Review on JTBC's Hidden Singer (히든 싱어) variety program

I happen to stumble across some music programs and came to this interesting program on YouTube online where it was JTBC's entertainment TV program that ran from 2012 to 2014. A rather interesting program called Hidden Singer whereby 100 participants are to guess and vote the correct singer along with the impersonators behind the singing booth. It has 4 rounds and several celebrity artists were chosen to be the panel of judges too.
This program is hosted by comedian MC Jeon Hyun Moo. 

One episode that captured my atttention was none other than Fly To The Sky's duo member, Hwanhee. Hwanhee (Hwang Yoon Suk) who was originally a R&B duo artist from SM Entertainment along with his American-Korean member Brian Joo (Joo Min Gyu). The 2 were the great R&B ballad Kings during the 90s and until today they were still seen as one of the most powerful duo in Korean pop music. The 2 debut with the single Day by Day then followed by Sea of Love, Missing You, 가슴 아파도, My Angel, 남자답게, Transition...etc. After 5 years of taking a break and doing solo activities, the 2 came back with a new album and their single You, You, You (너를 너를 너를) broke into the charts and took the No#1 spot from the newbies.

Hwanhee has contributed to various dramas OST such as Beethoven Virus and Over the Rainbow. His low soulful mellow voice is distinct and can be heard or recognized from far by avid fans or people who know him long enough. Compared to joyful Brian, he is often the quiet and mysterious member. In Season 3 Hidden Singer, Hwanhee is selected to be the guest singer and his fellow impersonators were amazing. They sang just like him and one contestant who works in the chicken feet restaurant speaks exactly like Hwanhee. 

It was a nerve-wrecking moment for Hwanhee as in the 2nd round, his votes were quite the 2nd last spot as the audience were voting for the doppelgangers instead of the original singer. However Hwanhee still won the 4th round. 

One I must admit has the best similar voice to Hwanhee is contestant Park Min Gyu (who eventually won the finals). He is a nightclub worker and he practically swept everybody off their feet when he started singing 남자답게 and 내사람 (a duet with Hwanhee). The girls were swooning away. Of course all the contestants were younger and didn't look as good looking as Hwanhee but they were fantastic. The audience even guessed wrong and didn't imagine that they were not the real singer. Brian was among the audience and he voted for the wrong person even being 15 years with Hwanhee as a group.

I think this program is fantastic as it has various singers for 3 seasons and some were great such as those who sang like ballad queen Baek Ji Young, Cool's Lee Je Hoon, Kim Tae Woo, Lee Sun Hee, Jo Sung Mo, Whee Sung, Kim Gun Mo, Kim Bum Soo and others.
I can't help but to reminiscence to those days whenever I hear Fly To The Sky's songs played on TV or online. Their songs do reach out to the fans and I can never get bored of it.

Though rumors spread that the duo were split but they still came back stronger, matured and better than ever. I do respect them for their friendship and what they have been through all these years. Good luck to the duo, I wish them the very best and I've love to see them in person when I visit Seoul again after all I was and I am still a fan of FTTSky!