HONG KONG – The top 10 contestants of “Middle-Aged Voice 4” are set to air the third round of cumulative rankings, dubbed “Breakthrough Night,” this Sunday. Each performer will present a self-chosen song in a bid to showcase a reinvented stage persona and secure higher scores.
The episode, airing March 2, features guest judge Liu Chi-Mei alongside “music appreciators” Lee Sze-Chit and Ho Kwok-Ching. Contestants across the board abandoned their comfort zones, delivering everything from rap-infused Cantopop to jazz-tinged ballads.
Wu Yi-Wei made his Cantonese-language debut by performing “Decisive Battle with the Second Generation,” a track blending R&B and rap elements. His smooth transitions between head and chest voice, combined with a relaxed stage presence and signature tongue-trill technique, earned high marks. Judge Cheung Ka-Tim described the performance as “annoying yet lovable,” praising the contestant’s attitude-driven interpretation. “This is a feeling I’ve never experienced before from him,” Cheung said. Fellow judge Chow Kwok-Fung compared Wu’s charisma to that of Taiwanese star Show Lo, with both Fei Ma and Liu Chi-Mei nodding in agreement. “I can finally confirm you are headed for an idol route,” Chow declared.
Xu Mei-Qi, previously known for emotional on-stage tears, collaborated with Zheng Jia-Sheng on choreography for the fast-paced, lyrically dense “For Alice.” She maintained a constant smile throughout the high-energy dance number, displaying impressive lung capacity and stamina. Judge Hai’er noted, “It’s rare to see you so happy on stage.” Cheung Ka-Tim praised her evolution, calling her “successful jumping bean” image a breakthrough. “This is the first time I’ve heard you sing an upbeat song, and it proves you can do it,” he said. Lee Sze-Chit joked that Zheng had worked Xu relentlessly: “He assigned a movement to every single word, so you were incredibly busy the whole performance.”
Zheng Jia-Sheng himself stepped into rap territory for the first time, delivering “Love is Suspect” with dynamic choreography and steady breath control. Mid-performance, he accidentally kicked off his earpiece but remained unfazed, casually booting it aside. Cheung Ka-Tim lauded the mishap as “part of his stage presence,” calling the move “very cool.” Chow Kwok-Fung humorously compared himself to an accountant, saying, “I followed the lyrics to see how many he’d miss. Give him a round of applause—he didn’t mess up a single word.”
Cai Mi-Jie took on the notoriously difficult classic “Shanghai Beach” in a form-fitting cheongsam. She admitted that she had been warned: “Anyone who sings this song in the past has ended badly.” Undeterred, she delivered a powerful, emotionally charged vocal performance. Fei Ma noted that the opening line—”Waves rush, waves flow”—appears deceptively simple but is in fact extremely challenging, and Cai executed it with flawless control. Cheung Ka-Tim complimented her cheongsam styling, prompting Cai to elegantly extend a leg. Host Che Yuen-Yuen shouted, “Enough—we’ve already given points, we can’t add more!” drawing laughter from the entire studio.
Zheng Zhong-Hao abandoned his usual rock style to perform a self-accompanied rendition of “Missing You” with jazz-swing and reggae influences. The genre-bending choice earned high praise, with Liu Chi-Mei commending his relaxed execution: “He’s not just technically skilled—he sings from the heart.” Chow Kwok-Fung noted that the performance brought a refreshing surprise to the competition.
As the top 10 vie for the final spots in the rankings, this week’s episode underscores the contestants’ willingness to take artistic risks—redefining their identities and proving that vulnerability and versatility can coexist on the road to victory.
