'Mask King' finds hidden singing talent

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Lifestyle

Wed, November 29, 2023 | 08:23

'Mask King' finds hidden singing talent

Posted : 2015-05-19 16:58

Updated : 2015-05-19 18:26

Masked contestants pose at the music show "Mask King." / Courtesy of MBC

By Kwon Ji-youn

It was the pilot of MBC's mystery music show "Mask King" that shed new light on EXID member Solji, a true diamond in the rough.

Since then, "Mask King," which now airs Sunday evenings, has been roping in viewers with performances that are at once suspenseful, moving and exhilarating. The episode that aired Sunday recorded 10.9 percent viewership.

It seems viewers are fed up with watching the same idol groups prance about on stage over and over -- they thirst for real music and talent. Mystery music shows, the newest wrinkle on television, provides them with just that.

And it is not just that they are idol-free, because they are not. They have steered the spotlight away from what the contestants look like, or what they are wearing, and placed it on how well they sing.

In "Mask King," contestants are judged solely on their performances, seeing as their identities are behind masks and costumes. Eight celebrities take turns performing in a tournament format ― the winner advances to the next stage ― masks and all ― while the loser is eliminated and his or her identity unveiled.

The boom may have begun with the "Hidden Singer" series three years ago, which was about guessing who the real singer was among five hidden impersonators. But "Mask King" is less about guessing and more about discovering. Hidden behind masks and costumes, idols in particular have been breaking all sorts of stereotypes. f(x) member Luna was named "King" in the first two seasons with explosive performances, a far cry from the electro-pop typical of f(x) music, while BTOB member Yook Sung-jae startled viewers with remarkable vocals that very few knew he had. B1A4 member Sandeul and Girl's Day member Sojin also succeeded in overcoming preconceptions.

Almost every masked celebrity so far has flabbergasted viewers and members of the star panel with vocals that hardly match their image as seen on other programs. Bae Da-hae returned with an upbeat and strong tone that was nothing like the resonant and sonorous voice she had amazed viewers with during her appearance in a choir project on KBS's "Men's Qualification."

On Sunday, Hong Seok-cheon appeared on "Mask King" to stagger audiences with a deep tone that just was not his usual.

"I'm sure many of the contestants have found themselves face to face with bias, but I'm probably way up on that list," Hong said after his appearance. "If you try just a little to get to know someone, you may discover that he or she has an appeal you didn't know of before. This is ‘Mask King's' key to success."

Other mystery music shows are also on a roll this spring.

Mnet's "I Can See Your Voice" follows a similar format, but its eight contestants do not sing until the last round. The judging panel must knock out the tone-deaf based on non-musical hints in their search for the truly skilled singer. If the final winner indeed boasts a great voice, they land a contract; if the winner is tone-deaf, he or she wins the prize.

Though "I Can See Your Voice" is about weeding out the tone-deaf, viewers appear to be more absorbed in finding true talent. Non-celebrities who have appeared on the music show have continued to make headlines, especially those who have long dreamt of singing on a stage in front of an audience but have not been able to do so for various reasons. One such contestant, vocal trainer Hwang Chi-yeol, made a successful debut on KBS's "Immortal Songs."

jykwon@ktimes.com