Taiwanese singer Qi Yu, who was originally considered a top contender for the championship at the age of 68, finished as the runner-up in the final of the Chinese competition show “Singer 2026” on August 7th. The title of Song King was claimed by Chinese singer Hu Yanbin. Qi Yu chose a sentimental route in the second round with her performance of “Grandma’s Penghu Bay,” avoiding high notes and opting for a heartwarming approach by singing with a children’s choir, which sparked discussions about her “dodging the Song King” strategy.
Known as a legendary singer nearing her seventies, Qi Yu impressed viewers with her ethereal voice and stable vocal skills since the launch of the show “Singer 2026,” where she was considered a strong candidate for the Song King title. However, in the final, she broke away from the typical competitive style of hitting high notes on music variety shows and turned the competition into a humanistic art feast that communicated with music and the passage of time.
Many internet users noticed that Qi Yu demonstrated a high level of musical taste and a broad perspective since the first live broadcast of the show. She didn’t rely on explosive high notes to make an impact but chose culturally significant classics. For instance, she started with the ethereal and timeless song “Olive Tree,” followed by a clever fusion of the classic songs of Zhang Yusheng, proving that “emotion also has competitiveness.”
In the final on the evening of August 7th, while the ultimate winner Hu Yanbin and other singers presented rock, high notes, and original songs filled with competitive spirit, Qi Yu, in her solo performance in the second round, selected a medley of two classic folk songs, “Grandma’s Penghu Bay” and “Story of Time,” and invited child singer Qiu Yingze for a duet, transforming the stage of the crucial final into a warm and nostalgic “encore concert.”
Audiences felt that with Qi Yu’s undeniable talent and potential to compete for the Song King title, she opted for a relatively relaxed folk song medley in the decisive second round, even without showcasing vocal acrobatics, leading to the rapid trending of the term “avoiding the Song King.” Although this “reverse operation” caused a sharp drop in her voting rate in this round, she ultimately secured the runner-up position with her solid performance throughout the season.
Self-proclaimed as a “retired singer,” Qi Yu, when asked by the host if she aimed to compete for the Song King title before the competition, calmly expressed that she was already delighted to have completed singing for all 12 episodes and that her focus was on sharing classic music.
After narrowly missing the championship, Qi Yu gracefully commented in an interview, saying, “Regret is definitely not an option. Before my 70th birthday, this has been the most exciting summer of my life.” She humbly added that this experience was a test of rediscovering herself.