The Voice goes live: Will American Idol fans pick up the phone?
On Tuesday, in its second week of live broadcast, 鈥淭he Voice鈥� pulled off an astounding feat; combining a results show and a performance show.
In two hours, they managed to air eight solo performances, two group performances and voted off four people! Host Carson Daly is certainly working for his paycheck, albeit without the same finesse (or pay day) as American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.
Comparing 鈥淭he Voice鈥� to 鈥淎merican Idol,鈥� is unavoidable. And it is likely that 鈥淭he Voice鈥� producers not only welcome, but hunger for the comparison.
NBC is attempting to improve upon a ten-season-old formula that has proved wildly successful for FOX. While the results/performance show was deeply appreciated by all who covet efficiency, 鈥淭he Voice鈥� is like the board game 鈥淩isk鈥�: It has such complex directions that it is rarely played and when it is, it is with spontaneously created rules. Fortunately, the show has Carson Daly who repeatedly walks viewers through the more difficult concepts to grasp, like anonymous results: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what the results are and neither does [insert coach name].鈥�
Within each team (of which there are four, one for each coach), four singers vie for America鈥檚 Vote. The singer with the highest number of votes stays and then the coach decides which one of the remaining three will stay. Within Christina Aguilera鈥檚 all-girl team, America opted to save rocker Beverly McClellan, while Christina chose to save former American Idol contestant Frenchie Davis. Lily Elsie and 16-year old Raquel Castro were sent home.
In country singer Blake Shelton鈥檚 group, America selected Dia Frampton as their favorite (no surprise here since she is the most talented of the competition) and Blake chose to keep Xenia Martinez, the 16-year-old contestant who makes up for her lack of confidence with her unique tone. Rocker Jared Blake and country-boy Patrick Thomas were the odd men out.
In the performances, Coach Cee Lo Green and Coach Adam Levine鈥檚 teams went head to head. It was clear early on that the coaches have very different styles. Cee Lo鈥檚 performers had back-up dancers, including fire dancers, while Adams鈥� performers were more raw and organic.
Adam Levine鈥檚 Team:
Devon Barley: The Pre-Med Student chose 鈥淪top and Stare鈥� by One Republic. Maybe medicine is really this kid鈥檚 calling because despite the judges鈥� 鈥� sorry coaches鈥� 鈥� positive feedback, it was a dreadful performance. Only Adam pointed out the obvious pitch issues while Blake described Devon as 鈥渁 guy who can sing his [bleep] off.鈥�
Jeff Jenkins: The young country-man who recently lost his mother, selected Carrie Underwood鈥檚, 鈥淛esus Take the Wheel.鈥� While the sentiment was certainly there, unfortunately the voice was not. The coaches were all emulating American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez, perhaps in hopes of earning the title of 鈥淢ost Beautiful Person,鈥� by offering very little constructive criticism, heaps of undeserved praise, and taking advantage of the show鈥檚 platform to promote themselves.
Casey Weston: Casey was not happy when Adam urged her to "rock out" her 鈥淏lack Horse and the Cherry Tree鈥� performance. She clearly pushed herself outside of her comfort zone and achieved more than anyone expected, except maybe Adam. The coaches were again pleased, although this time it was moderately deserved.
Javier Colon: There鈥檚 been a buzz about Javier from the start of the show but his over singing has been his Achilles Heel. Despite Adam鈥檚 advice, 鈥淎ngel鈥� by Sarah McLachlan had more runs than melody. The cadence was rushed and it lost its poignancy along the way. The coaches, however, loved it.
Cee Lo Green鈥檚 Team
Curtis Grimes: This country-singer was no doubt cursing the fates that brought him to Cee Lo鈥檚 team as opposed to Blake Shelton鈥檚 when Cee Lo chose Robert Palmer鈥檚, 鈥淎ddicted to Love,鈥� for Curtis to sing. His voice was fine but the repetitions in the song likely lulled many viewers to sleep.
Tori and Taylor Thomson: These sisters may not have related very well to 鈥淏oogie Woogie Bugle Boy鈥� by the Andrew Sisters, but they looked great and pulled off the complex double-timing, abundant lyrics, and great melody. Carson pointed out that it was perfect performance for Flag Day. See that? This guy is irreplaceable, really.
Vicci Martinez: Vicci was the Dia Frampton of this week鈥檚 performances. With her version of 鈥淛olene鈥� by Dolly Parton, she gave an INCREDIBLE vocal and an engaging performance. While the vulnerability of that song always hits home, Vicci imbued the performance with such emotion that she enhanced the song鈥檚 ability to touch people.
Nakia: Nakia chose鈥淪ex on Fire,鈥� by Kings of Leon. Cee Lo provided the contestant with scantily clad female fire dancers, who may have been interesting to watch had their movements not been synched to the tremendously boring vocal performance. Sure, Nakia tried. Throwing himself onto the stage floor in one verse, but ultimately he failed to connect to the viewers.
Next Tuesday, 鈥淭he Voice鈥� will return again to let a whole lot of people sing and send a whole lot of people home. Let鈥檚 hope other reality shows are taking note.
What do you readers think? How does it compare to American Idol? Does NBC have a hit on its hands or will this fizzle? Discuss.
