I Am a Singer () is a South Korean singing competition television program. It is a part of MBC's Sunday Night lineup. Seven talented, veteran Korean singers perform for a selected audience, which votes to eliminate one singer after each week's performance. The following week, another singer joins the competition, and the lineup of artists varies throughout the course of the show.Description of Program , MBC, Retrieved on November 15, 2011 The program ended its first season on February 19, 2012. Its second season ended in May 2012. Its third season ended on April 24, 2015.
I Am a Singer differs from other televised music competitions in that the participants are all veteran musicians who have established music careers varying from mega stardom to relative obscurity. Due to this fact, and because none of the accomplished singers desire to be voted last amongst their peers and eliminated, the level of performance is usually high and acclaimed by critics and viewers alike.
Composition The show is divided into rounds. Each round consists of two performance episodes, one that is preliminary and the second final performance which determines the lowest ranking contestant to be eliminated. In between performance are also separate intermediate episodes that document the singers' progress and rehearsals.
Contestants are popular and prominent artists from various genres of the Korean music industry. Each contestant is paired with a "manager", seven Korean entertainers and comedians who serve as mentors, accompany their singers throughout the week to provide support during rehearsals and provide comic relief to the show.
The competition is documented by the week. At the beginning of the 1st performance week, each contestant selects a song of their choice. All contestants spend the week practicing and planning, given free rein on the interpretation of their songs and the staging of their performances. After the performance, votes from the 500-member studio audience determine the singers' rankings, although there is no elimination.
For the 2nd performance week, the singers gather and are assigned predetermined songs that fit their vocal range and style, and the rest of the week is spent in rehearsals and consulting with other musicians. These intermediate episodes include sample performances in the middle of the week, allowing the contestants to exhibit their progress in front of fellow competitors. The competitors privately vote for 1st and 7th place, determining the singers' rankings to serve as a checkpoint.
Final performances are given, again, in front of a live audience. At the end of the performances, the audience casts votes for three favorites. The results are revealed sans audience to the contestants and managers, ranking competitors from first to seventh. The competitor with the lowest average ranking is eliminated, and the next week sees a new singer added to the competition.
Starting from Round 1, the average of both performance scores is taken and the contestant with the lowest total of votes is eliminated, as new contestant replace him/her.
Singers who survive 7 times in a row graduate from the program.
Competition Results P = Pass, E = Eliminated, G = Graduated, L = Voluntarily Left, R = Re-challenge SingerResults and AirdateNumber of Times Passed3/20(R1)3/27(R2)5/22(1R)6/12(2R)7/3(3R)7/24(4R)8/14(5R)9/11(6R)10/2(7R)10/23(8R)11/20(9R)12/11(10R)1/01(11R)1/22(12R)2/12(13R)Park Jung-hyunPPPPPPG7Kim Bum-sooPPPPPPG7Yoon Do-hyunPPPPPPE6Lee So-raPPPE3Baek Ji-youngPL2Kim Gun-moRL1JungyupPE1YIm Jae-bumL1Kim Yeon-wooE0BMKPPE2Ock Joo-hyunPPE2JK Kim Dong-wookL1Jang Hye-jinPPPPPPE6Jo Kwan-wooPPPPE4Johan KimPPE2JaurimPPPPPPG7Bobby KimPPPPPE5Yoon Min-sooPPPPPPG7InsooniPPPPE4Kim Kyung-hoPPPPPPG7Jo Kyu-chanE0GummyPPPPP4JuckwooPPPP4Park Wan-kyuPPP3TeiE0Lee Young-hyunP1Lee Hyun-wooP1
