493 The Thing Speaks For Itself
"Gladly," June said, smiling at the well-known producer. Jisung prepared the audio file while June continued thinking about the song Ted had created. It was surreal how it was almost the complete opposite of the song they had made. If Ted's song was complicated, then EVE's was simple. Ren fiddled with his fingers as he found himself getting nervous. The other members, too, felt like they were being placed on a chokehold with how nervous they were.
Jisung finally clicked on the play button, and the song resounded in the small studio. However, when the song played, it felt like their nervousness slowly melted away. Res ipsa loquitur. Or 'the thing speaks for itself.' The song already sounded great…so they asked themselves—why should they be nervous? The song will speak for itself.
From the get-go, Mari and Ted turned to each other with confused gazes. The sound had a light pop sound that made it seem like a song made for a Western artist. They were immediately drawn by the subtle bassline, crisp percussion, and shimmering synth laters. Even with only a few seconds in, they could already tell that the song was well-produced. Even Jay was confused on how EVE managed to make a song of such caliber when they only had less than a day to do it. Of course, he knew that they were talented. However, it was almost astounding to have such talent in just one group. The production was meticulously crafted, with Ren and June making sure there weren't any loopholes to criticize when it came to the timing and cleanliness of the synths. Each sonic element served a specific purpose in building the song's tension and atmosphere. The verses were pretty subdued, so the producers were expecting a more explosive chorus.
However, the chorus focused more on playful instrumentation and youthful energy. Romantic guitar chords and infectious grooves were added to the bassline, making the sound more vibrant than it already was. Yet, beneath its pop exterior, the lyrics of the chorus also surprised Minzy, who was also well-known for being a lyricist in other companies.
"Cause I'm tongue-tied, and I'm surprised...
Every single time I look into your eyes. 15:30
In my heart…right here…for life. Cause I'm hypnotized and, and I see sparks fly
Is it normal to feel this way? Oh my. "
The lyrics were the one thing that the members of EVE didn't pay much attention to since they felt they could still revise it in the coming days. It definitely wasn't perfect, and June wanted it to have been more playful or witty. However, they could only do so much with the time they were given. In the end, they settled on writing cute, romantic lyrics that still boded well with the song. If vocal harmonies and subtle production flourishes were added to the depth and dimension of the track, then June felt like the current lyrics could pass as the ones in the final track. The track continued, easy on the ears. The lyrics, talking about human emotion and connection, exploring themes of love, self-discovery, and the fleeting nature of youth, all jived together into the pop masterpiece. June leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes, admiring what the group had done in 24 hours. He could already imagine the song being played on the radio, which felt like a really good sign. Ted's and Mari's expressions, however, couldn't be painted. Even Minzy had a poker face on, so it was hard to decipher what they were truly feeling at the moment. Meanwhile, Jay, who was still trying to look for the meowing sounds that he didn't want EVE to use beforehand, had an epiphany when the second chorus came around. It was subtle…almost too subtle. If Jay hadn't listened to the meowing sounds yesterday, then he would have never guessed that animal sounds were incorporated into the song. He shook his head and wanted to applaud EVE for what they had done.
June really wasn't lying when he said that he could turn anything into a song. The song ended, and the members of EVE all turned to each other with proud smiles. In a way, they were in good moods since they felt like all their suffering was worth it. Aside from this, the song truly had an infectious energy that really made you want to smile. Mari, after contemplating for a few moments, finally clapped. She smiled at the members of EVE, a bit defeated since she felt like the song they had created was better than the one she had made. At first, she felt like the song was too simple. However, as it progressed, she could hear the nuances in the production that made it sound great despite being simple. "That was it?" Ted asked, a small smirk appearing on his lips. June frowned at his condescending tone, and Mari, who had already been turned off by Ted right from the start, also subtly shook her head. "Yes," June confidently said. "That's the song." Ted's smirk widened as he turned to Minzy, who now appeared to be in deep thought. "Well, what can you say about the songs, producer?" Ted asked.
Minzy didn't respond since she was still contemplating on what to say.
His smile fell for a moment as doubts filled his mind. He couldn't deny that EVE's song was infectious, and it was well-produced, even better than some of the producers he knew in the industry. So, what if… 'No,' he shook his head to get rid of such doubts.
He had worked too hard and sacrificed too much to let a moment of uncertainty derail his aspirations of gaining back his fame. To Ted, it was a simple equation. His song embodied the very essence of 4th-generation K-pop, with its loud rhythms and complicated melodies. EVE's, on the other hand, fell short, deemed too simplistic to compete on the grand stage of the industry.
Its simple melody would only be heard echoing through a quaint café or drifting softly down a busy street. It lacked the grandeur and allure necessary for a music video production. The smirk reappeared on his face.
That was right. EVE failed to notice these elements. In the end, they thought too simply. It was far too simple.
