The eighth season of the Chinese realitytalent showSing! China premiered on 28 July 2023. None of the coaches from the previous season returned for this season, making it the first season to have a total renewal of the coaching panel.
Coaches and presenters
On 5 June 2023, it was confirmed that the season will begin airing on 28 July 2023 with Wakin Chau, Joker Xue, Wilber Pan and Henry Lau joining as new coaches.[1][2]
This is the first season to have four new coaches, and the second season not to have a female coach, the first season being in season 3.
On the 4th episode of season 8, during a performance of the girl group Yomodo Band, Wilber Pan's chair swivelled away from the stage without him pushing he button, thus disapproving the contestant’s performance. However, as his hands were observed to be resting on his lap, and with his facial expression saying “what” causes many citizens believed he did not pushed it.[3]
On 25 August 2023, Zhejiang Satellite TV announced that the program had been frozen from broadcasting briefly pending an investigation over the Coco Lee's alleged mistreatment and other issues raised by netizens and viewers.[4][5][6] It was reported that the suspension of the show was also partly due to current season 8's coaches, Wakin Chau and Joker Xue, had pulled out of the show after the incident with half of the season yet to be produced and filmed.[7]
Teams
Colour key
Winner
Runner-up
Third place
Fourth place
Fifth place
Eliminated in the Semi-finals
Eliminated in the Playoffs
Eliminated in the Cross Knockout rounds
Eliminated in the Cross Battle rounds
Saved by other coaches after losing sing-off in the Blind Auditions
Note: Italicized names are stolen artists (names struck through within former teams).
Blind Auditions
In this season, new mechanics before the blind auditions are introduced. Artists have two options to choose from before they go on stage. They consist of Blind Auditions and Open Selection. If they choose Blind Audition, the show will proceed by the normal rules. For those that choose Open Selection, the coaches will turn around and judge the artists as they perform. In addition, if a coach presses the red button during the Open Selection, it will turn the coach's chair back. If it is not turned back, it means that the students are invited to join that team.
The same mechanics from the blind auditions last season was implemented. The coaches are to recruit a total of six artists to form a team of their own. The forming of the teams would move to a format that is similar to the "Six-Chair Challenge" featured in the British version of The X Factor. Once a team is full with six artists occupying all the spots, the subsequent artists which the coach has successfully recruited would have to face-off with one of the six artists in the sing-offs for a spot in the team.
The incoming artist may select any of the six defending artists to compete against in the sing-off, and both artists would each sing a new song and the coach would decide on the winner. The winner would be given the spot in the team. However, continuing from last season, the losing artist has the chance to be saved by other coaches (the same function as the steals from The Voice). The coaches are given 10 seconds to save the losing artist for elimination. If one coach presses their button, he/she will be automatically on the new coach's team and if more than one coach presses, same as with the blind auditions, the artist has the opportunity to choose which coach they want.
For defending artists, once they have won a sing-off against an incoming artist, they would receive immunity from the subsequent sing-offs and immediately advance to the next round of the competition.
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