JTBC's "Begin Again" is a variety show which features established singers from South Korea. These musicians would travel overseas and hold busking events, introducing themselves to people in various countries through their performances. The heartwarming variety show aired on television for four seasons until the online version, "Begin Again Open Mic" launched, uploading videos onto the show's YouTube channel.

Since it's inception, "Begin Again" has had many legendary performances that moved the hearts of millions. With the cast's amazing vocal skills, lovely collaborations, and sincere conversations with the audience, the show has proven to be both entertaining and a source of undeniable warmth, showcasing the raw power of music.

Now, with four seasons and an online version under it's belt, JTBC's "Begin Again" has quite the number of videos to look through. To help narrow down your search, here are 7 healing performances from "Begin Again Open Mic".

 

1. Jeong SeWoon - 'Alcohol-Free'

TWICE's 'Alcohol-Free' is known to be fun, upbeat, and the perfect song for summer. But with his honey-like vocals, Jeong SeWoon changes the mood of the song, making the atmosphere more chill and relaxed. The soloist is able to keep the excitement from the original while making "Alcohol Free" completely his own. Just one listen will definitely wash all your worries away.

 

2. NELL's Kim JongWan & Jo YuRi - 'Implode'

This song might be over 12 years old, being released in 2010, but NELL's Kim JongWan and Jo YuRi breathes new life into the track. Kim JongWan's voice is filled with an unbearable yearning and coupled with YuRi's smooth, crystal clear vocals, makes their performance a complete masterpiece. There's a duality to their rendition as it makes your heart ache while simultaneously bringing a sense of peace all throughout your body.

 

3. WINNER's Yoon - 'It Rains'

'It Rains' is special to WINNER's Yoon as it was his debut digital single as a solo artist. Longtime fans of the singer can see just how much he's improved and evolved through this performance. Through audience involvement, stellar high notes, and the song's comforting melody, Yoon puts on a show that has the ability to remain forever in our hearts.

 

4. Kwon JinAh - 'That's Okay'

EXO's D.O.'s 'That's Okay' is already an amazing song in itself, but Kwon JinAh manages to enhance the track even further. Her version is slower than the original, but suits her breathtaking vocals making her rendition especially sentimental and heartwarming. Kwon JinAh's performance definitely serves as a reminder that everything will be okay.

 

5. DAY6's WonPil - 'You Were Beautiful'

"You Were Beautiful" is legendary, receiving much praise from fans and singers alike. Of course, it's amazing with the full band of DAY6, but WonPil's solo performance manages to bring the song to another level. His wistful vocals makes the legendary track even more heartbreaking than before, tugging on the heartstrings of all listeners. WonPil's performance of "You Were Beautiful" has a tenderness that can be felt and appreciated by all.

 

6. Kim Feel & NELL's Kim JongWan - 'Time Walking On Memories'

The original version of the song creates a whirlwind of emotions inside its listeners. But with the addition of Kim Feel's soothing voice, there is an added depth to the track that leaves you breathless and filled with awe. Kim JongWan and Kim Feel's performance has the ability to move you to tears, as was the case for the audience of their performance. There definitely needs to be more collaborations between the two.

 

7. Apink's Jeong EunJi - 'A Glass of Soju'

Although Jeong EunJi is a great actress, she first came onto the entertainment scene as a singer and definitely showed her skills through this performance. At first she sings this song softly, almost in a whisper, but eventually belts out refreshing high notes towards the end. By the end of her performance, you definitely feel relaxed and warm, as if you had taken a shot of soju yourself.

What do you think of these healing performances from "Begin Again Open Mic"? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

 

Welcome to the 30th article of Kpopmap's weekly series: Kpopmap Mood Playlist! In this series, with articles released every Friday, we create a playlist of unique songs across various genres such as K-Pop, K-Rock/Indie/Hip-Hop/R&B, ballads, city pop, and more, exclusively curated for a very specific mood. Through this series, we want to introduce you to artists and genres as well as give you the perfect collection of songs to jam out to, regardless of how particular your mood is. You can even request a playlist in the comments down below!

You can find all our "Mood Playlists" by clicking here!

This week's "Mood Playlist" is dedicated to cat lovers all over the world. These adorable little babies work hard all day at the biscuit factory and can still brighten up your mood with just a little snuggle. If you're looking for some Korean songs that celebrate cats and all their quirks, we have the perfect playlist for you!

Here are some songs with cats as the main characters that we guarantee you'll fall in love with!

 

Sunwoojunga - 'C A T' (Feat. IU)

 

'C A T' by Sunwoojunga and IU embodies the very essence of feline mischief. The music video tells the story of an alley cat and a house cat and their extraordinary adventures outside of the mundane whereas the lyrics sing of an unlikely yet addictive companionship. We just can't get enough!

 

ONF - 'Cat's Waltz'

 

'Cat's Waltz' by ONF is the perfect representation of the cautious yet curious nature of cats. If you've been looking for a manual to make a kitty love you, this song is exactly what you need!

 

ATEEZ - 'The Black Cat Nero'

 

This iconic rock opera by ATEEZ has more origins than one. ATEEZ reinvents Turbo's song 'Black Cat' which, in turn, was remade from the Italian children's song 'Volevo un gatto nero'. Any cat lover would enjoy the original story behind the song and ATEEZ's reinterpretation just makes it even better.

 

Nell - 'cat'

 

Nell's 'cat' holds layers of meaning that transpose into our daily lives and relationships. He plays the 'cat' and sings from its perspective, highlighting the way humans project their emotions onto their pets. However, it also posits the pains of a limiting relationship where one's desire for self-expression is subdued. Either way, 'cat' strikes a familiar chord and leaves a lasting impression.

 

Casker - 'The Cat and Me'

 

Perhaps the sweetest ode to the gentle warmth of cats, Casker's 'The Cat and Me' is as enchanting as it gets. The whimsical vocals accompanied by the meaningful lyrics make the listening experience incredibly memorable, especially if you have a kitten of your own. 'The Cat and Me' is a reminder of the silent love these little ones give us, even if we may not always pick up on the same. Needless to say, this song is one of a kind.

 

APINK - 'Cat'

 

Nothing captures the playfulness of a cat better than APINK's 'Cat'. Portraying the excitement of a chase, APINK teases us with the most thrilling proposition, and before we know it, we've fallen head over heels. If that's not an accurate portrait of cat lovers with cats, we don't know what is!

 

Bonus!

 

SHINyan - 'Because of You'

 

If you're a fan of SHINee and cats, you're in luck! Did you know that there's a neko version of the group that performed their hit song 'Because of You' on stage? Introducing SHINyan! If this is your first time watching this music video, can you try to guess which cat represents which SHINee member? Leave your answers in the comments section!

 

CODE KUNST, meenoi - Take Me (with 11Kitties)

 

CODE KUNST and meenoi recently collaborated with 11Kitties to make this exceptional bop, for a good cause! For those who didn't know, the music video for 'Take Me' is a part of a surprise donation pledge conducted by 11STREET whereby 11 KRW per view will be donated to the Korea Animal Welfare Association in aid of abandoned cats. If the music video reaches 5 million views in 2 weeks, the donation amount will be doubled.

You can follow 11Kitties on Instagram for cute cats and updates, and we urge you to show some love to the music video too!

What other cat-related songs would you add to this playlist? Tell us in the comments down below!