Call Me by Fire () is a 2021 Chinese singing reality television show broadcast on Mango TV. It features 33 male celebrities who have been in the entertainment industry for close to ten years or more competing to form a 17-member performance group. The show aired from August 12 to October 29, 2021, with 12 episodes in total.
It is a spin-off of the well-received Sisters Who Make Waves, which featured a similar premise with female celebrities. Both shows followed in the footsteps of trending idol group audition programs like Produce 101 and Idol Producer, with Call Me by Fire aiming to put together a range of experienced male entertainers and provide them opportunities to collaborate on stage.
Aside from the main episodes, there are also special "Plus" episodes that can be accessed through paid subscription to Mango TV, featuring additional behind-the-scenes footage not aired in the main show.
A second season premiered on August 19, 2022, featuring 4 members of Season 1's final "Singing Family" group, alongside 28 new celebrity contestants.
In 2024, the Vietnamese production company named YeaH1 purchased the rights to the show's format and broadcast a reality show titled Call Me by Fire Vietnam. The program is jointly produced by the Arts Department of Vietnam Television (VTV) and 1Production, a subsidiary of YeaH1.
Format The competition is carried out through a series of concerts, with the contestants performing in groups. Depending on the round's specific rules, the audience and a panel of industry experts vote for their favourite group performances and/or individual contestants. The resulting rankings determine which contestants are eliminated and/or how groupings are shuffled. Voting scores are also tabulated as "firepower," which acts as currency for contestant groups during bidding for the following concert's song selection and performance order.
The show opened with a "Premiere Concert" introducing the 33 contestants. This was followed by five rounds with different groupings and concert themes. At the end of the fifth round, the remaining 22 contestants competed in a final "Family Formation Night" concert that determined the successful members of the ultimate 17-member performance group.
Aside from segments related to the formal competition such as rehearsals and bidding, the show also features contestants' dormitory life and informal group activities like a talent show or cook-off.
Contestants The contestants' names within both the English and Chinese language entertainment industries are shown. Top 17 contestants will debut as a group on the show's finale. Name ProfessionBirthdate (Age) Bridge布瑞吉RapperCannon Hu Haiquan(Member of rock duet Yu Quan)胡海泉Actor, singer, hostChen Hui(Member of rock band Faces Band)陈辉Lead singerEdmond Leung Hon-man梁漢文Singer-songwriter, actorGAI周延RapperHenry Huo Zun霍尊Singer-songwriterHenry Prince Mak(Former member of JJCC)麦亨利SingerJames Lee(Former member of Royal Pirates)李铢衔Bassist, keyboardistJerry Lamb Hiu-fung林曉峰ActorJerry Yan言承旭Actor, singerJordan Chan Siu-chun陈小春Actor, singerJulian Cheung Chi-lam张智霖Actor, singerKido Gao Hanyu高瀚宇Actor, singerLeon Zhang Yunlong张云龙Actor, singerLi Xiang李响DancerLi Yundi李云迪Pianist Liu Cong / Key.L刘聪Rapper Liu Duanduan刘端端Actor, singerLiu Jia刘迦DancerMax Zhang Jin张晋Actor, martial artistMC HotDog热狗RapperMC Jin欧阳靖Rapper, actorMichael Tse Tin-wah谢天华Actor, singer李承铉Singer, actorOwodog敖犬Singer, actorPaul Wong Koon-chung(Member of Beyond)黄贯中Lead singerPax Congo / Bai Jugang白举纲Singer-songwriterRicky(Member of rock band Click#15)瑞奇Lead singer, guitaristShawn Huang Zheng黄征Singer, actorTerry Lin林志炫SingerVincent Zhao Wenzhuo(Also known as Chiu Man-cheuk)赵文卓Actor, martial artist Welly Zhang Qi(Member of Black Panther 黑豹乐队)张淇Lead singerYin Zheng尹正Actor
Synopsis Premiere Concert Theme: The First Meeting, Pleased to Meet You
The contestants are introduced to the rules and to one another. They are then assigned to groups of similar skills for their first introductory performances. Each group stage featured short individual performances of different songs, with the final song continuing into a full group performance to end off. After each stage, the audience voted for their favourite member in the group, with the top-ranking member gaining 100 firepower for the next round. After all 8 group stages, the 33 contestants performed a closing song together.
This premiere concert was hosted by alongside three contestants from Sisters Who Make Waves: Baby Zhang and Shen Mengchen from Season 1, and Yang Yuying from Season 2.
