Happy Halloween Voice fans! I hope you’re having a good one. Are you ready for some more frights – because week two of The Voice season 11 knockouts could be scary!
Maybe it’s me, but it feels like we’re being prepared for a shock. Coach Alicia Keys has paired Michael Sanchez with Sa’Rayah and the battle has been released as a sneak peek. Take a look!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbVekFGqpQw?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
Coaches Adam Levine and Miley Cyrus may feel Michael won, but as far as I’m concerned, Sa’Rayah did. While Michael does a terrific job on the piano, piano-playing is not the point of the show. The show is called The Voice.
Michael’s performance reminded me of a hotel lounge act. When Sa’Rayah performed it felt like front row tickets to an arena concert! Goosebumps formed and shivers ran down my spine. Listening to her is a full-bodied soul experience. Yes, Michael is entertaining, but it feels gimmicky and shallow in comparison to Sa’Rayah.
What’s Going On: Michael vs Sa’Rayh
It’s times like this that I question the spontaneity of the elimination round results. That’s because when a record labels hears great singer like Sa’Rayah their first thought is wondering if the white American audience will fully embrace the artist. In the industry’s mind the mass appeal of Beyoncé is still more the exception, not the rule. In fairness to their reasoning, they do have some grounds for this.
Here’s the perfect example. Remember how Jennifer Hudson was sent home from the top seven on season 3 of American Idol? She became a huge mega star – and forever a symbol of the problems with American Idol. What’s important to realize – and is often forgotten – is that in the long run talent usually wins over music lovers.
Rather than me getting in-depth about this, I suggest reading the Digital Music article this quote is from.
“Blue eyed” soul is a stupid phrase from the 60s that described white artists with a soulful sound. However, the term evolved to become much more. It actually represents a manipulative marketing tactic that labels began using to position soulful white singers as rare, or exceptional.
This is exactly why magazines like GQ could call Sam Smith the new face of soul in the same year that John Legend had out his breakout mega hit “All of Me” and co-wrote and sang “Glory” from the film Selma. Is Smith a new face in soul music? Yes, absolutely. Is he the new face of soul? No – especially not in the same year that Legend’s music was out. Heck, at the 2014 Grammy Awards Smith was treated like the second coming of Christ – and that’s what the commentary from Cyrus and Levine seemed like when talking about Michael and Sa’Rayah.
I’ll give Michael props on his piano-playing. However, what makes Sa’Rayah astonishing in her performance is her voice, but it was taken for granted. Meanwhile, for Michael, everything he does is framed within the way he looks.
That’s not just me. Listen to the coaches and not just on this knockout round. It started with his blind audition. What Adam and Miley go on about is how Micheal’s looks didn’t match what they heard. What they apparently heard was a run-of-the-mill black soul singer – so they didn’t turn around. Now that they see he’s not black his sound has been put in an entirely different light.
The Wrap Up
Right now, I don’t know what the outcome of this knockout battle is. I don’t go by rumors, but this leak certainly does seem to be setting us up for a shock. If Sa’Rayah loses it will be yet another travesty added to the list of awful choices that have occurred over the years. Even if she wins, the commentary from the The Voice coaches is disturbing in how dismissive it is of Sa’Rayah’s performance. The really sad thing about it is that I doubt they even realize what they’ve bought into doing.
This isn’t saying that there aren’t white soul/r&b singers that are brilliant, unique, and can stand next to the African-American greats. There are. Teena Marie & Michael McDonald instantly come to mind. More modern names would be Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and of course the awesome Adele.
The thing all these singers have in common? They don’t sound like they’re trying to imitate anything or anyone. They have signature voices that are stunning. These are the kind of voices The Voice claims to be searching for – hence the blind auditions. Voices that are incredible inspire three and four-chair turns. Michael got one.
In the music industry, and in our mainstream culture, a white person singing decently in a style associated with black people is considered extraordinary. It makes Michael very marketable and The Voice is still looking for their Kelly Clarkson. Meanwhile, an extraordinary African-American singer is seen as.just doing what comes naturally and her work gets discounted. Never-mind that, just like in any racial population, tons of African-Americans can’t sing.
Note that none of the coaches claim Sa’Rayah’s work was bad. It’s more like they’re treating it as average – for her. Whether Alicia keeps her or not, that’s just unfair. There’s nothing average about her. Of the three coaches weighing in only Blake Shelton makes comments that show he’s aware that Sa’Rayah’s just as mind-blowing here as she was in her blind audition. …That kind of insight is probably one reason why he’s won the most seasons on The Voice.
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