MBN ‘Nameless Legends - Trot Men’s Hierarchy War’
On MBN’s mega-scale audition program ‘Nameless Legends - Trot Men’s Hierarchy War’ (hereafter ‘Nameless Legends’), the identities of the 18 well-known challengers on floors 4‧5, previously hidden behind masks, were finally revealed. With stricter judging standards under which only 10 survive through ranking battles, the blood-spattering hierarchy war has begun in earnest.
According to ratings research agency Nielsen Korea on the 12th, episode 3 of ‘Nameless Legends,’ which aired at 9:40 p.m. on the 11th, recorded 8.112% (Part 2) among all pay-TV households, with a minute-by-minute peak of 8.758%. This is about a 0.07 percentage-point rise from the previous episode’s 8.04%, and, continuing the upward trend since the premiere, it solidified a perfect solo lead by ranking No. 1 among all Wednesday variety shows.
In this broadcast, following the ‘Unknown Selection’ for the unknown challengers occupying floors 1 through 3 of the hierarchy tower, the ‘Famous Selection’ for the well-known challengers on floors 4 and 5 unfolded. Stars from diverse fields took the stage, including Pyeon Seung-yeop, the singer behind the national favorite ‘Chanchanchan’; Ryan, leader of the group Paran; ‘Ballad Prince’ Lee Ji-hoon; 2AM’s Lee Chang-min; Shin Sung; Seongri; Hwang Yoon-sung; Kim Da-hyun of the band Yada; and ‘ten-million actor’ Kim Jung-tae. Having shone on stages ranging from trot to ballad, idol, rock, and acting, they threw down the gauntlet to the trot stage with sincerity and their own stories.
Because the ‘Famous Selection’ gathered contestants who already had name recognition, even harsher rules applied. While the ‘Unknown Selection’ used absolute evaluation, the ‘Famous Selection’ used relative evaluation: the Top-Pro panel’s 130 points and the National Pro panel’s 170 points are combined to determine final rankings; only the top 10 out of 18 well-known challengers survive, and the remaining 8 become elimination candidates. As name recognition became a stricter yardstick rather than a halo, the 18 famous challengers likewise found themselves in the very midst of a hierarchy war.
Kim Da-hyun was first to step onto the ‘Famous Selection’ stage. Also known as the vocalist of the band Yada, he channeled his wish to fulfill the dream of his father, an unknown trot singer, showcasing his trademark explosive high notes and steady vocals. In response, Jo Hang-jo heaped praise, saying, “You have the qualities to spark a worldwide craze,” yet he received 102 points from the Top-Pro panel. Hwang Min-woo, known as ‘Little Psy,’ set aside his strength in performance and chose Pro Kang Moon-kyung’s “A Woman Like an Onion,” betting on being judged solely on singing. He showed growth with a lilting vocal and relaxed stage manner, but was told, “You need to do your own thing, not an imitation of singer Kang Moon-kyung,” and scored 103 points.
Crossover singer Yu Seul-gi revealed that at the moment he was about to give up being a singer, encouragement from close friend Son Tae-jin spurred him to try again, laying bare his yearning for the stage. Choosing “Ah! Sarubia,” he startled the venue with solid, operatically based projection and a rhythmical structure. Amid effusive praise from the Top-Pro panel, he scored 120 points and shot straight to No. 1.
Ryan captivated everyone the instant he appeared with the same visuals and physique that recalled his Paran days. His trot stage also featured refreshing yet steady live vocals, earning 113 points along with Jo Hang-jo’s rave, “Why are you only coming now? Your vocal power is tremendous.” In particular, Ivy, who debuted around the same time and promoted alongside him, cheered through tears, saying, “It feels strange to meet a friend while keeping some distance. Thank you for not letting go of that desire to sing.”
Pyeon Seung-yeop, who received nationwide love with “Chanchanchan,” took the stage to a standing ovation from the hierarchy-tower challengers and the Top-Pro panel. He said, “There are fewer stages for the older generation. I am here because I want to be active forever,” revealing why he was attempting an audition for the first time in his 36-year music career. Selecting his own hit “Chanchanchan,” he delivered a relaxed yet fully commanding, profound stage and received 117 points; members of the Top-Pro panel, including Jo Hang-jo, showed respect, saying, “It felt like listening to a life. Experience is different.”
