely.
Hey.
Hello.
-Hello.
-Nice to meet you.
LOCO & GRAY
KIM EA-NA
AND YOON JONG-SHIN
-Good to see you.
-Hello.
-Hello.
-Happy New Year.
MENTORS FOR THE MONTHLY EVALUATION
-We're judges again.
-I know.
-You're amazing.
-I feel like this is all we do now.
My latest hit was
"I AM," which I wrote for IVE.
There are also IU's
"Good Day" and "You & I,"
and many more.
KIM EA-NA, LYRICIST:
KOREA'S MOST BELOVED LYRICIS
WITH OVER 300 HITS
GRAY, PRODUCER:
TRENDSETTER OF THE MUSIC SCENE
LOCO, RAPPER:
1ST WINNER OF SHOW ME THE MONEY
YOON JONG-SHIN, MUSICIAN:
SINGER-SONGWRITER OF 35 YEARS
AUDITION SHOW JUDGE OF 16 YEARS
It's nice to meet you.
We're honored to have you, Jong-shin.
A PANEL OF MENTORS JUST FOR JUNG-SEOK
This is where we did the auditions
for Superstar K.
Really?
Right here?
This all seems a bit over the top.
-We apologize.
-Goodness.
We wanted to go all out.
I can't wait to hear his songs.
What did you think, Sang-hoon?
As his fan, I like them a lot,
but you might see it differently
since you're the old hands
in the industry.
"Old hands"?
Are you calling our valued guests old?
-I like that term.
-I like it too.
-We're old hands.
-For sure.
In that case, as the old hands,
please be as critical as possible.
Jung-seok doesn't know you're here.
-Does he have no idea?
-None.
TOTALLY CLUELESS
Which floor am I going to?
I feel like things have
gotten out of hand.
-Do you think so?
-Yes, honestly.
I'm leaving if I see more than 20 people.
I even forgot my guitar pick.
-Don't you need it?
-I'll just play with my fingers.
It's fine.
BACKSTAGE
I want to go home.
Oh my god.
How many people are out there?
Just tell me.
I'm losing it here.
We will now begin the monthly evaluation.
We present the first artist
of Jungsang Productions.
Let us invite Cho Jung-seok to the stage.
A round of applause, please.
-Please come out.
-Is that my cue?
It's only natural for him to be nervous.
He has to have good songs
to have invited all of us here.
I was a bit concerned.
Is that my cue?
I'm so screwed.
I'm done for.
Come out, Jung-seok.
Please come out.
No, you can't be serious.
HE FINALLY MEETS THE FOUR MENTORS
No, you can't be serious.
-It's okay, Jung-seok. Please come out.
-Jung-seok.
We're so sorry.
They're just lookalikes.
We hired impersonators.
I thought it'd just be our crew.
I had no idea
that they prepared something like this.
I don't know. I'm just confused.
I just wanted to go home.
-Wow.
-Wow.
-Awesome.
-Hello.
Please give Jung-seok
another round of applause.
I got chills.
-This is cool.
-He really had no clue.
You must be shaken, Jung-seok. I'm sorry.
Yes. This is bad.
I'm barely keeping it together.
This is something
right out of those audition shows.
-No pressure.
-Okay.
Thank you so much for your time.
As you know, I'm not a singer,
but I've been working on some songs.
I don't know how I ended up here.
Before we begin,
I'd like to explain
how this process works.
If they like what they hear,
they'll turn the light on
in front of them.
Let me try it.
You can turn it back off if you'd like.
I'll hand out the lyrics
for the first song.
Okay.
Jung-seok will now explain
what kind of thoughts went into
writing the song and the lyrics.
I thought I was just performing my songs.
When they handed out the lyrics,
I wanted to crawl into a hole.
It's called "I Just Wanna Loving."
The grammar is so off.
THE TITLE?
"Loving" Which part?
After "I Just Wanna"
-It should be "Love."
-Not "Loving."
-He took an artistic liberty.
-It's cute.
-Are we letting it slide?
-Yes.
GRAY and Loco, are we allowing this?
I actually can't stand
these kinds of things.
I didn't think there'd be criticism
before he even started.
They're coming at you hard
about the title alone.
We should be objective.
-I like it.
-I can't allow it.
I love it.
Please excuse my poor English.
Please explain the song.
It's a song about love.
It's about still wanting to be loved
even while having a lovers' quarrel
and the contrast between two emotions.
-Should I start?
-Yes.
