MBC's Masked King 복면가왕 variety program review

복면가왕 or most commonly known as Masked King variety program produced by MBC station is currently gaining lots of attention from viewers and netizens. The ratings were consistently increasing since the first day of broadcast on Feb 8th 2015 until today it has gone to two digits 13.3%.

Each time the program invites various skilled singers who will wear different kind of masks to cover their apperance so the audience and judges are unaware who the real singer is. Until they start singing with their nicknames behind the mask, viewers are to guess the real singer and also to vote whom they prefer. Everytime a contestant that is eliminated, the continuing contestant will compete with others until they reach the final round. And that is the time we can reveal who is the real singer behind the mask.

MC Kim Gura, musician Kim Hyunseok, host Ji Sang Ryul and Lee Yun Suk, composer Kim Sang Ryul, composer Yun Il Sang and B1A4's member Sandeul are among the permanent judges in the show. At times they invited guest artists such as Baek Ji Young, K.Will, Hong Eun Hee, ZE:A's Kwanghee, B2ST's Dong Woon to join the program- trying to figure out who is the real singer. 

For the first few episodes I must say I am impressed with Ailee and fX's Luna's performances. These two ladies have vowed the audience with their powerful vocals and the songs they chose were perfect. EXID's Solji did well to win the Mask King in the pilot episode with her chosen song- "We Should've Been Friends" by Gummy. fX's Luna took over the throne twice with her chosen songs-  I Will Write A Letter To You by Lena Park and Don't Think You're Alone by Kim Bo Kyung (OST School 2013).

Then came in veteran singer Kim Yeon Woo who is known for his powerful chords and king

of OSTs. He has contributed his voice for more than 20 over OST dramas. The most recent OST drama he has sung was in The Producers OST. Kim Yeon Woo took the Mask King title 4 times by singing Im Jae Bum and Bobby Kim's songs. His nickname CBR Cleopatra is quite tantalizing as his mask is gold with netting that looks a bit like the Egyptian prince with baggy pants and gold chain. Haha! It must be freaking hot to wear the masks and costumes to sing on stage....poor singers...

At last we see Kim Yeon Woo bowing out to the next mask King after his defeat and he laughed back seeing the first time he appeared and having trouble to hike up the stairs with assistance from his 'guards'. As he starts to recall his happy days singing on stage and winning the title so many times, his neighbourhood aunties met him on the elevator started making a ruckus that he's the real voice behind Cleopatra which he denies flatly.

Among some of the notable contestants were idol group members with powerful vocals such as A-Pink's Eunji, BTOB's Sunjae, Spica's Kim Boa, VIXX's Ken, B1A4's Sandeul, Block B's Taeil, Secret's Song Ji Eun and 2AM's Changmin. Of course there were other veteran singers competing such as Jo Jang Hyuk, FT Island's Hongki, Lyn, K.Will, Im Seh Jun, Jang Hye Jin, Tei, Jung Sora, Kim Jong Seo, musical singer Kim Yea Won...etc.

Some of the masks created by the designers are rather unique and funny. Some are gory and scary too. The Phantom of opera and some animal masks are rather cute. 
Indeed some masks designed like a Namsan pine tree, ginseng root, fly man, rice cooker, christmas tree, Jaws...etc are eye catching and hillarious along with the nicknames! 

If you're into slow ballad music and oldies, this is a program whereby you can sit and relax unwind to the ballad songs sung professionally by the masked singers on a Sunday night.