List of episodes in Season 1 Episodes 1-3: Pilot Episode 1 – 1st Performance Broadcast: March 6, 2011 Order of performance Singer Song title Comedian manager Ranking 1 Lee So-ra 바람이 분다(The Wind is Blowing) Lee Byung-jin 6 2 Jungyup Nothing Better Kim Shin-young 7 3 Baek Ji-young 총 맞은 것 처럼(Like Being Shot by a bullet) Park Hwi-soon 5 4 Kim Bum-soo 보고 싶다(I Miss You) Park Myung-su 2 5 Yoon Do-hyun 빨간 숲 속(It Burns) Kim Je-dong 4 6 Park Jung-hyun 꿈에(In Dream) Kim Tae-hyun 1 7 Kim Gun-mo 잠 못 드는 밤 비는 내리고(Sleepless Rainy Night) Ji Sang-ryul 3
Episode 2 - Interim Check Broadcast: March 13, 2011 Interim ranking Singer Song title Comedian manager 1 Jungyup 짝사랑 (Ju Hyun-mi) Kim Shin-young 2 Baek Ji-young 무시로 (Na Hoon-ah) Park Hwi-soon 3 Kim Bum-soo 그대 모습은 장미 (Min Hye-kyung) Park Myung-su 4 Park Jung-hyun 비오는 날의 수채화 (Kim Hyun-shik, Kang In-won, Kwon In-ha) Kim Tae-hyun 5 Lee So-ra 너에게로 또다시 (Byun Jin-seob) Lee Byung-jin 6 Yoon Do-hyun 나 항상 그대를 (Lee Sun-hee) Kim Je-dong 7 Kim Gun-mo 립스틱 짙게 바르고 (Im Ju-ri) Ji Sang-ryul
Episode 3 – 2nd Performance Broadcast: March 20, 2011 Order of performance Singer Song title Original singer Comedian manager Ranking 1 Yoon Do-hyun 나 항상 그대를(I Always Miss You)Lee Sun-hee Kim Je-dong 1(23%) 2 Baek Ji-young 무시로(At Any Time)Na Hoon-ah Park Hwi-soon Private 3 Park Jung-hyun 비오는 날의 수채화(Watercolor of a Rainy day)Kim Hyun-shik, Kang In-won, Kwon In-ha Kim Tae-hyun Private 4 Kim Bum-soo 그대 모습은 장미(Roses Likes You) Min Hye-kyung Park Myung-su Private 5 Kim Gun-mo 립스틱 짙게 바르고(Wearing Lipstick Heavily)Im Ju-ri Ji Sang-ryul 7 6 Lee So-ra 너에게로 또다시(To You Again)Byun Jin-sub Lee Byung-jin Private 7 Jungyup 짝사랑(unrequited love) Ju Hyun-mi Kim Shin-young private Eliminated: Kim Gun-mo
Episode 4: Controversy Broadcast: March 27, 2011 Kim Gun-mo was eliminated on Episode 3, but the singers all felt that it was too early to be eliminated so he was brought back to try again. This angered the viewers since there were rules in place prior to broadcasting that a singer with the lowest ranking would be eliminated which would bring new singers into the program. Interim ranking Singer Song title Original Singer Comedian manager Ranking 1 Lee So-ra 나의 하루 (My Day) Park Jung-hyun Lee Byung-jin Private 2 Baek Ji-young 약속 (Promise) Kim Bum-soo Park Hwi-soon Private 3 Kim Gun-mo You Are My Lady Jung Yeob Ji Sang-ryul Private 4 Kim Bum-soo 제발 (Please) Lee So-ra Park Myung-su 1(25%) 5 Yoon Do-hyun Dash Baek Ji-young Kim Je-dong Private 6 Park Jung-hyun 첫인상 (First Impression)Kim Gun-mo Kim Tae-hyun Private 7 Jungyup 잊을게(I'll Get Over You)Yoon Do-hyun Kim Shin-young 7 Eliminated: Jung Yeob
Episode 5: Managers' Special Broadcast: April 24, 2011 Due to the controversy with Kim Gun-mo being eliminated and returning, this episode showed the manager's point of view of the broadcasts and the singers thus far.
Episode 6: Exhibition and New Singers Broadcast: May 1, 2011 The program restarted with some changes, taking both Kim Gun-mo (who was originally eliminated) and Jung Yeob (who was newly eliminated) out of the competition. Baek Ji-young withdrew, citing that she had to prepare for her upcoming album, and three new singers were introduced. This was an exhibition episode; no one was eliminated. Order of performance Singer Song title Comedian manager Ranking 1 Lee So-ra 나를 사랑하지 않는 그대에게 (To you who don't love me anymore) Lee Byung-jin 5 2 Kim Yeon-woo 여전히 아름다운지 (Is it still beautiful) Go Young-wook 6 3 Yoon Do-hyun 나는 나비 (A Flying Butterfly) Kim Je-dong 3 4 BMK 꽃피는 봄이오면 (When flower blooming spring comes) Park Hwi-soon 4 5 Kim Bum-soo 그런 이유라는걸 Park Myung-su 7 6 Park Jung-hyun 미아 (stray child) Kim Tae-hyun 2 7 Im Jae-bum 너를 위해 (For You) Ji Sang-ryul 1
