After a three-year hiatus, The Masked Singer returns with a more youthful look. The first episode quickly garnered attention with the appearance of new mascots, constantly changing the judges' conclusions. Within about 12 hours of airing, the first episode of The Masked Singer Vietnam 2026 reached over 700,000 views. This number shows that the show has maintained its appeal after a three-year absence.
Returning after a long hiatus, Masked Singer retains its familiar structure with characters whose identities are concealed, along with cleverly placed clues and debates among the advisory panel. However, the show has been revamped to be more youthful, modern, and energetic musically .
Joining Tran Thanh and Bich Phuong in the first episode are guest advisors Duc Phuc and Phuong My Chi. This season features a total of 15 mascots, divided into 3 groups. After each performance, the audience will give scores, while the advisors try to identify the person behind the costume. At the end of the season, the advisor with the most correct guesses will receive the "Golden Ear" award.
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The panel of advisors and hosts for the first episode. |
Berry Newspaper is leading the pack.
In the opening episode, the five mascots from Group A appeared one after another. After the first round, Berry the Leopard was temporarily in first place, followed by Goat of the Journey, Mad Long, Gauci, and Koalaoke. This is just the initial result, so the rankings may still change in later rounds. Nevertheless, the initial performances were enough to generate many different speculations about the identities of the people behind the mascots.
Berry the Leopard was a standout performer from the moment she appeared. She displayed confidence, consistently generating energy on stage with intelligent and witty dialogue, and particularly impressed with her English proficiency.
With "To The Moon ," this mascot chooses a modern, free-spirited musical style. The performance doesn't rely too much on storytelling or stage design, but focuses on vocals and the ability to command the performance space.
Berry the Leopard's resonant, bright, and powerful voice makes her stand out in the climactic parts of the song. The mascot's performance style also constantly changes, from light and airy lines at the beginning to bursts of energy when the song reaches its high notes.
The combination of vocals, stage presence, modern approach, and English language skills immediately presented a challenge for the advisory board. Berry also brought a fresh perspective to "To The Moon ," a popular song loved by many.
Some viewers suggested names like Rachele Nguyen, Ha Minh - a contestant from Vietnam Idol - or My Anh. The fact that Bao Berry had just returned from abroad and was likely fluent in English further expanded the list of suspects.
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With her powerful vocals and youthful, modern style, Bao Berry took the lead in the first episode. |
After the performance, Duc Phuc praised the performance and expressed his hope that Berry Newspaper could advance further. Phuong My Chi was unsure of the character's identity, while Bich Phuong leaned towards Vo Ha Tram. Tran Thanh, however, was quite certain of his guess that it was Phuong Vy.
However, Duc Phuc offered a different perspective. According to the male singer, the way Bao Berry thinks about and interprets the song suggests that this is most likely a young artist with significant exposure to international music.
Coming in second in the provisional rankings is "The Goat's Journey." The mascot appeared with a rugged, calm demeanor and a deep male voice. Choosing "Slow and Calm," "The Goat's Journey" began quite gently, then gradually built up emotion and energy. The highlight of the performance was the clear transition between two states.
While the beginning of the song leans towards a narrative and relaxed style, the later sections reveal a powerful voice, especially in the high notes with a rock-like quality. This approach made it difficult for the judges to determine whether it was the singer's true vocal tone or a deliberate alteration to mislead.
Bich Phuong said she had a feeling the person behind "The Goat's Journey" was someone she had known for a long time. Some characteristics in the singing voice and performance style reminded the female singer of a specific character.
Duc Phuc also felt he had met this person before, while Tran Thanh admitted that the facts the mascot provided almost disoriented him.
Speculation about young artists
Gauci is currently one of the most talked-about mascots among viewers. On social media, the majority of opinions lean towards the possibility that this character is Negav, the winner of the second season of "Brother Says Hi".
From the moment of its appearance, Gauci attracted attention with its distinctive look and humorous way of speaking. The most striking feature of this mascot is its deep singing voice. However, the character stated that it was over 50 years old, leading the audience to question whether this was a diversion.
With "I've Fallen in Love with You So Much ," Gauci didn't choose to showcase her technical skills. The mascot focused on enunciation, vocal control, and maintaining youthful energy throughout the performance. Notably, despite her characteristic deep voice, Gauci's delivery remained quite youthful. The performance was easy on the ears, with a soft but not overly outstanding vocal quality.
After listening to Gauci's performance, Tran Thanh successively named HIEUTHUHAI and HURRYKNG. Duc Phuc, however, leaned towards Vuong Binh, noticing some similarities in gestures and mannerisms. Wren Evans and CoolKid were also included in the list of guesses.
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Gauci's identity is being discussed on social media. |
The advisors' confidence was further boosted when they made some rather humorous "commitments" to their choices. Duc Phuc declared, "If it's not this person, I won't have a hit song in the next 5 years." Phuong My Chi also said that if her prediction was wrong, she wouldn't have a boyfriend for 5 years.
Among the 5 mascots in Group A, Koalaoke is currently at the bottom of the voting rankings. However, this character is also receiving special attention from the audience due to several facts believed to be related to buitruonglinh.
Koalaoke was introduced as a "northern bear" that had appeared on many music stages. For its entrance, the mascot chose to perform "What Month Is It Now?" by composer Tu Cong Phung.
The song leans towards lyricism and narrative, requiring the singer to have good control over the lyrics and maintain emotion rather than focusing on showcasing technical skills. Koalaoke chose a restrained approach, exploiting their deep, warm, and rich voice.
The contrast between the mascot's vibrant appearance and its deep, somewhat experienced vocal tone surprised the judges. From the very first lines, Koalaoke made an impression thanks to its ability to maintain breath control and emphasize narrative phrases.
Koalaoke's speaking style reminded viewers of buitruonglinh, but her vocal tone led many to suspect Lan Nha. However, like the other cases, Koalaoke's identity has not yet been confirmed by the program.
Source: https://lifestyle.zingnews.vn/ca-si-mat-na-co-gi-ngoai-tran-thanh-bich-phuong-post1687359.html
