Let the seventh season premiere of 'The Voice' be the day we stopped pretending that the contestants are the stars of reality singing competitions.
Over the years - once the novelty of discovering a phenomenal singer on television wore off - the spotlight increasingly turned to the judges, especially as so many famous singers realized that appearing on such a show was a huge career boost. That fact was never more obvious than on Monday night's episode of 'The Voice,' as new coaches Gwen Stefani (of No Doubt) and producer Pharrell ('Happy,' 'Blurred Lines') proceeded to steal the two-hour premiere.
Just to clarify: Unlike some occasions (ahem, 'American Idol,') a judge-centric episode wasn't actually a bad thing. Stefani and Pharrell were actually welcome shots of crackling energy into series, which dominates the ratings despite the fact that it's clearly coasting at this point. Blake Shelton and Adam Levine, both of whom who served as judges since Season 1, could do the show in their sleep.
As a result, Stefani and Pharrell were bursts of new enthusiasm in the premiere. It's obvious the producers recognized they had great chemistry, as all of the audition segments (contestants sing to the backs of the coaches; who turn their chairs around if they like what they hear; then contestants choose which coach's team to join) were unusually long to showcase all the banter.
Here's where other reality shows can learn: Through all the jabs and insults, these four actually enjoy each other's company. (Though the same could not be said with variations of previous coaches on 'The Voice,' including Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Shakira and Usher.)
Stefani talked incessantly about her career success, but unlike her lackluster guest judge stint on 'American Idol' years ago, it was actually for a purpose as she explained to contestants why they should choose her as their mentor. After 16-year-old Bryana Salaz impressed everyone with a knockout version of Ariana Grande's 'Problem,' Stefani told her that experience was the best quality in a coach.
'I think I might have the longest career,' Stefani said pointedly, smiling at her fellow coaches who, indeed, have not been around as long.
Levine shot back immediately with an age joke. 'She's had an incredibly long carer. When I was your age, I started listening to her records,' Levine said as the audience started 'oooh-ing' and Stefani's jaw dropped. 'And they're fantastic.'
Stefani shook her head as Levine started laughing. 'I was starting to like you!' she joked as Levine enveloped her in a 'ah, just kidding' hug. (Bryna chose Stefani as her coach.)
Stefani also wasn't afraid to shake things up, demonstrating to 22-year-old Clara Hong why it's important to have stage presence. She grabbed the microphone, singing a few lines of her song 'Just a Girl' as she strutted around stage, encouraging everyone to sing along. 'You can suck them into your world,' she explained about the audience, who shouted the lyrics back. (Still, Hong chose Levine as her coach.)
Most surprisingly? Stefani had a sense of humor about herself, even bantering with the contestant James David Carter when he told her, 'Thank you for teaching me how to spell 'bananas.'' (In re: the most famous line from 'Hollaback Girl' that goes 'This [expletive] is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S.') She seemed pleased by that.
Meanwhile, Pharrell killed it as a coach already, displaying a surprising ability to immediately connect with contestants on stage.
'When I saw your tears come out, I knew you'd been through a lot,' he told Elyjuh Rene, who gave an emotional performance of 'XO' by Beyonce. 'I don't know your story, but I feel like I get it when I turn around and see you expressing it in everything that you sing.'
He also delivered some life coach-worthy inspirational speeches. 'Did you not have to fight all your life?' he asked as Elyjuh tearfully nodded. Pharrell encouraged him to believe in himself. 'Did you not just sing that on stage just now?' (Naturally, Elyjuh went with Team Pharrell.)
Of course, he name-dropped famous singers he's worked with (Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke) and made sure to mention his Oscar-nominated song 'Happy' whenever he got a chance. Ultimately, he was most effective when he was trying to have some real talk with the singers.
'I've just been told 'no' so many times, it just feels good to see you guys turn around for me,' sobbed Damien, an R&B singer that inspired all the judges to turn around in their chairs with his rendition of 'It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.'
'These moments happening in our lives is confirmation that when someone tells you 'no,' it doesn't mean that you stop,' Pharrell told him. 'Look where you are right now.' (Damien went with Levine.)
Speaking of which, Levine and Shelton - everyone's favorite bromance - seem content to sit back and watch their new co-stars shine.
'These two guys on the end, they're kind of phoning in at this point,' Stefani said to talented Texas singer Luke Wade, pointing to Shelton and Levine, both of whom have coached multiple eventual winners of the show. 'They've been doing it for so long.'
'We've been winning for so long,' Levine protested.
'I am so pumped up. I've never done anything like this before,' Stefani continued, ignoring him. 'I'm all fresh and excited, so I can really give you a lot of focus.'
Pharrell also added that Shelton and Levine were experienced, but that didn't mean they knew it all: 'I know what to do with that voice,' he told Wade.
Wade went with Pharrell.
Post By http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/09/23/the-voice-premiere-gwen-stefani-pharrell-steal-the-show/
0 comments Blogger 0 Facebook
Post a Comment