‘Our Ballad’ Promises Legendary Stages from the First Round, Will Teenage Contestants Shine?

SBS's new music audition program, ‘Our Ballad,’ is set to premiere on the 23rd, promising to deliver legendary performances right from the start.

The first episode will feature contestants with an average age of 18.2 years old, who will take the stage with the theme ‘My Life’s First Ballad,’ aiming to bring a fresh wave of emotion. The show seeks to find the voice of 2025 that will reinterpret the beloved ballads that have accompanied us through every moment of our lives.

With a unique audition format involving 150 ‘Top-Baek-Gwi’ (top 100 esteemed guests/listeners), the program leverages collective intelligence to discover hidden gems. In the inaugural broadcast, contestants will passionately perform timeless ballad hits from legendary artists like Kim Kwang-seok, 015B, Kang Susie, and Im Jae-bum.

Participants are expected to evoke nostalgia by sharing personal stories and adding their unique emotions and styles to reinterpret these songs. However, with the ‘Top-Baek-Gwi’ comprising a diverse group of music experts and ordinary individuals with keen insight, their varied tastes are predicted to lead to unpredictable outcomes, amplifying the show’s entertainment value.

Notably, the emergence of contestants who fail to advance to the second round against popular expectations has already surprised judges like Crush and Jung Jae-hyung, raising questions about who will capture the hearts of over 100 ‘Top-Baek-Gwi’ members to secure their spot.

Adding to the anticipation, a contestant will perform Park Sang-chul's iconic song ‘One Love,’ revealed to be Choo Sung-hoon's personal life ballad. Jeon Hyun-moo hinted at a potential connection between the contestant and Choo Sung-hoon, even speculating, “What if Sarang appears?”, further piquing audience curiosity about the contestant's identity.

‘Our Ballad’ will air on the 23rd at 9 PM KST, with a special extended broadcast of 160 minutes.

‘Our Ballad’ focuses on reinterpreting classic ballad masterpieces and discovering new vocal talents. The show's distinctive 'Top-Baek-Gwi' judging panel, composed of both experts and the public, is expected to bring fairness and heightened entertainment by reflecting diverse perspectives. The surprisingly strong performances and emotional depth from the teenage contestants are anticipated to deliver a truly fresh shock to viewers.