So the name of the show basically explain almost everything about the concept behind the show.
King Of Mask Singer
"Mystery music show", that's how the mc Kim Sung-Joo always introduce the show.
Each generation (2 episodes per generation) will have 8 invited contestants to compete for the title of "King of Mask Singer". And yes, they are all given with a special mask to cover their identity.
So how are they going to compete? Elimination.
8 contestants will be divided into 4 pairs, each pair will compete by presenting a duet performance.
So how are we going to determine the winner on the duet performance? Instant live audience (total of 88 votes) and celebrity judges (total of 11 votes). The winner will proceed to next round and the losing contestant will have to remove his/her mask. Starting from 3rd generation (5th & 6th episode), even after losing for the 1st round, they will sing their 2nd round song while revealing their real identity.
The remaining 4 contestants will be having an 1 on 1 battle with their own solo performance (Voting system will be the same as the 1st round).
The final 2 contestants will be competing for the chance to challenge the previous generation King of Mask Singer (Voting system will be the same as the 1st round).
However the voting on the last round for the challenge to previous generation King of Mask Singer will be slightly different. The challenger doesn't need to present another song, the judges will be voting base on his/her previous 3 songs (1st round duet; 2nd round solo; 3rd round solo). While the previous King of Mask Singer will only need to sing one song. If the challenger manage to get higher total vote than previous King of Mask Singer, he/she will replace as new generation of King of Mask Singer, and will be challenged on next episode, whereas the previous King of Mask Singer will have to reveal his identity.
Nevertheless, if the previous King of Mask Singer manage to get higher votes, he/she will remain as the current generation of Mask Singer and continue his/her appearance on next episode/ generation until someone dethrone it.
What so special about this music show?
From the rules and voting system, it sounds like another normal boring music show. Right?
First of all, the contestants are not necessarily the singers! They can be actors, gagmen (comedian), model, tv news reporter, musical actors, or even music producers. Of course, if their 1st round opponent is a real singer, they will usually lose on the 1st round itself XD
But sometime you will also surprise by their vocal although they are not the real singers.
Secondly, you will see a lot of idol singers in this show. NO! Not the normal random idols, but idols that can sing really WELL! Many time during the revealing part, audience went frenzy because they didn't expect that particular idol can sing that well.
Top right: <Episode 6> Luna from f(x)
Bottom left: <Episode 12> Eunji from Apink
Next, the hidden singers and unexpected singers. Some singers are born with a great voice but without appealing appearance. They doesn't have a good opportunity to present their voice to the public. Come on! Just admit, sometime we really judge someone with their face.
Smooth singing, with appropriate usage of falsetto and ad-libs. Almost everyone agrees that he is an idol singer. His vocalization was really idol-like.
Baek Ji Young even saying she wants to sign him into her music label.
K.Will said, if there is any idol with his skill, he would have recognize him immediately.
After losing his final round and reveal his face. Sudden silent from the audience. Not many know about him.
He is Im Se Jun, the so-call secret weapon of Yoon Min Soo. A really great singer but due to his unattractive outlook, he wasn't able to get the attention from the public.
I hope you can appear in Immortal Song soon :)
Is Gaeko from Dynamic Duo!
Isn't him the rapper?
Something unexpected...
As for Im Se Jun, may be because he's not handsome enough for people to listen to him; but there are some singers that are really beautiful and people tend to think that they are bad singers.
Kang Min Kyung from Davichi.
Yes, when she reveal her face, every man in that studio were stunned.
I know she is a great singer but may be because her partner Lee Haeri is too good vocally, I didn't expect her to be this good!
When we talk about singers, we should never forget about the 90's singers. Back to 90's, there weren't that many of idol group like today. Those days, S.Korea was still quite dominated by ballads and rock musics. Most of them are vocal coaches nowadays, and some are slowly quit from music industry. In my opinion, this show once again revive their fame and slightly bringing back a little balance with idol singers.
King of Mask Singer for 4 consecutive generation!
That's about 10 weeks of appearance (including the 2 weeks when he challenged the 3rd generation of Mask Singer)!
As expected, he's the God of Ballad Kim Yeon Woo. He lost because he has chosen a less popular genre gugak song.
Jo Chang Hyuk
Always appearing in Immortal Song, appealing husky voice.
In my opinion, out of all the challengers of Cleopatra, he was the strongest and closest.
Of course, there were other semi-legend/ legend singers appearing in the show as well. They are the foundation for today's K-pop!
Singing itself might be a bit boring for people who are not that passion toward music. That's why the producer of the show find 11 celebrity judges to make the show more fun to watch. The panel include gagman, singers, and actors. They are required to guess out the singers after the performance. The way they analyze was funny. Just like other music shows, the addition of experienced gagman will add in some "variety" colour and the show wouldn't be too plain for non-music lover.
How good was the show?
I don't know the actual number statistic of the show, but from the articles I read, this show is among the highest rating for the same time slot of other shows.
So good that until China is willing to buy the copyright of the show:
But the running of the show was a little bit different with Korean version. Instead of 8 singers, they only have 6 contestants each episode. China's version will have more voting audience (250+) and less celebrity judges (5 only).
The major difference will be on the mask revealing. For Korean version, the losing singer will have to reveal themselves; for China version, only the winner of the episode will reveal while the rest will compete again on next episode with an addition of new singer.
So what happen to the winner of the episode? He will be directly send to semi-final to compete for the title of "King of Mask Singer", pretty much same concept as their version of "I am a singer".
However, for whoever masked singer who lose 3 times in the 1st round (accumulated 3 round loses), they will be eliminated and they will be given a decision whether to reveal themselves...
What do I think about the show?
Great show! Entertaining as well! Bias is really a scary thing for singers.
Take me as an example. I don't like Idol, because in my opinion they are a group of handsome/ pretty people with awesome dancing and rapping skills, but lacking of real vocal ability (often using auto-tune). Furthermore, because of the domination of Idol group, the real vocal singers are started to be threaten and slowly faded away from music industry.
But after the show, I realize some of the lead vocal of idol group really practice a lot to improve their vocal skills.
Perhaps, they doesn't really want to maintain their title as Idol Singer forever. Every each of the lead singer from Idol Group also hope to be a great solo vocalist. At least this is how I feel after listening to their singing...
Additionally, I am really happy that they can open a show where non-idol singers can perform. Nowadays, all the major music shows are dominated by Idols (can't blame them, rating is everything for a show). I hope there will be more hidden singers to be discovered through the show...
Korea version V.S. China version
Although I am a Malaysian Chinese, but undoubtedly my vote goes to Korean version.
Korean version helps to discover some unknown or hidden singers and their ability or performances were comparable with famous well known vocalist. Basically I get to know more Korean singers through the show. And it's entertaining.
China version recruited all the skilled and famous singers, singers that you can often see from other shows. Their voice are so unique that even after the 1st sentence, practically everyone knows. And they have to pretend until either that singer is eliminated or proceed to semi-final. In my opinion, that's because they are afraid of their rating if they recruit unknown singers...
And lastly, as usual, thanks for reading to the end.
I will be introducing a China singing program as my next blog topic.
Thanks!
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