They couldn't be mistaken. This is indeed a Little Meow Meow song. Not only that, but it's her most famous and signature song--"Meow Meow." Almost everyone in South Korea knows this song!
"He's going to sing a...kid's song?"
"My niece is a big fan of Little Meow Meow. He must be a genius!"
"I don't know if he's serious or not."
Zeth laughed out loud and slapped Ren's arm. "Ah, I really want to be his friend."
They watched in awe as June narrated the first part of the song.
"In a world filled with endless adventures and heartwarming companionship, cats hold a special place. These majestic creatures, with their graceful movements and expressive eyes, enchant us with their charming ways."
In the original song, this part was sung by children accompanied by a happy piano tune. However, with June's delicate voice complemented by the solemn piano he had recorded himself, the mentors and trainees wondered if this was the same song after all.
The piano accompaniment was recorded on Minjun's grandma's phone. They were kind enough to let him borrow her new phone. Then, he downloaded a piano app and recorded the piece in his tiny bathroom.
It was a hidden skill of his when he was still a part of the White Tiger gang. Whenever they had year-end parties, the newbies were forced to perform in front of the old members. Jun Hao didn't want to sing or dance since he was too embarrassed, so he settled on playing the piano instead.
The track definitely sounded amateur, but it added to the vibe of the song. The piano that echoed within the walls of the bathroom gave a pretty eerie and profound sound. One might even call it indie.
As he opened his mouth to sing, the mentors were even more surprised.
"Goodness, this is unexpected," Jihyun said. "This weird kid can sing."
June had completed four missions overall, and he improved his vocal aspect every time he succeeded. Right now, his grade in vocals is an A-, the highest one he's seen from the other trainees so far. The only person who came close to his grade was Yuri.
"In the shadows of the moonlight,
Whispers of a hidden sight,
A meow, so soft and yet profound,
Echoes through the silence all around."
His voice wavered like a delicate flame flickering in the wind. Yet, there was an undeniable charm, a vulnerability that resonated through every word.
His voice carried the weight of his past, and despite the silly lyrics, there was a glint of the struggles he went through when he was still a thug.
The mentors exchanged glances, their brows furrowing with confusion and contemplation.
"Through the alleys, they roam free,
Guardians of ancient melody,
Their voice, a language understood,
By those who seek a greater good."
Zeth wanted to laugh as the chorus approached, but the way June conveyed the farcical lyrics made him halt. It's like he's singing a typical ballad!
"Meow, meow, a timeless call,
Unveiling mysteries, standing tall or small.
Beneath the surface, secrets lie,
In the depths of a feline's eye."
The other trainees couldn't even remember Little Meow Meow's version. Was this really the cute song that their child relatives would listen to all day?
"In each meow, a story untold,
Whispers of wisdom age-old.
They dance between worlds unseen,
Guiding us to places serene.
Meow, meow, a timeless call,
Unveiling mysteries, standing tall and small.
Beneath the surface, secrets lie,
In the depths of a feline's eye.
(Meow, meow, meow...)"
As the song finished, not a single pin drop was heard in the studio. They looked at June like he had grown three heads.
The trainees never imagined that a song like that could be performed in an idol audition show! The mentors also never experienced this before. Jihyun, who had been the vocal mentor of the show for the past three seasons, believed that this trainee was the most unique out of all.
Yena and Yejin looked at each other with knowing eyes.
"We didn't make a mistake, sis," Yena said.
Yejin nodded enthusiastically.
They already know that the show is going to be a big hit.
June bowed his head as he placed the mic down. He was satisfied with his performance. He definitely had some shaky moments, but it was the best he had performed out of all the practices he did. In this case, he might get two stars for what he had shown.
However, as he lifted his head, nobody applauded. He tilted his head to the side in confusion.
Was his performance that bad?
"Umm, thank you for listening," he cautiously said.
And at that moment, the room erupted into applause.
