John Legend is teaming up with “American Idol” producer Simon Lythgoe’s Legacy Productions and Critical Content for a U.S. version of the popular Vietnam series.
“Love at First Song,” a music-based dating show, which was a huge hit last year, will be co-produced by the “Love Me Now” hitmaker’s Get Lifted Film Co.
The format sees couples pen a romantic ballad together and discover whether they have an intimate connection through performing the track live. They then spend hours together rehearsing and getting to know one another, before competing in each episode and potentially swapping partners if the “chemistry” isn’t there.
According to Variety, the reality show: “creates couples through emotional performances in which single singers ‘virtually’ rehearse a romantic duet, then reveal themselves and their potential chemistry during the performance.
“These couples then live together, practice together, perform and compete together, but may swap partners in every episode — for love or music.”
Simon believes the “unique” show could produce the next big power couple duo like “Sonny & Cher or Jay-Z & Beyoncé.”
He said in a statement: “Having worked on some of the biggest reality singing competitions in the world like ‘American Idol’ and ‘Popstars,’ this is the first format I’ve seen in a decade that’s a unique hybrid having all the right ingredients to be a huge international success.”
Mike Jackson of Get Lifted — which he launched in 2012 with Legend and Ty Siklorius —added: “There’s almost nothing more compelling than watching two vocalists with chemistry sing a love song together on stage. This show will take the audience to the next level by bringing them behind the scenes to the laboratory where that chemical reaction began.
“Critical Content and Simon Lythgoe are the perfect mad scientists for us to partner with to bring this concoction to American viewers.”
There are currently no details on when the show is likely to hit screens.
