KBS2's 'Immortal Songs' Lee Seok-hoon secured the final victory with a stage worthy of 'Legend.'
The 703rd episode, broadcast on the 26th (Saturday), was the second part of 'Artists Kim Hyun-cheol, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo,' featuring Hwang Chi-yeul, Jo Jung-min, Jung Seung-won, Yoo Hwe-seung, and Lee Seok-hoon, who successively took the stage to sing legendary songs by three legends.
Hwang Chi-yeul, who opened the second part of the competition, sang Lovelyz's representative hit song 'Ah-Choo' in a version dubbed 'Hwang-Choo.' Hwang Chi-yeul's powerful vocals, combined with his raw charm and overflowing self-love, stood out in the arrangement. A dance break in the middle of the stage led to the performance group chanting 'Hwang Chi-yeul,' shocking the panel of judges. In response, Yoon Sang noted, "It was a concept I had no idea how to interpret, but I really liked it. The choreography and chorus performance were truly epic," eliciting laughter.
Next, the only female competitor of the day, Jo Jung-min, took to the stage for her second performance. Jo Jung-min perfectly transformed Lee Hyun-woo's 'Dream' into her own color. The arrangement infused with the musical 'The Phantom of the Opera' and Jung Mo's guitar performance created a diverse stage. The unique charm of the stage, different from the original song, revealed Jo Jung-min's adventurous spirit of experimentation. Lee Hyun-woo remarked about Jo Jung-min's performance, "There were various variations of 'The Phantom of the Opera,' but you naturally led it like one story, and I was deeply impressed."
Hwang Chi-yeul celebrated his first win by defeating Jo Jung-min in the first round. Even after receiving the victory announcement, Hwang Chi-yeul humorously apologized, creating a burst of laughter.
In the third performance, Jung Seung-won met the panel of judges with Lee Hyun-cheol's self-penned and composed song 'I'm Happy.' From the beginning of the stage, Jung Seung-won began to connect with the judges with a gentle emotion, touching their hearts with his deep yet clear voice. Notably, Jung Seung-won showed emotional vulnerability towards the end of his performance, leaving a lingering effect. Lee Hyun-cheol remarked, "Wasn't it a stage that really showcased Jung Seung-won's character? I noticed he changed the original lyrics from 'man' to 'person,' which could be seen as a careful expression meant for women. It was really well done."
In the second competition, Jung Seung-won succeeded in stopping Hwang Chi-yeul's second win and took a seat as the winner.
Next on stage, Yoo Hwe-seung chose Kim Hyun-cheol's 'The Moon's Fall' and exploded with his own energy, dominating the stage. Yoo Hwe-seung's improved stage presence heightened the excitement. With a refreshing yet powerful voice and overflowing stage command, he captivated the panel of judges, completing the stage like a drama. In response, Kim Hyun-cheol praised, "This song has a simple melody, so if sung simply, it could easily become just an average song, but you subtly changed the chords. That was fascinating. You interpreted it according to the narrative structure and turned me into a fan."
In the ensuing competition, Yoo Hwe-seung garnered more votes than Jung Seung-won, securing his first win.
The final performance of the second part was by Lee Seok-hoon, who sang Lee Hyun-woo's 'I Have to Erase You in Sadness.' Lee Seok-hoon's delicate emotional line intertwined his lovely and straightforward sensibilities, touching the hearts of the judges. As the song built up, Lee Seok-hoon's distinctive expressive singing style maximized the song's poignant atmosphere, enhancing the stage's immersion. Lee Hyun-woo commented on Lee Seok-hoon's performance, "The arrangement didn't deviate much from the original, but the voice was completely different. The narrative structure was perfect. It felt like I was hearing a completely new song, which was an amazing experience. It was so enjoyable."
The ultimate winner of the day was Lee Seok-hoon. Lee Seok-hoon proved his worth as 'Legend' by receiving the most votes in the competition against his juniors.
In this second part of 'Artists Kim Hyun-cheol, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo,' Hwang Chi-yeul, Jo Jung-min, Jung Seung-won, Yoo Hwe-seung, and Lee Seok-hoon showcased fierce battles through their individual stage concepts and vocal skills. From Hwang Chi-yeul, who turned the venue upside down with a shocking twist on 'Ah-Choo,' to Jo Jung-min, who shone with a bold arrangement reflecting her spirit of challenge, to Jung Seung-won, who unveiled heavy feelings of parting, Yoo Hwe-seung, who displayed his refined skills as a vocalist, and finally, Lee Seok-hoon's stage, which lived up to the title of 'Legend,' a diverse array of performances unfolded. Along with this, the confessions of Kim Hyun-cheol, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo, who have become middle-aged fathers and husbands, resonated with viewers.
Following the airing of the 703rd episode of 'Immortal Songs,' various SNS and community platforms exploded with reactions such as, "Hwang Chi-yeul is indeed an all-rounder! It was an impressive stage filled with great energy and emotion," "Jo Jung-min's charismatic vocals and performance were phenomenal. I can only say she is the best," "Jung Seung-won truly made me hold my breath. My heart felt so achy throughout," "Yoo Hwe-seung is the best! Is it really okay to watch this for free? He was so good that I got chills," "Lee Seok-hoon won with genuine song performances without any gimmicks. His emotional delivery was incredible," and "The friendship of Kim Hyun-cheol, Yoon Sang, and Lee Hyun-woo shines so brightly. I hope the exchange among musical geniuses continues."
'Immortal Songs,' which produces legendary videos that viewers want to revisit every episode, airs every week at 6:05 p.m. on KBS 2TV.
[Photo] Provided
[OSEN]