As American Idol winds down a successful season with their new kindler, gentler judges’ table NBC prepares to launch it’s own talent competition reality series titled The Voice with celebrity judges/coaches/mentors Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine (Maroon 5) and Blake Shelton.
The series, hosted by Carson Daly and set to premiere Tuesday, April 26th, puts a new twist on the American Idol model in that the judges face away from the competitors during their initial tryouts in what’s called a “blind audition.” Any performer that gets at least one thumbs-up from a judge chooses one of them as his or her mentor forming four teams that will compete against one another throughout the season.
Here are a couple official trailers in which the celebs talk about the concept of the show and the whole “blind audition” thing:
I think the blind audition concept is a bit of a novelty, but I like the notion of teams headed up by the different mentors and I absolutely LOVE the choice of mentors/coaches! In stark contrast to Idol‘s Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera is a singer’s singer – a talented and unbelievably well trained vocalist who I assume has a clear understanding what it means to be a great singer and will be able to assist these young talents into becoming better.
And Cee Lo Green is a true song craftsman! That dude lives and breathes fresh, new melodies and the craft of song-making. Has anyone recorded two better singles in the last five years than “Crazy” and “F**k You?” I absolutely can’t wait to see what he does with a team of singers with raw talent. He’s going to be able to provide the creativity needed to make for some unbelievably entertaining arrangements and performances – or at least I believe he will.
I confess I don’t know a lot about Adam Levine or Blake Shelton, but it’s good to have a team for the aspiring alt rockers and country performers. (I’m a little surprised they don’t have a straight-forward rapper)
But enough about the show! This post is supposed to be all about Christina Aguilera! Xtina has been a headline staple over the last year, and not all of it good. Between leaked semi-nude pictures, harsh criticism for her film Burlesque (although Christina had the last laugh with a HUGE box office take globally), a flubbed line while performing the National Anthem during the Super Bowl, and splitting with husband and father of her child Jordan Bratman it’s been hard to pick up a tabloid without a story about her.
But I think the tide is turning with Christina siging on for The Voice! One thing the show will remind everyone of, in addition to Christina’s unassailable talent, is that she is mighty fine – as these promo shots for the show prove! (Click the pictures for wallpaper-sized images)
“I am so excited to be part of such a wonderful project that celebrates music and the talent behind it,” Christina said in a statement. “To be given the opportunity to help shape new artists’ careers and mentor them to see their dreams come to fruition is a task I welcome with open arms. I am so happy to be working with fellow Grammy Award winners Adam and Cee Lo as I feel there is so much we can all bring to The Voice.”
Boo YEAH!
Photos: NBC
