re: The Voice--Season 6 thread

My thoughts:

I reeeeeally liked the intro, it's probably the best one from any season. Having the coaches divided into duos and each of them doing partials of each others's songs was fun. Poor Blake though, he really has a tough time with anything not Country.

I liked hot Xtina last season. She seemed to have settled some of her bitchiness down. Shakira is a much more genuine and just plain nicer person though (although there's something wooden about her expressions I can't put my finger on... maybe it's the lack of character lines? dunno).

I will miss Cee-lo. His rap was ridiculously hilarious. He was like the Ladies Man (SNL character) of the cast. While his team didn't do all that well and his own performances sucked balls, he was great for comic relief. Usher is LOW-HOE-DEH-HED with talent (especially in comparison) and I like his coaching style because it's so personalized (like when he had the girl sing to the mirror because she had problems singing to others, or the push-ups to help drain nervous energy).

I've begun terming those contestants that I don't see a lot of potential in as "fodder". Unless there's something about them I just didn't see in their performance, they will be sacrificed in the opening rounds (ie: cannon fodder).

I found Christina Grimmie on Youtube last year when I researched Noah Guthrie. She's a phenomenal talent. My guess is that the folks behind The Voice want to bring in a "ringer" to say they have made a superstar. I think it's kinda BS that they allowed her on the show with her star already rising, but I still can't help but pull for her.

Big country (Jake Worthington) did an awesome amount of improvement since he was last on. I really like seeing people come back with such improvements, it's one of the things I think helps put The Voice far above and beyond Idol. His song choice carried him through on that, it was a solid ballad with almost no accompaniment so it really gave his voice a chance to shine. I think he may not have much range though so he's probably a "fodder" pick.

Jeremy Briggs: Seemed a bit to breathy at times and his pacing seemed jerky at times. Maybe it was just nerves but I don't see him making it far. Unless there's something else there, he's "fodder".

Biff. I think his name is awesome. He did a great job but I don't know if he has what it takes to not be a niche singer (Gospel/Soul). Very possible "fodder".

Dawn & Hawkes: Really solid performance. The song wasn't really in my wheelhouse but they did it to perfection. No missed notes, no pitch problems, perfect pacing. The question is are they capable of handling other genres just as well. Time will tell, but they should go far.

Kristen Merlin (lesbian cowboy): She was marginal. Definite "fodder" for the early rounds.

TJ Wilkins: Bennie & The Jets? Done with some soul? Bold choice. He has a pretty good voice and I really like the creativity aspect.

Benjamin Buttons (can't remember the 16-going-on-12 kid's name): The first couple of notes showed he has tremendous potential, he just needs some seasoning. Out of all the folks that have come back, I think (if he does) he will have the largest improvement and make it far.

Nose-stud chick: I think I am about done with the chicks that have that Melanie Martinez sound. It was novel then, but since no one seems to do the voice justice it comes across as annoying (to me).

Bria: She started off her song exactly right: you pick something with a starting note that compliments your voice and you can belt out without musical accompaniment and you sing the frick out of it. She was a bit too screamy for my taste through much of the song, but she was having a LOT of fun with it and that helps (to me) excuse it because that fun carried over. Until she hit the stage I figured Christina Grimmie was the sure thing, but now it looks like we have the makings of an excellent competition between Bria and Christina.