The Group of Death stage was held on ‘Phantom Singer 4’.
In the 2nd episode of JTBC's 'Phantom Singer 4', which aired on the 17th, a group of death stage was held heavily armed with personality and skills, ranging from powerful overseas actors to talented actors known in the musical world and idol main vocalists. As a result, viewership ratings increased. The viewer ratings for the second episode continued to be positive, recording 3.0% nationwide and 2.8% in the metropolitan area. (Nielsen Korea, based on paid households)
‘Phantom Singer 4’, which returned after three years, featured outstanding performances from overseas talent. Jeong Seung-won, who impressed people with his warm visuals from the moment he went on stage, captured Kyuhyun's heart with just the first verse and made him fall in love with him. Kyuhyun praised the song, saying, "I think I'll fall in love with it. I didn't even need in-ears to hear the sound coming through the speakers. I could just enjoy it happily." Son Hye-soo did not spare practical advice, saying, "It reminds me of Jonas Kaufman. There is a clear advantage when you have visuals. Instead, it is important to meet expectations. I hope you can utilize it well."
In Group 2, where a large number of prominent overseas players gathered, Lee Han-beom first captured the hearts of the judges with his extraordinary(?) individual skills befitting his self-proclaimed 'MBTI EEEE Core Baritone'. An international student at the Vienna University of Music, Austria, he is said to be the first Asian student of world-renowned tenor Ramon Vargas, following Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras. Kim Moon-jung commented on the unexpected stage without laughter, saying, "One player came out. It gave me a good feeling of pleasure."
Yoon Jong-shin highly praised Lee Han-beom's technique and said, "He uses the microphone well like a popular singer. He has many elements that will be loved by the public." With an amazing performance, all Phantom producers were accepted and went straight to the final round. Meanwhile, the performance of Chris Young, who is working as a pianist for world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo, also attracted attention. Thanks to Sumi Jo's strong support, he had the courage to take on the challenge. He completed the number 'I Am Schikaneder' from the musical 'Mozart' with piano playing and skillful acting, and received favorable reviews from producers.
Among the three groups of talented actors in the musical industry, Lee Hae-jun's presence was unrivaled. Lee Hae-jun, who rose from 'Daehakro Idol' to 'Grand Theater Rising Star' and established himself as the hottest actor, stole attention from the moment he appeared. Upon hearing his extraordinary presence on stage, Kyuhyun once again activated his big hit, saying, “It stinks?” The producers were also mesmerized by Lee Hae-jun's performance, which involved immersing himself in emotions and concentrating on the stage. Yoon Jong-shin highly praised Lee Hae-jun's earnestness and encouraged him, saying, "It was good to feel his passionate energy," and Kim Moon-jung highly evaluated his potential, saying, "The appeal of Lee Hae-jun's tone is an element that fans love."
The performance of late-comer musical actress Yoon Hyeon-seon, who stood on stage wearing red high heels, took everyone's breath away. Producers applauded the courageous choice of Yoon Hyun-seon, who achieved her dream of becoming a musical actress at a late age. Park Kang-hyun said, "It was a stage where I could see life. I was moved to tears when I met a colleague who truly loved musicals." Kim Jeong-won shared his emotions, saying, “This is the first song I heard on stage today that made me cry.”
Musical actor Lim Gyu-hyung, who shook the competition hall with just his appearance, gave goosebumps from the first verse. He is well-known as a talented person in the musical world, and was applauded for his stable performance with solid fundamentals. Yoon Jong-shin repeatedly praised his singing skills, saying, "Although he is a musical actor, he is very suitable as the person who will sing the main melody," and Kyuhyun cheered, saying, "The sound you hear on set is really different. I hope to see you singing for a long time." In addition, he received high praise from Park Kang-hyeon, saying, "There will be a fierce battle to take over Lim Gyu-hyung in the future," and went straight to the finals.
Kim Ji-hoon also filled the stage with frightening momentum. There was a lot of admiration for Kim Ji-hoon's performance, as he showed off his high-level singing ability and revealed his inner skills. Kyuhyun expressed his fandom by saying, "He has the vocals I like. I even save the music source and carry it around," while Yoon Jong-shin predicted his potential as a popular singer by saying, "He's so attractive that he could release a single." The battle of tenors that touched the heart was also heated.
Seo Young-taek, who gave up his studies in Paris, France and took on the challenge of 'Phantom Singer 4', selected Edith Piaf's 'Non je regrette rien (No, I don't regret anything)' and drew cheers from producers and participants with an ear-melting performance. . Yoon Jong-shin recalled Forestella Jo Min-gyu's stage in 'Phantom Singer 2' and praised him, saying, "I felt thrilled the moment I heard his voice. It was refreshing to hear it with a pop sensibility. I like these anomalous tenors." Kim Moon-jung also raised expectations for the next round, saying, “It felt refreshing like cider,” and “It gave me a thrilling sense of pleasure.” Seo Young-taek, a 'romantic tenor' from Paris, captured the hearts of the judges and unanimously advanced straight to the finals.
Ahn Hye-chan, who is currently active as a full-time member of the Daegu City Choir, is a vocalist who makes a living by combining her studies with events such as ensemble, wedding singer, and military band in order to become economically independent. Having developed his skills through various experiences, he boasts a clear and clear high note and impressed people with his warm voice, befitting the description of a tenor of spring sunshine. Kim Seong-hyeon, who swept various competitions, also received unanimous acceptance with a stable performance.
Above all, the appearance of Cho Jin-ho, an idol in his 7th year, also surprised everyone. As the main vocalist of the group Pentagon, which debuted in 2016, he confidently expressed his desire for a new challenge through 'Phantom Singer 4'. Upon his appearance, Kyuhyun, who had worked with SM THE BALLAD in the past, cheered, saying, "He's good at singing. He's specialized in ballads." Immediately after seeing the stage, Kim Moon-jung declared that she would change her choice, saying, “I changed my mind.”
Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr