197 - Upki Girl

< The Sky Called My Name! > < 'Healthy Stanning of Girl Groups' Blog > Hello, this is your confident girl group fan! ^^ My main group is UpKeyGirl, with RizzGirls and others as side interests. Please be kind with the comments as these are just hobby posts about girl groups~ * The Three Highlights of the Most Fun-Filled Friday Night Heaven: 'Replay Girl' ― Current Team Rankings 1. UpKeyGirl (92) 2. Teenagers (66) 3. MayQueens (61) 4. LoveOne (42) 5. YourGirl (38) 6. PinkCandy (35) 7. GIG (32) 8. LipBalm (24) 9. Promise12 (19) 10. Ladybug (16) ― Eliminated ― 11. HappyJoy 12. AppleSoda 13. Girls' Power 14. DNA ????: Disgraceful Exit It’s truly a heaven for girl group fans. Over a hundred girl group members, each with their unique charms, are captivating viewers on Friday nights. Yet, most of them were lesser-known before the show, not even part of the third tier. The producers' intent to "give another look at fading girl groups" has been superbly realized. Nobody dismisses them as "nobodies" now. Breaking my usual Friday night outing tradition, here are the top three charms of Replay Girl that kept me glued to my screen. 1. UpKeyGirl They are without a doubt the biggest force behind Replay Girl's popularity. From the moment the teaser was released, the results seemed predictable. The challenging B-girl concept, never attempted by others, was a masterstroke. The phrase “Replay Girl began and ended with UpKeyGirl” reflects their phenomenal influence on the program. Of course, there were controversies. Some argued their debut span was too short compared to other teams, which saw failures over several albums and grasped Replay Girl as their last straw. Some felt that UpKeyGirl wasn’t obscure enough to compete in Replay Girl, citing Yeonhong and Yona's girl crush appearances and Eun-bit's variety show fame. Yet, if one were to scrutinize debut lengths, MayQueens had the shortest span, having released their debut track a week before the show. In terms of popularity, Teenagers and LoveOne had a slight edge over UpKeyGirl. The girl crush trend wasn’t something anyone foresaw either. There were also unfounded allegations against Seowon and Aliyah regarding their personalities and possible abuses towards the production staff, which we won’t delve into here. At the fan signing event, they appeared straightforward rather than being at the level for personality criticism. (Not that I'm defending them just because Seowon is my personal pick...). Additionally, they were critiqued not for poor performance, but for diminishing the suspense of the rankings. Some claimed the show’s theme had turned into "Defeat UpKeyGirl." These are simply nitpicks by complainers, but even if we accede to it a hundred times, I believe this: Could the program have garnered such buzz without the powerhouse talent of UpKeyGirl? The glamor of the judging panel overshadowing the participants' somewhat lacking reputation and skill could’ve resulted in mediocrity, which UpKeyGirl’s high-quality performances prevented. Their standout effort during the sports event overshadowed the unfortunate incident at Eye Contact. Contrary to some critical opinions, other teams might actually be grateful to UpKeyGirl. Similar to how the rise of one member boosts the entire group's popularity. This doesn’t mean the other teams simply trailed behind. (To quote Judge Taejin’s remarks,) UpKeyGirl was akin to the ‘catfish’ in the “Catfish Theory.” The strategy to raise healthy loaches includes introducing a few catfish among them; as the loaches struggle to avoid being caught by the catfish, they stay lively and grow well. UpKeyGirl is fulfilling that catfish role in Replay Girl. Even if the suspense of the victory may have dwindled due to UpKeyGirl, undeniably, the quality and energy level of the competition rose because of them. 2. Elimination Battle Typically, eliminated contestants early in an audition program don't get much attention. This is because they fall short in popularity or skill compared to others, so they inherently attract less interest. However, with UpKeyGirl’s unrivaled lead since the beginning, a peculiar phenomenon of viewers focusing on lower-tier teams occurred. Similar to the thrilling relegation battles in international football leagues like the Premier League. Despite their early exits, DNA, Girls' Power, and HappyJoy left a notable impression on viewers with their narrow escape attempts, evidenced by their rising ranks in girl group brand rankings. Moreover, Promisse12, who consistently topped the elimination prediction list from the very first mission, defied those expectations to survive till now(?), earning the nickname EURLAMISHU (Alive + Promise)12 and securing their place as the "survivor king" character. Other mid-to-low tier teams such as the quirky Ladybug, the bizarre PinkCandy craftsman, and the seductive LipBalm are gaining popularity with their unique team colors. 