Chapter 1168: Artist of the Year (11)

“Thump thump.”

“Ba-dump ba-dump.”

“Deoksun deoksun….”

The others turned their heads and looked at me.

“Why? My heart is going Deoksun deoksun. Want to listen?”

“Yes.”

Junghyun pressed his ear against my chest like he was using a stethoscope.

“How is it, Junghyun? Can’t you hear my four beat heartbeat going Deok-sun Deok-sun Deok-sun Deok-sun?”

“No. I can’t ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) hear anything.”

I whispered.

“More rap parts.”

“I think I can hear the Deoksun deoksun sound very clearly. There’s something deeply moving about the sound of your pounding heart, hyung.”

“Kyahaha!”

The other members looked at us with expressions of disbelief.

Meanwhile, I picked up a slice of pizza from the table in the practice room.

We were currently in a practice room in Manhattan, New York.

We were practicing for various stages we would be performing in America, including the talk show performance scheduled for tomorrow.

So technically, we had no special schedule today.

But if you asked whether that meant we truly had nothing scheduled, the answer was no.

“Hmm.”

Ri Hyuk said while looking at his phone.

“I think the order will be Grammys, Golden Globes, then Gallup. Gallup will probably come out the latest.”

Today was nomination day.

One was the Grammy Awards, the most prestigious music award ceremony in America.

Another was the Golden Globe Awards, considered one of America’s major awards ceremonies for film and television.

You could say it was the most important film award after the Academy Awards.

And finally, there was the Gallup survey we had been waiting for since the end of last year until now.

“Whew.”

Maybe because each one was important in its own way, I felt incredibly nervous despite the fact that we weren’t actually receiving awards today.

Even while eating New York pizza famous for being delicious, my eyes kept drifting back to my phone.

Bzzzz—

Seeing the caller, I immediately answered.

On the screen appeared rapper Cold Brown sitting there in pajamas, his face slightly swollen.

[Hey.]

He waved his hand after letting out a huge yawn.

Behind him was a gallery that looked like a museum.

「Where are you right now, Cold?」

「Here? My house in LA.」

「……」

Cold lifted his phone and showed us around.

Various artworks hanging on the walls and sculptures were visible.

Beyond that, through the glass windows, there seemed to be nearly ten sports cars and SUVs.

It was a sight that would surprise anyone, but the person himself did not seem particularly impressed.

[Staying up all night made me tired. I couldn’t sleep at all.]

「The day we’ve been waiting for has finally come.」

[Exactly.]

Cold stood up from the sofa, drank some cold water, and said:

[How about you guys?]

「We’re nervous too. It’s not just anything. It’s the Grammys.」

[I used to have moments like that too. Back when I was a rookie, every Grammy nomination day, my heart would race and I’d be happy.]

We smiled warmly at the rapper who was smiling nostalgically.

[...But I never thought these bastards would refuse to give me an award in the General Field for over fifteen years.]

「……」

[Damn. Now I’m getting angry again just thinking about it.]

The award ceremony was infamous for discrimination against non white artists and hip hop, to the point that it had even earned the nickname “White Grammys.”

Cold Brown continued.

[I cried a lot when I went to watch Sound of the Sun this time too. Those pieces of trash. How could they not give someone like that an award?]

That was right.

He was America’s top rapper, so passionate about winning a Grammy that there were even memes teasing him for never having won one.

He had achieved everything imaginable, yet the Grammys had denied him for over fifteen years.

He had collaborated with white artists, experimented with unique singing rap styles, and tried new approaches to music.

But every time, he failed to win.

Last year, he had even boycotted the Grammys together with other rappers.

[But…]

He smiled.

[This year will be different.]

「Because Answer did well?」

[That too, but more accurately… the success of Sound of the Sun played a huge role.]

Cold Brown explained.

[At prestigious award ceremonies like this, the narrative matters more than anything. A movie about discrimination against a genius musician from the past is currently sitting at number one at the box office. The singer of the song that ranked number one on Billboard’s year end chart that year is the son of the movie’s protagonist, and the artist who collaborated with him is also famous for suffering from award discrimination.]

As we nodded in amazement, he continued.

