Foreign singers strike a chord in Chinese show

International participants gave a thumbs-up to the popular Chinese singing competition Singer 2025, saying that the program offered opportunities for cross-border cultural interactions and confirmed the artistic consensus that "music knows no borders".

Well-known country music singer Mickey Guyton from the United States won second place in the live final of the show with her Better Than You Left Me earlier this month, which was hosted by Hunan TV and Mango TV in Changsha, Hunan province. Chinese male singer Chen Chusheng was crowned the show's champion.

Guyton was among the international finalists who outnumbered their Chinese rivals for the first time in the TV program, winning over the audience with her unique country style and emotional singing.

"I was just so excited and felt so much love from the audience," she said, adding that the experience was life-changing as it allowed her to see all the different styles of music, providing new angles for her future creations.

In her view, US music is more rhythm-driven, while Chinese music is more emotion-driven. She described the latter as a "winding river", with poetic lyrics, delicate rises and falls, and a graceful flow, whereas the former resembles a "roaring ocean", sometimes erupting with sudden waves.

She detected hints of 1990s American country music in certain Chinese songs, suggesting there might be "unrecognized common ground" between the two. Fascinated by the rich theatricality and instrumental elements in Chinese music, she expressed a desire to incorporate them into her own work, such as performing a song in Chinese, despite acknowledging it as a "considerable challenge".

Guyton views music as a powerful bridge that transcends genres and unites people. She believes that it's the singers' duty to step out of their comfort zones, respect and learn from different cultures, and promote mutual understanding.

A first-time visitor to China with her family, Guyton tried Chinese snacks, traditional attire and learned about silver ornament forging and brocade weaving in a trip to Huaihua, in Hunan, organized by the show producers.

"I think the people here are so lovely and kind in the way they treat children and take care of their elderly. And I think that is probably one of the most beautiful parts of Chinese culture," she said.

Her positive attitude and willingness to embrace new experiences have made her a beloved figure among Chinese audiences. After participating in Singer 2025, Guyton's fans on Chinese social media platforms Weibo, Xiaohongshu and Douyin grew more than 100,000. Moving forward, Guyton said she hopes to hold concerts in China and collaborate with Chinese musicians.

Since its May 16 debut, the show aired live on Fridays, featuring accomplished singers competing against one another. The audience and online voters decide the results, and the least popular performers may be eliminated to give new contenders a chance.

Grace Kinstler, also from the US, who ranked sixth in the final, said the show was better than she imagined.

"Coming from the other side of the world to a completely new place, I think it exceeded what I anticipated — whether in how warmly everyone welcomed me, the audience's response to my performances, or the chance to deeply understand other singers' cultures and how those influences shape their music. It's been truly magical," she said.

She said the show doesn't just highlight Chinese music. Instead, it honors music from all over the world. "I really don't think there's another program quite like it. It's special, and it's brilliant," she added.

In her view, music is one of the few universal languages that connects all of humanity — no matter who you are or where you're from, it bridges divides. She said even though she couldn't speak the same language as many of the singers there, she still felt deeply connected to them through music.

Malaysian singer Jess Lee, who won fourth place at the final, said she grew up in a country with multiple cultures, where she listened to songs in different languages, styles and instruments. And she felt honored to be able to bring Malaysian folk songs to Chinese audiences and boost bilateral exchanges. Her teacher learned music in China, and she herself was inspired by visiting different scenic spots in China, such as Lijiang and Shangri-La in Yunnan province, which she had "never seen before".

"I've seen these landscapes, walked these paths, met different people, and experienced diverse cultures — all of which have shaped my musical foundation. Now, when I stand on this stage, I do so with extraordinary confidence," she said.

The popular program has gained recognition for bringing global artists to Chinese audiences, helping them expand their fan base. This season's impressive international roster included, apart from the finalists, guest performers such as Canada's Michael Buble, Brazil's Alexia Evellyn and the US' Charlie Puth and Jordan Smith.

The viewership of Singer 2025 exceeded 3.5 billion, with 162 million interactions from audiences, data from producers showed.

Zhang Danyang, a producer of the show, said almost every year international singers are invited to the program, to enable audiences to see diverse music. "It has not only showcased the top-tier talent from the world's leading hubs of pop music but also introduced Chinese artists and culture to global audiences," Zhang said.

"We firmly believe that music transcends borders and breaks language barriers. The performances in the show and the camaraderie among singers from different countries naturally become stepping stones for cross-cultural dialogue," she said.