It was indeed the ‘King of Singers’, Jo Yong-pil. KBS2's special program for the 80th anniversary of Liberation, ‘Jo Yong-pil, This Moment Forever’, showcased Jo's enduring vocal prowess and overwhelming presence, immersing viewers in the festive atmosphere of Chuseok.
Additionally, the viewership rating for ‘Jo Yong-pil, This Moment Forever’ reached an impressive 15.7%, securing the top spot during its time slot. This marked the highest rating among programs aired during the Chuseok holiday, reaffirming the unmatched prestige of the king of singers. (Nielsen Korea, nationwide households, based on Part 2)
The broadcast on the 6th was a hotly anticipated solo performance by the legendary Jo Yong-pil, who spans all generations in South Korea, marking his first solo stage on KBS in 28 years since the ‘Big Show’ in 1997. The program was designed as a unique platform for the public to enjoy Jo Yong-pil's numerous hit songs, which have always been a part of the nation's musical history. The anticipation from viewers was palpable even before the show began. Moreover, the performance was extended by 20 minutes from the original plan, airing for a total of 3 hours to enhance the quality and celebrate the king's return.
The broadcast opened like an invitation to viewers into Jo Yong-pil's musical world, starting with ‘The Unknown World’. The presence of the performers from ‘The Great Birth’ who joined Jo on stage also made hearts race. Jo Yong-pil then kicked off the sing-along with ‘I Can't Find the Cuckoo’. His still-powerful voice, unwavering sense of rhythm, and the same vocal tone from his debut etched the title ‘King of Singers’ into the hearts of the audience from the very first line.
In the actual concert, Jo Yong-pil excluded guest singers and curated a setlist focused on his own hit songs, delivering a ‘song-centered’ performance. At 75 years old, his stamina was astonishing as he sang throughout the concert, thrilling both the audience and viewers.
Belting out timeless classics that resonate across generations such as ‘Pride’, ‘My Dear’, ‘Reunion in Memories’, ‘The Woman Outside the Window’, ‘Candlelight’, ‘Yesterday, Today, and’, ‘Short Hair’, and ‘Dragonfly’, Jo Yong-pil announced, “I’m going to try a proper sing-along,” and led the audience in singing ‘Empty Space’, ‘The Teahouse in Winter’, and ‘Q’, elevating the atmosphere. The sight of audience members standing up to sing along, and mothers and daughters enjoying the performance together, vividly captured the enthusiastic reactions of the audience across genders and generations.
As the concert progressed into its second half, more of Jo Yong-pil's masterpieces that allowed for a deeper appreciation of his musical world poured forth. ‘Come Back to Busan Port’, the beginning of Jo Yong-pil's legend, tugged at the heartstrings, while songs like ‘Forgotten Love’, ‘It’s Okay’, ‘Dream’, ‘Where Your Footsteps Stop’, and ‘Song of the Wind’ added overwhelming emotion. ‘Eye of the Sun’ captivated with its powerful sound and stunning stage production, and the special stage ‘Sad Beatrice’ showcased a grand orchestral sound from the KBS Symphony Orchestra combined with Jo Yong-pil's explosive vocals, delivering a deeply moving experience.
Towards the end of the concert, explosive rock sounds from hit songs got the audience and viewers excited. The atmosphere peaked with the official ending song ‘Mona Lisa’ after a build-up with ‘Asia's Flame’, ‘I Like You’, ‘Moment’, and ‘Youth Era’. Jo Yong-pil's repeated expressions of gratitude towards the audience, saying “Thank you,” was truly touching. Following the audience's cheers of “Jo Yong-pil,” he returned to the stage to gift them with encore songs that are synonymous with his hits, ‘The Leopard of Kilimanjaro’, ‘Bounce’, and ‘Let’s Go on a Trip’, which were the perfect finale to the concert.
As a living legend maintaining the pinnacle of his career for 57 years, Jo Yong-pil's presence was palpable in every word he spoke. He expressed, “Thank you for welcoming me so warmly. I believe that the reason I have been able to sing for so long is because of all of you. Thank you,” and added, “I will continue to sing in the future, and if I can’t, I will take a break for 2-3 years and then come back, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll take another 4-5 years off and return. The title of today’s concert is ‘This Moment Forever’. I hope this moment with you will be remembered for a long time,” which thrilled the fans.
In an interview, Jo Yong-pil revealed, “I don’t think there will be many opportunities to meet you if not now. Also, my voice might not get better in the future. I felt I needed to do it quickly before that happens. I hope the audience can listen to each song, sing along with their families, and dance. That is the emotion and great reward for me,” explaining his reason for accepting the invitation. He added, “Music is all I know in my life. How happy would it be to die while singing? That is my dream. But I don’t think that will happen,” leaving a poignant impression.
Meanwhile, KBS's meticulous efforts to elevate the quality of the king's stage were also noteworthy. The concert venue was adorned with massive LED screens, dazzling lights, fireworks, and other stage equipment, while post-production CG added a fantastic immersive experience. They also paid attention to the size and font of the subtitles to assist viewers in their sing-along at home. Additionally, the light sticks provided free of charge by KBS added beautiful illumination throughout the venue, gifting the front-row audience with unforgettable moments.
On another note, a documentary capturing the behind-the-scenes of the concert, ‘Jo Yong-pil, This Moment Forever - The Record of That Day’, will air on the 8th at 8 PM. A special edition of ‘Jo Yong-pil, This Moment Forever’ including the unreleased segment ‘My Friend’ will also be broadcast on the 8th at 9 PM.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
