I am a Pioneer

Performance

"Ok then. Our first performer for tonight is...." JYP begins.

I know exactly who it is, so I sit back and wait. I can just feel the other contestants' nerves from my room. I can tell that they are on edge.

"Sim Kyu-Bong!" JYP announces the name. I smile. I chose Kyu-Bong for a couple of reasons. The first is that he isn't a natural performer. He can rap, but his dance and vocals are a little bit lacking. I thought that putting him first, will help to give his performance some impact on JYP, especially if it contacts with the following performance. I also selected Kyu-Bong, as I wanted him to pick the number 2 performer. The more central Seol Young's position in the episode, the less effective his performance will be.

An introduction video made up of different moments that have occurred throughout recoding so far is played to introduce him to the audience that will watch on TV. Kyu Bong then walks out onto the stage that had been set up. It looks like a medieval throne room. he is dressed like a prince in military uniform. the backup dancers are dressed like royal guards and rebels with weapons. The music starts, and Kyu-Bong turns serious. He is performing King, by GOT7's Jinyoung and Bam Bam, which fits him perfectly as an artist who is an amazing rapper, but a little weaker in vocals. He has completely transformed. His stage presence is amazing. he has the charisma of a k-pop artist. His confidence is brimming. His performance ends with a bang. Jyp sits silently and claps a little. He then quickly interviews Kyu-Bong and asks a few questions as the stage is cleaned up and changed. He then indicates for Kyu-Bong to select the second performer.

"The next performer to go is...." he takes a pause for dramatic effect.

"Ra Chan-Wook" Kyu-Bong announces. He then heads backstage as the staff prepare the next set. Ra Chan-Wook's introduction video plays while the stage is set up. Then Chan-Wook walks out. He is dressed in black dress pants with dress shoes. He wears a suit jacket that is kept open, revealing his still-developing abs. He has a couple of gold chains hanging around his neck. My first thought went towards a SHINee song, but as soon as the music played, I recognised it. TVXQ Mirotic was the song he had decided to perform.

The performances went on for a little while, with a few breaks in between. Ho Hoon, another trainee performed a Nine Muses song, Figaro which came as a little surprise as no one was expecting a girl group song. Ho Jung performed So Crazy by AA, while DongBang came out with Infinites Be Mine and absolutely teared up the stage. Next up was Hayashi, who following the introduction video walked up onto the stage. The difference in this stage compared to the others was pretty obvious. The stage was designed to look like the rubble of a destroyed town. But in the centre of the stage, a band was set up. Hayashi walked up, trying his best to give off a confident aura. He grabs the microphone off its stand in the centre of the band and they start to play. The song is Hello Hello by F.T. Island. He had added choreography to the song to help himself cover all aspects of the evaluation, but had also gone for a different approach using a band instead of backup dancers. It felt new and refreshing. He performed very well. By the end of the song, JYP was leaning back in his chair smiling and clapping. It seemed like he enjoyed it.

Following his performance, Hayashi decided that now was the right time, and called out Seol Young to perform next. His intro video played. I couldn't help but get annoyed. It showed his performance of MOVE in it, as well as his modelling in the incorrect outfit during the fashion challenge. It also showed him completely taking over the group performance challenge too. Soon the video ends and he walks up on stage. He's wearing a leopard print suit as he walks down the stairs of the set, which looks like the entryway of a luxury mansion. I can instantly tell what song this is. I can't believe that he is about to perform this song, but it is so like him to do that. The song starts as his dance partner comes out in a black dress. It's a famous song of questionable choreography and a catchy tune that everyone knows. The song is sung by 4minute's Hyuna and Beast's Hyunseung. Troublemaker is the song that he chose. I have to admit that he sang the song well, and his chemistry with his dance partner was pretty good. But I just felt a little disgusted by his choice in song, knowing the kind of person that he is. The song came to an end and Seol Young is interrogated by JYP just like the others. Following that he is asked to choose the next performer before he leaves the stage.