<p>I wasn’t familiar with Thousand Years (no daughters so no “Twilight” in my experience) before hearing it on the Voice… So I googled it and listened to Christina Perri’s version…a sweet, feminine love ballad. </p>
<p>But I kept thinking about that blind audition version and how it was different and it was Matt’s version that got stuck on autoplay in my head. I’ve listened to his “studio” version of the song and I don’t like it as much as his blind audition…go figure. </p>
<p>With respect to whether anyone for the Voice has had MAJOR success like some Idol winners, the answer is no, but I think that’s offset for the viewer by the fact that The Voice is a far more entertaining show. I thought Idol was never the same after Simon Cowell left, with the judges since then just fawning over every contestant, no matter how awful the performance. In any case, the last two Idol winners, Candice Glover and Caleb Johnson, faded into obscurity almost immediately (I had to look up Caleb’s name he’s faded so well). I think given its serious ratings decline, Idol is unlikely produce any winners that the public will take an interest in. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, the best hope for contestants on these shows is that they get enough exposure to be able to earn a living–or continue earning a living–from singing. </p>
<p>I agree that CW is not really interesting. It tends to be repetitive but also mildly entertaining. What it is not is annoying as most of the recent music choices are. I would take an uninteresting singer such as Craig over Iggy Azalea and Adam’s clones all day long. </p>
<p>And speaking about uninteresting, there was nothing interesting in the entire batch of contestants, and that includes Matt, Chris, or Damien. The point that the only one who has a chance to be memorable --even in a narrow CW world- is Craig. Matt and Chris will soon be forgotten in a sea of competent but “nothing” special performers. The fact that you had an untalented singer such as Anita go from zero chairs to four speaks volume about the level of the competition this year. That and hearing the bunch sing in the finale. Case in point … that group performance with Matt, Mia, Taylor, and Sugar, and the second hobbit … could it have been any worse? </p>
<p>Some might see this season as a great season because it was wide open. Others might just see as the best of the average singers emerging by default. None of those guys had star quality and this season was on par with the last two that crowned a dismal winner two years ago and an average one last year. In fact, CWB has probably a lot more chances to get something going than Tessane or Josh ever will. </p>
<p>In the end, the “real life” winners of the Voice will all come from Blake’s stable. The others will have careers (if you call it a career) a la Chamuel – my poster child for a nobody who was pumped up to be a star by the producers of the The Voice. </p>
<p>It was a good thing CWB did his performance with Lynard Skynard AFTER the results were in. That was a total mess and Craig didn’t help the situation any. On the other end of the spectrum of guests there was Bruno Mars, who was his awesome self, followed by Jessie J and Jennifer Hudson.</p>
<p>On to American Idol… no results show this season-- yes!</p>
<p>xiggi - you make me laugh. Why is it I have a picture of eeyore in my mind when reading your posts? And I say that in a loving way. Do you like the show or do you like to hate it?</p>
<p>I still don’t get the hair curlers thing, but he sure pulled it off with confidence. Bruno is absolutely amazing. So was Jennifer, and Jessie J was pretty good too.</p>
<p>I don’t get all the hate that xiggi has for most everyone, but I’m wondering if he is expecting that these singers, who have one week to prep for all of these songs, plus do all the promotional stuff they are required to do, should be able to nail every single performance as well as the famous singers who perform on the show. It’s pretty hard to compete with people who are singing songs they have practiced and sang, perhaps hundreds of times.</p>
<p>Same with AI. I remember an interview with one of the finalists about a solo she had with a superstar. She said they had practiced the song together just one time.</p>
<p>Haha - I think that I am hardly characterized as a pessimistic, gloomy, depressed, anhedonic, old grey stuffed donkey, inasmuch as being the occasional ass might fit! </p>
<p>My point about the crop of contestants is not pessimistic but realistic and balances the overly gushing praises from the coaches. Do we really have to believe that those contestants are what the industry is waiting for? Seriously? </p>
<p>What is wrong with calling it as we … hear it? There have been GREAT performers on this type of show in the past (and mostly abroad) and I have applauded those. In the meantime, can we not compare this crop to say … this:</p>
<p>I did see the performance of The Blower’s Daughter and thought it was terrific. It was the first week I watched and is why I stayed with the show.</p>
<p>I love country music. Just felt like someone needs to stand up for the genre.</p>
<p>Perhaps, but isn’it hard to be pessimistic about the … past? One can be realistic about the present and upbeat about the future. As far as hedonistic tendencies, could looking at what does not work well without tinted glasses make the finer things in life even more enjoyable? </p>
<p>Anyhow, all this philosophical discussion goes well beyond liking Matt and his buddies a lot less than the coaches! </p>
<p>Well I certainly agree that the coaches are a huge reason for the success of the show. I still don’t get why Adam even does it! And I’m dreading Christina next season.</p>