Singer Yangpa concluded her 5-game winning streak on 'Mask King' and revealed the identity of the reigning king, Antique Mirror.
Recently aired MBC entertainment show 'Mask King' introduced a new king. The 'Tiger Chasing Evil Spirits,' who captivated the judging panel with explosive energy and powerful high notes, claimed victory in a closely contested battle against 5-game reigning king 'Antique Mirror' with a margin of 5 votes.
Among all this, the identity of the 5-game reigning king 'Antique Mirror,' who showcased deep emotion and powerful singing that permeated each stage, was revealed to be Yangpa, the representative queen of R&B in Korea, drawing attention. When he first appeared, he selected songs like 'Twenty-Five, Twenty-One' by Jaurim and 'Watering a Withered Flower' by HYNN, and with delicate emotional lines and stunning ad-libs, he defeated the third all-time 9-game reigning king 'Fragrance Over Flowers,' Jung Joon-il, to seize the golden mask, demonstrating his status as a national treasure-level vocalist.
He later showcased perfect control of dynamics by effortlessly transitioning between high and low notes during the king defense matches, elevating the judging panel's engagement to its peak and perfectly expressing the narrative of the songs, truly proving the dignity of the king. Notably, in the first defense match, he drew admiration by transitioning between a delicate timbre and explosive high notes while expressing escalating emotions through Na-ul's 'You in the Same Time.'
In a performance against challenger Park Chang-geun, he left a strong impression by reinterpreting the original work's distinct lyrical and emotional qualities in 'Never Ending Story,' and within about a month of its release, the views surpassed 200,000, showcasing his stature as a king.
In the final defense match, he selected the hit song 'IM' by IVE, a representative fourth-generation K-pop girl group, creating a high-quality performance that transcended genre boundaries and received applause from the judging panel. Her stage provided deep emotional impact, creating a new history for 'Mask King.'
The journey of the 5-game reigning king 'Antique Mirror,' who brightly illuminated the 'Mask King' stage for about three months, has come to an end, but the deep emotions and lingering feelings he left behind will be recorded as a new history in the music industry. We will unveil the behind-the-scenes stories of his captivating performances that beautifully adorned the 'Mask King' stage with even deeper emotions and unparalleled singing ability.
The following is the complete interview with 5-game reigning king 'Antique Mirror' Yangpa.
Q1. What were your thoughts when you became the king after defeating the 9-game reigning king 'Fragrance Over Flowers'?
A. After a long time appearing on a broadcast, I felt once again the passion poured in by many staff members for a single episode. During that process, I felt a strong urge to take the baton as the last runner and cross the finish line. When I became the king, rather than feeling 'so happy,' the feeling of relief that 'I managed to finish this long journey, I did it' was stronger. At the same time, I realized that 'I can still do this at my age,' and I made a resolution to communicate more often and actively with the public.
Q2. How did it feel to perform on stage with a mask on?
A. Around the time I was at 3-game wins, audience members looked at me with confidence, as if they could recognize who the king was. The judging panel members cheered for me with anticipation just 1.5m in front, and I could see that adorable gaze even behind the mask. Singing made my heart warm with those glances and reminded me of the good memories I had forgotten. 'Mask King' was a special stage that helped me recall those memories.
Q3. After becoming the king, were there any memorable reactions from acquaintances and fans?
A. I worked hard to keep the secret even while contacting my acquaintances. They politely avoided asking if I was 'Antique Mirror' and instead supported me by saying things like, 'You seem busy these days; good luck!'
There was a 'bittersweet' episode with fans. One day, I posted a photo of myself eating cold noodles and an ice emoji on social media, and people said that I hinted at my winning streak with the number of ice cubes~ Seeing the fans' affectionate attention and love for even my little daily life truly made me grateful.
Q4. You made a long-awaited appearance on 'Mask King'; what are your future plans for activities?
A. I am set to release a regular album this fall. I plan to be active alongside the album and am preparing for a national tour. I hope you look forward to the album I will be releasing under the name Yangpa after a long time, and I believe it would mean a lot if you could take a listen when you hear 'Yangpa's new song has come out.' I want to be a singer who can stay by everyone's side like a friend for a long time.
Meanwhile, with 'Tiger Chasing Evil Spirits' rising as the new king, viewers' interest is focused on their identity. With the powerful shouting and rock spirit of 'Tiger Chasing Evil Spirits' generating anticipation, the performances of the 8 masked singers who challenged them will be broadcast on Sunday, the 17th, at 6:05 p.m.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by MBC.
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