Second Try Idol

Chapter 79: Debut (2)

The day after Chronos's heartfelt music video viewing, the “Parade” music video hit their official UTube channel at 6 PM sharp. In just a moment, their debut song was already generating buzz.

The uploaded music video racked up views explosively, dominating UTube's trending videos, BlueBird's real-time trends, and search terms across various portals. For a rookie group from a smaller agency, the quality of their music video was great. Moreover, the uniquely crafted Chronos Universe, the captivating visuals, and the members' seamless choreographies were nothing short of impressive. Even casual viewers, lured by UTube's algorithm, found themselves hitting the replay button thrice. The Rings, Chronos's fanbase, were caught in a cycle of fainting and rewatching, overwhelmed by excitement.

HyunWoo Wears Shirt Forever @healing · 1 minute ago

(The gif of Jin-Sung's eyes opening in a close-up, Yoo-Joon discovering the light, Hyun-Woo's determined smile)

Really... really... this is... enough to bring tears. What a perfect music video. This part is my absolute favorite! Need someone to decode this, please :’(

Holjagi @c5_gori · 2 minutes ago

(Edited gif of Suh Hyun-Woo looking back anxiously)

What's happening... I take back all the bad things I said about YMM. I'm the bad one. This kind of debut music video... They are geniuses! YMM! My heart can't take this...

Ring*Jin-Sung @c_l0817 · 10 minutes ago

(Lee Jin-Sung's edited gif in a flower garden)

Ha... Counting days until August 17. I'm already deep-diving in Jin-Sung's flower garden...

Chacha is Eternal @chachacha · 8 minutes ago

(Edited gif combining five members' iconic scenes in the music video)

Guys, the person downstairs thought I was a monk... They mistook the sound of me hitting my desk in excitement for a wooden fish[1]... Love them to death, really...

Anna @ana · 7 minutes ago

But what's the story behind this music video? There's clearly a plot, but it's elusive. Does anyone understand this?

Thankfully, many viewers grasped the plot of the video. Following their victory in Pick We Up, Chronos unveiled their debut music video, backed by major support from UNET and YMM. As a result, the excitement surrounding the video was overwhelming, and its intriguing and somewhat cryptic content provoked the viewers' imaginations. Before long, UTube's interpretation experts and the Rings started speculating with possible stories on “Parade.”

[Chronos Parade’s Interpretation/Guessing (Subjective Interpretation Warning!)]

??| 20××.07.28 14:02

Have you all watched the ‘Parade' music video that’s released today? Just by hearing the title, I knew something was up. The boys and YMM seemed hell-bent on debuting. Honestly, I was so dazzled by the members' looks that I rewatched it a gazillion times before deciding to try and decode the plot.

※It’s not official, so be warned of a long, image-heavy post with lots of gif. Just an assumption, so no nitpicking, please.

If you haven't watched the music video, watch it first

http://nayu.be/xEeMfLrStCm5 << Link

(Suh Hyun-Woo assembling a clock in a wooden workshop.jpg)

The video kicks off with Hyun-Woo engrossed in assembling a clock. Once he completes it, a mysterious light cascades, and he strides toward it with a content smile on his face.

(Lee Jin-Sung standing in a flower garden.jpg)

Next up, Jin-Sung appears. He's in a different realm from where Hyun-Woo started. After pursuing the light, Hyun-Woo finds himself perpetually lost in Jin-Sung's domain, identifiable by its purple lighting.

(Kang Joo-Han playing the piano and Suh Hyun-Woo observing the empty piano room where Joo-Han was.jpg)

Hyun-Woo wanders through various spaces in this new world, as if searching for someone. He then stumbles upon the piano room once occupied by Joo-Han. Hyun-Woo traces his fingers over the piano, revealing a look of discovery. This hints that Jin-Sung, Joo-Han, and Hyun-Woo are all in the same world, with Hyun-Woo likely seeking Joo-Han, who is connected to the piano.

(Lee Jin-Sung opening his eyes with a cold expression, and Suh Hyun-Woo trapped in the bed light room.jpg)

In a twist, Jin-Sung becomes aware of Hyun-Woo's existence, leading to Hyun-Woo’s entrapment. My theory? Jin-Sung might be the king or guardian of this world. Once he notices Hyun-Woo, the latter gets confined. Simultaneously, an anomaly strikes Yoo-Joon and Yoon-Chan, who are living in the present era.

(Goh Yoo-Joon and Park Yoon-Chan looking at the purple sky.jpg)

Two theories arise:

1. Trapped Hyun-Woo sends a distress signal to Yoo-Joon and Yoon-Chan.

2. Jin-Sung tries to draw them into this world.

Hence, Yoo-Joon and Yoon-Chan are desperately racing around in search of someone. One of them eventually becomes aware of a strange new world, which is different from the present era they are living in.

(A foot arriving at the flower garden, Goh Yoo-Joon discovering light.jpg)

Clues point to the foot being Yoo-Joon's (due to matching attire). Yoo-Joon likely crosses into Jin-Sung's realm and encounters him, bringing the video to a close.

This opens a can of intriguing questions:

1. What exactly is this world?

2. Why does Hyun-Woo cross over?

3. What's the nature of the relationships between Joo-Han and Hyun-Woo, Joo-Han and Jin-Sung, and their identities?

4. How do Hyun-Woo or Jin-Sung connect with the modern-day Yoo-Joon and Yoon-Chan?

5. What prompts Hyun-Woo’s meaningful smile and pauses the song when Yoo-Joon finds the light?

Given this is just the start of Chronos Universe, only a fraction of the plots have been unveiled, but here’s my guess.