[That’s why our song will safely make it onto the nominee list. And the chances of winning are very high too.]

Hearing that the chances of winning were high made my heart skip a beat.

Winning a Grammy….

A shiver ran through my entire body, but I quickly came back to my senses and shook my head.

It would be an enormous honor as an individual, but that would be my success, not our success.

As I regained my composure, Cold suddenly asked:

[Isn’t the group nominated this time? Overcooked?]

「No. It’s outside the eligibility period. Even if we get nominated, it would probably be next year.」

[I see.]

Because Overcooked, released in August this year, fell outside the eligibility period, it was not included among the possible nominees.

So the only song likely to receive a nomination was Answer.

We were chatting with Cold when—

[So this time I… huh?]

「Huh?」

We all made the same sound.

Everyone’s phones rang at the same time, and Cold Brown also froze while looking at his phone screen.

Bzzzz—

Bzzzz—

Seeing the company staff members’ numbers appearing on our phones, we exchanged glances.

‘It’s out.’

‘It must be out.’

The Grammy nominee list seemed to have been announced.

Biju searched with trembling fingers…

and accidentally entered the wrong website.

Strange pop ups appeared telling him to buy Grammy coins.

“Uh…?”

Our kid could even get lost on the internet.

While Biju accidentally opened a festival of pop ups, Ri Hyuk showed us his tablet.

“Here.”

“……”

I swallowed hard and looked at the list.

In the most important award categories, known as the General Field…

“There!”

“We’re there!”

Hearing the others scream, I checked my name in the Record of the Year category.

“Answer” — Cold Brown & WooJoo

WooJoo Sun & Finneas Jessup, producers; Na Sang Yoon…

My composer name, Cold Brown’s real name, Team Leader Na Sangyoon’s name, and others were listed.

The members hugged me and celebrated.

“Hyung!”

“Our hyung is really nominated for the grand prize!”

“Now Dad comes after you! Hyung is the best!”

Even though I had been told I would probably be nominated, I stared at the screen blankly.

I had entered the Grammy General Field, one of the greatest honors in the North American music industry.

“……”

“Look further down.”

“……”

“Hyung?”

“Ah. Yeah.”

I scrolled down to the Album of the Year category.

That one obviously did not apply.

Then right below it, in Song of the Year—

“There! Th-there… there!”

“We’re there!”

“Wow! No way…!”

My name appeared there too.

The youngest, who had been clapping with the others, asked happily:

“Wow. But what’s the difference between Record and Song? Aren’t both of them song awards?”

“Song goes only to the people who wrote the song. Record goes to everyone involved in the recording, including the singer and recording engineers.”

“Wow. So hyung qualifies for both anyway!!”

As he said that—

we realized we had forgotten someone.

Someone whose video call was still connected, but whose existence we had momentarily forgotten.

「Cold?」

Cold Brown was sitting on the sofa crying.

The members and I tried our best not to laugh.

[Sniff… sob…]

We shouldn’t laugh, but he was crying exactly like a character from a historical drama being sent into exile on an ox cart.

A rapper silently breaking down from both joy and sadness.

Cold Brown cried for more than five minutes before finally calming down.

[Sniff—!]

After pulling out a tissue and blowing his nose, he said:

[I showed you an embarrassing side of myself.]

「Not at all. We do this often too.」

[Anyway, thank you so much, Sunny. I can’t say this means I’ll win… but being nominated in every General Field category is something I’ve never achieved in my life. I’ve accomplished something completely new. If I do end up winning…]

Cold looked at me.

[I’ll give you a gift worth more than the seven million dollar car I promised you before, Sunny.]

「Thank you, Cold.」

Smiling warmly, I asked Ri Hyuk:

‘Are you recording this?’

‘Already done.’

I smiled warmly again and looked at Cold.

「If it weren’t for you, Cold, I wouldn’t have been nominated with Answer either.」

It was true.

Turning the jazz song I had created into an incredible hip hop track was largely thanks to his genius talent.

We were exchanging heartfelt compliments when—

[Oh.]

Cold widened his eyes as if he had discovered something.

Then he smiled broadly.

[This is interesting.]

「What is?」

[Keep scrolling down the list, Sunny. If you get to the bottom, you’ll see something you’ll like.]

「?」

I continued scrolling.

Past Moonlight’s Best New Artist nomination.

Past categories like Pop, Rock, and Rap.

Then, at the very bottom, something appeared.

A special award category.

“……”

Without realizing it, I stood up.

Even while looking at my own name in the General Field categories, I had maintained my composure.

But that composure shattered instantly.

The names written there came into view.

[Lifetime Achievement Awards]

Translated into Korean, it was the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Unlike the other categories, this was not a list of nominees.

It was a list of recipients.

Among legendary rock bands and countless musicians who had left behind unforgettable legacies, one name stood proudly.

[Sun Myung Joo]

It was the first award my father would receive here.

“Congratulations, Wooju. I heard you were nominated.”

“I heard your father is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award next year. They say that’s not something just anyone gets… It’s late, but congratulations to him.”

“Congratulations!”

I smiled and nodded at the congratulations pouring in from all around.

“Thank you, everyone. Really.”

This place filled with warm laughter was a barbecue restaurant in New York.

The people gathered here were me, the members, and the people involved with Sound of the Sun.

The lead actors, including Lee Gyeonwoo and Yeo Eunseon, Director Kim Bora, the casting director, cinematographer, and others.

We had gathered to watch the Golden Globe nominations together.

And then—

“I think… we might need to move restaurants.”

“Yeah, probably.”

We had originally gathered to eat famous Texas style barbecue in New York, but decided to move somewhere else.

Even ignoring the fans gathered outside the restaurant after somehow hearing the news—

「Wooooow!」

The customers and employees inside had recognized the film staff.

The fact that Sound of the Sun had become a hit was clearly true.

Senior Lee Gyeonwoo, who played Sun Myung Joo, was receiving attention everywhere he went.

「Could I get a picture with you?」

「Your song was amazing.」

Senior Lee Gyeonwoo took pictures and waved to various people, including parents who had brought their children.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

While smiling confidently and captivating New Yorkers, he used ventriloquism to speak to me.

“Wooju. Save me.”

“Let’s go, senior.”

In the end, we moved to another restaurant.

The barbecue restaurant had been private enough, but we needed somewhere where everyone could actually talk quietly.

The reservation was arranged by none other than Silver Screen.

“Wow. That was fast.”

“The studio is taking good care of us.”

Lee Gyeonwoo said:

“They’re arranging our accommodations while we stay in America too. Looks like they’re planning to provide major support for the Academy campaign this time.”

“The Academy…?”

“Yeah.”

It seemed Silver Screen had high expectations for Sound of the Sun, which had recently received excellent reviews for its artistic quality.

As we enjoyed our meal while talking, various topics came up.

“I really think Sound of the Sun is going to win quite a few awards this time. The discrimination against Asians is a huge issue right now, and the movie already easily passed 100 million dollars in revenue.”

“You can tell just by looking at the fact that the Grammys decided to give Sun Myung Joo an award this time.”

The movie’s box office trend was so strong that people expected it to eventually reach three or four hundred million dollars in North America.

The media and SNS were filled with discussion about the discrimination Sun Myung Joo had faced back then and how wrong it had been.

Praise from both critics and the general public.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

“Ha ha!”

Because the movie was doing so incredibly well, only happy laughter filled the room.

Director Kim Bora spoke to me.

“Wooju, thank you so much. For giving me this opportunity.”

“No. You did everything, Director.”

“Actually, the music played a huge role too. If it weren’t for you, who could have handled Sun Myung Joo’s music?”

The director, who had moved from independent films into mainstream cinema and immediately achieved a massive hit, seemed deeply moved.

Everyone felt the same.

And while the movie’s success was meaningful, for these people, my father’s success seemed to mean even more.

Because even though they had countless better opportunities, they had immediately come running to participate in the production of Sound of the Sun.

“Thank you, everyone.”

When I raised my glass of cola, everyone made a toast.

Right then.

Clink—

Clink—

Seokhwan hyung, who had been looking at his phone beside us, lightly tapped his glass with a spoon to draw everyone’s attention.

“I have some news to announce.”

