The competitive journey on the hit talent show Midlife, Sing! 4 officially concluded its “Top 70 One-on-One Battle” round this week, seeing several high-profile celebrity participants unmasked following their exit. Among those eliminated were three contestants known by their cryptic stage pseudonyms, revealing the identities of seasoned television personality Cai Guowei, former New Talent Singing Championship winner Tam Wing-ho, and actor Wong Kin-tung.
For Cai Guowei, known in Hong Kong media as the “Mark Six Son” due to his long stint announcing lottery results, the elimination marked a significant but deeply personal moment. Despite receiving three lights from the judges during his final performance, Cai was placed in the ‘revival zone’ and ultimately was not saved, necessitating the removal of his animal mask and the sharing of his emotional backstory.
Finding the Courage to Sing Again
Sharing his experience in a lengthy post on social media following the broadcast, Mr. Cai detailed the profound reasons behind his decision to compete, acknowledging the risk of revealing a talent he had long suppressed.
“Even though I received three lights last night, I ended up eliminated,” Cai wrote. “During the show’s closing, I spoke at length, and I wanted to ensure my audience understood the ‘why’ behind my participation in Midlife, Sing! 4.”
Cai Guowei explained that his passion for singing began in childhood, leading him to enter various singing contests in the early 1990s. He officially began his career in the entertainment industry in 1995. However, the discovery of countless other talented singers led to a profound loss of confidence that crippled his musical aspirations.
This internal withdrawal caused Cai to systematically shut down his singing “function.” “I didn’t dare sing in front of people anymore; I didn’t even want to sing karaoke,” he confessed. He estimated that for nearly 20 of his 30 years in the industry, singing had been completely unused as a professional skill, describing it as a “sheathed knife” that had grown dull.
A Thirtieth Anniversary Challenge
Despite the intense fear, the opportunity to participate arrived at a pivotal time. As a fervent viewer of prior seasons of Midlife, Sing!, Cai was inspired by the on-screen artistic growth and breakthroughs of previous amateur contestants.
“I saw this as a chance to learn,” he stated. “I wanted to see if I still had the ability, the courage, to sing in front of an audience again. Could this function be reactivated? Could I sharpen this knife again?”
Furthermore, the timing aligned with a major personal milestone. Recognizing that 2025 marks his 30th anniversary in show business—a career path initially influenced by his early singing dreams—Cai felt compelled to engage in music-related activities to commemorate the occasion.
“I believe it was worthwhile,” he concluded, reflecting on the experience despite his elimination. He offered gratitude to the five judges for their feedback, which he promised to keep in mind for future improvement.
Cai’s vulnerability also extended to thanking his dedicated coach, who worked intensively to refine his technique and performance skills despite his long hiatus from singing. While acknowledging the disappointment of not advancing further, Cai offered strong encouragement to his fellow competitors who moved on, anticipating their future performances and confirming their bond within the burgeoning Midlife family community. The competition continues as remaining contestants vie for the coveted champion title.
