The glorious TOP7 that will write a new history of 'Mr. Trot 3' has been born.
According to Nielsen Korea, a ratings research company, the 11th episode of TV CHOSUN's 'Mr. Trot 3,' which aired on March 6, recorded a nationwide rating of 16.1%, breaking its own record once again. This marks the number one spot across all channels including terrestrial, general programming, and cable during the same time slot, as well as the number one spot for all programs aired on that day, number one for all variety shows aired on Thursday, number one for all general programming programs of the day, and number one for all variety shows of the week. It truly represents a 'complete dominance' of first place. The momentary highest rating soared to an impressive 17.1%, reflecting the explosive interest of viewers for the fateful TOP7 decision round.
The 11th episode of 'Mr. Trot 3' aired this day, featuring the semi-final second round, the final gateway to the final. The semi-final second round mission was the 'authentic trot competition,' which was attempted for the first time across all previous seasons, where the fate of the 10 trot performers was determined through a single authentic trot stage. This mission was realized with significant meaning that one must inherit authentic trot, as well as an understanding and love for trot. Thus, the 10 trot performers selected a song from a total of 150 authentic trot songs recommended by the master round and headed into battle with more nervous hearts than ever.
The special privilege that only the ultimate winner of 'Mr. Trot 3' can enjoy has been revealed, further fueling the passion of the trot performers. Yeong-tak, the master of 'Mr. Trot 3' and a top singer and hit songwriter, took on the role of the songwriter for the winning song. Yeong-tak confidently stated, 'I have been watching all the performers' stages from the beginning until now, so I believe I can create a song that suits the winner well.'
The first place in the semi-final second round was Son Bin-a, who recorded a total of 1752 points. Son Bin-a delivered a powerful rendition of the late Bae Ho's work 'The Last Leaf' with a rich, deep voice, causing goosebumps from the very first note. Recognized as the best performer of the season by her peers, Son Bin-a showcased perfect vocal ability with two preambles. Master Lee Kyung-kyu, famous for being a fan of Bae Ho, remarked, 'It seems as if Teacher Bae Ho has been reincarnated. I was almost in tears.' Son Bin-a recorded a remarkable master score of 1489 points, and it seems she is also filled with excitement, saying she has a 'dream that she wants to achieve.'
Choi Jae-myung, Kim Yong-bin, and Cheon Rok-dam placed second, third, and fourth, respectively. Choi Jae-myung chose Seol Un-do's 'I Loved Only You,' captivating the hearts of the audience with a romantic voice and performance. His impressive transformation, particularly in concealing traditional Korean singing techniques, received praise. Choi Jae-myung recorded the fourth-highest master score and secured a place in the TOP7 with a national representative group score of 277 points.
Next, the seasoned Kim Yong-bin, shining as a 22-year active veteran, showcased his authentic expertise by performing Go Bok-soo's 'Living in a Foreign Land,' released in the 1930s. Although the song, which is over 90 years old, repeated the rhythm through four verses, thanks to Kim Yong-bin's unique control of dynamics, the stage passed without a dull moment.
Cheon Rok-dam, who had once faced a setback with authentic trot, climbed the heights of authenticity with a heartfelt performance. Cheon Rok-dam passionately sang Kim Yong-im's 'Life Like a Water Plant' with solid vocal ability and a further upgraded breaking technique. Both Kim Yong-bin and Cheon Rok-dam received identical master scores of 1461 points; however, Kim Yong-bin outpaced him by a mere 1 point in the audience score, leading to a division in their rankings.
Chun-gil, who shared second place with Kim Yong-bin in the first round of the semi-finals, fell significantly in ranking due to a disastrous mistake, recording a tie for sixth place with Chu Hyuk-jin, barely qualifying for the TOP7. Chun-gil passionately sang Im Ji-a's 'Others' with a deeply heartfelt voice, but unfortunately made a mistake during the performance by forgetting the lyrics, evoking sympathy. Despite the mistake, Chun-gil persevered and completed the stage, earning Master Joo Young-hoon's praise that he has 'the voice and breath suitable for singing authentic trot. It was the best performance of all time.'
The final TOP7 of 'Mr. Trot 3' has been confirmed, consisting of Son Bin-a, Choi Jae-myung, Kim Yong-bin, Cheon Rok-dam, Nam Seung-min, Chu Hyuk-jin, and Chun-gil. Now, only the final stage remains to determine who among them will claim the glory of being the new trotter supreme. With a strong vitality that has risen to the final ranking from 101 teams, what kind of performance will these trot performers showcase on the final stage? It raises curiosity about who will emerge as the winner of 'Mr. Trot 3.'
The highly anticipated final will unfold on TV CHOSUN's 'Mr. Trot 3' on Thursday, the 13th at 9:30 p.m.
[Photo] 'Mr. Trot 3'
[OSEN = Choi Yi-jung reporter]