That kind of annoyed me too. Although I told myself that maybe Katrina (and possibly Adam, but I doubt it) was too young to know of the Roberta Flack version.
From the time the Simply Red version came out until many years later I had no idea it was a cover.
Well to be fair, it was probably released before you were born, and even I would have described it as a Teddy Pendergrass song, not a Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes song.
Oh, and while I’m thinking of it… I found last year’s finalists boring, except for the hot mess of Bev and crazy-drunk Cyndi Lauper. Yes, Carson… that WAS fun! Javier has a gorgeous voice, he should find something better than bland adult contemporary to do with it.
Wikipedia says it was released in 1972. Only one year before I was born.
I know the show is called “The Voice”, and I know the premise of the blind auditions is to give people a chance by voice and not by appearance, but there is more to a good voice than just vocal range. And there’s more to a good performance than just the ability to hit the most notes. Look at **DianaG’**s comment about Javier Colon.
In the end, if I’m Tony and I get a win out of the show, I’m not going to feel let down that Adam picked me over Katrina because of “bromance”. I’m going to feel pleased that Adam had faith in me even if my voice wasn’t technically better than Katrina, or whatever.
I kept thinking, “I don’t recall a country version of that song.” Oh, I’m thinking of Faith Hill.
Maybe we need to get Sera Hill back in there to do a version.
I’d be interested to know more about that as well. All four of the finalists from last year have albums out or coming out, so they were certainly supported in some manner. I’ve seen Vicki and Cee Lo together, so he seems to be involved in helping her career.
That’s what I wrote, and I agree: It’s NOT meritocratic. So I think the conceit of these voting-based shows (American Idol, The Voice, etc.) is that they are going to find deserving candidates, let “America” choose the winners, and propel them to deserved fame through the power of national television.
I think Juliet is certainly as deserving of fame as anyone else trying to make it in music business nowadays. I’m not sure myself what the nature of fame and success is in that business now, however. It is so much different than it used to be. In 1980, if she made the right moves, I think she could have been as big as Pat Benetar. But in 2012, is there a Pat Benetar? Sure there are a few really big stars like Lady Gaga, but how many “pretty big” stars are really “making it” these days?
We’ve all heard various stats, but I don’t know how to put them all together. I’ve heard by way of rumor, for example, that the number of people working in the music business in Nashville is something like 25% of what it was 10 years ago. I.e., a cataclysmic crash and burn of an industry that, despite this fate, still seems big, imposing, unapproachable, and glittering to outsiders.
I agree. I think they need to assemble their people and give one speech, and then give it for the cameras one time:
Hey, I love you guys, but this is an artificial environment, a game. Some of the rules are designed to create drama and put us coaches in a tough spot. So I’m going to apologize for that right now once on a personal level to you all. I know everyone here has a big dream. But I’m not going to apologize for it after this. I’m going to play the game so as to achieve a delicate balance among several factors, including promoting you as artists to the American public, creating good TV, and being fair to you as contestants. I’m not going to get all weepy and cuddly after every elimination, as it wastes a lot of time and is not very interesting as television. But my feelings for you and hopes for you will be just as strong then as now.
Adam has been cool in that he has said, “It’s a game,” on more than one occasion, but he still hasn’t dispensed with the speeches and BS.
You have to accept that the coaches are just as emotionally wrapped up in this as the contestants. They feel a sense of responsibility and trust with their competitors, after taking them on, and that only grows as the competition continues. And they are also put on the spot to do the eliminations or promotions, and that has them stuck trying to sort out their own feelings for what to do.
Christina and all her talk about going with her gut is true, she’s ultimately making an emotional call based upon how she reacts to the performances, combined with her opinions about their overall abilities, and her own personal desires for what she wants to promote for the show.
So when they sit there with their hands over the buzzer trying to decide if they want to pick that person, it’s not for effect, it really is a dramatic moment for them balancing some quality they hear in the performance with something that makes them question if that person is really up to the competition or whatever. And when they hear something they definitively like, they flip quickly. Even Cee Lo turning around instantly for Erin Martin was because he liked the odd quirkiness of her voice, and thought that the differentness could be translated into something uniquely appealing.
And when they sit there hemming and hawing and giving Carson a conniption while the credits are starting to roll, it’s because they’re stuck not really wanting to commit to the decision.
And when the launch into a lengthy explanation yet again that getting booted doesn’t mean they don’t like or appreciate or support that person, it is a heartfelt attempt to mitigate their decision to the feelings of the person eliminated. Because it is a real effect on that person’s life.
