Psy's Journey from Semiconductor Successor to Music Star
The 276th episode of KBS Joy’s “20th Century Hit-Tsong,” which aired on August 8 at 8:30 p.m., explored the songs of artists who stood firm in their beliefs under the theme “Wildly Stubborn.” The show began with a lighthearted exchange between Lee Mi-joo and Heechul Kim, where Heechul humorously recalled his early days of following company directives and admitted it was the first time in 20 years since his debut that he felt free. Lee Mi-joo playfully responded, “Don’t grow up. Then he will die,” setting a warm and engaging tone for the episode.
One of the highlights of the episode was the introduction of Psy’s song “Father (2005),” which ranked 10th. Psy, known today as a global music sensation, had initially pursued a different path. Originally a successor to a semiconductor company, he studied in the U.S. at his father’s insistence, enrolling in Boston University’s business department. However, Psy revealed that his decision to pursue music was not driven by passion but by a desire to escape his father’s shadow. Five years after his debut, his father finally came around after the release of “Father.”
Iconic Songs and Their Stories
Pinkle’s “Eternal Love (1999)” took the 9th position. Heechul Kim praised Lee Hyo-ri’s stage performance, calling her “so pretty,” while Lee Mi-joo added, “Beautiful.” Rain’s “How to Avoid the Sun (2003)” ranked 8th, and Resurrection’s “Lonely Night (1997)” came in 7th. Lee Mi-joo shared an interesting fact about her fifth album, which she recorded over 700 hours. Heechul Kim also mentioned Park Wan-gyu’s nickname for Kim Tae-won, calling him “the Devil in the Recording Room.”
Turbo’s “Cyber Lover (2000)” landed in 6th place. Kim reportedly insisted on selecting Mikey from over 3,500 audition applicants after Kim Jong-nam left the group. Heechul Kim reminisced about his past experiences, sharing how he fell in love while playing Lineage and how losing contact with someone made the experience heartbreaking. He described it as one of the most exciting times of his life.
Hip-Hop and Concept Queen
Eun Ji-won’s “Drunk in Melody (2003)” ranked 5th. Known for her stubbornness in hip-hop, Eun Ji-won pursued her dream of becoming a hip-hop singer after her time with Sechs Kies. She even visited Drunken Tiger to learn more about hip-hop before the release of her third album due to lower-than-expected performance.
Emerald Castle’s “Step (1997)” and Lee Jung-hyun’s “Wah (1999),” known as the “Concept Queen,” ranked 4th and 3rd, respectively. Brown Eyes’ “Already One Year (2001)” came in second place. Heechul Kim explained that the song sold over 700,000 copies because the group was faceless and rarely performed or appeared on music shows. He also shared how Yoon Geon composed the song after waking up at 4 a.m. and how most people around him didn’t respond well to it.
The Top Song and Its Backstory
The long-awaited number one was Lee Seung-hwan’s “For 1,000 Days (1995).” Heechul Kim shared an intriguing behind-the-scenes story, revealing that Lee Seung-hwan wrote the lyrics while drunk after returning home at 7 a.m. from a nightclub. The song also had a dramatic anecdote: Lee Seung-hwan insisted on having his appendix removed before a performance, fearing he might have to cancel if he suffered from acute appendicitis. He was scolded by the doctor for his insistence.
Other Notable News
In other news, Annie Jung Yu-kyung of New World’s third generation expressed that she would have built a house if she hadn’t become an idol. Noh Hong-chul was involved in a severe motorcycle accident, requiring emergency treatment. Meanwhile, Kim Min-kyung and Yoo Min-sang were caught in a motel incident, sparking rumors. Lee Ha-nee refused to expose her upper body, stating she had taken off a lot. Uhm Jung-hwa was unaware that the apple clothes were late to the revealing event, expressing her apology. Kelly Clarkson grieved deeply over the death of her ex-husband, vowing to protect him even after death. Park Sung-shin passed away suddenly from a heart attack just before his comeback, marking the 11th anniversary of Park Jae-ran’s tragic passing.