When you feel like you’re alone, turn around
I’m standing there
You and me, us
If it’s somewhere the wind blows
No matter where you are
Like the stars seen in the night sky
We are all connected―
connected― connected― We are all―
The composer and lyricist for ‘Connection’ was, of course, solely Do Wook.
Depending on the song, he would typically get help from other people, but for ‘Connection’, he wrote it in its entirety on his own without anyone else’s help, from the moment he got the inspiration for the song to its completion.
Especially when it came to the lyrics.
The most commonly mentioned phrase on the fan cafe or fan letters was none other than ‘it brought me comfort’. When they were having a hard time, listening to KK’s song gave them strength. Those words, in return, gave the KK members strength.
KK wanted to convey a message to those listening to their songs, as they had up to now with their previous songs.
Now, not just people in Korea but also people in countries they hadn’t even been to before were listening to KK’s song and liking it.
There were people who were listening to it without knowing what the lyrics meant, but most of them went as far as translating the song to English or their native language to enjoy the song.
‘What kind of message can we send that would resonate with anyone?’
He didn’t have to think about it for long.
Loneliness was a feeling that everyone understood. And a song is one of the best tools to comfort someone who is feeling lonely.
Do Wook gave it the title ‘Connection’ and immediately started writing the lyrics.
‘Everyone has a moment when they feel like they’re alone in the world. If there’s a song that will reach them even in those moments…’
Do Wook was also well aware of that feeling so the first draft of the song was completed quickly. After multiple rounds of edits, they became the current lyrics of ‘Connection’.
It was about not being alone because you’re connected no matter where or when.
They would become meaningful lyrics for the KK fans who are part of that large group called Key Rings scattered throughout the world, too.
The soft harmony between Do Wook and Ahn Hyung Seo made the chorus superb.
Fitting to the lyrics of ‘Connected―’, the six members lined up flexibly did the wave. It was the wave, but they moved accurately like they really were connected as one.
“Kyaaa―!!!”
“OMG!”
“Aaaahhhh!”
“KK!!!”
“Kyaaaaaaaa―!!!”
The choreography where they turned their waist was an exciting choreography that they had not attempted before. When the music video was released, people were saying how jaw-dropping it was, but it was even more so seeing it in person.
The cheers from the fans on site was stupendous.
When it got to the bridge, the members disappeared off to the side of the stage one by one. In the center of the stage, only Park Tae Hyung was left.
It was the dance break portion that they had specifically created for the guerilla performance. Since they weren’t limited by broadcast time, it was ok if one song went over 5 minutes.
Park Tae Hyung performed modern dance style choreography to the music.
Every time Park Tae Hyung, who was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, moved his arms, his sleeves fluttered and created a beautiful pattern.
“Park Tae Hyung!”
“Park Tae Hyung!”
Fans chanted Park Tae Hyung’s name to the beat as if they were possessed.
As the rhythmical bridge section progressed, it naturally went back to the original song. Then one by one they came to the center of the stage as if they were riding on an ocean wave and made an expression that was overflowing with confidence.
As promised, the meApp relay camera did a close-up of each member’s expression.
Even though the screen was not clear due to the unstable server, those who were watching the live broadcast thought it was breathtaking.
One couldn’t fathom how fervent the atmosphere at the venue would get.
The situation on site was, in one word, a frenzy.
The song was near the end. One by one the members turned around and headed towards the back of the stage. Do Wook, who was the last one left, raised his finger and extended it towards the audience.
“Wait.”
The song ended with Do Wook’s low, chant-like narration.
There was silence for about 1 second.
It also seemed like they were taking the time to briefly breathe in deeply so they could cheer hard.
“Ahhh! Do Wook!”
One of Do Wook’s fans yelled to the point it looked like he might faint. Following that, numerous people started to cheer.
The members had all gone backstage and disappeared so there was nothing on stage, but it didn’t feel empty. The fans’ cheering was filling even the space above the stage.
“K― K― K― K―!!!”
“K― K― K― K―!!!”
“K―K― K― K―!!!”
The cheering was enough to shake the auditorium.
Despite the sudden announcement, the performance was worth dashing straight to the venue for.
As fans, they had seen KK’s performance multiple times, but today’s ‘Connection’ performance was fresh.
Back when ‘Continue’ came out, many people had thought that KK’s capabilities had already plateaued. However, there were even higher levels.
The tiny details that they had not focused on in the past because they were focused on strong, sharp movements were now much more vivid and flowing, and, as the audience watching the performance, seeing them become one was enough to give them a thrill.
KK had been continuously evolving.
At that moment, the number of simultaneous log in to meApp was well over 500,000.
***
[KK guerilla performance is a hit! They can’t get any more amazing than this!]
[Five song concert as part of the free guerilla concert…KK’s popularity continues.]
[KK evolution theory, flawless comeback!]
[The whole world was watching! KK concert stream view count was over 5 million in a short period of time!]
[meApp received so much publicity from the KK concert that it was causing them some trouble…]
[Where is the next performance? KK fans are on the edge of their seats!]
[Connection, KK’s philosophy that turned into another hit.]
[meApp, the biggest domestic site for overseas subscribers, astronomical economical effect….]
[Successfully completed guerilla performance…if it’s KK, anything is possible?]
…
―I got goosebumps, seriously.
―My mouth almost ripped open while watching the concert…They’re truly perfect, there isn’t a single thing to pick at.
―Is it true that it was live??? Really???
―They’re national treasures haha
―I saw an edited video, what’s the name of the ballad? The song is so good~ KK Fighting!
―A KK cafe latte please~!
―lolol are you aiming for a coffee ad?
