Chapter 24: Performance
<🎧 Song Recommendation: Someone To You by BANNERS> (Inspiration. First version of the song is the acoustic version, also sang by BANNERS)
...
Von turned back at Aura, then Sofie, and finally locked eyes with Conor. They had all taken their places. After tapping his foot as a signal, they all released the beat.
🥁 🎸🎹🪘
It wasn’t the slow, acoustic plucking of the original. Conor slammed into a driving, syncopated kick-drum rhythm that hit the Judges in the chest like a heartbeat.
The Steinway piano layered over it instantly, bright and urgent, while Von’s acoustic guitar provided the percussive strumming that glued it all together.
Von stepped up to the mic. He activated [Emote] and [Reasonance], projecting a deep, desperate longing into his gaze as he looked directly at them.
🥁 🎸
I don’t wanna die or fade away...
I don’t wanna be that one...
I just wanna be the one.
🥁 🎸
His voice was gritty and grounded as he sang with emotion.
🥁 🎸
Die or disappear without a trace...
I just wanna be someone...
Well, doesn’t everyone?
🥁 🎸
Sofie stepped up to her mic, shaking the tambourine in perfect time. Her voice was lighter, blending with Von’s lower register.
🥁 🎸 🪘
And when you see the stars colliding...
I wanna be the one you’re finding...
’Cause you believe that I can lead the way~
🥁 🎸 🪘
Their harmony on the last line made the Judges captivated. But they were left silent when the beat dropped out for a split second, leaving only Aura to deliver the pre-chorus.
🎹 ♪
I just wanna be somebody to someone, oh!
I wanna be somebody to someone, oh!
I never had nobody or place to go...
...I wanna be somebody to someone!
🥁
🎹 ♪
As she hit the final word, Conor brought the full kit back in with a thunderous fill. Von and Sofie joined Aura, their three voices merging into a powerful wall of sound.
🥁 🎸 🪘
And if the sun starts setting, the sky goes cold!
Or if the time is wastin’ and I get old!
I really need a moment to call my own!
I wanna be somebody to someone!
🥁 🎸 🪘
🎶
Someone to you!
Someone to you!
Someone to you!
Someone to you!
🎶
The energy in the room was electric as the production crew used colored lights to focus on them, and film a cinematic clip. .
After the chorus, the instrumentation pulled back slightly. It was Sofie’s turn to shine.
🥁 🎸
I don’t even need to rule the world...
I’ll make the moon shine just for you girl...
I’ll make the starlight circle the world.
🥁 🎸
Von took over immediately. This part was in his comfort zone, but it was crucial to build the tension for the pre-chorus. He strummed harder, driving the rhythm forward.
🎸♪
And if you feel, the night is calling...
I wanna be, the place you’re falling...
’Cause you believe, that I can lead the way~
🎸♪
The beat dropped again. Aura’s voice returned, soft but loaded with emotion, melting the souls of everyone listening.
🎹 ♪
I just wanna be somebody to someone, oh...
I wanna be somebody to someone, oh...
I never had nobody or place to go...
...I wanna be somebody to someone! 🥁
🎹 ♪
🥁 🎸 🪘
And if the sun starts setting, the sky goes cold!
Or if the time is wastin’ and I get old!
I really need a moment to call my own!
I wanna be somebody to someone!
🥁 🎸 🪘
🎶
Someone to you!
Someone to you!
Someone to you!
Someone to you!
🎶
The judges had their mouths open in awe. This wasn’t a group of strangers thrown together for a reality show; this felt like a seasoned band at a stadium concert. The lights flashed in sync with Conor’s crash cymbals, creating a cinematic spectacle.
As if the song couldn’t get any better, the bridge arrived.
The drums and guitar faded completely. It was just Aura and the piano.
🎹 ♪
The rain... will fall, the wind... will blow...
The summer... sun... will come... and go...
I just wanna be somebody to you~
🎹 ♪
She hit a high note on "you" that was so pure, so perfectly controlled, it sent shivers down everyone’s spine.
But she wasn’t done. She ramped up the power, her voice growing stronger.
🎸♪
I just wanna be somebody to someone, oh!
I wanna be somebody to someone, oh!
I never had nobody or place to go...
I wanna be somebody to someone! 🥁
🎸♪
They all joined in for the grand finale. This time, even Conor leaned into his headset mic, adding a deep, resonant bass vocal that grounded the harmonies perfectly.
🥁 🎸🎹🪘
And if the sun starts setting, the sky goes cold!
Or if the time is wastin’ and I get old!
I really need a moment to call my own!
I wanna be somebody to someone!
🥁 🎸🎹🪘
🥁 🎸🎹🪘
Someone to you~!
Someone to you~!
Someone to you~!
Someone to you~!
Someone to you~
🥁 🎸🎹🪘
Conor hit the final crash cymbal, letting it ring out. Aura held the final piano chord.
Von was panting as the sound decayed. He had stretched his voice to its absolute peak to keep up with Aura without cracking. His fingers burned from the guitar strings. It was truly energy-draining.
But the silence didn’t last long.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
It started slow, but it built rapidly.
Aria, Jax, and Rex Sterling. They were all clapping. And it wasn’t the polite, obligatory applause they gave the other teams. They were standing up.
Aria used a napkin to wipe her eyes, which were red and watery. She shook her head in disbelief.
"That..." she breathed into her mic. "That was the best thing I’ve heard from a live band in years!"
Von pumped a fist internally. Hearing a pop icon like Aria say that was insane.
Jax smiled wryly, leaning over. "Aria, you’ve clearly never been to a Crimson Haze show. We rock harder than that." He chuckled, then grew serious. "But jokes aside... I have to give it to you guys. This was exquisite. I never expected to get something this professional out of a contest week. Man, you guys are amazing!"
The praise made the team beam with pride. Sofie looked like she might float away.
But Rex Sterling was yet to speak.
He stood there, hands in his pockets, staring at them. The room went quiet, waiting for the CEO’s verdict.
"You know," Rex began, his voice calm. "When I first met you, Von, I never thought you’d make it this far. I thought you were just loud. But now... here you are, leaving me with my mouth wide open."
Von chuckled at the admission.
Rex continued, addressing the whole group. "Your performance was great. Almost perfect. The arrangement, the remix, the execution... But there’s only one problem."
The smile vanished from Sofie’s face. All eyes were focused on him now to hear his rebuke. Even the camera crew zoomed in on the CEO’s face to capture the drama.
Rex sighed dramatically. "It’s actually a pity. I’m saddened that you are not a real band. Fuck, you four will give us good music."
His final words immediately placated the tension that was almost rising.
Aria beamed, picking up her stylus. "You’ve truly impressed us. But now let’s find out how much."
All the judges wrote down on their interface to score them.