The Voice: The Blind Auditions

The Voice is back, and if the first episode is any indication,  this season brings a lot of talent.

The set-up is still the same. The four judges/coaches (Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton) sit in over-sized red chairs with their backs to the contestants. (New this year: The chairs have I Want You lettered on the fronts of them). When they hear someone that they would want on their team, the judges hit a red button, and the chair swivels around to face the contestant. Each will select 12 singers to join their team. Should more than one judge weigh in, the contestant chooses the team they want to be on. Smack talk amongst the judges is a prerequisite as well.

Also new this year: the network, via host Carson Daly, acknowledges that the auditions begin with the highest level of talent, and the singers are already a cut above the rest. Indeed, many have already had established careers, record contracts, Broadway performances…you get the picture.

First off is 17-yr old country singer RaeLynn, singing Hell on Wheels.  Adam turned around first, followed by Blake, who sang along to this rendition of his wife’s song. Blake campaigned by saying that he could make her a country star. Adam countered by asking why she would want to be “just” a country star. Blake won, because after all, he can introduce her to Miranda Lambert.

Next up is Jesse Campbell, 42, a single father who lived in his car with his daughter until his circumstances improved. His A Song For You wowed all 4 judges. Cee Lo and Christina turned around immediately, quickly followed by Adam. Blake was a hold out, but eventually turned as well. Jesse admitted he had a tough decision to make, but chose Christina, in part because she said that she would fight for him, and he was ready to fight. The smack talk also started between Cee Lo and Christina.

Daniel Rosa, 20, failed to attract anyone’s attention. The judges wished him well, and when he asked what he could do to improve, advised him to watch his pitch and control. He remained refreshingly positive about the experience. Maybe it was the sunny yellow bow tie.

Juliet Samms, 25, incited mega-smack talk. The rocker who has been touring since she was 16 sang Oh, Darling. Cee Lo, then Adam turned around, and Adam sang along with her. Christina held out until almost the end, and told her “You blew my socks off,” and then started heckling Adam. Adam liked the dirt in her voice, and advised that “Christina is one of the best singers on earth, but I can assure you she is not one of the best coaches.” Cee Lo accused the two of having sexual tension, and told Juliet that her voice was amazing, and that he was thoroughly impressed and in awe of her.  Juliet went with Cee Lo.

Chris Mann sang Because We Believe. This classically trained singer from Kansas got responses from Cee Lo and Christina. Blake joked that as a country boy, be couldn’t understand the lyrics. Cee Lo asked him why he chose that song, to which he replied, “This is my voice and I decided for this show to sing like myself.” Christina won him over by saying that she knew what to do with real vocalists.

Next brought a trio that failed to make the judges respond. Gonul Aksoy was told that she had young chops and was pitchy throughout her song. Ben Baxter was good, but not great. Mark Trussel showed no relationship between himself and his song. Constructive feedback.

The final hopeful was Tony Lucca, 35. Tony was in The Mickey Mouse Club with Christina and Britney Spears. He sang Trouble, and impressed Adam, Christina and Blake. He so impressed Adam, that he pushed Cee Lo’s button as well. Christina did not seem to recognize him, and told him he had a beautiful, silky quality to his tone. Blake implored him to pick him, Cee Lo admitted that he’d been stubborn, but Tony told Adam that “it’s kinda hard to turn down someone who pushed the button twice.” Oh, and Christina went to see him backstage, and told him that Britney had had a crush on him back in the day.

Blake, Cee Lo and Adam each added one person to their team, and Christina added two. If this is any indication of the talent in store, the viewers have quite a treat in store for Season 2 of The Voice.