KBS2's 'Immortal Songs' celebrated its final victory thanks to the dancing support of Kim Hyun-cheol.
According to Nielsen Korea, the viewership rating for 'Immortal Songs' (directed by Park Hyung-geun, Kim Hyung-seok, and Choi Seung-beom) in the 702nd episode was 5.0% nationwide and 5.0% in the metropolitan area, claiming the top rating of the same time slot. This marks an unwavering first place for 115 weeks, maintaining the prestige of Saturday entertainment for a remarkable 700 episodes.
The 702nd episode, broadcast on the 19th (Saturday), was themed 'Artists Kim Hyun-cheol, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo' and featured performances by K from the group Luvies, Dragon Pony, An Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se, Soram, and Lim Han-byul, who sequentially took the stage to sing the legendary songs of the three artists.
K from Luvies opened the first stage, selecting Lee Hyun-woo's classic song 'The Day After We Parted,' rather than the music producer Yoon Sang. They began their performance with the dreamy sound of a music box, showcasing their outstanding vocal abilities typical of Luvies. The contrasting sounds of K's clear high notes and Ryu Soo-jung's deep voice enriched the listening experience. Their harmonies sung in unison were also fantastic and beautiful. Lee Hyun-woo praised their performance, noting, "It's a song that reminisces about a parted lover and makes you cry, but since the two of you sang it like fairies, it feels like they would come back right away." Yoon Sang, known as the 'father of Luvies' music,' expressed, "I was happy that the two vocalists of Luvies sang it. They must have been nervous, but they did so well that I felt proud."
Next, Dragon Pony reinterpreted Hwang Chi-hoon's 'You in Memories,' which Yoon Sang wrote and composed, in their unique style. The dreamy guitar sound and artistic arrangement characteristic of Dragon Pony breathed trendy and fresh life into the original classic melody. Despite being their first appearance on 'Immortal Songs,' Dragon Pony stood out with a high level of completeness that belied their rookie status. Yoon Sang remarked, "I was surprised to hear how rocking this song could be," while Kim Hyun-cheol complimented, "Having worked with Dragon Pony, I know their music well, and I believe they might become a representative group of our country."
As a result, Dragon Pony defeated K from Luvies and relished the joy of their first victory in their debut appearance on 'Immortal Songs.'
In the third stage, An Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se collaborated, singing a duet of Jang Pil-soon's and Kim Hyun-cheol's 'Let's Not Forget.' The warm yet rich harmony between the two vocalists, along with their abundant soul, deeply filled every word of the lyrics. Their profound emotional expressions provided a resonance that exceeded expectations. Kim Hyun-cheol raised his thumb, stating, "It felt like watching the Grammy Awards from the '90s. It was a truly wonderful stage, allowing me to feel it abundantly in my heart."
In the second battle, An Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se defeated Dragon Pony, securing their place as winners.
Subsequently, Soram took the stage and performed Kim Hyun-cheol's classic song 'Why Are You Doing This?' with their characteristic bright and lively emotion, bringing joy to the stage. Especially, vocalist Koh Young-bae climbed onto the artist's seat during the performance and danced with Kim Hyun-cheol, elevating the atmosphere. The delightful energy of Soram combined with their sense of stage presence made their performance stand out in interaction with the audience. Yoon Sang praised, "If I'm close to Soram, I think I got to see their cuteness to my heart's content. Above all, their performance was so neat, and Koh Young-bae's vocals shone brighter than ever today." Kim Hyun-cheol humorously added, "If Soram wins today, I'll claim 30% of the credit."
In the following battle, Soram succeeded in achieving one victory by receiving more votes than An Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se.
Lim Han-byul, who closed the first part of the show, chose Yoon Sang's 'The Shadow of Parting,' expressing ambitions for global expansion. Starting quietly with the piano melody, Lim Han-byul built momentum as they raced toward the high notes, showcasing their specialties. Even while undergoing IV treatment, Lim Han-byul poured their all into the performance, moving the audience. Their now-huskier voice maximized the song's emotion, earning them attractive reviews. Yoon Sang expressed admiration for Lim Han-byul's stage, saying, "I've always liked and watched them as a junior. While watching the stage, I wished to sing like that even once. Although I am the original creator, it feels like this stage fulfilled my regret."
In the end, Soram claimed the ultimate victory of the day, receiving the trophy handed to them by Yoon Sang and fully enjoying their triumph.
This episode featuring 'Artists Kim Hyun-cheol, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo' brought together various artists representing different genres, including K from Luvies, Dragon Pony, An Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se, Soram, and Lim Han-byul, creating a rich variety of performances. Notably, the classic songs of Kim Hyun-cheol, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo were reinterpreted in entirely different styles by junior artists, enhancing the listening experience. Additionally, the 30-year friendship among Kim Hyun-cheol, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo added to the viewers' enjoyment with their engaging interactions.
[Photo] Broadcast capture.
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