Poll Shift

The fallout from the latest episode hit like a nuclear warhead. The internet was bombarded, JYP's stocks fell, although were stabilised fairly quickly. The Seoul Young issue was taken care of behind the scenes so as not to drag JYPE's reputation down too far. Seoul Young's father was tried and sentenced to 19 years imprisonment and fined over 3.8 million dollars for tax evasion and market manipulation. Seoul Young being over 20 was tried as an accomplice and initiator, and given the same time as his father.

The show was continued, with some fun challenges to distract the public from Seoul Young. This included public performances and a sports day of some sort. They released 3 filler episodes before our next proper challenge was introduced. It was an individual challenge where we were to perform a cover of a foreign song. We had spent one week preparing for our performances as we were only required to sing or rap, and not dance. I had decided to go with The fighter by Gym Class Heroes, as I liked the sound of the melody and the meaning behind the lyrics. Now to address the attention I have received online. Especially since the popularity poll has now also been flipped.

My social media following had increased again. From 13k I had now reached over 190k. My DMs had been flooded with messages from fans and a couple of friends. There were compilations and videos on Youtube talking about conspiracies, and other details about me. My ranking in the popularity poll had shot up to number 1. The attention that the show was garnering also increased as it went from a 15% viewership rating to a 65% viewership rating in Korea and a 4% viewership rating to a 30% viewership rating overseas. This show was becoming international.

The performance day came up pretty fast. We were nearing the end of the show very quickly, so the challenges were coming up faster and faster. We were all grouped in a waiting room, preparing to perform. We didn't have any set, costume or dances as we were just going to use our raw vocals and rap to perform. Up first was Nam Youngjae, as a vocalist, he decided to go with a song that provided energy, while also showing off his vocal stability and his strength in holding notes. He walked out onto the stage and began to perform. His contagious energy had the crowd bouncing along and singing. The song, Hey Ya by Outkast fit his talents well. The next performance was Ra Chan-wook who performed Cruise by Florida Georgia Line. His vocal style fits well with this song. The country-style rasp that his voice has meshed well and gave it an authentic and emotional feeling that resonated with the audience. The next performer that came out was DongBang. Although his talents lie in dancing, he was also a pretty sufficient rapper. His performance was very enjoyable, and his adaptation of In Da Club by 50 cent had the crowd hyped.

Then came Akira, who like DongBang was a dancer that could also rap pretty well came out and performed Down by Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne. He was also able to display some vocal talent with this song, which helped to boost his performance to the next level. Sim Hyun-Shik performed Kryptonite by 3 doors down following that, and then came Hayashi who performed a very well-done version of Mirrors by Justin Timberlake. His English pronunciation was amazing too. I was the second to last performance. I walked out onto the stage and greeted the audience. I then walked over to the microphone stand that had been set up in the centre of the stage. I smile slightly as I realise that this will be the first time I rap on stage. Although it's not for the full song, this will surely reveal that I can rap even if it isn't perfect. The music starts. I decided that I will try to mix as much emotion into the rap and vocals as possible, as I was very good at that. I wanted the audience to connect to the song, enjoy it and understand the message. Very quickly, the rap introduces the song. I watch JYP's eyes open wide as he realises that I am rapping. He nods his head along to the music and starts to appreciate the cadence.

"Just wakin up in the morning

And to be well

Quite honest with ya

I ain't really sleep well

Ya ever feel like your train a thoughts been derailed

That's when you press on Lee Nails

Half the population's just waitin to see me fail

Yeah right, you're better off tryina freeze hell

Some of us do it for the females

And others do it for the retails

But I do it for the kids, life through the tower head on

Everytime you fall it's only making your chin strong

And I'll be in your corner like Mick baby, 'til the end

Or when you hear the song from that big lady

Until the referee rings the bell

Until both your eyes start to swell

Until the crowd goes home

What we gonna do ya'll"

Soon the rap stops and the singing begins with the chorus. I try to mix even more emotion into the vocals.

"Give 'em hell, turn their heads

Gonna live life 'til we're dead

Give me scars, give me pain

Then they'll say to me, say to me, say to me

There goes a fighter (oh)

There goes a fighter (oh)

Here comes a fighter (oh)

That's what they'll say to me, say to me

Say to me, this one's a fighter"

I watch as some people in their audience begin to close their eyes and enjoy the raw vocals. As the chorus finishes, I take the microphone off the stand and begin to walk around the stage and continue the next verse.

"And if I can last thirty rounds

There's no reason you should ever have your head down

Six foot five, two hundred and twenty pounds

Hailing from rock bottom, loserville, nothing town

Textbook version of the kid going nowhere fast

And now I'm yelling kiss my ass

It's gonna take a couple right hooks a few left jabs

For you to recognize that you really ain't got it bad

Until the referee rings the bell

Until both your eyes start to swell

Until the crowd goes home What we gonna do ya'll"

At the same time, I'm trying to use my facial expressions and body language to emphasise the song and control my stage presence. I need to show that I'm the one in control of the music and telling the story. It doesn't matter if the song is average or amazing. If you have a strong stage presence and can enhance the music with your performance, even if you aren't dancing people will still enjoy it.

"Everybody put yo hands up

What we gonna do (hey)

What we gonna do (hey)

What we gonna do (hey)

What we gonna do y'all

What we gonna do (hey)

What we gonna do (hey)

What we gonna do y'all

What we gonna do"

I begin to stand still and clap my hands over my head. The crowd begins to follow along, they are getting into the performance. I continue to sing as the chant along.

Soon I enter the final verse

"Give 'em hell, turn their heads

Gonna live life til we're dead

Give me scars, give me pain

Then they'll say to me, say to me, say to me

There goes a fighter (oh)

There goes a fighter (oh)

Here comes a fighter (oh)

That's what they'll say to me, say to me

Say to me, this one's a fighter

'Til the referee rings the bell

'Til both ya eyes start to swell

'Til the crowd goes home

What we gonna do kid"

I finish and stand still. The crowd erupts into cheers and applause. JYP stands and applauds me as well. I smile, bow and leave the stage.