Episodes 7-9: Round 1 Episode 7 – 1st Performance Broadcast: May 8, 2011 The contestants sing a song they want to sing. Order of performance Singer Song title Original Singer Comedian manager Ranking 1 Im Jae-bum 빈잔 (An Empty Cup)Nam Jin Ji Sang-ryul 4 2 Kim Yeon-woo 미련 (Lingering Affection)Kim Gun-mo Go Young-wook 6 3 BMK 그대 내게 다시 (You to me again)Byun Ji-sub Park Hwi-soon 7 4 Yoon Do-hyun 마법의 성 (Magic Castle)The Classic Kim Je-dong 5 5 Kim Bum-soo 그대의 향기 (Scent Of You)Yoo Young-jin Park Myung-su 3 6 Lee So-ra No.1BoA Lee Byung-jin 2 7 Park Jung-hyun 이젠 그랬으면 좋겠네 (I Hope It would Be That Way Now)Cho Yong-pil Kim Tae-hyun 1(22.5%)
Episode 8 - Interim Check Broadcast: May 15, 2011 Interim ranking Singer Song title Comedian manager 1 Kim Yeon-woo 나와 같다면 (Kim Jang-hoon) Go Young-wook 2 BMK 아름다운 강산 (Lee Sun-hee) Park Hwi-soon 3 Im Jae-bum 여러분 (Yoon Bok-hee) Ji Sang-ryul 4 Yoon Do-hyun Run Devil Run (Girls' Generation) Kim Je-dong 5 Park Jung-hyun 소나기 (Boohwal) Kim Tae-hyun 6 Lee So-ra 사랑이야 (Song Chang-shik) Lee Byung-jin 7 Kim Bum-soo 늪 (Jo Gwan-woo) Park Myung-su
Episode 9 – 2nd Performance Broadcast: May 22, 2011 Order of performance Singer Song title Original Singer Comedian manager Ranking 1 Lee So-ra 사랑이야 (It's Love)Song Chang-shik Lee Byung-jin 6 2 BMK 아름다운 강산 (Beautiful Land)Lee Sun-hee Park Hwi-soon 2 3 Yoon Do-hyun Run Devil RunGirls' Generation Kim Je-dong 5 4 Kim Yeon-woo 나와 같다면 (If You Are Like Me)Kim Jang-hoon Go Young-wook 4(13.1%) 5 Kim Bum-soo 늪 (Swamp) Jo Gwan-woo Park Myung-su 3 6 Park Jung-hyun 소나기 (shower)Boohwal Kim Tae-hyun 7 7 Im Jae-bum 여러분( everyone) Yoon Book-hee Ji Sang-ryul 1(28.9%) Eliminated: Kim Yeon-woo
Episodes 10-12: Round 2 Episode 10 – 1st Performance Broadcast: May 29, 2011 Order of performance Singer Song title Original Singer Comedian manager Ranking 1 Kim Bum-soo Never Ending Story Boohwal Park Myung-su 6 2 BMK 편지(Letter) Kim Kwang-jin Park Hwi-soon 7 3 Park Jung-hyun 그대 내 품에(You In My Arms) Yu Jae-ha Kim Tae-hyun 3 4 Lee So-ra 주먹이 운다(Crying Fist) Soul Dive feat. Im Jae-bum Lee Byung-jin 5 5 Yoon Do-hyun 해야(Sun)Magma Kim Je-dong 2 6 JK Kim Dong-wook 비상(soar) Im Jae-bum Go Young-wook 4 7 Ock Joo-hyun 천 일 동안(During the Thousand Days) Lee Seung-hwan Song Eun-ee 1(21.5%)
Episode 11 - Interim Check Broadcast: June 5, 2011 Interim ranking Singer Song title Comedian manager 1 Kim Bum-soo 님과 함께 (Nam Jin) Park Myung-su 2 Park Jung-hyun 내 낡은 서랍속의 바다 (Panic) Kim Tae-hyun 3 BMK 비와 당신의 이야기 (Boohwal) Park Hwi-soon 4 JK Kim Dong-wook 조율 (Han Young-ae) Go Young-wook 5 Yoon Do-hyun 새벽기차 (Five Fingers) Kim Je-dong 6 Lee So-ra 행복을 주는 사람 (Sunflower) Lee Byung-jin 7 Ock Joo-hyun 사랑이 떠나가네 (Kim Gun-mo) Song Eun-ee
Episode 12 – 2nd Performance Broadcast: June 12, 2011 Order of performance Singer Song title Original Singer Comedian manager Ranking 1 Kim Bum-soo 님과 함께(With My lover) Nam Jin Park Myung-su 1 2 Park Jung-hyun 내 낡은 서랍속의 바다(The sea in my worn drawer)Panic Kim Tae-hyun 3 3 BMK 비와 당신의 이야기(Rain and Your Story) Boohwal Park Hwi-soon 4 4 Ock Joo-hyun 사랑이 떠나가네(Love Is Gone) (Kim Gun-mo) Song Eun-ee 5 5 Yoon Do-hyun 새벽기차(Dawn Train)Five Fingers Kim Je-dong 7 6 Lee So-ra 행복을 주는 사람(Person That Gives Me Happiness) (Sunflower) Lee Byung-jin 6 7 JK Kim Dong-wook 조율(mediation) Han Young-ae Go Young-wook 2 Eliminated: Lee So-ra JK Kim Dong-wook withdrew from the competition due to making a lyrical mistake in his performance.
Episodes 13-15: Round 3 Episode 13 – 1st Performance Broadcast: June 19, 2011 Order of performance Singer Song title Original Singer Comedian manager Ranking 1 Yoon Do-hyun 커피 한 잔(A Cup Of Coffee) Pearl Sisters Kim Je-dong 3 2 Kim Bum-soo 여름 안에서(In Summer) Deux Park Myung-su 6 (Tied) 3 Ock Joo-hyun 서시(preface) Shin Sung-woo Song Eun-ee 4 4 Park Jung-hyun 바보(fool) Park Hyo-shin Kim Tae-hyun 2 5 BMK 삐에로는 우릴 보고 웃지(A Clown Watching Us and Laughing)Kim Wan-sun Park Hwi-soon 1(18%) 6 Jang Hye-jin 슬픈 인연(Sad Fate)Na-mi Ji Sang-ryul 5 7 Jo Kwan-woo 이별여행(Parting Travel) Won Mi-yeon Kim Shin-young 6 (Tied)
Episode 14 - Interim Check Broadcast: June 26, 2011