The Voice Season 11 officially starts September 19th (at its usual 8pm EST time on NBC.) That, is this Monday! Now, there was a preview of the show back in August. There we got to see two of the great singers that made it onto the show. (You can see both of their auditions here.)
However, if you’ve ever watched The Voice you know there’s more great music to come. It’s not like there’s just going to be a couple of amazing voices. For instance, check out another four-chair-turner blind audition!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMym0Wf7VGQ&w=640&h=360]
Wow! Thank you, Ali Caldwell!
In the beginning, I could see why the coaches held back on hitting their buttons. She sounded just like the original Ariana Grande version. Grande has a great voice, but this isn’t karaoke. The Voice is about discovering new voices, not sound-a-likes.
As soon as Caldwell hit the chorus though, it’s all about her take on “Dangerous Woman.” Grande’s version is that of a young woman who’s just discovered her sexuality. Caldwell’s voice has a sultry lower register that is all grown up. Her approach to the song conveys a mature woman reclaiming and owning that she is a sexual being. It’s vocally and emotionally a very different feel than Grande’s. Coach Adam Levine heard the change at once!
Coach Blake Shelton went in soon after Adam. Despite it not being his usual country music style, over the years he really has done some terrific work with r&b singers. (He mentions a couple that he won with, but I still remember the amazing top 12 performances of Sisaundra Lewis!)
Meanwhile, the new coaches, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys, took a bit longer to buzz in, but they are so adorable! There is definitely a “girls against the boys” vibe going on. I was a little surprised at Keys being the last one to hit her buzzer because Caldwell’s sound is certainly in her wheelhouse. Then I remembered the first season Shakira was a coach. She didn’t always turn for singer who sang in Spanish. There are also times Blake won’t go for an obviously country-music oriented performer.
The Voice Season 11 – Remembering Some Basic Strategies
Generally speaking coaches usually don’t want to be stuck working with just one genre. It limits the audience appeal for your team and can later make you less competitive. Likewise, if the show tilts to one genre early on it cuts down the wider audience’s interest for the show. (For an example of these things, just consider season 4.)
Plus, if all the singers a coach likes are on his or her team it means they’ll lose half of them in the battle rounds! As much as they may love a person’s voice they’ve got to use some strategy. If it’s the second or third performer with a similar sound they may pass. With some luck a coach can pick up a singer they really like during “The Steal” part of the competition.
The Wrap Up
I really do enjoy the fun and games of the coaches on The Voice – and I’m really wondering which coach Caldwell will pick! (For some reason, I’m thinking she may go with Cyrus….) Still, at the end of it all, my favorite part of the show is discovering some talented voices. If the teases are this good, you know the rest will be awesome as well. This is why I’m looking forward to the official start of The Voice season 11. I need some new music for my iPod!
Are you excited about The Voice season 11? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! You can also check back Tuesday for my take on the rest of the blind auditions!
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