3. The Judges' Sweet Chemistry . . . . ― kyh0830: Enjoyed reading!^^ ㄴAuthor: Oh gosh, it's Myuno! Haha ㄴkyh0830: ??? How did you know it was me? ㄴAuthor: Is there any fan who doesn't know your ID, Myuno? Haha ㄴkyh0830: hahaha ―――――――― Gah, I should change it. Since my comments on voting for Promise have been widely revealed, I've become quite the celebrity. "Manager's face looks so pleased; must be looking at something inappropriate again." I retorted sharply at Seowoni's teasing pessimist remark. "No, I'm not. I was reading a blog review written by your fan." "Oh, the blogger fan?" "Yeah." "Do they still say I'm their top pick? That they like me the most in the world?" "Yeah." "If they change their mind, I won't let it slide." "And what exactly will you do if they do?" "I'll find them and ask for an explanation." "You're really living life, living it well..." The Law of Conservation of Obsession. The obsession with me has slightly diminished, now redirected towards the fans. It's no wonder she's humorously nicknamed a "sasaeng idol" among her fans. "Why did she end up like this?" Yujin from MayQueens, who had dropped by our waiting room, asked me. She's practically always here before filming starts now. "Wasn't she like this before?" "No, she used to be really chic, but now it's like she's always attention-hungry. Han Sowon, do you have some kind of affection deficit now?" Yujin asked mockingly, causing Sowon to bristle. "Aren't you supposed to be setting up for filming? Why are you always in our waiting room? Go hang out with your own group members." "We're together 24/7. We need some space, at least in times like this. Taeeun's probably also in another team's waiting room right now. I saw her at Promise's earlier." Yujin teased me with a glance. "Oh, right. Manager Muno, you like Haneul, don't you? Want to pretend to look for Taeeun while sneaking over to Promise's waiting room? Take some pictures and all, haha." I guess Kim Yunho from Daehyeon Construction has become the local scapegoat. I couldn't seriously engage in their jokes, so I gave a nonchalant "Should I?" in response. That instantly provoked a whirlwind of requests and diversionary actions aimed at me. "Hey, can you tie my shoelace? I still can’t tie a bow." "I showed you more than ten times, for God's sake." "Last time, really, the last!" "Alright then..." "Mr. Manager, after you tie Eunbit's laces, can you take a full-body shot of me? I want to send it to my mom." "Sowon, since when did you start sending pictures to your mom?" "Starting today." "Am I the only one here? Jangwoo, why don't you take the picture instead?" "What? But... I'm not good with pictures." I noticed Hanga subtly signaling to Jangwoo with a look. —Crash! "Mom, you scared me." Yona dropped her takeaway cup, which was left with just ice, on the floor. You need more acting practice. That came off a bit unnatural. "Manager, what are we eating after the recording?" "No, Hong. We're not eating anything. We never eat after Replay Girl recordings, remember?" "I just thought maybe today..." "Stop voicing your hopes out loud." "Hehe..." "Emperor God Mu Mo, Manager! Does Alyah want to go to the restroom with you?" "Your context is all wrong. I don’t need to go. Just go by yourself." "Okay. Honestly, it's not that urgent for Alyah either." "So why bring it up?" "I thought it seemed like you needed to go, so I was offering to accompany you." "Thanks for caring about my bladder too." "There's only Alyah, right?" "Yeah." After a whirlwind of distractions, the talk about Promise's waiting room was quickly forgotten. But guys, I had no plans to go over there anyway. I honestly don’t care whether Promise gets eliminated or