"I JUST WANNA LOVING"
THE FIRST SONG WRITTEN BY THE ROOKIE
A SONG ABOUT THE EMOTION OF LOVE
I was trying to play the first chord,
but my fingers wouldn't move
as if they were frozen.
"I JUST WANNA LOVING (WORKING TITLE)"
LYRICS AND MUSIC BY CHO JUNG-SEOK
I see you smiling in the faded picture
It fades further away as time goes by
Along with tan on my face
Memories with you
They all go away too fast
Please don't go crazy just for one night
Please don't go crazy just for one night
Please don't go crazy just for one night
Waiting for you, waiting for you
Waiting for you
Baby
All right.
I've never been so nervous in my life.
I'm surprised that three of our judges
turned their lights on.
Allow me to explain why I turned it on.
-This is just a demo, right?
-Yes.
That means
-it still needs a lot of work.
-Okay.
But I can see where it's going.
I turned my light on
because I recognized his potential.
He knows how to write a song.
Not everyone could write a song
even if they wanted to.
It wasn't so amazing
that it had to be on his album.
I actually liked the beginning
with the Korean lyrics.
But the part after that
was a bit less catchy,
which was a bit disappointing.
It was the vibe in the beginning
that kept me enjoying
the rest of the song.
-It's good to hear some positive feedback.
-Yes.
Three of the judges
turned their lights on,
but one didn't.
Let's hear from Ms. Kim.
If I were a producer,
I would say your voice
was being wasted on this song.
You have a great voice
that can really make a song shine,
but this song is rather laid-back.
It's a bit bland.
-I see.
-That's how I saw it.
I didn't have much time,
but I worked really hard for this day.
Sadly, my performance wasn't satisfactory.
I felt like I tried to sing
like I was someone else,
which was disappointing.
When writing lyrics,
stick to the words that you actually use.
You don't use the word
"faded" a lot, do you?
No, I don't.
And yet, you used it in your lyrics.
That could make them sound cliché.
I'm a firm believer
in using everyday words
in your lyrics.
If you swear a lot, use swear words.
You've gotta be bold.
-You can use any word you want.
-I see.
Plus, writing lyrics is an area
where you can really make use
of your amazing talent.
Let's say you just got your script.
It might just say your character is
"a handsome playboy,"
but I'm sure you don't leave it at that.
You would think about the words
a playboy might use.
Actors usually study their characters
beyond what's in the scripts.
The same kind of detail
can come through in your singing.
Acting and singing are
very similar in that sense,
which is why great singers
are often great actors
and great actors are often great singers.
-That makes perfect sense.
-It really does.
Thank you.
All we could say about this song
was "we love it"
and "let us hear it again."
It's definitely a lot more helpful
to hear the old hands' feedback.
We've already said so much
about the first song alone.
-I know.
-And we appreciate that.
THE SECOND SONG
This second song
-is called "Jung-seok in Medium."
-I like the title.
It's a strong title.
It's really impactful.
It's a song I wrote
about a girl from church
I really liked as a teenager.
The girl from church.
I worked on this song with Young-min,
a.k.a. Berry from Rocoberry,
who played the piano accompaniment.
I came up with the melody
and wrote the lyrics.
A FEW DAYS AGO
I wanted to see how you wrote songs.
-You're the best there is.
-Stop it.
PRODUCER BERRY (AN YOUNG-MIN)
I became friends with Young-min
through my wife.
I took this opportunity to ask him
whatever questions I had
about songwriting.
He helped me with the intro,
and then I added the melody and lyrics.
Let's try that again.
How's this?
-Are you playing it on your guitar?
-There's an instrumental.
Okay, let's hear it.
I'll play the guitar on top of it.
"JUNG-SEOK IN MEDIUM (WORKING TITLE)"
LYRICS BY CHO JUNG-SEOK
MUSIC BY CHO JUNG-SEOK AND BERRY
Among the countless stars up above
I'll be the light that shines on you
The love I wished for
Like your beautiful eyes
My love for you will last forever
'Cause you hold me warmly
Like the sun in the sky
I will always be your light
You and I, loving for you tonight
I've been longing for
The day to be with you
I'll always adore you, my love
I'll always be there
For you
It goes something like that.
Ms. Kim turned her light on
after just four measures.
That's amazing.
-He did it.
-Absolutely.
-It was exhilarating.
-I was over the moon.
I was punching Sang-hoon out of joy.
All right.
Why did you call it "Jung-seok in Medium"?
It's in a medium tempo.
It's a working title.
-He should keep this title.
-Don't you like it?
He was being literal.
I know it's a working title,
but it is an interesting approach
to titling your songs.
