Sometimes, “The Masked Singer” is like a jungle, making you wonder how you can survive. On Wednesday’s episode, rap legend Grandmaster Flash was so close to the edge that he was trying not to be pushed. However, despite his best efforts, he lost his head.
On Season 9 of “The Masked Singer,” Grandmaster Flash was the most recent celebrity to be revealed as the Polar Bear. The pioneer of hip-hop performed Blondie’s “Rapture.” Additionally, there is a significant link there.
“That song was actually written for me,” he told Variety. “I remember Fab Five Freddy bringing [Blondie’s Debbie Harry] to one of my shows. This is way back in the day before I became famous. And she wrote this song of what she saw when I was on the turntables at one of my amateur shows.”
Grandmaster Flash sang the chorus of “Rapture” on “The Masked Singer” rather than the rap portion of the song. He stated, “I sung horribly, but I sang it the best way I can and sitting down with the musicians and the vocal coaches in doing the best I can do with it,” he said. “But I had to do it with this 15 pound [costume] on me and do it in a cool way. I’m trying not to laugh but it was so stupid, but it was so fun.”
He claimed that the Polar Bear was suggested as his costume, but at first he had a few notes. “I said it wasn’t cool enough. They put on a gold chain. Still not cool enough. And he put the hat backwards. So, the polar bear started to become really, really cool. And then I signed up and I decided to do it.”
Additionally, he stated that he decided to host the show as a response to some of the negative press. Some of those things can be put to rest by watching “The Masked Singer,” he said. “I travel a lot and I don’t get a chance to watch a whole lot of TV, but my family and close friends watch this show. And I decided to go online and look at some of the episodes and how it all works. I’m like, ‘Wow, this is really silly.’ Sometimes we as adults, don’t know how to turn off being adults.”
His appearance also comes shortly after Grandmaster Flash kicked off the Grammys’ hip-hop 50th anniversary tribute. The list of people I had an impact on goes on and on. He stated, “It was actually really wonderful.”
Grandmaster Flash was correctly predicted by Nicole Scherzinger. Ken Jeong chose Diddy, Robin Thicke chose LL Cool J, and Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg chose Flava Flav among the other panelists’ guesses.
The “Champion of Masked Singer” format has been used once more this season on “The Masked Singer.” Three celebrities in costume will perform on each episode, but only one will win and advance to the next week’s competition. Three winners from each round will compete in the semi-finals.
This means that one contestant will be revealed in the middle of the show, and the two best singers will compete in a “battle royale.” Grandmaster Flash was the first to be revealed after California Roll and Medusa faced off against Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl.”
However, “Ding Dong Keep It On” is brand-new for this season. Panelists will have the chance to save a singer from elimination in the new twist to the competition; however, the bell can only be rung three times during the first three rounds. After that, those three singers will compete for a chance to rejoin the competition on a special episode.
With a victory over Medusa on Wednesday, California Roll advanced to the quarterfinals. But the “Ding Dong Keep It On” bell saved Medusa, and she now moves on to that face-off.
Ken Jeong went with Susan Boyle, Robin Thicke went with Kesha, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg said Halsey, and Nicole Scherzinger said Lorde were the panelists’ guesses. We won’t know for some time.
Because it was “New York night,” the songs were chosen.
There are 21 contestants in Season 9 of “The Masked Singer,” including “Mustang,” “Axolotl,” “California Roll,” “Dandelion,” “Moose,” “Gargoyle,” “Jackalope,” “Doll,” “Polar Bear,” “Night Owl,” “Rock Lobster,” and “Gnome.” The costume designer for this season is Tim Chappel.
This season, the celebrities unmasked include Dick Van Dyke as Gnome, Debbie Gibson as Night Owl, Howie Mandel as Rock Lobster, Sara Evans as Mustang, and Grandmaster Flash as Polar Bear.
The contestants from Season 9 “boast a combined 28 Emmy nominations, six Grammy wins, 10 gold albums, four Golden Globe nominations, five medals, 26 books, two Tony Award nominations, five Lifetime Achievement Awards, a combined 95,231,000 records sold,” according to the show’s website. New themed episodes, including “ABBA,” “New York,” “DC Superheroes,” “Sesame Street,” “80s Night,” “Movie Night,” and others, will debut in Season 9.
The contestants and their performances from night three are as follows:
POLAR BEAR (GRANDMASTER FLASH)
Song: “Rapture,” by Blondie
Celebrity Clue: (delivered by “Long Island Medium” Theresa Caputo): Acceptance speech at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.
Package voiceover: “I’m so excited to drop some New York flava on the Masked Singer stage. Because this city of dreams where I come from is a source of everything that made me, me. My neighborhood got a bad rap. It’s the kind of place that most people wouldn’t dream of getting down with. These streets are where I developed my interest in electronics as a kid. I used to take apart mom’s toaster, my sister’s hair dryers, just to see how they worked. All that tinkering eventually sparked another knock out idea that helped me turn the tables on the entire music industry. This bad boy invented a sound no one was making. My legendary status helped put my broken borough on the map. Now, I’m here to honor a fellow New Yorker who helped change the game, just like me.”
Panel guesses: DJ Jazzy Jeff, Diddy, Flava Flav, Grandmaster Flash
CALIFORNIA ROLL (WEEK 3 WINNER)
Song: “Paparazzi,” by Lady Gaga
Celebrity Clue: (delivered by the New York pizza rat): 5 billion. “5 billion and growing, but who’s counting.”
Package voiceover: “Wasabi, my dudes, I’m the California Roll! You might be wondering what the California Roll is doing here on New York night. Well, why not. I’ve already been on Broadway. And that wasn’t the only role I played. Oh no, this entrée has many sides. Let me tell you five reasons why I’m the perfect dish. Just like the city of New York, this Cali never sleeps. I got used to it from DJing all night long. Gotta pay the rent. But eventually, California was calling. So, I set out west, on the 10, for the gleeful rays and silver screens. Once I got there, I was rubbing shoulders with the greats. From Dolly to Snoop. I even got married. It’s been such a busy ride; I barely have time for myself. But without each of these ingredients, I wouldn’t be the successful roll I am today. Sock it to me, dudes!”
Panel guesses: Cast of “The Lion King”, Pentatonix, “Pitch Perfect” cast, “High School Musical” cast
MEDUSA (WEEK 1 AND 2 WINNER; SAVED IN WEEK 3)
Song: “New York, New York,” by Frank Sinatra
Celebrity Clue (delivered by Luann De Lesseps): Brooklyn bridge in lights. “Luann, I love you, I can’t believe I’m on this stage with you. Sometimes you have to build a bridge to get over it. Hopefully, it will put you in the right state of mind.”
Package voiceover: “I’m still recovering from the shock of beating a music industry legend last week. But now that I’ve won two titles in a row, I feel like there’s a huge target on my back. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. But the snakes and I, we’ve got a secret weapon. My dad’s favorite karaoke song. I grew up singing with him, so it’s the perfect choice to take me to the quarter finals. But, before I go, I’ve got a treat for you. [A terrier.]”
Panel guesses: Lorde, Florence Welch, Shirley Manson, Susan Boyle, Kesha
Previous songs: “Happier Than Ever,” by Billie Eilish; “Dancing Queen,” by ABBA
Previous panel guesses: Elle Goulding, Megan Markle, Jessie J, Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Lorde, Tove Lo, Lorde, Apple Martin, Dakota Johnson