Song show proves popular as singers find a voice

There is a song to match every emotion. Feelings of joy, heartbreak, sorrow and jealousy have all been expressed in lyrics. There is no exact formula for a hit. Even top music executives have rejected songs which would later go on to become massive successes. One reality show, I'm CZR, tackles this dilemma. CZR is short for changzuoren, literally meaning singer-songwriter.

Each episode, the show invites singer-songwriters, big names or nobodies, of any music genre, to perform their unpublished original songs. In its second season, broadcast from April to June on streaming media platform iQiyi, rock singer Zheng Jun, pop idol Zhang Yixing, rapper Gai, folk singer Chen Li are among the contestants who have to survive one-on-one singing battles in a bid to reach the finals. The votes from 101 judges, many of whom are from the music or entertainment sectors, will decide whether a contestant stays or gets eliminated.

Although the process seems stressful and brutal, it leans more on the exchanges among musicians rather than the competition results.