Something like "I Think It's a Ballad,"
or "Kind of a Dance Song."
Having titles like that
could actually help your first album
really grab people's attention.
It could even be the name of the album.
"Jung-seok in Medium"?
And make everything medium.
Even his clothes.
Have him wear medium-sized clothes.
-Have his steaks cooked to medium.
-Exactly.
Isn't his voice perfect for this song?
I loved it.
-His voice is very strong.
-In this song,
you started out
in the most pleasing vocal range.
The song starts right off
with the voice
that everyone wants to hear.
I'd like to make a personal offer here.
If you wouldn't mind,
I'd like to help with the lyrics.
This song has a lot of potential.
The melody could turn out great
with the right lyrics.
She's the best lyricist in the country.
I'd
I'd love that.
This old hand is trying to get involved.
You really caught her eye.
Thank you so much.
However
in my personal opinion,
this song was pretty conventional.
And these kinds of songs need
a rather drastic bridge.
-It needs a twist.
-I just think
it'd be much better
if you incorporated a line
or a rhythm
that listeners wouldn't expect.
But that can be done
in the arrangement stage.
I didn't turn on my light
because I also used to worry
about my songs sounding too cliché
or too similar to each other all the time.
Whenever that would happen,
I would force myself to use rhythms
I wasn't used to.
I produced a lot of tracks
using that method.
You might be able to expand your horizons
by taking that approach.
Thank you so much.
I'm taking mental notes of everything.
I'm very grateful.
Those were the two songs
we've officially prepared for today.
Just those two?
But there's another song he was practicing
while warming up earlier.
I personally think
that song was as good as the others.
We wouldn't have mentioned it
if you hadn't turned the lights on.
What do you think?
-He looks angry.
-It was his idea.
I don't even have lyrics for this one.
It's just some noodling
that I have recorded on my phone.
It was from back in 2017.
Gummy actually sang the demo.
-We can't be fooled.
-The one and only.
-Don't be fooled by the demo.
-The great Gummy.
Let me put my guitar down.
DEMO WITH GUMMY (2017)
MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTALS BY CHO JUNG-SEOK
SUNG BY GUMMY
This one's my favorite.
-Really?
-Yes.
It's really cool.
It was quite ordinary, yet refreshing.
It sounded like a skit track.
SKIT TRACK: A RECORDING
OF WHATEVER THE ARTIST WANTS
It might be nice to just release it as is.
Right out of an iPhone.
I want to hear more.
I want to hear them giggling
while they sing
and maybe some rustling of a blanket.
I got chills just thinking about it.
-That'd be hip.
-Definitely.
-I loved the part they sang together.
-Right?
It could be a special track.
It'd be special because
not all home recordings sound like
home recordings these days.
It could even transition
into an actual song
with a full band sound.
That'd be pretty cool.
I think it'd make a good song.
I'm so glad we played it for them.
Who came up with the melody?
We did it together.
We liked the way it sounded,
so we just started recording.
I think it's really important
that you share these songs with others
instead of keeping them to yourself
for too long.
Would you turn your lights on
for this one?
-Yes.
-Absolutely.
All four lights.
-All lights are on.
-Four lights.
We got such an overwhelmingly
positive response.
All four lights are on.
I'd like to thank you once again.
And this is how passionate
I am about music.
Take a look at my shoes.
These were a gift from G-Dragon.
-Oh yeah.
-Those are nice shoes.
I just kept them at home all this time,
but I wore them for the first time today.
Because I wanted to do well.
The shoes are the reason
that I never got zero lights.
Thanks, G-Dragon.
"Great actors are also great singers,
and great singers are also great actors."
Our artist is the best of both worlds.
His songs are coming into shape,
like a baby taking its first steps.
He just grew two little baby teeth.
AFTER A VERY LONG DAY
Let's drink.
-Great job today.
-Well done.
To be completely honest,
today was such a long day.
Well done, Jung-seok.
-You did great.
-That was crazy.
I was like, "Why are those people here?"
"Why am I getting feedback
from judges I saw on TV?"
"Where am I? Who am I?"
"Why are they here?"
These questions just came flooding in.
-That's when reality hit you.
-That's exactly it.
But it was all so overwhelming.
It really was.
I felt all kinds of emotions.
Of course.
Whether it be good or bad,
I just want to write songs
that people will enjoy listening to.
That's my goal.
I don't know what to do.
Should I collaborate
with the best?
I should ask first, right?
-How have you been?
-Hey.
Subtitle translation by: Yenny Kang