"Singer 2025" has aired four episodes. As a music variety show that has been on the air for 12 years, it is still a hit. The program combines musicality and variety, accurately grasping the pulse of the audience. Although the singers on the stage this year are all technically proficient, there are also constant controversial topics. On June 5, the producer of "Singer 2025" Hong Xiao accepted an interview with reporters on topics related to how to balance traffic and musicality.
"Singer 2025" debut lineup
This year, from Shan Yichun to Ma Jiaqi, the new generation of singers born after 2000 began to appear on the stage of "Singer".
When it comes to selecting young singers, Hong Xiao believes that the first thing they need to have is strong professional skills, the second is that they need to have unique personal charm, and the third is that they need to be able to produce music that is more popular with younger audiences and have a performance style that is more in line with the aesthetic tastes of today's young people.
Shan Yichun
He cited Shan Yichun, who has grown rapidly in recent years, as an example, "In many of our interviews with experts and consultants, they all mentioned Shan Yichun, so we just want everyone to listen to the level of the top, young live performances. We cannot ignore the power of the post-00s."
Ma Jiaqi
Another post-00s representative, Ma Jiaqi, also attracted heated discussions among the audience. Hong Xiao said that he had worked with him in "Sound of Life: Taiwan Season" before, and felt that his stage performance was "one person and one song" and self-expressive. "Even though everyone now thinks that his stage performance may be a little immature compared to other predecessors, I think the stage of "Singer 2025" should give them more opportunities to let them stand here and express the voice of this generation."
"Singer" is a program for international exchange. Hong Xiao emphasized, "We also hope to promote China's outstanding young singers to the world. Not only to make our young fans like foreign young idols, but also to make foreign audiences like our Chinese young idols."
When asked how the program team weighs traffic popularity and musical professionalism when selecting talent, Hong Xiao firmly believes that musical professionalism must be put first. The so-called traffic and popularity actually confirm the audience's love for them. The word "traffic" should not be their original sin.
Among the singers who are expected to be on the list next, there will be some whose data traffic is not so advantageous, but they will have good works or unique musical charm.
Before the show started, people speculated that Lin Zhixuan was the favorite to win, but he was unexpectedly eliminated after two rounds. Has the audience's aesthetic taste changed quietly?
Hong Xiao replied: "In the 12 years since 'Singer' was held in 2013, the audience's listening habits and music aesthetics have undergone a huge change. The format of the music variety show has gone through several rounds of changes and iterations. I agree that such changes are objective, but I don't think this is the reason why singers such as Lin Zhixuan were eliminated."
Lin Chih-hsuan
Hong Xiao believes that Lin Zhixuan's ability is beyond doubt. "He chose a special way to come to "Singer" this time. When I invited him before, he told me that he hoped to make more innovative musical expressions and break out of his comfort zone while he was still able to sing. So the performance of the first episode of "Wukong" was somewhat different from the audience's preconceived impression. I deeply regret his temporary departure. But I admire Lin Zhixuan's attitude of "experimenting" with music, and I also look forward to Lin Zhixuan bringing everyone more amazing performances in our "Singer 2025" breakout competition."
The foreign singers invited this year are still strong, but perhaps the audience has become aesthetically fatigued with the big voices of Europe and the United States. In the first episode, the audience paid more attention to domestic singers.
When talking about the criteria for inviting foreign singers, Hong Xiao said, "Of course we look at their talent, but we also value the culture of other countries reflected behind their talent, which reflects the concept of cultural exchange and mutual learning of civilizations. For example, among the first singers this season, the Japanese singer BENI sang the theme song of the classic Japanese drama "Long Vacation", which brought different countries closer together."
BENI
He believes that the overall lineup of online singers this year is diverse and each has its own characteristics, which may make international singers appear less prominent.
“In fact, the strength and level of the two international singers, Mickey and Grace, this year are no less than last year. However, after the whole season last year, the public has become a little disenchanted with foreign super singers. The most important thing is that this year’s singers performed very well on the ‘unedited’ stage, which exceeded our expectations.”
Next, there will be two more international singers on the list in the 6th and 9th episodes, one of whom is a mentor-level singer in a foreign talent show. In addition to the singers who take the list, the singer who reveals the list is also considering choosing young foreign singers who represent diverse cultures.
At the end of the interview, Hong Xiao said that a good variety show needs to provide maximum emotional value to the audience.
Singer 2025
The slogan of "Singer 2025" is "Continue to be fearlessly truthful". Hong Xiao said: "This stems from our insistence on 'live broadcast and real singing' last year. It costs a certain price, but even so, we still have to affirm the truth, because people don't like fake things now, and only the power of truth can provide emotional value for the audience."