“What is it?”

“The Golden Globe nominee list was just announced.”

“!!”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Mine did too.

“Golden Globes are kind of like the Academy’s preliminary award ceremony, right? If you win here, you have a better chance at the Academy too.”

According to the youngest, it was basically a prelude to the Academy Awards.

And since the Golden Globes themselves carried significant weight, everyone leaned forward attentively.

Seokhwan hyung stood up and asked with a smile:

“How many categories do you think we were nominated in?”

“Two…?”

At Director Kim Bora’s answer, Seokhwan hyung shook his head.

“Try higher.”

“Three?”

“Higher.”

“Six or more?”

Junghyun’s answer made everyone shake their heads.

“Then it has to be below six.”

“Five?”

Seokhwan hyung said:

“Five.”

“!”

“Congratulations. It’s one of the most nominated films.”

“!!”

The list of Sound of the Sun nominations appeared one after another.

Best Director: Deborah Kim

“Oh my god. I think I’m going to faint.”

“Director! Drink some good wine and pull yourself together!”

“Holy…”

Best Actor: Lee Gyeonwoo

“…Eh?”

“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations. My movie father!”

“Eh…? Me? Why?”

Best Screenplay

“Wow! We got Best Screenplay!”

“See? This is what an Academy Award winner looks like.”

Best Picture

“……Best Picture?”

“We’re really nominated for Best Picture too?”

“Ah. But McGinnis’ film is here. West Hollywood is too strong.”

Even the Best Picture nomination surprised everyone.

There were many nominations, and everyone was happy.

But their reactions were calmer than expected.

From what they said, they probably expected to win at most two awards.

The reason was that West Hollywood, a masterpiece that had not achieved massive mainstream success but received perfect scores from critics, was a major competitor.

And then—

Best Original Song: “Like The Sun” (Sun & Original Cast)

Even Like The Sun had been nominated for Best Original Song.

Director Kim Bora said:

“I think… Wooju, you have a very high chance of winning this.”

“Really?”

“Yes. This…”

She looked at me.

“This might even be something you can take all the way to the Academy.”

“……”

“First of all, congratulations on the nomination, Wooju.”

“Congratulations!”

While everyone congratulated one another—

while toasts were exchanged, drunk people chatted happily, and we laughed while listening to the Sound of the Sun OST that the restaurant owner had thoughtfully played—

Seokhwan hyung suddenly spoke.

“Hm? That came out too.”

“What?”

“Gallup.”

“……!”

The domestic schedule we had completely forgotten because of the two major international award nominations.

My heart immediately started pounding.

“What did you say? Gallup?”

“Did it come out?”

Seokhwan hyung nodded.

“Yeah. Want me to tell you?”

“W wait!”

We put our hands over our chests and took deep breaths.

“I need time to prepare mentally, hyung.”

“Same.”

“Whew… whew…”

Seokhwan hyung laughed quietly while looking at us.

“What ranking should I tell you first? Singer?”

“No. Entertainer first.”

“Alright. Your ranking is…”

He suddenly blinked while looking at his phone.

“What?”

“Why?”

“It’s a little strange… Anyway, your ranking is second place among entertainers.”

“Second place?!!”

The members and I jumped up and hugged each other.

After falling from seventh to ninth place before…

Second place.

As we hugged each other, shouting “Hyung!” and “Guys!” and looking like we were about to cry from happiness—

“But…”

Biju raised a question.

“What’s strange about it, Team Leader?”

“Because of first place.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, we were curious.

Who had beaten us to take first place?

While we wondered, the other staff nearby also asked.

“What is it? What happened? Ah… Korean comedian rankings? NewBlack is included there too?”

“Oh. Gallup is out?”

While Lee Gyeonwoo asked where he ranked this year, we explained the situation.

“We were about to hear it, but he said something was strange…”

“Really?”

Just as everyone looked over, Seokhwan hyung turned his phone around and showed us the Gallup entertainer rankings.

“Look.”

“What is it? Why is it strange? What could possibly be so strange— huh?”

[Entertainer of the Year]

1st. Sun Wooju

2nd. NewBlack

“……”

“……”

Everyone burst into loud laughter.