KBS2 ‘Immortal Songs’
On KBS2 ‘Immortal Songs,’ TWS(TWS) went beyond breezy freshness to deliver a charisma-packed performance, becoming the first idol act to clinch an all-kill win.
Episode 752 of ‘Immortal Songs,’ aired on the 18th (Sat.) (directed by Kim Hyung-seok and Choi Seung-beom / hereafter ‘Immortal’), was presented as ‘Composer Yoon Il-sang Part 2.’ For this special, Mighty Mouth X Minyoung (BBGIRLS), TWS(TWS), Lim Han-byul, Daybreak, and Takenaka Yudai took the stage to splendidly showcase a parade of Yoon Il-sang’s classics. As a result, the show recorded a 3.8% nationwide rating, maintaining No. 1 in its time slot for the 149th consecutive week. (Nielsen Korea)
The first act of Part 2 was Mighty Mouth X Minyoung (BBGIRLS). Shorry of Mighty Mouth selected Turbo’s ‘Love Is…(3+3=0),’ teasing, “We have invited the best guest,” and raising expectations. Then Kim Jong-kook of Turbo, the original singer, made a surprise appearance via an LED screen video, joining Mighty Mouth X Minyoung (BBGIRLS) and even showing a dance, sending the atmosphere soaring. They delivered a retro performance that fully captured the original’s throwback vibe, bringing the entire judging panel to its feet. Mighty Mouth’s witty command of the stage and Minyoung’s exhilarating vocals blended perfectly to unleash explosive synergy, and Yoon Il-sang promised, “I almost jumped up mid-performance from excitement. If you promote as this unit, I want to give you a song.”
The second stage saw TWS(TWS) perform Young Turks Club’s ‘Jeong.’ TWS(TWS) rearranged the original, often called ‘the origin of ppong dance,’ infusing its lyrical melody with a trendy structure for a fresh appeal. They radiated charisma that stood in 180-degree contrast to their usual refreshing image, adding overpowering group choreography that captured every eye. Above all, they perfectly recreated the scissor-kick move, the highlight of the original, imprinting their presence as a ‘trend-leading idol.’ Yoon Il-sang praised, “Among all the stages by male idols who have remade my songs so far, this was the best. I will start working on a new song for you from today.” TWS(TWS) member Hanjin said, “It is an honor to receive praise from a respected senior,” and shed tears. TWS(TWS) scored 427 points, surpassing the year’s highest score to take their first win.
The third stage was Daybreak. Vocalist Lee Won-seok said he chose Lee Moon-se’s ‘An Unknown Life,’ adding, “I gained courage through this song, so I plan to sing this stage with a spirit of support.” Daybreak elevated the original’s buoyant feel with their signature refreshing band sound and Lee Won-seok’s solid vocals. True to their moniker as ‘the emperor of festivals,’ they breathed with the judging panel and led a mass sing-along that turned the venue into a whirl of excitement. It was a performance where Daybreak’s sincere intent to cheer everyone on truly shone. Takenaka Yudai marveled, “It was such an enjoyable stage that I forgot it was a competition program.” In the second matchup, TWS(TWS) notched a second straight win.
Fourth up, Lim Han-byul took the stage with Lee Seung-chul’s ‘Fate.’ With delicate emotion, Lim deepened the audience’s immersion and poured out rock-solid vocals worthy of the title ‘textbook of singing.’ In particular, his explosive high notes amplified the original’s poignancy, leaving a lingering resonance. His flawless, unwavering delivery drew admiration from the judging panel as well as the talk waiting room. Yoon Il-sang said, “What matters is that the original singer does not come to mind, and I think you succeeded,” giving a thumbs-up. In the head-to-head between TWS(TWS) and Lim Han-byul, TWS(TWS) secured a third consecutive win to keep their momentum.
In the final stage, Takenaka Yudai performed YB’s ‘I Will Forget You.’ Before going on, he shared, “I practiced every day for a week while listening to Korean,” and astonished with impeccable diction that reflected his intense effort. Backed by the band sound, his powerful vocals fully realized the original’s rock spirit, delivering chills with a command of the song that rendered nationality irrelevant. Above all, in the latter half, Yudai’s surging high-note performance captivated everyone, and Yoon Il-sang applauded, saying, “This is the first time I have heard such a refreshing ‘I Will Forget You.’ It was truly amazing and I loved it.”
Finally, Yoon Il-sang remarked, “This year marks the 35th anniversary of my debut, and it feels like I received a big gift. Thank you.” TWS(TWS) set a first for idol acts by recording an ‘all-kill win,’ taking the final trophy of the Yoon Il-sang special.
In ‘Immortal Songs Composer Yoon Il-sang Special Part 2,’ Yoon’s classics were reborn across generations and genres, electrifying living rooms. From Mighty Mouth X Minyoung (BBGIRLS) with a retro performance that stoked 1990s nostalgia, to TWS(TWS) who claimed an overwhelming all-kill win with a flawless performance, to Daybreak proving their title as emperors of festivals, to Lim Han-byul who delivered chills with unrivaled vocals, to Takenaka Yudai who closed with explosive high notes, the show assembled stages you could not look away from, reaffirming the value of Yoon Il-sang’s masterpieces.
After the broadcast of ‘Immortal Songs,’ various social networking services were flooded with reactions such as “Mighty Mouth X Minyoung (BBGIRLS) truly captured the vibe of the original. Minyoung delivered insane vocals. Kim Jong-kook’s appearance was epic,” “The performance by TWS(TWS) was truly overwhelming. It was a stage that was fun to watch. TWS did what TWS does,” “Daybreak delivers the best, singular sound. The whole time it really felt like an anthem, I almost cried,” “Lim Han-byul is truly the star in my heart, number one. So clean yet you can feel the flawless technique, love it,” and “Takenaka Yudai is incredible. He turned this song into the theme of a Japanese youth drama. The singing is refreshing and clean.”
‘Immortal Songs,’ which produces legendary clips you want to replay every week, airs at 6:05 p.m. every week on KBS 2TV.
