The singer Soran celebrated the joy of winning thanks to Kim Hyun-chul's dance support.
According to the ratings agency Nielsen Korea, the 702nd episode of KBS2's entertainment program 'Immortal Songs' (directed by Park Hyung-geun, Kim Hyung-seok, and Choi Seung-beom) recorded a nationwide rating of 5.0% and 5.0% in the metropolitan area, ranking #1 in the same time slot. This marks an unbroken 115-week streak at #1, maintaining the prestige of Saturday entertainment for an impressive 700 episodes.
The broadcast on the 19th was themed 'Artists Kim Hyun-chul, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo', featuring performances by Kae and Ryu Soo-jung, Dragon Pony, Ahn Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se, Soran, and Lim Han-byeol, who took turns singing the legendary songs of the three artists.
Kae and Ryu Soo-jung, who opened the first stage, chose Lee Hyun-woo's classic song 'The Day After We Parted', rather than a song by Yoon Sang, the producer of Lovelyz. They showcased their outstanding vocal abilities with a dreamy music box sound. The contrast between Kae's clear voice and Ryu Soo-jung's deep tone enriched the listening experience. Their harmonies, sung in unison, were also fantastic and beautiful.
Lee Hyun-woo praised their performance, saying, "It's a song about missing a parted lover and shedding tears, but with two fairy-like individuals singing it, it feels like they would come back right away." Yoon Sang, known as the 'father of music' for Lovelyz, expressed, "I was glad that the two vocalists from Lovelyz sang it. They must have been nervous, but they did well, and I felt proud."
Next, Dragon Pony reinterpreted Hwang Chi-hoon's 'You in My Memories', which was written and composed by Yoon Sang, in their own unique style. The dreamy guitar sound and sophisticated arrangement of Dragon Pony breathed trendy and new life into the original classic melody. Despite being their first appearance on 'Immortal Songs', Dragon Pony showcased a high level of completeness that belied their rookie status. Yoon Sang remarked, "I was surprised to hear how rocking this song could be," and Kim Hyun-chul praised, "I have experience working with Dragon Pony, and I know their music well; I think they will become a representative group of our country."
As a result, Dragon Pony celebrated their first victory on 'Immortal Songs' by defeating Kae and Ryu Soo-jung.
In the third performance, Ahn Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se teamed up to sing a duet of 'Let's Not Forget' by Jang Pil-soon and Kim Hyun-chul. The warm yet rich blend of their two vocals and abundant soul deeply filled each lyric. Their profound emotions and expressiveness provided an unexpected resonance. Kim Hyun-chul commented on their performance, "It felt like watching the Grammy Awards in the 90s. It was a truly great stage that I could feel abundantly with my heart."
In the second match, Ahn Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se defeated Dragon Pony to take the winner's seat.
Next, Soran took the stage and performed Kim Hyun-chul's classic 'Why Are You Like This' with their signature bright and cheerful sensibility, bringing a lively atmosphere to the stage. In particular, vocalist Ko Young-bae climbed onto the artist's seat in the middle of the performance to dance with Kim Hyun-chul, raising the energy of the atmosphere. Soran's cheerful energy and their sense of stage presence stood out, creating a remarkable connection with the audience. Yoon Sang praised, "I feel like I got to see the charming side of Soran, who I am close to. Above all, the performance was so clean, and Ko Young-bae's vocals shone brighter than ever today." Kim Hyun-chul added with a laugh, "If Soran wins today, 30% of it is my share."
In the ensuing competition, Soran succeeded in achieving their first victory by receiving more votes than Ahn Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se.
The final performance of the first part was by Lim Han-byeol, who chose Yoon Sang's 'The Shadow of Parting' and revealed his ambition for global expansion. Lim Han-byeol quietly started the stage with piano melodies before accelerating towards his specialty high notes.
Despite being on an IV drip, Lim Han-byeol poured all his energy into the performance, moving the audience. His huskier voice maximized the emotion of the song, receiving praise for its charm. Yoon Sang commented on Lim Han-byeol's stage, "He is a junior I have always liked and watched over. While watching the stage, I wished I could sing like that just once. It felt like a stage that fulfilled my own regrets as the original artist."
In the end, Soran claimed the title of the final winner of the day. Soran received the trophy from Yoon Sang and fully enjoyed the joy of victory.
This episode featuring 'Artists Kim Hyun-chul, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo' showcased a variety of performances from artists representing different genres, including Kae and Ryu Soo-jung, Dragon Pony, Ahn Shin-ae and Jo Jae-se, Soran, and Lim Han-byeol. In particular, the value of the classic songs by Kim Hyun-chul, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo was reinterpreted in entirely different colors by the junior artists, adding to the listening pleasure. Additionally, the 30-year friendship among Kim Hyun-chul, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo, reflected in their witty banter, contributed to the viewers' enjoyment.
'Immortal Songs' airs every week at 6:05 PM on KBS2.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
