Time for the great unmasking

Fans of “The Mask Singer” – Workpoint Entertainment’s highest-rated reality game show – are keenly awaiting the big finale tonight (March 23), when Mask Durian and Mask Crow do vocal battle.
The show adapted from South Korea’s “Mystery Music Show: King of Mask Singer” is about to reach its not-to-be-missed conclusion with the “Champ of the Champ” final round on Workpoint Channel 23 that day at 8pm.

Mask Durian of Group A and Group B’s Mask Crow have earned the votes of the commentators and studio audience in every previous round this season. Both have distinctive and powerful voices, the former more soulful with his R&B performances and the latter rocking out with a stirring hoarseness.
Durian has impressed with magnificent renditions of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You”, “Mue Puen” by Pongsit “Poo” Khamphi, “Mai Roo Jak Chan Mai Roo Jak Ther” by Apartment Khunpa and Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down”.

“He is real!” exclaims songwriter Nitipong “Dee” Hornak, one of the show’s commentators, and Star Maker Voice Academy director Maneenuch “Uan” Smerasut adores his “good accent and great voice”.
For a gruff rocker, Crow has hit some amazing high notes while performing X Japan’s “Endless Rain”, “Thing Rak Long Mae Nam” by Y Not 7, Bodyslam’s “Khwam Chuea” and the Cranberries’ “Zombie”. Dee Nitipong is astounded at how he can imitate several different artists’ voices.
Guesses have circulated on the social networks that the man behind the durian mask and costume might be Popetorn “Two” Soonthornyanakij, Thanasit “Ton” Chaturapush of AF8 or Anon “Poo” Saisaengchan of Blackhead. Or he could be Kasem “Neng” Wongsankorn of Y Not 7, Surachai “Tar” Wongbuakhao of Mr Team or possibly Pichet “King The Voice” Buakham.

And who’s the crow? The pundits are arguing over whether it’s Tannatonn Palakawong Na Ayudhaya, Pathompong “Pong” Sombatpibul of Hin Lek Fai, Koraphop “Joke” Chancharoen of So Cool or Jirakorn “Ae” Sompitak.
“I first thought Mask Durian was Phi Tom Room 39, but after comparing video clips I now believe he’s Ton Thanasit,” actress Jarinporn “Toey” Joonkiat said on Instagram.
Torpong “Ball” Chantabubpha of Scrubb reckons it’s one of those two guys. “Both can sing foreign songs very well with good accents because their English is so good.”
The guesswork ends tonight when Durian and Crow are finally unmasked. Tune into https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUV64ZC2S50.