Singing Again Through Pain: KBS Joy's 'Hit Song' Shines Spotlight on Resilient Singers

On the evening of October 31st, KBS Joy's '20th Century Hit-Song' aired its 287th episode, dedicated to singers who have overcome adversity and returned to the stage, titled 'Singing Again! Singers Who Conquered Pain'.

The show highlighted legendary artists and their powerful songs, detailing their battles with illness and their journeys back to the spotlight, ranking them from 9th to 1st place.

Coming in at 9th was Kim Hyun-sung's 'Heaven'. This hit song, which propelled him to stardom after a slump, showcased his impressive vocal range. Kim Hyun-sung famously insisted on live performances only, sometimes singing up to 20 times a day. This dedication led to vocal cord nodules, but through persistent rehabilitation, he recovered about 85% of his voice and released new music after 15 years. Panelist Kim Hee-chul expressed empathy, noting the severity of vocal cord issues which can end a singer's career.

At 8th place was Ahn Chi-hwan's 'People Are More Beautiful Than Flowers'. This beloved song, based on a poem, saw Ahn Chi-hwan bravely battle stage 3 colon cancer for a year, undergoing radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. He was declared cancer-free five years later, never stopping his songwriting.

Drunken Tiger's 'I Want You' secured the 7th spot. Tiger JK faced paralysis in his lower body and a spinal cord diagnosis, undergoing treatment in the US with the unwavering support of his wife, Yoon Mi-rae.

In 6th place was Uhm Jung-hwa's 'Festival'. Beyond its cheerful rhythm and lyrics, the song's backstory revealed her struggle with thyroid cancer. A complication during surgery affected her vocal cords, leaving her unable to speak for eight months. Despite this, Uhm Jung-hwa embraced her changed voice and returned to the stage after dedicated rehabilitation.

Kim Kyung-ho's 'Bicheong' (Unfeeling) ranked 5th. This rock ballad, beloved for its poignant melody, hid the singer's severe pain from avascular necrosis of the femoral head. He endured a major surgery connecting 21 cartilage lines after performing in Japan, resulting in a 2cm height loss. Kim Hee-chul, who experienced height loss himself due to a traffic accident, shared his understanding.

Number 4, Yoon Do-hyun's 'Tarzan', a rock track inspired by childhood dreams, featured his resilience. After a three-year battle with cancer, he was declared cancer-free and continued his broadcast and radio DJ activities during treatment.

Positioned at 3rd, Toyotai's 'Disco King' recounted Baekga's discovery of a brain tumor during his public service duty, followed by an eight-hour surgery.

Yang Hee-eun's 'Sangnoksu' (Evergreen Tree) at 2nd place, a song symbolizing hope, told of her stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis with a mere 11% survival rate. She overcame this despair through surgery and recovery, eventually returning as a KBS radio DJ.

Topping the list at 1st was The Cross's 'Don't Cry'. This song, known for its husky rock vocals and high notes, came with the dramatic story of Kim Hyuk-geon's paralysis due to a motorcycle accident, an 11-hour surgery, and the devoted support of his father and bandmate Lee Si-ha. Now able to reproduce the song's original sound with the aid of a vocal cord assistive device, his tale of overcoming immense hardship deeply moved the studio audience.

Netizens reacted with admiration, commenting, "Their resilience is truly inspiring," "So touched by their fighting spirit," and "This episode gave me so much strength."