SBS’s new music competition "The Ballad of Us" is on a ratings tear, cementing its status as the breakout audition show of the season.
On Sept. 30, Part 2 of Episode 2 surged to a 6.4% rating, a new series high, and topped its time slot for the second week in a row. The minute-by-minute peak hit 7.6%, underscoring the show’s heat. Among viewers 20-49, Part 2 posted a 2.3% to rank No. 1 across all Tuesday programming, from variety and dramas to news and current affairs. (Nielsen Korea, Seoul Capital Area)
This week’s episode leaned into nostalgia, with contestants averaging just 18.2 years old delivering throwback ballads that struck a chord. Advancing straight to Round 2 were Choi Eun-bin, Kang Ji-yeon, Lim Ji-sung, Lee Min-ji, Kim Min-a, Jeremy and Kim Jae-joon.
Continuing the Round 1 theme “The First Ballad of My Life,” Choi Eun-bin led the night with 142 votes. She previously went viral with a cover of Monday Kiz’s “My Love Has Faded Away” sung six keys higher, racking up 6 million views and even drawing interest from major labels. After stepping back due to harsh online comments, she returned to sing for her father, who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and wished to see her perform―adding emotional weight to her story.
Choi’s soaring take on Boohwal’s “Never Ending Story” left the room in tears, pairing powerhouse vocals with palpable emotion. Park Kyung-lim said she cried, moved by the thought of Choi’s long-held desire to sing, the loneliness she must have felt, and the sea of lights from the 100-member “Top Ears” panel that seemed to guide her forward. Crush praised her skill and added, “Just like the lyrics, I have a feeling cinematic things are about to unfold for you.” Jung Jae-hyung chimed in, “It felt like watching figure skater Kim Yuna on the ice―seeing you take flight was incredibly moving.”
High-school senior Kang Ji-yeon, all of 34 kilograms, delivered Kim Yoon-ah’s “Going Home” on a full-size guitar, offering comfort to fellow students grinding through exam season. She passed with 141 votes. “You’re the most seasoned musician I’ve seen in a long while,” said Crush, while violinist Danny Koo floated a future collab: “If the chance comes, I’d love to layer my violin over your guitar and voice.”
Lim Ji-sung earned a pass with a pure, unaffected rendition of Hwang Chi-hoon’s “The Girl in My Memories,” though noted audition superfan Cha Tae-hyun offered a candid critique, pointing out a marked shift in demeanor once the performance began and saying it felt a bit put-on. Jung Jae-hyung and Crush agreed, offering thoughtful notes for growth.
Sharing a streaming account with her mom, Lee Min-ji showcased a clean, steady vocal on As One’s classic “Desire and Resent,” and moved on. Kim Min-a’s understated but resonant take on Kim Hyun-sik’s “My Love by My Side” also earned a pass.
Kim Jae-joon (Kim Min-woo’s “On the Military Train”) and Jeremy (Baek Yerin’s “Maybe It's Not Our Fault”) stood out with distinctive vibes. Elementary school powerhouse Kim Tae-joon tackled Im Han-byul’s “Because I Don’t Love You” but fell short of 100 votes and was eliminated.
Blending generations through beloved ballads, SBS’s "The Ballad of Us" continues to deliver emotion-packed Tuesdays. The show airs every Tuesday at 9 p.m. KST.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)