―Originally I wasn’t a fan, but I tuned in briefly because I heard they were doing a guerilla concert and ended up watching the whole thing because I couldn’t turn it off. I knew that they were good, but they were really good. I’m proud that they’re Korean singers and Kang Do Wook is seriously so talented that he really might be an alien…The guy who did the solo dance midway was good too.
―As a KK fan, I’m so proud T.T
―I’m a housewife raising two children. I was watching because my kids like it and now I’m a fan too~!
―Where is the next performance at? Please please tell us
―I heard they’re not performing at just Seoul but all throughout the country…I hope they’ll go to a lot of places where it’s hard to enjoy the concert culture…T.T
―That was their reason for doing this, so they’ll probably go to many provinces too haha
―I couldn’t go to concerts because I’m broke so I was crying tears of joy when I watched the recent guerilla performance. T.T Oppas, thank you for giving me life-long memories and I love you!
―The song Connection is so good~!
―Thanks to them my ears and eyes are living in luxury ^^
―If I die after watching just one KK performance, I would die happy
After the concert was over.
The comment section had become a place for new fans of KK to post testimonials. It was even said that at this rate the whole nation might become a fan of KK.
The live performance was only through online media, but there was a huge impact.
Another big reason was that the portal site called Friends had become an indispensable portal site for Koreans after the commercialization of smartphones.
HIT Entertainment’s conclusion, after doing strategy analysis, that the power of portal sites was sometimes greater than music broadcasts had been accurate.
Of course the power of the group called KK was big too.
Due to their considerable recognition and solid fan base, success was expected to some extent. However, the reason they had an even greater impact than that was because of KK’s performance at the concert.
KK’s energy as they performed captivated the audience watching the live broadcast. Even those who were tuning in out of curiosity were drawn in once they saw the concert.
Sound file, music video, even their performance. Everything perfectly captivated people.
The song ‘Connection’ itself was already incredibly popular, so all of Korea couldn’t get enough of KK.
Beyond simply liking the song after listening to it, everyone wanted to see the huge star KK at least once, so there were many people excitedly anticipating where the next guerilla performance would be and if it would be a venue they would be able to go to.
Also….three days after the first performance.
There was a new performance announcement on the Friends site.
≪ Connection with KK! Second guerilla performance ≫
Tongyoung Saryangdo special performance 7 pm
Connect with KK!
The performance will be broadcast live at the same time through the meApp.
***
“Tongyoung?”
Surprised, Album Production Team Leader Shim Joon, who was getting briefed by Assistant Manager Kwon Woo Chan, asked.
Although it was technically within the Album Production Team, what the Album Production Team did and the concert planning that Assistant manager Kwon Woo Chan did was not exactly the same.
Therefore, unless it was directly related to album production, Team Leader Shim Joon pretty much just signed Assistant Manager Kwon Woo Chan’s things as the primary approval authority.
Assistant Manager Kwon Woo Chan, who was on the chubby side, lost a lot of weight while preparing for the performance.
He had some dark circles under his eyes too, so Team leader Shim Joon felt a little sorry for him. However, thanks to him, KK’s first guerilla concert concluded successfully.
It was the second performance now.
Team Leader Shim Joon asked again, surprised after hearing the location for the second performance.
“Tongyoung Sarangdo?”
“Ah, no. Saryangdo.”*
(TL Note: Saryando is a place within Tongyoung area. TL Shim said Sarangdo, not Saryando.)
“Tongyoung. That’s the South Sea, isn’t it? It’s not even a place you can go to by train…You’re going hard and it’s only the second performance.”
Assistant Manager Kwon Woo Chan nodded his head understandingly to what Team Leader Shim Joon said.
However, they had chosen the location after getting the opinions of those involved, such as the KK members, meApp production team, and the Korean Department of Tourism.
The first concert was a big challenge too, but location-wise the second concert could become an even bigger challenge.
However, it would be just as meaningful.
The location fit perfectly with their reason for starting these guerilla concerts: to go to any location without hesitation for the sake of those who didn’t have many opportunities to see KK.
“It must be a huge burden on the members…”
Team leader Shim Joon knew just how anxious the members had been backstage right before the first performance, so that was his immediate thought.
Assistant Manager Kwon Woo Chan also nodded his head. With the great success of the first performance, they had caught many people’s interest.
If the second performance wasn’t as successful as expected, there would be more than just a few people who would bash on KK that they had hit their limit.
“But, to be honest…”
“Huh?”
“When the Korean Department of Tourism sent us the request, we and the people at meApp had declined it.”
“Right? I knew it must be the Department of Tourism that wanted this.”
“The members said they like the idea. That’s why we’re doing it.”
Team Leader Shim Joon’s eyes grew big, bewildered.
“They said they truly want to go everywhere. If it’s a place that has even one person that wants to see them…Rather, it’s places with just one person that they want to go to even more.”
Assistant Manager Kwon Woo Chan’s words caused Team Leader Shim Joon to become deep in thought. He could feel how far the members, who he had observed since they were rookies, had progressed, that they had gone on to greater things, incomparable to him who was an Album Production Team Leader.
***
Day of the Tongyoung Saryangdo concert.
The announcement was posted, and only after arriving at Saryangdo did the members realize firsthand why the people who saw the announcement were shocked and concerned.
It was desolate, and on the road, they only saw elderly people who seemed unlikely to listen to KK’s music.
Furthermore, it was a weekday. The very few students or young people were all either in school or at work.
Of course the concert was in the evening, but they saw nobody in front of them so the members started to feel anxious.
Additionally, the people setting up the stage were also having a hard time.
Being early March, Spring had not come yet so the wind was blowing too hard.
—
Next chapter: KK goes to the location for their second guerilla performance and it is not ideal