Park Min-su, who finished fifth on another audition program, confessed the moment he felt the wall of reality, saying, “When I realized my popularity was a bubble, I felt even smaller.” But rather than yielding to despair, he said he returned to the stage through grueling effort, including losing 20 kg. His earnestness for singing came through intact on stage, moving the venue; he earned 119 points along with praise from the Top-Pro panel: “I would even pay to go to the concert.”
Seongri, in his seventh year as an active singer, said, “This is my fifth attempt at a trot contest, but after being eliminated, work dried up immediately and it was hard. While wondering if I should quit singing and learning wallpapering skills, I joined ‘Nameless Legends.’” On the ensuing stage, Seongri delivered an all-time-great performance and vocals, earning acclaim from both the Top-Pro and National Pro panels. Even amid intense choreography, his flawless live singing without a single wavering note drew gasps; the Top-Pro panel raved, “Another level,” “There is nothing to critique.” Seongri scored 126 points, leaping past previous leader Yu Seul-gi to take the top spot.
Shin Sung said, “I have served as a judge on audition programs, but I am happiest when I sing on stage. I took on the challenge because I want to remain a legend,” and from the first line he elicited admiration with his signature cavernous low notes and steady vocals. Filling the stage with a resonant tone and firm singing, Shin Sung also won over the Top-Pro panel and scored 114 points. In addition, Hwang Yoon-sung said, “Seniors only know me as Lee Chan-won’s friend. I came out because I wanted to make my name known,” and, with a necktie-prop performance and fiery stage, captured hearts and received 111 points.
2AM’s Lee Chang-min likewise drew hot cheers the moment he appeared. Having composed about 100 trot songs to date, he recounted hardships during the pandemic when every performance was canceled, even going door to door to sell songs. He went on to explain why he took on trot: “No one can explain my songs better than I can.” Although choosing Na Hoon-a’s “Why Cry” drew concern from the Top-Pro panel, he commanded the stage with a sinuous yet exhilarating vocal that showcased the signature bends of traditional trot, scoring 112 points.
‘Ballad Prince’ Lee Ji-hoon still dazzled with his visuals as he appeared and interpreted Joo Hyun-mi’s “First Affection” in his own style. True to his 31 years since debut, Lee Ji-hoon drew attention from the first line with a powerful voice, maintaining steady vocals and delivering spine-tingling high notes to the end, and he recorded 115 points to place fifth in the mid-rankings. Others, including Choi Woo-jin, Ryu Philip, actor Kim Jung-tae, Lee Do-jin, and Kang Tae-gwan, also took on the ‘Famous Selection’ and showcased their skills.
In the midterm evaluation conducted solely by the Top-Pro panel, Seongri, Yu Seul-gi, Park Min-su, Pyeon Seung-yeop, Lee Ji-hoon, Shin Sung, Ryan, Choi Woo-jin, Lee Chang-min, and Hwang Yoon-sung occupied first through tenth places. However, once the National Pro panel’s scores were added, the rankings swung dramatically.
With the National Pro panel’s scores combined, the final rankings from first to ninth were confirmed as Seongri, Ryan, Hwang Yoon-sung, Park Min-su, Kang Tae-gwan, Choi Woo-jin, Yu Seul-gi, Lee Do-jin, and Lee Chang-min. In particular, Kang Tae-gwan, Lee Do-jin, and Hwang Yoon-sung, who had faced elimination based on the Top-Pro scores, staged come-from-behind dramas by vaulting up the table on the strength of strong National Pro support, heating up the venue.
By contrast, Pyeon Seung-yeop, Lee Ji-hoon, and Shin Sung, who had been within the survival zone on Top-Pro scores, instantly became elimination candidates. With only one ticket left to go straight to the next round, anticipation is rising even higher over who will survive and who will be eliminated in the next broadcast.
Meanwhile, episode 4 of ‘Nameless Legends’ will air at 9:40 p.m. on the 18th on MBN.
