Qualifications Of Men: KBS Youth Choir

I have blogged about the Korean variety show "Qualifications of Men" (aka Qualities of Men) from KBS two years ago on my previous blog.

The members are faced with another choir challenge to take part in the KBS National Choir Festival.

Unlike the previous choir challenge which was opened to anyone within the KBS TV Station, the requirement this time is restricted to those who were born before 1960.

And the irony of it all was that the choir is named the "KBS Youth Choir" even though the members were at least 52 years old.

The recruited members comprised of people from all walks of life including houswives, retirees and even professionals like a company CEO, Doctor, High School Teacher and Professor.

Watch the audition segment here:
|Part 1|Part 2|Part 3|Part 4|Part 5|Part 6|no Part 7|Part 8|
(Update: Part 5 and 8 have become broken links. The rest are okay)

In the midst of preparing for their competition, the choir members took time out to perform at a home for juvenile offenders. It was a heart-warming episode as the aged and troubled youths find solace in music.

They also visited the soldiers from Nonsan Army Training Center who had just been enlisted for only 3 weeks.

|Part 2|Part 3|Part 4|Part 5|Part 6|
(Update: Part 1 and 2 have become broken links. The rest are okay)

The production team also managed to invite Paul Potts of Britain's Got Talent fame to make a guest appearance on the program to give them some encouragement. 

The first song, entitled "In Addition To The Name of Love", was composed by Kim Taewon (Grandma Taewon) with the lyrics from a letter which he has written to his mother; the second song was a idol medley of pop songs by 2NE1, Girls Generation (SNSD), Secret, 2AM, 2PM, SHINee, G Dragon, etc...

List of songs for the idol medley:
1st:  I don't care (2NE1)
2nd:  Genie (SNSD)
3th:  Nagging (IU & Seulong)
4th:  Heart beat (2PM)
5th:  Ring Ding Dong (SHINee)
6th:  Shy boy (Secret)
7th:  Heartbreaker (G Dragon)
8th:  Even If I Die, I Can't Let You Go (2AM)

Here is where the fun part (choreography) comes in and the last rehearsal:
|Part 1|Part 2|Part 3 |Part 4|Part 5|Part 6|Part 7|
(Update: Part 1 and 7 have become broken links. The rest are okay) 

After three months of preparation, here is the KBS Youth Choir performance at the  competition:
|Part 1|Part 2|Part 3| Part 4|Part 5|Part 6|Part 7|Part 8|

Congrats to the team for receiving the KBS National Choir Competition Silver Award!

This is a complete video of the two songs they performed.

I realized that youth has no beginning and no end. If someone wants youth, it begins from that moment.  - Kim Taewon

It was only until here that I realized why the choir was named the "Youth Choir".

It was an emotional roller coaster ride for me as I watched their progress from the initial audition to selection followed by the vocal training and eventually taking part in the competition.

Despite their age, the zest they exude deeply moved me. However, what touches me the most was that while fulfilling their passion for singing, a couple of them were actually battling with cancer!

Go pursue your dreams if you had one.

No one should be discouraged from achieving their goals just because they are "too old".

Do not let age pull you back!

These seniors have shown an examplary example that nothing is impossible if we set our mind on it...

Let their story be an inspiration for all of us!