NBC's "The Voice" premiered after the Super Bowl but had its first two-hour episode last night during which contestants auditioned for judges who cannot see them.
The concept of The Voice's blind auditions is to pick only a voice, not appearance or performance style. It allows contestants to be judged when they are invisible to the panel.
It's about developing that singer's skills and expanding song selections. The judge becomes a coach of his or her team of performers, guiding them through multiple mini-competitions against each other before one from each team is left for the final show of "The Voice."
It hasn't seemed to hurt the chances of last season's contestants who got through multiple stages of the competition despite being what some might say was unconventional looking for the next singing star.
The tradition continued last night as 50 year-old Kim Yarbrough of L.A.was chosen by Adam Levine after a soulful rendition of Chaka Khan's "Tell Me Something Good."
When Levine turned around to see her he was pleased as punch. He told her that he hoped she looked like a vibrant soul sister to Ms. Khan who is a woman of size and sure enough she did.
During Monday's program the sniping between Levine and fellow judge Christina Aguilera was kept to a minimum and it wouldn't surprise anyone if the two were told to cool it.
Sunday night's one hour premier of season 2 saw Xtina extremely agitated and feisty, battling her three male counterparts (in addition to Levine, Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green are part of the panel) and saving the most sarcastic and critical remarks for Levine.
Read: "The Voice" returns for season 2 with Christina vs. Adam Levine.
If more than one judge chooses a singer to put on his or her team, the performer gets to choose whose team to join. It has led to pleading, cajoling and sniping by judges at each other. It was not a pretty scene on Sunday.
Monday's two-hour program was a lot less uncomfortable for viewers.
Team Adam Levine: Kim Yarbrough, 23 year-old Angel Taylor who blew the judges away with her rendition of the Adele number, "Someone Like You," and Tony Lucca, a 35 year-old former Mickey Mouse Club companion of Xtina who sang Ray LaMontagne's "Trouble," as he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar.
Team Christina Aguilera: Chris Mann, a 29 year-old classically trained singer who performed "Because We Believe" that included perfectly pronounced Italian lyrics was the first member on the team, soon to be joined by: Jesse Campbell a single parent to an 11 year-old girl was formerly homeless, living in his care. Lindsey Paveo, 22 who chose Trey Songz' "Say Aah." The singing duo dubbed "The Line" consisting of Haley and Leland a boy-girl partnership who while close are not a couple according to them performed, "American Girl," by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Team Blake Shelton: RaeLynn, 17 who was the first singer chosen for the competition as well as the youngest so far. She performed a Miranda Lambert song, "Hell on Wheels" for Lambert's real life husband. Gwen Sebastian, a 37 year-old North Dakota native with a strong country music voice sang "Stay." Jermaine Taylor rounds out Team Blake so far. He spent almost a decade as a background singer with Alicia Keyes and belted out "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne.
Team Cee Lo Green: Angie Johnson, 31 a former member of the U.S. Air Force was picked after singing "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar. Jamar Rogers, a life-long Cee Lo fan, according to him got picked by Green after performing, "Seven Nation Army." Juliet Simms, 25 an indie rocker sang, "Little Darling," a Lennon and McCartney tune.
Another fun and unique feature of "The Voice" is that the judges-coaches perform together and then with their team members. Last night's treat was a medly of Prince's hits. Video posted below.
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