Even if it does get wearing to the audience to hear another variation on the same sad song.
Did anyone catch Jamar on Ellen? I love him, but he did “It’s My Life” again, and goddammit I didn’t enjoy it the first time. You’re off the damned show Jamar, choose some material worthy of your talent. This, for instance, strikes me as ideal for the Ellen audience. Also, I adore your enthusiasm, but you’re a thirty year old man. Please stop bouncing like that.
I’m actually re-watching some previous eps today, and I’m realizing that my very favorite thing about Lindsey’s performances is her eye makeup. I want to know who her makeup artist is, because he or she might just be the most talented person associated with this show. Of all we’ve lost, I think I’m going to miss Lindsey’s eye makeup most of all.
Based solely on tonight’s performances.
I really liked all three of Tony’s. I thought he was the best tonight.
I liked Chris next, and I think he has a great voice and sings well, but I can’t see any singles from him getting airplay.
I thought Jermaine was good, but not as good as Tony and Chris (again, just counting tonight.)
And finally, I thought all three of Juliet’s performances were OK. I liked her performance of Crazy the best, but frankly, for all three, I like the original versions better. The other two performances didn’t really connect with me.
I thought last night was a bust all around. I was unbelievably bored for most of it, and when I wasn’t bored, I was annoyed, except for when I was disgusted.
Jermaine… zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Let us speak no more of Jermaine.
Tony (and Adam)… congratulations, you out-bitched Christina. Really covered yourselves in glory there, douchebags. I couldn’t even evaluate the performance itself, since I couldn’t see past the shade of it. Yesterday was boring, and Harder to Breathe was overpowered by the band and backup singers.
Christina, blowing your boy off the stage isn’t great strategy, but I can’t honestly say I expect more from you. Also, Christina my dear, you are not actually all that big. I’m guessing you’re a size 10, tops. Millions of much larger women who don’t have a gajillion dollars and a squadron of professional stylists manage to choose clothes that don’t emphasize their backfat.
Chris, do not invite the Josh Groban comparison. You’re no Josh Groban.
Cee Lo… I am APPALLED at your song choices. Wild Thing? Really? No one asked for Freebird. Of all the songs in all the history of, oh, EVER you give that poor child MOTHERFUCKING FREEBIRD!!! Did someone transplant Blake’s brain into you?
Juliette, you did fairly well with Crazy which is a difficult song, and did as well as one can be expected to do with MOTHERFUCKING FREEBIRD. Also, your hair is prettier dark. Good luck to you, kid.
Didn’t they do original material for the final last year? Why the hell did they not do that again?
About “Killing Me Softly,” I guess I’m the only one who knows about the original Lori Lieberman song. That was a bargain bin purchase. She does a good job with it though:
I gotta agree with your assessment. I was massively disappointed. I missed the first half-hour of the show, and I don’t think I missed much. But, frankly, there was not a single performance that I truly enjoyed. I thought “Soul Man” was OK, mostly because Blake was good and funny, and I thought “Yesterday” was competently done but still missed something. What’s with the ooey-gooey “tributes to coaches”? Don’t need those!
Not to be a dick, but I just don’t think he has a future in pop music. He has no edge, no personal style.
Are you talking about the song choice of “99 Problems”? I agree. Christiana was right: it IS derogatory to women. And Tony just seemed like a jackass singing it.
Yeah, they pulled off the feat of doing “Yesterday” well but making it boring at the same time. Not sure how they did that. “Harder to Breathe”–not that great a song to begin with, and he didn’t add anything to it except his squinty sort of style.
I beg to differ. They both suck in exactly the same way. Well, you might be right, though, as Josh is much better at sucking in that way.
Chris is… so bad. I don’t mean in terms of skill, in which case he is OK, not great, but in terms of taste. Horrid, sentimental, glurky taste. Get him away from me–forever.
“Wild Thing” blew dead bears and further revealed that Cee Lo is not really a very good singer. “Freebird” is an effing awful song that in no way helped Juliet to show off her talent.
I think you’re right.
All in all, atrocious. I am rooting for Juliet although I wept at her performance as I was expecting greatness.
I am. Of course the song is derogatory toward women, but that’s not my issue. My issue isn’t even that it was a flashing neon Fuck You Christina, since she had it coming. My biggest issue is that if you’re going to make your performance a flashing neon Fuck You Christina, there are a ton of ways to do it that would be both witty and not misogynistic, and that wasn’t one of them.
