Little Pink Starfish

It sounds absurd, but Self Made was consumed by Sedalbaekil.

People no longer said that Sedalbaekil did something on Self Made.

Rather, it was Sedalbaekil who did something with Self Made.

There was quite a significant difference in perception here.

Originally, Sedalbaekil working on an album through Self Made was quite a strange thing.

Wasn’t it a variety show?

-No, but wasn’t Self Made supposed to be something else? Why are they just working on albums nonstop overseas? lol

So these kinds of reactions were reasonable.

But not for the viewers.

-What do you mean no? lol It’s originally a program where Sedalbaekil self-makes things.

-Yeah, season 1 was about making it as nobodies, season 2 is Sedalbaekil self-making, that’s all.

They didn’t find anything odd about the change in Self Made’s content.

That was because Sedalbaekil as content had grown bigger than Self Made itself.

And also because Producer Kang Seok-woo was experienced.

Producer Kang Seok-woo was well aware that the nature of Self Made had shifted due to the collaboration between M Show and Sedalbaekil.

But that’s why he thought fun was even more important.

It didn’t matter if the nature or intent of the program changed.

But it couldn’t become less entertaining.

-lolololololol Am I the only one finding Eion hilarious? lolol

-He can’t speak English but has a knack for Spanish, it’s so funny lolol

-lololol Eion pretending to be solemn in front of the younger members and then crumbling is pure gold lolol

-The amazing thing is no one actually sees him as solemn.

-lololololololol

Even though album work had become the main plotline, most of the airtime still focused on Sedalbaekil’s journey in the U.S.

After Chris Edwards left, there was even an episode where Yankos Greenwood, who wasn’t far away, visited their hotel.

-Release a pop jazz album sometime, I’ll be waiting.

Yankos Greenwood gave advice to Sedalbaekil members, had deep conversations with Han Si-on, and introduced them to Hollywood’s art team.

-The tree that gives without holding back….

-I honestly don’t know this guy, but he seems seriously cool lol

-You can tell he has that generous air unique to successful people.

Eventually, scenes of them shooting a music video with the art team aired.

The familiar unit of Masked Robber and Choi Jae-sung appeared.

There was also footage of Han Si-on and On Saemiro shooting, officially revealing their unit album too.

But what viewers were curious about was how naturally Sedalbaekil members treated these unit shoots.

And then.

[Don’t you feel like the 2nd album will be a huge hit?]

[They say you shouldn’t say ‘huge hit’.]

[Who says that?]

[In broadcasting circles, saying that is considered bad luck.]

[It’s fine. We’re in America. Superstitions have different nationalities.]

[Oh……?]

Viewers started feeling like the subject of their conversation was not the unit album, but the 2nd full album.

-lol this is so confusing

-Can someone please ask directly?

Whether the viewers’ wishes reached him or not, Producer Kang Seok-woo asked Han Si-on the same question during a break.

This wasn’t a staged scene.

Producer Kang Seok-woo himself genuinely didn’t know at that time how Sedalbaekil was preparing for their second album.

[Han Si-on.]

[Yes?]

[Is this shoot for a unit album or for Sedalbaekil’s album?]

[You’ll naturally find out by the time Self Made ends.]

[Still, give me a little hint.]

[It’s both a unit and a 2nd album, I guess that’s the best way to put it.]

-Ah, I get it now. Wow. Finally.

-Get what?

-2+2+1 = 2. This.

-What’s that?

-Han Si-on’s not known for it, but I think he’s really good at sampling? Even on the first album, the sampling was used masterfully.

-What’s sampling?

-It’s taking parts from other songs, transforming them, and making a new song. If the copyright is fully cleared, sometimes you don’t even have to transform it.

-Thanks, Speedwagon.

-So, what’s your point?

-They might be sampling the two-member units, two-member units, and one-member unit albums to make Sedalbaekil’s 2nd album.

-Oh?

-Sounds plausible.

-But wouldn’t that be kind of messy?

-Would Hip Si-on allow that?

-It sounds convincing.

-Is this a pilgrimage moment?

Rumors about the 2nd album kept trickling out.

But many unclear parts remained.

Thus, on the show, their final day in America arrived.

Sedalbaekil members wandered around near their hotel from early morning, inviting various people somewhere.

It turned out they had rented a yacht to throw a party on their last day, inviting people they had bonded with over the past month.

There were singers they had busked with, and the owner of the Mexican restaurant they kept revisiting because they loved the food.

After a joyful party and once the guests had left, the yacht docked at the harbor.

Sitting there, the Sedalbaekil members started chatting.

[What do you hope you’re doing in ten years?]

[Finished military service.]

[Hey…….]

At first it was joking, but soon the members opened up.

The broadcast only showed them talking about goals or honors they could achieve as artists, but in truth, they discussed much more.

