March 25, 2013 
Are you all looking forward to Season 4 of The Voice?
I am sure NBC will be pumped! Anything to raise their ratings slump and take their mind off the Jay Leno/Jimmy Fallon controversy can’t be a bad thing!
The premiere episodes of Season 4 will air on Monday and Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. According to The Hollywood Reporter, we can expect this:
The first episode of the season is an emotional one, with the contestants’ backstories being more powerful than ever before. They’ll talk about the obstacles they’ve overcome to get to the audition and the terrible losses some of them have suffered. So bring some tissues. It’s a tearjerker.
Great!! More back stories. Oh boy the drama! But, it makes good television I suppose so what the hey!
I am really looking forward to seeing new judges, Usher and Shakira. It sounds like both judges have an interesting perspective on the show and will offer an increased level of competition among the judges. Should be good times!
Anyway, Mondays are going to be jam-packed night of television viewing with The Voice, ABC’s Dancing With The Stars and Fox’s The Following with Kevin Bacon competing for my attention. My PVR will below working overtime!
Hope you will join me in the comments section. Let’s get this party started!
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I’m looking forward to it. I’m sorry that you can’t see the previews on their website. The contestant featured was Judith Hill. I think we may hear that name again.
The new panel of judges seems to be working extremely well together. I didn’t know Shakira prior to this but she seems to be able to hold her own very well and has a great sense of humor. Hopefully the show will get the balance right between the judges and the contestants this year. My DVR will be working overtime for the next few months.
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Well, it was entertaining, but with the exception of the last girl there weren’t any huge standouts for me. The judging panel is working well together, but at this rate, I don’t like Shakira’s chances.
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Gene, I do have a problem with Judith Hill. More people have seen her than Shakira. Everyone that saw Michael Jackson’s last film (millions) saw Judith perform with him on stage. It is not fair to have her on the show. All she needs to do is be the opening act for Usher, and she’ll get her record contract.
The Voice was entertaining and fun. There is already chemistry with the new judges, and I don’t think they will want CeeLo back. Usher is a winner. There were several good contestants, but when Judith appeared, it was a let down. I loved the opening number and thought Candice could do a better job on “Come Together” than Shakira did. She does seem like a lovely person. Good chemistry here!
I wish The Idol judges had this kind of chemistry, but as long as Mariah and Nicki are on the same show, it just won’t happen. Blake and Adam are up to their ususal friendship thing and they are being kind to Shakira. I still prefer American Idol, but they need to have some fun!
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Am I the only one that wasn’t jumping up and down when they heard Judith Hill? All this hoopla and for what? I didn’t think she was any better than anyone else I heard last evening.
In fact, for me, the little country-style 16-year-old was amazing. Her pitch was incredible. First thing I noticed when she sang. She had a knack for accessing the center of the pitch of each and every note. Impeccable tuning. I am sure she has been endowed with perfect pitch.
And, I loved the guy who sang Whitney’s “Saving All My Love”. Love that song too. His head/falsetto was gorgeous and robust. Beautiful.
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Kariann,
That’s a good point about Judith being better known than Shakira; funny too! A large percentage of Voice contestants are professional singers including all three winners and the top three from last season. I’m not sure that I would hold that against her. But I agree with you that opening for Usher would probably send her on her way. I enjoyed her audition.
MCL.
I liked the little country girl too. She seemed a little shrill to me at times though. She sang Taylor Swift’s song better than Taylor. I will resist typing the next line. Miranda Lambert has written some very good songs that most people have never heard so Blake may match her up with one of those with great success like he did last year.
I don’t know about the guy who sounded like Whitney. That was a little weird for me and I have to wonder where he is going from here on. He was pretty good though.
The little Asian girl who sang Carrie Underwood’s song wasn’t bad either. I was surprised that no one chose her. She had a nice speaking voice as well.
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Gene – there, you see? To each his own. I found that little 16-year-old’s voice so beautiful. It sounded trained and yet it wasn’t. She has a great gift and a confident sound and presence for her level of training and experience.