not. Voting for Haneul, just because she's cute and it tickled the uncle in me, has turned into a talking point that I might hear about until my funeral. "Ten minutes until recording! The first team, please come to the studio and stand by!" The recording preparation signal came from right next to our waiting room. This week's theme for the top 10 remaining teams in Replay Girl is the 'Level Mission.' The format pits similar-level teams like 1st vs 2nd, 3rd vs 4th, and so on until 9th vs 10th in 1-on-1 battles, with the winner earning 10 points. As the blog mentioned, the runaway success of UpKeyGirl from the start has shifted Replay Girl's top interest to the competition among the lower-ranked teams. The elimination match between Promise and Ladybug was scheduled last, and our battle against Teenagers was fourth. During rehearsals, it seemed Teenagers came well-prepared too. If UpKeyGirl is Replay Girl's biggest beneficiary, Teenagers can be considered the biggest victim. A team popular enough to not need such a program ended up joining after persistent persuasion from the producers, only to have the spotlight mostly on us, leading to understandable frustration. Judging by the atmosphere, it appeared Teenagers viewed this mission as a virtual final. They had also watched our performance during rehearsals and seemed quite taken aback seeing Riya back among us. Though they did congratulate us afterwards. Given that it marked Riya’s return, losing was not an option for us. Moreover, an UpKeyGirl victory could give MayQueens a chance to climb to second place. So we'd all much rather have MayQueens, with whom we share some camaraderie, move up. A sentiment shared by both me and the kids. This prompted a rare text from Jaehee. JH [UpKeyKids, you have to win!!! Haha] Me [Teenagers seem very well-prepared too] JH [We can’t fall behind in points nowㅠ] Me [Haha, our kids are determined to win, even for MayQueens] JH [Oh, those adorable ones] At this point, one might normally suggest, even casually, "Let's grab a meal sometime," but that chat ended there. I didn't really feel like prolonging it, so I didn’t send a follow-up. *** ―Once again, no upset in this duel! ―Yes, the judges’ vote stands at 7 to 3, securing UpKeyGirl's victory over Teenagers for an additional 10 points! ―UpKeyGirl, would you like to share a few thoughts? The full group return stage with Alyah joining us was triumphant. The performance by Teenagers was outstanding, and honestly, I was a bit nervous. However, the five members of UpKeyGirl shone the brightest on stage as always, capturing the hearts of the judges and audience alike. Next to me, the manager from MayQueens, still clasping their hands together, chuckled warmly. "Wow, thank you! Thanks to you, our team bumped up to second place, haha." "Yes, yes." "Oh? You don't seem too happy about it? Your expression looks off." "Ah... I was just nervous. I was worried about Riya's comeback stage, wondering what we'd do if we lost." "Oh, I see. Teenagers were phenomenal today indeed. It was just unfortunate they faced UpKeyGirl, haha. I've learned not to worry about UpKeyGirl." Flattered by the praise, I tried to maintain a humble smile. Meanwhile, on stage, the kids continued to express their thoughts. ―It was Riya's return to the stage after her injury. Riya, do you have anything to say? ―Yes, a big thank you to Manager Myuno for constantly praising Alyah and boosting my spirits! The moment Alyah mentioned me, my face appeared on the monitor. It was right as I was smiling back at the compliment from the MayQueens manager. I usually avoided looking poorly, but seeing my face among the beautifully made-up idols on the monitor was jarring. Back in the day, I'd get my hair styled at the salon with the kids, but I had tightened the budget, resorting to just wearing a cap. With long recording sessions, my face inevitably showed fatigue, rendering the result rather disastrous. What I thought was a humble smile ended up looking awkward on screen? ―Hahaha! What’s up with the manager’s face?! It wasn't just me who thought I looked ridiculous. The girls from UpKeyGirl and the audience burst into laughter, and main MC Jeon Seong-mo seized the moment. ―What was that just now? That one remark sent the audience into another wave of laughter. That wasn't