On Saemiro said that in ten years, she wanted to be an independent person no longer swayed by her parents.

Since the incident with Ryan Entertainment, her parents had become a bit subdued.

Han Si-on’s firm stance had caught them off guard.

But they still hadn’t given up their desire for their most precious treasure.

And were trying to get close to On Saemiro while pretending to be good people.

Han Si-on was aware and offered advice, but On Saemiro wanted to resolve it on her own.

She couldn’t rely on Han Si-on forever.

Goo Tae-hwan and Lee Eion didn’t have particularly grand desires.

To be precise, they had hopes, but nothing that stood out compared to others.

Instead, it was Choi Jae-sung, who had never really opened up about his past, that gently revealed his heart.

“I didn’t grow up being loved. I didn’t have enough talent to meet my parents’ expectations.”

“Well… that wasn’t the only reason, but anyway.”

Han Si-on had investigated Choi Jae-sung’s background back when Choi Tae-ho attacked, but hadn’t dug into the deeply personal parts.

He did it for protection, and came to realize that Choi Jae-sung’s background was solid enough that Choi Tae-ho wouldn’t dare cross certain lines.

He stopped the investigation cleanly around that point, so he didn’t know all the personal details.

He had some guesses but never pushed, and Choi Jae-sung seemed unwilling to talk.

From the outside, Choi Jae-sung looked like the most easygoing, carefree member.

He joked easily with strangers and often led interactions within Sedalbaekil.

But Han Si-on thought that was less his nature and more a constructed personality.

Choi Jae-sung was extremely quick-witted socially, and there’s only one way that skill develops at a young age.

He grew up in an environment where not reading the room could be dangerous.

So, in fact, Choi Jae-sung had the strongest defense mechanisms among Sedalbaekil and had never told his past to the members.

That was the same even now.

But there was a difference between having at least broached the topic and not mentioning it at all.

And then.

[So I hope that in ten years, I’ll still be loved by people. Even more than now.]

The broadcast only showed this simple line, but Choi Jae-sung’s words were sincere.

Lastly, Han Si-on’s statement on the broadcast was simple.

[For me, album sales of 200 million.]

The Sedalbaekil members had heard it many times, but not the viewers.

-So 200 million is the goal?

-What’s with that oddly specific number?

-At Sedalbaekil’s pace, 200 million isn’t that impossible? RIAA includes digital singles and mini-albums in their count.

-Is it related to his parents?

-Wow; that might be true.

People speculated about truths and falsehoods.

But it didn’t matter.

As they looked up at a star-filled sky on the yacht, it seemed like the epilogue was wrapping up…

But it wasn’t over.

The scene shifted to Han Si-on and On Saemiro singing on a sunset-lit yacht.

A hint for the final unit album.

-Oh, here it comes.

-lol Masked Robber was intense, Choi Jae-sung’s was intense too, but I wonder how intense this one will be.

-Look at Hip Si-on dropping his at the very end.

-Wouldn’t releasing it first be more brutal?

-Maybe?

Then Han Si-on started playing the guitar in his hands.

The reason guitars and pianos have been loved for so long was simple.

They can stand alone.

With just one guitar and two vocals, Han Si-on could astonish the world.

On Saemiro’s talent hadn’t fully blossomed yet, but she could already produce quite a beautiful sound.

Plus, she was fiercely determined to follow wherever Han Si-on led.

Thus, the song began.

Its title was “When The Curtain Falls.”

If nothing remains in the world

That would be a lie

Because saying nothing remains

Means something still remains

As On Saemiro’s voice started alongside the acoustic guitar, the viewers focused on the song.

As a composer, Han Si-on’s brilliance was in how there was no discomfort even with first-time listeners.

Of course, everyone knew Han Si-on used various tricks to achieve that.

Like leading with Goo Tae-hwan’s intro, or instantly immersing listeners with the beat.

But not this time, right?

The unassuming acoustic guitar led into an unassuming song.

Even knowing it was high-level, wasn’t it oddly too good?

Still, people stayed immersed.

If the world I left behind

Is empty

That would rather

Make me feel at ease

“When The Curtain Falls” was an especially meaningful song to Han Si-on.

If “Selfish,” which ended up with Drop Out, was aimed at a Hot 100 #1, this song was not like that.

It was the song Han Si-on loved most, sang the most, and cherished the longest.

“When The Curtain Falls” represented his regression.

The original was in English, but there was also a Korean version.

The guitar swelled as it climbed, and On Saemiro formed a tone with her voice.

At a certain level, vocals can form tones with their voice.

It’s hard to explain, but it’s when the audience vaguely senses, “In this range, this voice is perfect.”

With the tone On Saemiro built, Han Si-on’s voice burst into the melody, ripping it apart.

The sudden high note surge instantly heightened everyone’s immersion.