Kim Yeon-woo “If You Are Like Me” ranked first on Mnet chart

MBC music reality show "I'm A Singer" [MBC]

Kim Yeon-woo’s song “If You Are Like Me” made an impressive leap of 76 steps to reach No. 1 on cable music channel Mnet's singles chart during the final week of May.

The song which is a love ballad performed during MBC’s music competition show “I’m A Singer" over two weeks ago, was originally from singer Kim Jang-hoon’s fourth album “1998 Ballads for Tears” released in 1998.

Although Kim Yeon-woo was booted off the show after scoring the lowest mark against six other contestants at the time, he was still lauded for his vocal skills and the song ended up topping several music charts.

Kim Bum-soo’s “Swamp,” also performed on the same show, made an incredible 85-step jump from the previous chart to finish at No. 2.

“Swamp,” a love ballad from Jo Kwan-woo’s first album “My First Story” in 1994, has long been famous for the original singer’s unique style of singing it in falsetto. Kim pass the contest by re-arranging the song in rock version and taking his voice as high as he can.

No. 3 on the chart was grabbed by a singer from the same TV show as well -- Yim Jae-beum with “Everyone” that surged by 76 steps to reach the present position. It won him the winning position on the program as well.

“Everyone,” a song about companionship, was first sung by songstress Yoon Bok-hee who won a grand prize with the song at the 1979 Seoul International Song Festival.

Meanwhile, reflecting the popular trend, the winner on the latest album chart turned out to the latest installment of compilation album “I’m A Singer” series - “I’m A Singer Competition 3-2: Songs Recommended By Netizens" containing the aforementioned songs.

The album which went up eight steps from the previous chart also features songs by other singers including Yoon Do-hyun's rock version of “Run Devil Run (Girls’ Generation) and BMK’s “Beautiful Land (Lee Sun-hee).

Baek Ji-young’s eighth album “PITTA” positioned itself in second place on the chart after going up a slot from last time.

The album, in accordance with the meaning of its title ‘varied in colors and shape,’ is formed of songs of various genres including ballad “Average,” dance number “Bad Girl” and funky-beat “Love Game."

Another album from the “I’m A Singer” series, “I’m A Singer Competition 3-1: Songs I Wish I Had Sung” which was released a week ahead of the 3-2 version and containing songs including Yim Jae-beum’s “Empty Glass (Nam Jin)” Kim Yeon-woo’s “Regret (Kim Gun-mo)” and YB’s “Magic Castle (The Classic)” went down a step to take the No. 3 spot.

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Reporter : Heidi Kim heidikim@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@