GroupMembersSongs Singers Julian Cheung, Edmond Leung, Terry Lin 祝君好 (Wish You Well), 拔河 (Tug of War), 瞬间永恒 (Instant Eternity) Pax Congo, Cannon Hu, Shawn Huang 玫瑰玫瑰我爱你 (Rose, Rose, I Love You), 飞鸟 (Stray Bird), 奔跑 (Run) Dancers James Lee, Nathan Lee, Henry Mak, Kido Gao 水星记 (Mercury), 天上飞 (Fly in the Sky), 神奇 (Magical), 情人 (Lover) Max Zhang, Yin Zheng, Liu Jia, Li Xiang, Owodog 倩女幽魂 (A Chinese Ghost Story), 独一无二 (Only One), 刀剑如梦 (Dream-like Sword), 不染 (Unstained), 失恋阵线联盟 (Lovelorn Front Alliance) Actors Vincent Zhao, Liu Duanduan, Leon Zhang, Li Yundi, Jerry Yan 漫漫人生路 (Long Road of Life), 心太软 (Too Softhearted), 心云 (Heart Cloud), 爱是永恒 (Love is Eternal), 流星雨 (Meteor Shower) Jordan Chan, Michael Tse, Jerry Lamb 叱咤红人 (All-Star), 原来你什么都不想要 (So You Didn't Want Anything), 友情岁月 (Friendship Years) Musicians Ricky, Chen Hui, Welly Zhang, Paul Wong 夜夜夜夜 (Every Night), 幻觉 (Hallucination), 别来纠缠我 (Don't Bother Me), 不再犹豫 (No Longer Hesitating) Rappers MC HotDog, MC Jin, Bridge, Liu Cong, GAI 差不多先生 (Mr. Not Bad), Brother Man, 爱就爱了 (Love Love), 单身公寓 (Single Apartment), 沧海一生笑 (A Lifetime of Laughter) Whole cast 笨小孩 (Stupid Child) by Andy Lau
First Performance Theme: Outer Space Message Board
The contestants are split into 8 tribes with three to five members each, named after the respective tribe leader. Every tribe performed one song in the concert, with the two lowest-ranking tribes having to select one member to transfer out to another tribe.
TribeMembersSong Jordan Chan Tribe Michael Tse, Jordan Chan, Jerry Lamb, Julian Cheung, Edmond Leung3189 Nathan Lee Tribe Welly Zhang, Nathan Lee, James Lee, Henry Huo Yellow (by Coldplay) MC Jin Tribe Shawn Huang, MC Jin, Owodog, Henry Mak彩虹西服 Rainbow Suit Bridge Tribe GAI, Ricky, Bridge站在高岗上 Stand on a High Hill Terry Lin Tribe Terry Lin, Li Yundi, Liu Jia, Li Xiang爱 Love Chen Hui Tribe Paul Wong, Chen Hui, Jerry Yan, Liu Duanduan, Leon Zhang淒美地 Poignantly Max Zhang Tribe Max Zhang, Kido Gao, Pax CongoMMA Vincent Zhao Tribe Vincent Zhao, Cannon Hu, MC HotDog, Yin Zheng, Liu Cong离开地球表面 Leaving Earth's Surface
Second Performance Theme: The 25th Hour
In this round, tribes had to form an alliance with a second tribe to perform one "Vocal" category song and one "Perform" category song together. A limit of six performers per song was imposed. The voting scores for both songs were combined, with the lowest-ranking alliance having to select three members to send home.
AlliancePerforming MembersSongCategory Chen Hui Tribe + MC Jin Tribe Jerry Yan, Owodog, Liu Duanduan, Leon Zhang, Henry Mak 被驯服的象 Tamed ElephantPerformPaul Wong, Chen Hui, Shawn Huang, MC Jin 明天更漫長 Tomorrow is LongerVocal Max Zhang Tribe + Nathan Lee Tribe Welly Zhang, Henry Huo, Pax Congo 悟空 Wu Kong / Monkey KingVocalMax Zhang, Nathan Lee, Henry Huo, James Lee, Kido Gao, Pax Congo 鞋子特大号 Extra Large ShoesPerform Terry Lin Tribe + Vincent Zhao Tribe Terry Lin, Cannon Hu, MC HotDog, Liu Jia 飞云之下 Under the CloudsVocalVincent Zhao, Li Yundi, Yin Zheng, Liu Cong, Ricky, Li Xiang 大艺术家 Great ArtistPerform Jordan Chan Tribe + Bridge Tribe Jordan Chan, Michael Tse, Julian Cheung, Edmond Leung, GAI, Bridge 往事只能回味 The Past Can Only Be ReminiscedPerformJordan Chan, Michael Tse, Jerry Lamb, Edmond Leung, GAI, Bridge 你要如何我们就如何 We'll Do As You WishVocal
Third Performance Theme: Wait for Me to Find You
The alliances of the previous round were dissolved and the eight tribes reorganised into four larger camps, named after the respective camp leader. Like the previous round, each camp had to perform one "Vocal" category song and one "Perform" category song. However, this round was conducted in two halves, with two camps competing directly in each half. Audience and expert panel voting determined the losing camp of each half, as well as the individual contestant ranking in each camp. The losing camp would then have to vote within itself to eliminate one of its three lowest-ranking members.
