“The living legend of Korean blues”
Jung In has claimed the final victory on KBS2’s ‘Immortal Songs’ with a performance of ‘Wind’ that touched everyone’s souls.
The 756th episode of KBS2’s ‘Immortal Songs’ (directed by Kim Hyung-seok and Choi Seung-beom), aired on Saturday the 16th, was a special dedicated to ‘Artist Han Young-ae.’ Six teams, including Jung Dong-ha, Sohyang, Go Hoon-jung X Lee Chang-yong, Jung In, Seodo Band, and Do Won-kyung, took the stage to reinterpret Han Young-ae’s unique musical world.
Han Young-ae opened the show with ‘SnowRain,’ dominating the room with her signature conversational singing style and husky voice. Celebrating her 50th debut anniversary, her unparalleled tone felt like a genre of its own. The depth of her resonance brought tears to the eyes of the judging panel.
Before the competition, the junior artists expressed their deep respect. Do Won-kyung, appearing on ‘Immortal Songs’ for the first time, gave a thumbs up, saying, “I’ve never stood on a competition stage, but the moment I heard Han Young-ae’s name, I knew I had to do this. She is the living legend of Korean blues.” Jung Dong-ha added his respect, stating, “While most artists imitate nature, Han Young-ae’s voice is nature itself.”
Jung Dong-ha was the first to perform. Choosing ‘Yeoulmok,’ he reinterpreted the originally calm song with his own explosive ballad sensibility. Starting with his signature smooth voice, he gradually built up the emotion, proving his legendary vocal skills with high notes that exploded toward the end. His sincerity in wanting to support everyone’s dreams was clearly felt. Sohyang admired the performance, saying, “I was completely immersed in the song and my own emotions.”
Sohyang followed with ‘Tuning.’ Before her stage, she heightened anticipation by saying, “The teacher’s voice is a genre in itself. Because the song is so complete, I agonized over the arrangement.” Sohyang began with mysterious harmonies alongside a chorus, quickly capturing attention with a fantastic harmony that dominated the stage. Their coordination, reminiscent of a large-scale cathedral choir, gave listeners chills. In particular, Sohyang’s unrivaled volume and ultra-high notes were breathtaking. Both the judging panel and Han Young-ae gave her a standing ovation. Lee Chan-won was speechless, saying, “She’s like an AI. I don’t think even Celine Dion or Mariah Carey could do it like that. It’s definitely a Korean song and a Korean singer, but the scale of the music is global.” Sohyang took the first win.
Third was Go Hoon-jung X Lee Chang-yong with ‘Is Anyone There?’. Choosing one of Han Young-ae’s representative blues songs, the talented musical theater brothers caught the eye with an opening that felt like a scene from a musical. They brought out the flavor of the original song with a rhythmical groove like a jazz musical. Their parade of high notes, delivered with solid vocalization, completed a glamorous show. Their grand harmony instantly drew the audience into the narrative of the song. Jung Dong-ha praised them, saying, “The original reminded me of the loneliness of the night, but this stage felt like a night in Las Vegas. It suited you both perfectly.” However, Sohyang continued her streak with a second consecutive win.
The fourth stage featured Jung In performing ‘Wind.’ Jung In shared her emotions, saying, “I sang this song with Han Young-ae in the past. I think I’ll be happy just having the teacher listen to my singing.” True to her reputation as the ‘Little Giant of R&B,’ she rewrote the original with her unique tone and soulful sensibility. Her husky yet dreamy voice, similar to but distinct from Han Young-ae’s, gently penetrated the emotions of the audience. Jung In’s heartfelt technique maximized the song’s emotion, leaving a deep lingering impression. Do Won-kyung shed tears, saying, “I was so moved. I think she expressed this song so well.” Jung In stopped Sohyang’s streak and took the third round’s win.
Fifth was Seodo Band with ‘As It Is Deep in My Heart.’ As pioneers of Joseon Pop, they reinvented the song by combining traditional Korean music elements with a modern band sound. The harmony between vocalist Seodo’s voice and the band’s performance brought a Korean sentiment and trendy sense to Han Young-ae’s masterpiece. Their sound, which felt like being in the middle of nature, provided a mysterious sense of immersion. Notably, Seodo surprised everyone with a sudden duet with Han Young-ae. Han Young-ae praised them, saying, “It’s a song I personally love, and I was deeply moved.” Jung In also cheered them on, saying, “I think Han Young-ae and Seodo Band should work together. They suit each other so well.” Jung In continued her streak, winning the fourth round.
The finale featured first-generation female rocker Do Won-kyung with ‘Rhinoceros.’ As soon as the stage began, she turned the venue upside down with explosive energy, freely moving across the stage. Her refreshing vocal power and bold stage presence perfectly captured the unstoppable charge of ‘Rhinoceros.’ With thrilling shouting, she exuded the charisma of Korea’s rock pride, electrifying the audience. Her passionate performance, breathing with the crowd, created a glamorous festival where respect for the legend Han Young-ae met the rock spirit. Seodo Band applauded, saying, “It felt full of old rock spirit, and when she said ‘Wake up’ at the end, it felt like an explosion.” In the final battle, Jung In secured her third consecutive win and claimed the final victory.
Meanwhile, ‘Immortal Songs,’ which creates legendary videos you’ll want to watch over and over, airs every week at 6:05 PM on KBS 2TV.
