J-ROCK prodigy vocalist Takenaka Yudai is leading a frenzy with his performance of "Betelgeuse" after his third preliminary round performance "Drowning" in the 2025 Korea-Japan King of Singers competition broke the record for fastest views.
A ticket-seller-out in Japan and a leading figure in the J-band scene, prodigy vocalist Yudai led his team fighting for his country's honor as the reigning king of "King of Singers Japan" on MBN's 2025 Korea-Japan King of Singers, which marked the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic ties and concluded on the 30th of last month. In particular, after Yudai's appearances in the 2025 Korea-Japan King of Singers, only four performance videos released on his official YouTube channel and the "Trot King" channel ("Walking With You", "Pretender", "I Love You", "Endless Rain") shattered expectations by surpassing a total of 10 million views in just over a month, and each concert announcing his participation has sold out, creating a syndrome.
Most notably, Yudai's performance of Ows's "Drowning," which he sang in Korean for the first time as his final performance in the third preliminary round, set off intense interest by reaching 2 million views in the shortest time with lightning speed. Viewers who watched Yudai's "Drowning" performance also poured out praise at the historic level of his cover and the rapid rise in views, saying, "It's really Yudai-morning. I start my day listening to this song," "He performs it so perfectly it could be mistaken for the original. Legendary!" "How many times have I listened to it? I can only say it's amazing," "I really found a gem!" and "His voice is like an air purifier itself!"
In response, Yudai commented on the video himself, saying, "This was my first time singing a Korean song, so my pronunciation may not be perfect, but I practiced a lot," and added, "Thank you for watching. I really like everything about Korea," conveying his special feelings. He went on to say, "Please continue to support me. Be sure to listen to Nobelbright's music too," offering a small but heartfelt thank-you that excited fans.
Meanwhile, Yudai will break J-pop stereotypes and perform the hit song "Betelgeuse," which had a big hit in Korea, on the 2025 Korea-Japan King of Singers gala show airing Tuesday the 7th, delivering another legendary performance. "Betelgeuse" demands considerable high notes and a technically difficult technique that requires switching continuously between chest and head voice, so much so that even the original singer Yuuri counted it among the hardest to sing. Expectations are exploding for what kind of color Yudai's version of "Betelgeuse"—characterized by his uniquely refreshing voice and high notes—will show.
At the 2025 Korea-Japan King of Singers gala show, Park Seojin, Yudai and the other "Korea-Japan TOP7" will also reveal an epilogue that contains their honest feelings about the song battles between Korea and Japan. Park Seojin said, "When I first prepared, I only thought, 'This is a fight between Korea and Japan.' But as the recordings progressed, I began to think, 'Oh, we're friends. We're colleagues enjoying this together,'" revealing the warm friendship that had formed. Yudai also said, "I thought I wouldn't get close to anyone, but I really grew fond of everyone. It's embarrassing to say this, but it was a moment when I could feel a youthful time like innocent school days," sharing his own surprising feelings and making everyone smile.
The producers said, "The 'Korea-Japan TOP7' became one through their common bond of music and built memories together, becoming precious to one another," and added, "The journey of the 'Korea-Japan TOP7' is just beginning. Please cheer for the memories the 'Korea-Japan TOP7' will create anew."
Meanwhile, MBN's 2025 Korea-Japan King of Singers gala show will air Tuesday the 7th at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] provided
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