CampPerforming MembersSongCategoryFirst HalfNathan Lee CampPaul Wong, Welly Zhang, Nathan Lee, James Lee 花祭 Flower FestivalVocal Paul Wong, Welly Zhang, MC Jin, Ricky, Liu Jia 不超级的马里奥 Non-Super Mario PerformVincent Zhao CampTerry Lin, Shawn Huang, Jerry Yan, Leon Zhang 偶然 AccidentallyVocal Vincent Zhao, MC HotDog, Liu Cong, Henry Mak 夏夜晚风 Summer Night Wind PerformSecond HalfMax Zhang CampMax Zhang, Cannon Hu, Yin Zheng, Kido Gao, Pax Congo什么是快乐星球 What is a Happy PlanetVocalMax Zhang, Yin Zheng, Owodog, Kido Gao, Li Xiang好春光 Good SpringPerformJordan Chan CampJulian Cheung, Edmond Leung, Jerry Lamb, Li Yundi护花使者 Messenger of FlowersVocalJordan Chan, Michael Tse, GAI, Bridge摇滚怎么了 What's Up With RockPerform
Fourth Performance Theme: Thirty Thousand Days
Continuing with the camps from the previous round, this round was further divided into three showdowns featuring solo, duet and full camp performances. Only the camp with the top overall ranking would be safe from elimination and proceed to the next round without reshuffling members. Meanwhile, the four lowest-ranking members across the remaining three camps were sent home.
CampPerforming Member(s)SongSoloNathan Lee CampWelly Zhang战 WarJordan Chan CampJordan Chan算你狠 You Are ViciousVincent Zhao CampTerry Lin空 EmptyMax Zhang CampYin Zheng一剪梅 A Spray of Plum BlossomsDuetMax Zhang CampMax Zhang, Kido Gao跳舞街 Dancing StreetVincent Zhao CampTerry Lin, MC HotDog曾经我也想过一了百了 I've Thought About It a Hundred TimesNathan Lee CampMC Jin, Nathan Lee你要跳舞吗 Do You Want to DanceJordan Chan CampEdmond Leung, GAI无名之辈 AnonymousCampVincent Zhao CampVincent Zhao, MC HotDog, Leon Zhang, Jerry Yan, Terry Lin, Shawn Huang, Liu Cong这世界那么多人 Empty WorldNathan Lee CampPaul Wong, Welly Zhang, MC Jin, Nathan Lee, James Lee, Ricky, Liu Jia达拉崩吧 DalabengbaMax Zhang CampMax Zhang, Yin Zheng, Owodog, Kido Gao, Pax Congo, Canon，Li Xiang舍离断 Let GoJordan Chan CampJordan Chan, Michael Tse, Julian Cheung, Edmond Leung, Jerry Lamb, GAI, Bridge当年情 Past Love
Fifth Performance Theme: Another Me in this World
The final group reshuffle occurred at the start of this round to form two main camps: "Qilin (麒麟) Camp" and "One Flower (一枝花) Camp," led by Nathan Lee and Max Zhang respectively. The two camps faced off in three group rounds, with members allowed to participate in only one performance each. One elimination slot was added each time a camp lost a group round, with the lowest-ranking member(s) in that camp filling in the slot(s) to be sent home.
CampPerforming MembersSongGroup 1One Flower CampJordan Chan, Cannon Hu, Jerry Yan, Kido Gao, Li Xiang无所求必满载而归 Returning Full of NothingQilin CampMichael Tse, Ricky, Leon Zhang, Liu Jia男孩別哭 Boy, Don't CryGroup 2One Flower CampMax Zhang, Julian Cheung, Yin Zheng给电影人的情书 Love Letter to FilmmakersQilin CampEdmond Leung, Jerry Lamb, Li Yundi, Nathan Lee她来听我的演唱会 She Came to My ConcertGroup 3One Flower CampTerry Lin, Chen Hui, MC HotDog, GAI, Pax CongoSee You Again (Furious 7 soundtrack)Qilin CampPaul Wong, Vincent Zhao, James Lee, Welly Zhang, MC Jin如果还有明天 If There's Still Tomorrow
Family Formation Night