Hyun-Woo and Joo-Han share a profound bond (siblings, friends?).

For some unexplained reason, Joo-Han ends up in Jin-Sung's realm (perhaps he’s its king or controller).

Hyun-Woo has been searching for Joo-Han and finally breaches this world, only to be ensnared by Jin-Sung.

Hyun-Woo signals two potential rescuers (Yoo-Joon, Yoon-Chan. Their relation is unclear), leading Yoo-Joon to enter Jin-Sung's world ultimately.

The whereabouts of Yoon-Chan and Joo-Han, and the reason behind Hyun-Woo’s mysterious smile, remain unsolved!

As the universe unfolds, these mysteries should unravel.

Anyway, this is my hurriedly penned theory!

Don't forget to stream non-stop on August 17th. It’s our kids’ debut day, and please rewatch the video a zillion times!

That’s it for this post! Till next time, folks! Cha-cha!

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The fans’ excitement soared as they reveled in a track that had them raving, a music video showcasing serious investment, an enthralling universe that begged for deeper exploration, and the highly anticipated debut of a talented idol group.

Chronos’s debut seemed almost heaven-sent. Yet, shortly thereafter, the members were caught giving Joh In-Hyun a hard time, their dissatisfaction evident as it was written all over their faces during the rehearsal of their first major show.

***

“Lip-syncing at our debut? You've got to be kidding me,” I said, my voice laced with disbelief. The manager just shook his head, attempting to look innocent.

“It's standard practice in the industry! Other groups not only did this for their debut shows but also for the first week of promotions. After all, the sound quality isn't up to par here, and if something goes wrong with the live performance ..."

“Why on earth did we bother with all the live practice sessions then?" Goh Yoo-Joon demanded with a sharp tone.

The manager's face fell, looking like he was on the brink of tears. “The mics will be on, though..."

“Sure, but so low they'll barely pick up our breathing," Joo-Han chimed in while taking a sip of water.

“Hyung, make up your mind. Go all in with lip-sync or drop it. What's the point in pretending it's live?"

"Exactly. If it’s that low, it'll sound awful." I got frustrated and threw my water bottle down on the table.

Back then, I was just an idol trainer, so I had no idea that idol groups lip-synced on their first stage. I had heard that idols with intense dance routines often had their AR[2] turned on to stabilize their live vocals while actually singing live for a few seconds. However, facing that reality ourselves was a different story. It felt like a slap in the face after all our hard work for the past month.

“With two songs to perform, especially 'Parade' with its killer choreography, isn't lip-syncing better than risking shaky live vocals?" asked our manager.

“Are you suggesting we lip-sync in all our performances?"

“Then just turn off the mic completely. Don’t fake live vocals."

“We managed two live performances for the final round of Pick We Up."

Our collective bombardment left the manager flustered, and he ran away.

How could we resort to lip-syncing when our fans were expecting so much from us? If the mic was on but drowned out by the backing track, our voices would just sound messy. So, we might as well just mime the whole thing if the mic was on with a very low volume.

Lee Jin-Sung slouched into his chair, looking super disappointed. “I feel so unmotivated all of a sudden." Jin-Sung had genuinely embraced live performances during Pick We Up, often dragging us—especially me—into endless night rehearsals just to impress our fans. Therefore, it was understandable that he was disappointed.

“Right? It’s not like we are not capable of doing live performances. I’ll go talk to In-Hyun hyung again," Joo-Han said, trying to lift the mood.

“Hold on, hyung," I interjected, pulling him back down. If persuasion had been an option, the manager wouldn't have fled. He would have said, “I will talk to the higher-ups one more time.” There was no point in wasting time on a futile effort.

I fixed a hard stare at the manager, who was chatting with other staff in the distance.

“Let's just do things our way."

“What... what do you mean 'our way'?" Park Yoon-Chan asked, his voice tinged with caution. I just shot him a grin and motioned everyone closer to share my idea. “I've got a plan. Whether we go with it or not, we'll decide together."

I was annoyed with our manager, Mr. Seong, and Supervisor Kim, so I was keen to turn the tables. A live performance for our debut was non-negotiable for me. Why else did I push myself this hard?

“You look serious... almost intimidating," Goh Yoo-Joon remarked, eyeing me warily.

I put a finger to my lips, signaling for them to be quiet, and drew them in close.

“Here's what I'm thinking..." I whispered about my plan.

Park Yoon-Chan's eyes widened in surprise. “Hyung, isn't that a bit risky?"

However, Joo-Han quickly quieted him down. “Keep it down, Yoon-Chan. I'm in. I've had enough of their arbitrary decisions."

“But, hyung, think of the trouble we'll cause. The manager will get in trouble too..."

“So what? Let's just do it. Sounds like a blast," Goh Yoo-Joon remarked.

“Ah, I’m all in for Hyun-Woo hyung's idea. Hyung, you are getting more and more amazing by the minute," Lee Jin-Sung said. After that, his laughter boomed.

Park Yoon-Chan still looked uneasy, but he’d likely join in if we were all onboard.

“Then it's decided."

“Okay."

We dubbed our little rebellion “Manager Hyung's Surprise Prank Operation.”

“Play it cool until it’s time."

“Got it!"

The anticipation for tomorrow's debut was already sending shivers of excitement down my spine.

1. An instrument used in a temple, which is made by carving and hollowing out a piece of wood into a round shape so as to allow it to produce a sound when struck with a little stick. ?

2. Additional Recording, a pre-recorded backing track used during live performances, especially when the choreography is intense. ?