Also, I forgot about the Asian girl. It broke my heart when no one turned around for her. Really! I was feeling her pain. She seems like such a sweet, caring young lady – someone one would root for. And her speaking voice was very rich and deep. It make me wonder if she should explore song material that would heighten the contralto part of her range. This may give her a more unique sound.
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In the long run the fans may tire of Judith. It seems to happen with the big voiced R&B girls that come out very strong at first. I think Blake will have a strong contender with the young country girl.
The judges frequently express regret for not turning around for someone that’s good, but were not what they were looking for. The Asian girl didn’t even get that much love. I was very surprised. I thought she sang well and, as you said, was sweet and caring. She was very sincere when she said that she wanted to begin to take the burden of supporting the family off of her aging father. And her father expressing his love for his two girls was very touching. Blake already had a young female country singer so that may explain his hesitation, but I thought she was pop enough for the other judges to show some interest. I don’t understand that particular call but I was disappointed that a first class kid missed her chance. That was a shame. I wish they had some sort of mechanism for reconsideration in cases like that. The guy who sang like Whitney is another example where judging by the voice along isn’t always enough. He had a very unique quality that wasn’t apparent until you saw him.
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MCL…I wasn’t impressed with Judith Hill either…I was thinking as I was watching it this afternoon, that Candice sings way better!!! 🙂
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Vonnie – totally agree. I can’t believe all these judges turned around for her. Something stinks. Really. Candice can sing circles around her and Adam had a singer on his Season 3 team – whom he stole from Christina – who can sing circles around her. What was her name? She was amazing.
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Amanda Brown? She should have won but she is a good example of what I was talking about earlier. The same will probably happen to Judith.
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The thing is…who in their right mind wouldn’t have taken ALL of the offers she said she got after singing at MJ’s memorial service…why would she need to do a show like the Voice? Plus, shecwas rehearsing with him priorvto his passing, why again would she need to be on this show????????? ;-(
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Yes – Amanda! She absolutely should have won the competition. I loved her!!
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Vonnie – yes – I found this really weird as well. Then she goes on The Voice? Lots of pieces to this puzzle missing. Hahaha
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Since you mentioned her I’ve gone to her website to see what she is doing now. to keep in touch with her fans she has had several cover contest where the fans suggest and then vote for the songs that they would like for her to do a cover video of. I’ve just started watching / listening to them as I type. “Alone” was good. You might want to take a look.
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Gene, your unique group just hit the stage!!!!! Midaswell…
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Midaswell!! The name alone is unique! These guys are major cool. I wonder who they will pick as their mentor?
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Wow! Adam….they are going to be entertaining!!! 🙂
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I liked Josiah too…
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Yes. I love those guys. All the singers were great tonight! Adam has a superb lineup so far.
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Want to do a duet? Midaswell! They were great. I liked the last girl as well. Her song choice “What if God Was One of Us” makes me think of the dilemma that some of the Idol contestants have tomorrow with choosing a song from Motown. For Kree at least, Joan Osborn’s version of “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” would be just right. Janelle has a steeper hill to climb.
I forgot to mention that Shakera made a few points with me last night when she broke out her harp during the opening song from the judges. Did anyone wonder if it was just a coincidence that they did a Beatles’ song following Idol’s Beatles’ week? The judges’ willingness to perform together is one of the best features of the voice.
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Gene,
I loved Shakira with the harmonica too, as well as the English to Country Dictionary, Lol…these judges are working really well together!
The only thing I can see that they need to do to improve, is, Blake really needs to come out of his shell more…Lol He is a hoot!!! Compared to the idol judges table this group is like a rowdy bunch of teenagers having fun!!!
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Vonnie,
The English to Country dictionary was halarious. Yeah, Blake is way to reserved. I read that one of the Midaswell boys was on Idol.
Is your son still playing his harmonica?