the end of my on-screen time, however. ―Looks like the journey of the survival king ends here. ―Yes, unfortunately, Promise Twelve has been confirmed as the fifth eliminated team in Replay Girl. And that's when I lost my composure. When the judges' scores were revealed and Promise's elimination was confirmed, my mouth gaped open reflexively. The camera director didn't miss capturing that moment. “Ahahaha!” Given Kim Kyuchul's and the writers' hearty laughter, it seemed preplanned. Capture the moment when Promise is knocked out, especially focusing on fanboy Kim Yunho. The screen then returned to show the scene on stage. The eliminated Promise members thanked the audience and viewers tearfully. Youngest member Haneul cried the hardest of them all. Worried about being caught by the camera again, I controlled my expression as I mourned inwardly. Every recording session, Haneul's radiant eyes were like vitamin shots for my soul. Now, this was the last one... ―Haneul? As the atmosphere on stage settled, the teasing master Jeon Seong-mo sought an interview with Haneul. ―Yes. ―When Promise’s elimination was confirmed, UpKeyGirl’s manager seemed really shocked. ―Really? ―And he appeared quite saddened as you cried. Do you have anything to say to UpKeyGirl’s manager? He’s over there. ―Oh... Haneul’s eyes met mine as she followed the MC's gesture. Camera 3 pointed at me. Kim Yunho, you idiot, twice is enough for embarrassment! This time, keep your expression under control! ―Manager Kim Yunho, thank you so, so much for your support all this time! Ah, she knows my name. Haneul knows my name! Sweet! Cute! She’s kawaii every time I see her! “Sob, snrk…” ―Hahaha! The manager burst into laughter! ―Look at that expression, it’s priceless! I was doomed... Unable to contain it, the corners of my mouth stretched wide open—my nostrils surely followed suit. Jangwoo’s face beside me turned crimson red. “…Hyung, I’m embarrassed…” “Quiet…” The members of UpKeyGirl, who were comforting Promise on stage, turned their backs completely. “It’s going to be edited even funnier for the broadcast, what will you do now…” “Surely not…” *** A week later. Well, never underestimate the impossible. This episode's scene-stealer was undeniably me. As Jangwoo predicted, with subtitles added, the broadcast made it even more comical. I tucked my phone in my pocket, but the relentless stream of buzzes from incoming messages felt almost ecstatic. “Oh man, I seriously can't show my face around because of you, oppa…” “I doubt even winning would bring out an expression like that.” “He must have been beyond delighted.” “Ah, so it was true~ Manager really liked Haneul~” “Rangka, this time even Alyah can’t shield you. Why’s that so?” After the broadcast, UpKeyGirl’s official fan club was flooded with parody images, swiftly spreading to other communities. < The Facial Expressions of UpKeyGirl’s Manager Myuno > When UpKeyGirl placed 1st in a mission: The world’s most awkward smile When UpKeyGirl placed 2nd: The world’s most awkward smile When UpKeyGirl placed 3rd: The world’s most awkward smile When UpKeyGirl gained no points: The world’s most awkward smile When UpKeyGirl received praise: The world’s most awkward smile When UpKeyGirl was criticized: The world’s most awkward smile When Promise 12 was eliminated: Jaw-dropping shock! When a fan asked for a photo at a signing event: The world’s most awkward smile When a fan gave a gift at the signing event: The world’s most awkward smile When a fan stepped on his foot at the signing event: The world’s most awkward smile When Haneul finally called his name: A beaming smile *** NoDeux Author Eom Seung-mi [Manager, are you super popular these days? You’re more famous than UpKeyGirl now.] Me [No way...] NoDeux Author Eom Seung-mi [Haha, I’m leading a pilot program going on MBC, and it’s a reality-variety show featuring managers and celebrities together.] NoDeux Author Eom Seung-mi [We formally request UpKeyGirl and Manager Kim Yunho to join the cast.] NoDeux Author Eom Seung-mi [It’s set to air after Replay Girl ends, so there won’t be any schedule conflicts.] NoDeux Author Eom Seung-mi [The current lineup includes Senior Lee Yumi and Jo Byungho. I’ve staked my name on pushing for UpKeyGirl and you, so refusal is not an option^^] < The Sky Called My Name! > End