What did Enfants Terribles' first album, Definitely Maybe, and their second, Morning Glory?, actually change? They carved a new path through a music scene that had been suffocating under the weight of commercialism and mannerism.
First and foremost, their debut album restored the purity of music that we had forgotten for so long. Why are popular songs called "pop"? It is because the giants of the past stood beside the masses, representing them and weaving the zeitgeist of the era into their melodies.
In a modern music scene that was flashy but hollow, Enfants Terribles resurrected the concept of 'sincerity.' These three young men from the far east reclaimed the identity of music that had been corrupted by capital.
The fact that their debut sold 65 million copies in such a short time proved that the public had begun to crave the music of these 'anguished youths'—humble yet genuine—rather than the artificial spectacle of the status quo.
They completely shifted the tides of the industry. Now, every label scout was heading to Japan, searching for the next Enfants Terribles.
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And today, the band that changed everything, Enfants Terribles, makes their landfall in America.
"Woooooooow!!!!!!"
Across both my lives, I had never once set foot on American soil. And the sight that greeted me upon arrival was one I would never forget as long as I lived.
From the moment the plane began its descent, I could see tens of thousands of people waiting for us around the airport. The moment we disembarked and stepped through the arrivals gate, a thunderous roar of cheers welcomed us.
"Hyung-ssi, were we really this big...?"
"This is freaking exciting!!!"
Our muscular, mixed-race drummer, Yokishi, looked dazed by the reaction, while the bald bassist, Tanaka Shuji, was busy blowing air kisses and soaking up the hospitality of a foreign land.
"Boy! This is quite something, isn't it?"
Following behind us with the audio equipment was Miyazaki Makoto, the former PD of ASAYAN, expressing his awe.
Having honed his 'ear' for sound and his understanding of the industry's ecosystem during his time at ASAYAN, I had recruited him directly over the phone. He was now accompanying us as both our manager and a production assistant.
'Ah, I should send a text.'
Despite the events of the night before we left for America, it didn't change the fact that she was a precious person to me, like a daughter. While the girl herself seemed to view me as a romantic interest, I chose to believe it was just a passing fever of youth. Or rather, that was what I wanted to believe.
'If I actually dated Ai, these meatheads would probably snap me in half first...'
With that thought, I sent the message. A faint smile, one I didn't even notice myself, played on my lips.
● Hide ●
- Just landed.
- Sending this now so you don't nag me when you wake up.
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Under heavy security, we headed to the Colorado Desert stage where the Coachella Festival was being held. In my previous life, Coachella was the largest music festival in North America, and that held true in this life as well.
We had been invited as headliners. Our world tour would begin right here at Coachella.
"So, those fucking guys are actually coming here?"
Though this year's Coachella was held in relatively chilly weather, the Colorado stage was packed to the brim with music enthusiasts.
Among those enthusiasts was John Frusciante, a pot-bellied man clutching a beer and a hamburger. Having bought tickets for all six days of the festival, he was currently yawning his way through the performances.
Tired of over-produced music, the only reason he had emptied his wallet for every single day was to see Enfants Terribles' first US gig.
Since the organizers hadn't announced exactly when the band would take the stage, he had been forced to buy the full six-day pass.
'I spent so much damn money... if they're a letdown, I'm coming after them with a pistol...'
Suddenly, the mechanical roar of a helicopter echoed above the Colorado stage. The chopper, painted in garish colors, was charging fiercely toward the stage.
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
As the helicopter hovered low over the deck, three muscular men leaped out and began waving their hands.
'Asians...? Their builds are bigger than most Americans... and that Black guy on the left... what's with those muscles? He looks like the Hulk.'
Seconds later, the stage exploded into a frenzy of cheers. The three men who had made such a loud entrance were none other than Enfants Terribles.
Some female fans fainted the moment they saw the beautiful, blonde-haired youth, while the male fans were already stripping off their shirts, ready to mosh. Security guards rushed in, trying to calm the hysterical crowd, but the stage had already descended into absolute chaos.
In the midst of the madness, the music kicked off with the primal thud of drums and the screech of guitar strings drenched in heavy distortion.
"You guys in the back! Get your asses up and jump!"
The song was "Supersonic." According to their interviews, the song was written while they were waiting for black bean noodle delivery; when it didn't arrive, they supposedly shouted, "Fuck it, let's go supersonic!" and composed it on the spot.
That song, born from a frustrated shout, was currently turning the Colorado stage into a war zone.
'Was the ticket price actually too cheap...?'
John Frusciante, the pot-bellied man, found himself swept up in the madness of Enfants Terribles.
The first American performance of Enfants Terribles was a resounding success.
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