The audition program 'Undercover', featuring cover artists who are heating up SNS, returns with a new direction and differentiated fun.
On the 10th, the press conference for ENA's new entertainment program 'Undercover' was held at the H&D Stage in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Attendees included Jung Jae-hyung, Park Jung-hyun, Lee Seok-hoon, Kwon Eun-bi, GroovyRoom, and PDs Lee Seo-young and Park Sang-hyun.
'Undercover', which will premiere on the 12th at 7:40 PM, is a survival program featuring cover influencers who have taken over SNS. Recently, 'cover' influencers who sing songs of other artists through SNS have gained immense popularity. The total number of followers of the influencers participating in this program is a staggering 74 million. They have gathered in one place, dominating SNS with their musicality and voices, regardless of genre. In particular, 'Undercover' is expected to showcase a new format of production and judging methods that break away from the existing survival framework, raising anticipation.
When asked about the planning intention, PD Lee Seo-young explained, "As a nation of joy, the need for music survival has been proven through various programs. I thought it would be nice to have something fresh and diverse that fits ENA's color, and around that time, I launched it at the suggestion of Studio Orbit's CEO Hwang Ji-young."
SM Entertainment's PD Park Sang-hyun stated, "CEO Hwang Ji-young requested a collaboration with SM, and I directed it because the planning was good." He added, "It's about reflecting trends. Through covers, I learned about the culture of listening to the original songs. I thought it would have tremendous appeal if made into a program."
The judges are also impressive. Representatives from various fields, including Jung Jae-hyung, Park Jung-hyun, Lee Seok-hoon, Kwon Eun-bi, and GroovyRoom, have all gathered. What will they think of the participants?
Jung Jae-hyung remarked, "What makes 'Undercover' different is that many of the participants are already more famous than us. They have over a million followers through platforms like YouTube, so the approach is different." He continued, "These individuals have already been exposed through their own media, so there is fun in watching that. We compare the stories of those who already have narratives. Many of them are familiar to us, which I think differentiates it from other auditions."
Park Jung-hyun said, "As someone who has done many cover songs and performed on stage, I thought I could judge accurately while watching participants who are also challenging themselves on live stages." He added, "From song selection to how they try to present a completed stage, reinterpreting is also a choice. It's a difficult challenge to complete a stage through various processes," and noted, "Since the participants have already done many covers on SNS, the standards are high. Since they are just starting, I think I can judge them more delicately. As a mentor, I am pointing out things to help them perform better." He also mentioned, "On the other hand, since it's a competition, we have to compare each other. In that sense, I have to step back and view it from the perspective of an objective audience. While it's important whether the music was good, it also matters whether it touched people's hearts and if the musicians have something to say."
Lee Seok-hoon, who has served as an audition judge multiple times, caught attention with his remarks hinting at 'harsh criticism.' He mentioned meeting first-generation cover artist Greg during the first round of one-on-one pressure judging, saying, "I got to see Greg. I met him alone and thought a lot." He added, "I don't know how my expression will come out on broadcast, but the situation was ambiguous. There is no right answer in music, but these days, I often encounter situations where answers are created and listened to."
Lee Seok-hoon also stated, "Greg sings very well, and he is an outstanding singer, but I cautiously conveyed that there are different standards I see. I definitely judged cautiously. I don't know how it will come out on broadcast. I plan not to watch it," hinting at harsh criticism.
Kwon Eun-bi participates in the program as a judge, transitioning from being a participant. Kwon Eun-bi said, "I debuted as a participant, and just being able to judge alongside such senior figures is an honor. I understand the participants' feelings very well. I know how earnest they are in every round. While vocal ability is important, I empathize with their feelings," adding, "I am happy to be with my seniors now."
It has been reported that Rise Sohee's real sister will also appear, drawing attention. Kwon Eun-bi, who saw Sohee's sister's stage one-on-one as a top listener, said, "I knew she sang well, and I had seen her on YouTube before. I was surprised to see her in person." She continued, "Everyone knows she is very good, but I was surprised by the power of genetics. On the other hand, I thought, 'How happy must their parents be? How happy would they be to have such a son or daughter?' I felt that. I happily enjoyed the stage."
Producer GroovyRoom will view the participants from a producer's perspective, following their work on 'Show Me the Money' and 'High School Rapper.' GroovyRoom stated, "As producers, we have seen how well the performance is conveyed, interpreted, and staged by those performing in front of us." They added, "I hope it doesn't become a talent show just competing in singing ability. I believe that once the singing level goes above a certain point, it loses meaning and becomes a matter of taste. We focused on how well they interpreted the songs."
GroovyRoom also humorously remarked, "'Undercover' seems to have a much friendlier atmosphere compared to 'Somi.'" They continued, "Due to scheduling reasons, we couldn't participate in the first round together. I wondered if I had spoken too harshly in the second round, carrying the mood of the programs we had been running. I was unsure if it was right. We are giving honest feedback. We are enjoying the performances very much."
Finally, Jung Jae-hyung said, "When debuting individuals come out, I feel sorry for them as a senior. I empathized with how hard it must have been for them to give up. I think I will want to support them," adding, "There are no specific judging criteria. We may focus more on heart, passion, and attitude (or other aspects). We will choose artists we want to introduce to more people," expressing his expectations.
'Undercover' will premiere on the 12th at 7:40 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
