Unfortunately, live streaming was still in a primitive state, so it couldn't be used to build a following yet. However, a format known as 'Street Karaoke' was already being produced by a certain broadcasting station.
As computers were being formally introduced into the industry, this format was credited with saving a cable station in the Kanto region from the brink of shutting down, leading it into its golden age.
To summarize the program: it was a viewer-participation show that scouted pedestrians on the spot to sing. The host's humorous banter was said to be top-tier.
Above all, the core appeal that drew everyone's attention was the chance for an ordinary person to showcase their singing talent on a national broadcast.
With minimal production costs outside of music royalties and a high potential for generating viral noise marketing, it was a incredibly profitable venture for the station.
And I intended to appear on that program.
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.
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"If you think you're the best singer here, you're always welcome!"
Normally, a sea of hands would have shot up, but today, the crowd seemed to hesitate.
'The opportunity is finally here.'
How much patient endurance had I shown just for this moment? I had spent weeks checking the broadcast schedule and trailing their filming locations.
"Is there no one? Not a single person who feels they could absolutely tear this stage apart?"
"May I give it a try?"
The host caught sight of a blonde young man with a solid, athletic build raising his hand and let out a thin smile.
'We caught a big fish for this week's episode.'
The young man introduced himself with a calm composure.
"Oh... popular music using instruments..?"
"Yes, that's right. I've been busking at the same time and place every day."
"Ooh..."
The host skillfully led the conversation. It would be perfect if I could land a joke here...
"Which is why I'm currently grinding away in the underground scene! Haha!"
It seemed my time busking wasn't in vain.
The young man knew exactly how to play into the flow of the broadcast.
"So, do you have any final words before you start your song?"
"I'm recruiting band members. Uh... I mean, I'm looking for musicians to make music with me."
"Something like an orchestra or a musical troupe?"
"A bit different from that. I'm not really one for static, seated performances."
The crowd looked at the handsome blonde youth with growing anticipation.
Just how good was his singing?
Wrapping up the intro, the host handed over the microphone and gave a cue sign to the PD behind the camera.
Suddenly, the audio equipment hummed to life with a low electronic buzz.
"What song will you be singing?"
"A song called 'Astronauts.' Oh, and is it alright if I play the guitar along with it?"
"Of course!"
In my previous life, 'Astronauts' was a song posted in 2011 that became quite a hit. It seemed to have appeared a bit earlier in this world, but without the synthesized electronic elements woven in, it felt a bit bland here.
'But I can provide that electric sound myself.'
The host's eyes widened the moment he heard the vocals.
He had heard countless singers since taking charge of this program, but this was a style he had never encountered before.
The young man's voice was clear, yet it wasn't merely pure.
Before the song truly kicked in, the rough, chugging sound of a gritty drive-tone guitar resonated through the street.
A rock star lives on the love of their fans.
A true rock star must know how to bask in the cheers.
The song surged toward the highlight.
In the original version, the melody drops for a transition here, but I took it high.
Because high notes are the essence of rock 'n' roll.
"What the hell was that?!"
"That's insane!! How can a human voice make a sound like that?!"
'Astronauts' is a song where the atmosphere is everything. This meant the entire character of the piece changed depending on the vocalist's unique traits. And I possessed the ability to transform this song into my own color.
As the crowd erupted, a surge of raw electricity began to fill my entire body.
They say when dopamine floods your system, you feel like you're floating.
That was exactly how I felt right now. Abandoning myself to the raw emotion dictated by instinct, I carried the song forward.
In that moment, a brilliant star was shining in his eyes.
Truly, he was the favorite rocker of the 'Oshi no Ko.'
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The song ended, and the street fell silent.
Amidst the heavy stillness, a single spectator began to clap, followed by a delayed wave of applause that crashed over me.
Ah, I need to do the final recruitment pitch.
"I'm looking for people to join me. I'll leave my contact information here, so if you want to start a band with me, please get in touch."
Once the broadcast aired, my phone exploded with activity.
● Ai Hoshino ●
- I barely managed to get that number for myself!!! (＃｀д´)ﾉ
- Just you wait until I get home! ＼`•̀益•́´／
The sight of Ai fuming because I had revealed my number—which she had worked so hard to get—to the anonymous public remained my little secret.