The highly engaging knockout stage of the popular singing competition “Midlife, Sing! 4” concluded its intense “70 into 1-on-1 Battle” last night, finalizing the roster of contestants advancing to the next round. The episode was marked by both stunning musical breakthroughs and the emotional farewells of several recognizable faces from the entertainment industry, prompting widespread audience empathy.
The final pairing battles successfully identified the crucial 40 contestants who will proceed in the contest. A trio of singers earned the coveted “five-light” unanimous approval from the judging panel, signaling their elite performance. These standout contestants were Koya Koba, a charismatic resident singer from the Philippines who delivered a joyful rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You,” praised by judge Stanley Chow for capturing the song’s inherent happiness. Joining him were the masked singer “Penguin Man,” lauded for their masterful “less is more” vocal execution, and “Lei Siu Lui,” whose performance of “Woman Flower” was described by Chow as akin to reciting poetry.
Industry Veterans Revealed and Eliminated
The evening also saw the culmination of the mystery surrounding three celebrity contestants who had been performing under animal masks. After being eliminated in this round, “Tang Bak Fu” (Tiger), “Luk Chat Bak” (Deer), and “Syut Hung Kung Zhi” (Koala) removed their disguises, revealing themselves to be television personalities Choi Kwok Wai, Tam Wing Ho, and Wong Kin Tung, respectively.
Choi Kwok Wai, known as the “Mark Six Son,” was eliminated after his performance of “Leave the Key” earned just three lights, falling short of the four-light score achieved by his competitor, Choi Mei Tsit. Following his exit, Choi became visibly emotional, sharing a deeply personal reason for competing. He explained that despite launching his career through a singing contest, he had later abandoned singing after feeling inadequate compared to his peers.
“I watched ‘Midlife’ and saw how talented all the participants were. I thought this was my chance to learn and use what I considered my most ‘useless function’—singing—and gain the courage to sing publicly again,” Choi confessed, fighting back tears. His sincere reflection resonated profoundly with the audience and fellow judges, including Maria Cordero, who vowed support, declaring, “I will definitely find someone to hire you to sing!”
Meanwhile, former champion Tam Wing Ho, unmasked as “Luk Chat Bak,” was eliminated after receiving only two lights for his rendition of “Sinking Mud.” Tam, who won the prestigious “Gold Mic Award” (champion) at the New Talent Singing Awards in 2010, reflected on his career pivot to hosting and acting.
“It’s a shame I never fully debuted [as a singer],” Tam noted, recalling a colleague’s surprise that a New Talent champion was hosting a show. “Participating in this competition, seeing other contestants’ performances, I realized there are so many ways to sing. I’ve absorbed so much, even though I can’t continue now.”
Similarly, “Syut Hung Kung Zhi,” revealed as actor Wong Kin Tung, was eliminated with two lights for his performance of “I’m Afraid I’m an Aquarius.” He expressed happiness at the unexpected discipline the contest instilled. “I’m sad to leave, but I haven’t practiced singing so diligently or sought a vocal coach for a single song before,” he admitted, gaining valuable insight into the technical skills required for improvement.
The Elite Group of 40
The final 40-strong contestant list represents a diverse group of talent ready to face the next stage of intense rivalry. The finalists include, among others:
- Standout Performers: Koya Koba, “Penguin Man,” Lei Siu Lui, Ma Ho Yi, Chan Yat Yu, and Wong Cheuk Lok.
- Contenders: Mok Woon Kei, Wanda, Dai Art, Cherry Yau, Yeung Ka Lung, “Cat Girl,” and Rex Cheng.
The competition now transitions into its next phase, promising even higher artistic standards and emotional stakes as these aspiring mid-career singers continue their quest for musical recognition.