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Lol…he is 20 now, so he is now more refined!!! 😉
(I hear him once in awhile still running through the da da,dadada du)
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gene, yes, Jon Peter Lewis was on idol!!! i was amazed to see him on the voice!! i was ‘shocked’ to hear he is 31..i’m chuckling here…because when i saw him on idol (season 3) he was a lot younger. 🙂 i never was all that into him at the time but i do know he had his followers. i googled. he was an 8th place finisher. i do remember several people who continued to talk about him ‘year after year’, so i imagine those people will be thrilled to see him if they watch the voice.
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What??? That was JPL…I remember him!!! I’m gonna have to go back and re-watch, lol
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i just finished watching both ‘voice’ shows. i hadn’t been that excited to do it, but wow, once i started watching i was really drawn into it. this is the fun part. and i do like the two new judges. they are great, but it is also great to have adam and blake there because they are part of what makes the show what it is. shakira is far better than christina, and i like usher better than ceeLo. they play well off of each other as well as the other two. immediately i noticed how i was smiling through much of the show. and that is a good thing. i’ve considered not watching any more idol for this season (i’ve never missed a season) because i’ve just not been into any of these people and i’ve got to pick priorities for what i will watch. i think the voice may be my choice.
gene, i too loved the judge’s performance and shakira’s playing the harmonica. i knew who she was but i didn’t know who judith hill was even tho i watched the michael jackson movie. 🙂
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yes vonnie, jpl!!! 🙂 🙂 i loved how he spoke spanish to shakira. 🙂
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Hunter,
He was the one who played guitar; right? I vaguely remember him but he wasn’t on my radar. I’m curious to see where they go in the competition and what music they will choose to do. I suspect they will have a hard time in the knock out rounds though.
The judge’s panel has come together like they have done this for years. I’m very impressed with the smooth transition they have made. Like you said, it probably wouldn’t work without Blake and Adam.
I’m enjoying the season so far. Idol seems different this year. There have been some solid performances but nobodies wowing me. I haven’t risen to my feet and shouted “bring it” or “yes” or anything like that. Janelle did get a seated “way to go girl” tonight, so things are picking up.
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gene, yes jpl was the one with the guitar. i realize..season 3 he was probably 21 if he’s now 31…there is so much difference between 21 and 31. he was a kind of gawky, shy, guy then. i was thinking that the accordion player probably plays more than the accordion so they may whip out various accompaniments. and add the wonderful ‘house band’ to the mix, i bet they will have a lot of fun. adam seemed so excited to get them. it will be interesting to see what they do.
we haven’t been told who will be helping the coaches yet, have we?
i agree with ‘not excited with’ idol. there were several songs in the first two shows of the voice that i replayed a number of times. i don’t know that i’ve done that with idol this season. i will watch this week’s shows and then make my big decision about ‘staying’ or ‘leaving it behind’ for this season which as i said, i’ve never done before.
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this morning as i did my pre-dawn walk, i was thinking about shakira. she is known for her ‘swinging hips’, her body, her hotness. and yet, when i watch her as a judge, i see a very engaged individual who doesn’t have to throw that part of herself out there like christina was always doing. with christina it was off color and ‘dirty’ or ‘tainted’ (the aging, overweight diva, trying too hard).
i do wonder how the judge thing will go down after this season (old ones back, new ones back?). i also remember hearing either adam or blake being interviewed during the start of this season, but they were still filming last season at the same time. they mentioned that it is difficult, that having built a unit with one group, it isn’t easy to then go to the next. seeing how they respond to each other my sense is it was probably difficult to go back and forth, but had this season been done after the other season there would have been no issue, because as you say gene, it appears to be such a smooth transition. genuineness is what i’m responding to.
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Hunter,
I watched several of Shakera’s videos on You Tube the other day, and as you said, they are overtly sexual. I liked “Gypsy” better than the rest because she played her harp. She’s not great at it but I’ll give her credit for the effort. Like you, I am surprised at how demure and sweet she is on the Voice. She seems very genuine. I feel a little bit sorry for her trying to compete for team members against three others who are much better known in the US than she is. I will continue to watch both shows except that I may get p-oed with Idol if they let Lazaro ruin the show. We’ll see.
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