I agree that they suck exactly the same way in terms of style and taste, but Josh Groban’s voice is, in my opinion, infinitely better than Chris Mann’s.
Me too. So disappointing.
I’ve already thought of this. After the sing-off there are 6 people in each team which means that each coach goes against each other twice. The pairings are random. The reason that they dont want to do this is to have a coach knocked out before the finale but to me, if they did not do a good job getting the top-6, then TFB and they can sit there and offer critiques from their Chair of Shame.
Now there are 12 competitors left and they compete 6 per night and the top 2 get into the finale OR figure out a way where a coach’s top votegetter moves on even if there were better singers like if Team Xtina singers scored #1, 2, 3 on here night and Adam scores #4. Xtina’s #1 and Adam’s at #4 move on.
And WTF is up with Xtina and DeLuca? She was texting as he was talking to her.
I guess I was the only one who like the show overall.
I was shocked too when Tony sang 99 problems, but I didn’t read anything into it. If it was a message, I guess it would make sense though.
I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t hate Josh Groban.
That dress also didn’t do her front any favors either. When I saw her dress I was like, WTF was she thinking?
At any rate, although I don’t think she deserves to win, I think in the last two weeks Juliet has become the most improved. I didn’t like her at all until she sang “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World” which I thought was wonderful. And although I thought her performances last night weren’t as good, I personally thought that they were a hell of a lot better than all her other performances.
I’ve heard this, but I didn’t realize it’s the original recording! It’s gorgeous, by the way.
Nobody, I don’t hate Josh Groban. He seems like a very nice boy, and probably won me over for life with his “Josh Groban loves a blowsy alcoholic.” appearance on Glee. I just don’t care for that style of music.
I haven’t run the numbers, but I think you’d typically get a coach knocked out not before the semifinals but in the semifinals and not have a coach in the finals.
Here’s my logic. Let’s assume that the battle rounds are done the same way, and couches end up with 6 contestants apiece for 24 total. In this season, I would say these were the contestants who seemed to have a “real” chance to win: Jesse, Chris, and Lindsey (Christina); James, Juliet, and Jamar (Cee Lo); Jermaine (Blake); Tony (Adam). But let’s assume the number is 8. The distribution among teams is likely to be not totally random but still have some randomness to it, owing to the choice factor by coaches (who can choose to push the button) and contestants (who can choose which coach they want if more than one pushes the button).
So let’s consider the possibilities:
All 6-8 are on one team or 4 on two teams: too unlikely to consider. I think each coach is going to manage to snag at least one contender.
The only way a coach could be knocked out before the semifinals is if he has 0 contenders on his team; i.e., one of the above scenarios. So I think it is very unlikely.
5 on one team: Gut says fairly unlikely. Maybe in 10% of the seasons could this happen.
4 on one team: Fairly likely. Maybe in 20% of seasons.
3 on two teams: Gut says most likely (it happened this season). Maybe in 60% of seasons.
Thus, at 90% of the time, there would be a chance that a coach would not go to the finals. What would that actual number be? That’s a tough statistical question, but my gut says that perhaps 75% of the time one would be knocked out. In the 4 on one team scenario, the coach with 4 almost certainly will make it. That means there is at least one coach with two, who is likely to make it. There are then two coaches with at most one, possibly zero, one of which is either certain to or likely to wash out. In the 3 on two teams scenario, it’s obvious that the remaining coaches only have 1 apiece, and they could both easily wash out.
2 on all teams: Gut says fairly unlikely. Maybe in 10%.
This scenarios give the best chance for all four coaches making it into the finals, but it still isn’t guaranteed.
So my guess is that the breakdown would be as follows:
1 coach in the finale: 15% of seasons
2 coaches in the finale: 25% of seasons
3 coaches in the finale: 55% of seasons
4 coaches in the finale: 25% of seasons
4 coaches in the finale is as high as it is because I think each coach would do his/her best to get at least one exceptional artist. Thus, even if they had only one, they still only need one to get into the finale.
I noticed that. Then it seemed that she noticed she was on camera and made a move to put the phone away. Is that acceptable on national TV?
Yep, glad you liked it!
Me too. Like opera for those who don’t want the real deal. Just UGH-all-over.
I think that they’re expected (and perhaps even obligated) to tweet during the show. That said, I cracked up when I saw it.
Oh, and while I’m thinking of it… as lackluster as the whole thing was, I’d have liked to vote for the guitar player rocking out in the updraft during Freebird. He clearly had the most fun of anyone all night.