This is a review article written after watching the broadcast.
'The Ballad of Us' Lee Ye-ji won the final victory with a perfect score combining the on-site top baekgwi score, real-time text voting, and pre-app voting scores.
On the 2nd broadcast, SBS variety show 'The Ballad of Us' featured the final six finalists Lee Ji-hoon, Hong Seung-min, Song Ji-woo, Cheon Beom-seok, Lee Ye-ji, and Choi Eun-bin presenting their last stages.
The theme of the final stage that day was "my ballad," and the TOP6 took the stage after selecting songs that would best express themselves. The final score combined the on-site top baekgwi score (40%), real-time text voting score (55%), and pre-app voting score (5%) to determine the champion.
In the pre-app voting results released before the main stage, Lee Ye-ji ranked first with 26.9%, followed by Choi Eun-bin, Hong Seung-min, Lee Ji-hoon, Cheon Beom-seok, and Song Ji-woo in that order.
First, Hong Seung-min selected Jeong Joon-il's "Hold me" and showed a sweet voice. Second, Choi Eun-bin chose Shin Seung-hoon's "You're just a little higher than me" and said, "I've been choked up every round, but this time I want to give a performance without regrets with a slightly more mature appearance."
Next, Song Ji-woo selected Lee Seung-chul's "A night when I can't sleep," and Lee Ji-hoon chose Choi Baek-ho's "Things that leave me," attracting attention with guitar playing. Praising the performance that left a deep aftertaste with a calm voice, Jung Jae-hyung said, "It could be sung at an Olympic opening ceremony," and Jun Hyun-moo also praised, "If Ji-hoon sings the national anthem, I think I would cry."
Jung Seung-hwan also praised, "Actually, the song choice itself might seem very brave or reckless, but those worries were all unfounded. I was impressed because I thought she is a singer whose approach to music and to life is reflected in her songs, even though she is young."
Earlier, "Jeju girl" Lee Ye-ji, who ranked first in the pre-vote, sang Yoon Jong-shin's "Uphill" in her own style without any vocal ornamentation. Cha Tae-hyun shed tears, and Jun Hyun-moo said, "I cry whenever Ye-ji comes out."
Then Cha Tae-hyun said, "Now I'm crying because of my dad," and added, "But in the middle it really welling up all at once. This song itself gives a resonance." In the end, Lee Ye-ji won 2,883 out of a possible 3,000 points in the on-site top baekgwi vote, propelling her to first place at once.
Cheon Beom-seok performed Panic's "Station" for his final stage. Jun Hyun-moo said, "This is my pick. While listening to this song, the unfilial acts I did toward my mother passed like a panorama. I don't usually tear up, but I welled up."
He added, "You showed the power of music to that extent, and it made me reflect once again. Thank you for teaching me the language of music."
After all the stages ended, the results of the on-site top baekgwi scores were revealed. In order, 1st Lee Ye-ji, 2nd Lee Ji-hoon, 3rd Cheon Beom-seok, 4th Choi Eun-bin, 5th Song Ji-woo, and 6th Hong Seung-min were named.
Before the much-anticipated final ranking announcement, Jun Hyun-moo said, "There was a change in the rankings. Text voting is scary," arousing curiosity. Sixth place was Song Ji-woo with 5,093 points, fifth was Hong Seung-min with 5,735 points, and fourth was Choi Eun-bin with 5,818 points.
Third place was Cheon Beom-seok with 6,703 points, and Lee Ji-hoon took second with 8,668 points, making Lee Ye-ji, with a total score of 10,000 points, the inaugural champion of 'The Ballad of Us.' Lee Ye-ji said, "I appreciate that many people are curious about my future uphill path, and I am grateful to my father."
Her father in the audience also shed tears, and Jun Hyun-moo said, "Cha Tae-hyun played a big part in Ye-ji winning." Cha Tae-hyun replied, "Rather than my contribution being big, isn't the contribution of my father and fathers across the country bigger?" and added, "I really hope she remains unchanged and keeps this heart and becomes a very great singer."
[Photo] 'The Ballad of Us' broadcast screen capture
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