Episode 5 of "Tinh Ha Say Hi" reveals Livestage 3 rules with significantly increased difficulty. Two teams led by Duong Domic and Quang Hung MasterD, each team of 12 members, must go through two rounds of competition.
In the first round, each confederation produced an EP consisting of three songs linked in music, content and story. The three performances were then performed as a complete setlist. The second round was Dance Battle with group battles of 12 people, pair and solo sparring.
Compared to previous rounds, the new law forces artists to handle many tasks simultaneously. They not only sing, rap or perform but also participate in choosing songs, allocating members, building ideas and connecting three songs into a unified journey.
This is a test for musical production ability and overall thinking. A single song can attract attention thanks to catchy melodies or a beautiful stage. However, when placed in the EP structure, each song also has to take on a role, having a transition point and complementing the other two parts.
Dang Hong Hai believes that the pressure lies in creating three songs that are of the same quality, and at the same time have a connection. Jaysonlei said that this is a form that has never appeared in the "Say hi" series programs he knows.
TIA, an artist who has released two EPs "Circle of love" and "Sleepless", believes that the biggest difficulty is not the number of songs but the short production time. According to the female singer, if aiming for a neat and competitive product, the cost can be up to several hundred million VND, or even higher.
This figure shows a noteworthy issue of music reality shows that the boundary between artist capacity and investment resources is becoming increasingly fragile.
When performance quality depends on orchestration, costumes, props, choreography, effects and support forces, joint forces with production experience or good fundraising ability will have an advantage. Conversely, creative ideas but lacking conditions for realization may not create corresponding effects on stage.
Therefore, the EP challenge is only truly fair if the program is public or controls the investment limit between the two teams. Without a clear ceiling, the competition risks turning into a race for scale instead of focusing on music quality.
In the opposite direction, a large budget does not guarantee a successful EP. Three songs are elaborately staged but lacking storytelling can still create a feeling of disjointedness. The deciding factor lies in the way artists use resources, divide roles and maintain a common color for the entire product.
Dance Battle on the water stage also increases the difficulty in technique, fitness and safety. Artists have to both master the choreography and handle the slippery stage surface. This factor can create visual effects but also sets strict training requirements.
Livestage 3 also has an elimination scene, while points continue to be added to personal achievements. This makes members both have to protect the interests of the joint force and compete directly to win the right to continue.
The new law helps "Tinh Ha Say Hi" expand its scale and create more drama. However, the persuasiveness of the competition round will not lie in the amount of several hundred million VND or the magnificent stage, but in whether the artists turn three songs into a true EP or not.
