On Oct. 31 at 8:30 p.m., episode 287 of KBS Joy's 20th Century Hit-song, broadcast under the theme "Sing again! Hit-song singers who overcame pain," spotlighted the classic songs of legendary singers who overcame hardship and returned to the stage.
The broadcast detailed the stories of illness and recovery experienced by the singers of each song from No. 9 to No. 1, moving the studio to tears.
No. 9 was Kim Hyun-seong's "Heaven." Beginning with a light voice and featuring impressive high notes that span an octave, the song is the signature hit that lifted Kim Hyun-seong out of a slump and into stardom. At the time, Kim Hyun-seong insisted on all-live performances without lip-synching even once and reportedly sang it up to 20 times a day. Ultimately, the excessive schedule led to vocal cord nodules, but through daily 3–4 hours of breathing training and vocal rehabilitation he recovered about 85% of his voice and was able to release a new song after 15 years. Kim Hee-cheul said, "Some people think vocal cord nodules are like a cold, but surgery can change your voice. Then a singer's career could end…" expressing sympathy and regret.
No. 8 was Ahn Chi-hwan's "People are more beautiful than flowers." Set to the poetry of poet Jung Ji-won, this melody became widely loved through Ahn Chi-hwan's lively remake. During a health check he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer and had to undergo a year of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, but even amid that anxiety he never stopped writing songs and was declared fully healed five years later.
No. 7 was Drunken Tiger's "I Want You." Tiger JK was suddenly diagnosed with lower body paralysis and myelitis and went to the United States for treatment, and it was reported that he is overcoming it with the support of his wife, Yoon Mirae. Next, No. 6 was Uhm Jung-hwa's "Festival." Behind this song, which gained national popularity with its lively rhythm and bright lyrics, was the trial of thyroid cancer. During surgery the vocal cords were even accidentally touched, leaving her unable to speak for eight months, but Uhm Jung-hwa accepted the changed voice as her own and returned to the stage after steady rehabilitation and practice.
No. 5 was Kim Kyung-ho's "Heartless." A rock ballad that layered a wistful melody over piano strings and received great love, the song was followed by a story of enduring intense pain from avascular necrosis of the femoral head while continuing to perform. After pushing through performances in Japan he had to undergo major surgery to connect 21 cartilage strands, and as an aftereffect his height decreased by 2 cm. Having experienced a femoral fracture in a car accident, Kim Hee-cheul said, "My whole area collapsed and I lost height too," expressing sympathy.
No. 4, Yoon Do-hyun's "Tarzan," is a rock song that contains childhood dreams and memories. After three years of illness and receiving a clean bill of health for cancer cells, Yoon Do-hyun showed fighting spirit by continuing broadcasting and radio DJ activities except during treatment periods. In No. 3, Toyo-tai's "Disco King," it was revealed that Baekga discovered a brain tumor after a traffic accident while performing public service and endured an eight-hour major surgery.
No. 2, Yang Hee-eun's "Sangnok-su," is a song that features lyrics symbolizing hope and vitality and a powerful vocal. Yang Hee-eun was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer around age 30 and, despite a desperate situation with an 11% survival rate, underwent surgery and recovery and returned as a KBS radio DJ.
No. 1 was The Cross's "Don't Cry." Behind this song, known for its husky rock voice and high notes, was a dramatic story of Kim Hyuk-gun's paralysis from a motorcycle accident, an 11-hour major surgery, and the devoted support of his father and member Lee Si-ha. His story, now able to reproduce "Don't Cry" in its original sound with the help of a diaphragmatic breathing assist device, filled the studio with deep resonance.
[Photo] broadcast capture
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