I received a call some time ago from Park Jin Young telling me about some special audition that he wanted me to do.
During the old days, both of us had a really healthy rivalry between us, that ended up as some kind of friendship, and constant communication now that both of us were CEOs of our companies. Keeping that in mind, I didn't have any kind of problem of conduction this so called audition, after all, he's really picky so he won't recommend someone that's not good enough.
Anyway, Jin Young told me some interesting things. It seems the guy, that's called Park Chris was his adopted son, and more important, apparently had some issues with Park Do Joon, the Father of Gangnam.
This is getting more and more interesting. So, here I am, in front of the guy that's going by the name, "King Cobra". The guy looked pretty aggressive for his age I must say, I mean, he had a freaking Cobra on his face, if that's not aggressive
I simply told the little guy to show me what he got, and whispered to Myung Do, my assistant, to write everything I whisper at him. After some seconds, the music started playing, and to my regret, it started playing "Honey" by JYP. He started with the classical: "Oh Honey~~" followed by the tune that I've heard dozens of times.
— He's actually singing huh? — I started saying to myself — his moves are quite sharp, for his age I mean.
🎶The first time I saw you, at that moment I could not move🎶
— It's a nice touch to even imitate the original choreography, step by step. And he does it quite good.
🎶Your beautiful appearance, I'm captured by it🎶
— He has this cool feeling in his moves. Even though he's following the same choreography, the feeling is totally different. It can mature quite a lot when he grows up.
🎶That beautiful smile of yours, it caught me🎶
At this moment is when the song starts to get a little bit faster momentarily. And this was also the moment the little guy surprised me.
🎶Hey There!🎶
He kept the same feeling he had during all the performance, but started to add some additional moves to the choreography. Every time a line finished he did a subtle shoulder popping that complemented really well the original beat of the song.
🎶Yes, Baby🎶
Even though he initially only did shoulder popping alternating between his left and right shoulder, it didn't get repetitive because he started to include body waves following the beat.
Before noticing, a little smile has already appeared on my face while I head-bopped to the rythm.
— He can do popping and waves alright. — white lie, he was actually really good.
🎶Chase after me🎶
🎶Us here, together with a great night🎶
By this moment, the dance performance only got better, he started to heavily shake his head while slightly hopping.
🎶Oh Honey, Oh Baby🎶
Exactly after the last line, the music suddenly stopped....
And that's when it hit me, he was singing really effortlessly. The audio didn't include lyrics, that means the little guy had really good control of breathing while dancing, and at that age...
That was actually surprising, I must admit.
The music did a complete turn, and gave a completely romantic feeling. I've heard this melody before, but the name momentarily escaped.
The little guy completely stopped dancing, I don't even know what he wanted to show me.
🎶Oh Love, I've been so weary, why did it take you so long to find me🎶
I was really wide eyed now, he's that good at dancing and also at singing? It was surreal.
🎶Oh Love, I love you, now you can spend every second with me🎶
He was just so stable and constant. How much must someone train to become like that being so young? Also, his voice couldn't be called sweet, but went really well with the song.
Just after belting the last note, the music once again stopped. He already got me on the edge of my seat, I can't wait to see what else he got. The earlier song's name was "Candy" by Sechskies, not even that group would expect a 10 or 11 year old to sing their song that well.
Now, a really exciting tune was playing. It was almost a classic already, "Tears" by So Chan Whee, and it instantly started by the middle of the song.
🎶Let's regard anything as not happening🎶
I regret my earlier thought. It was not that his voice went well with the earlier song, it's just that his voice was so versatile that it went well with a lot of styles.
For instance, that first line was actually sung as if it were a whisper, really softly...
🎶Let's regard each other as strangers🎶
Other than his voice being really good, he was also really good transmitting his emotions. I could perfectly feel his regret and sadness while singing.
Strange thoughts for someone so young to have, though...
🎶Aren't you able to release me? You should just forget me now. Hate me rather, don't show an affection for me anymore🎶
His tone was slowly but steadily raising...
The highlight of that song was its actually really high notes the quantity of them. I was simply fascinated, his dance earlier was really good, but now, I was simply flabbergasted.
Also, hir feelings were specially strong now...
And that's when I recalled he was wearing a mask!
It's actually crazy how much he can give away already, even while covering his face.
🎶Don't look for me again, because your heart may ache because of me🎶
No more words, those first two high notes were so impressive, he was really a box of surprises. And there was still the highlight.
🎶Don't condemn me as a merciless woman🎶
Simply unbelievable... He was young and lacking some technique... But his voice... Color... It was too good for his age. His comfortable vocal range, even while lacking technique was perfect.
I couldn't help but think how did Jin Young sent him to me, but then I remembered the subyacent problem.
🎶 I only chose parting for a while for you🎶
In just those two lines, he showed how wide his voice range was. It was almost offensive by now.
But, more importantly, here it comes.... The highlight
🎶Don't forget my love for you, you are in my mind🎶
My ears were still rumbling because of his high note...
He actually got the notes while maintaining his stability...
Before I even noticed, the song ended while I was still thinking. I didn't need to hear anymore, he could occupy any position in a boy group, he was that good.
I felt a slight hit at my side, and noticed that the little guy was quietly staring at me. It was just Myung Do to make me recover my senses. I awkwardly coughed and said.
— That was not bad — really shameless — even though you already did a dance performance, I want to see how you handle free-styling — I said, trying to buy time while I clear my thoughts.
With this, I hoped for the little guy to get a little bit nervous and get down to earth. I've seen countless arrogant people whose attitudes made them fail.
A nod was all I got from him, then the song started playing, courtesy of my assisstant...
🎶Just want 10 minutes. The time when you become mine🎶
Just after he heard the first line, his body started trembling to the beat. He was simply killing the beat like that.
Every time there was a hard hit on the beat, his body answered by, be it by popping, or connecting two body poppings with waves.
🎶Have some courage, come to me, you know you can have me🎶
His main move was actually him lightly hitting his shoulder with his hand, and ending the hit with a shoulder popping. It was quite simple but worked really well. He also did some classic hip hop Harlem Shake and added a little bit of head shaking too through the beat too.
Quite the performance if I must be honest, not that he'll hear it from me....
When the song ended, I actually had nothing to say. The little guy was really good at getting the beat and dancing to it, something that actually came from practice.
His future was simply so bright. But I couldn't say that to him, so I simply told him that we'll call him. He bowed to me and immediately left the room with hurried steps. I turned to Myung Do and asked him.
— Did you write everything? — I was still shaken by the little guy.
— Sir, everything you said I wrote it. But from mid-performance, you stayed silent. — He was actually kind by telling me that, the truth was that I was even slack-jawed.
Actually, disgraceful...
— Leave the notes here, you can leave now, I have to make a call. — I told Myung Do that and waited for him to leave the room while I stared at the notes. Every time I looked at it, my smile got wider and wider. After some minutes of smiling by myself, I made what I thought was the most important call in my business life.
— It would have been nice if you told me that the little guy was actually a monster in every sense possible, You know? — That's the only thing I could say.
The only thing that could still be heard in the room was a loud laugh from the phone, but after a few seconds, I was also laughing hard by my own. I couldn't help it, the little guy was perfect for the group I was planning.
That's the way, I made the best decision in my life...
Just roping that guy in was completely worth it....