Aliyah Moulden is an exuberant artistic 15-year-old contestant who is a Blake Shelton project whom he hopes viewers will fall in love with her talent - (The Voice screen shot photo)

Josh West has a Jim Morrison look going for him and should appeal to the young female viewers of The Voice - (The Voice screen shot photo)   Autumn Turner stood out the most from the Blind Auditions. Her voice is the most distinctive and strong of all of the competitors - (The Voice screen shot photo)

Video Beat - THE VOICE HAS GONE YOUNG

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

This seasons talent of good but not as great as it was last season, the programs best talent ever. Turner is the only performer to have a memorable performance thus far this season - The four chair turnaround contestants COACHES choices were: Valerie Ponzio, 32, (Shelton); Josh West, 17, (Levine); Troy Ramey, 32,(Stefani); Casi Joy, 26, (Shelton); Autumn Turner, 25, (Keys); Anatalia Villaranda, 16, (Keys) and JChosen, 29, (Stefani)

Saturday, March 25, 2017

BLAKE SHELTON'S REP IS ON THE LINE

This season The Voice once again proves that they intend to improve a show that has already matured to being a success. As the saying goes if it ain't broke don't fix it, The Voice is ignoring that idiom by continuing to make good decisions unlike where American Idol took giant steps in failure when they repeatedly made bad decisions in an effort to improve a once good show that they destroyed.

Voice's new wrinkle this season is lowering the eligible age to compete to 13. That decision is reaping benefits already as 13-year-old Quizz Swanigan has made an impact on the show beginning with a three chair turnaround in the blind auditions. He built on that by winning his battle round against Felicia Temple 28, who is a strong singer. Following her defeat Blake Shelton made a bold move by stealing her keeping her in the competition.

Shelton is the competition leader by coaching five of the 11 winners of the contest. This season he's beating his chest for achieving that feat and using two of his winners as an example that he is successful in coaching young entrants to win The Voice.

His past examples are Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery who was 14 turned 15 during the competition. This season his youth project includes 15-year-old Aliyah Moulden who was a three chair turnaround.

Shelton is stretching out of his country music background admits it and has the history to back up his effectiveness in working with youth. Shelton's strength is choosing the right material for his contestants. With Pope he turned a rock singer into a country singer who has made an imprint in the country music business.

Shelton saw something in Moulden that we failed to notice when she sang Hound Dog during the blind auditions. The song did not serve her well but all three judges except Adam Levine, thought otherwise.

When Shelton matched Moulden against Dawson Coyle 17, in the Battle Rounds he chose a song "Walking on Sunshine" that complimented both singers vocal range.

This is where a coach shows their strength when they choose songs and match singers with equal strength to compete against each other. In many instances some songs favor one singer over the other since the song and the chosen key favors one singer over the other.

This song brought out the strength of Moulden's voice and she won the battle despite two judges favoring Coyle in their appraisal of their performance. Shelton chose Moulden and pointed out that he sees's something special in her that he feels the viewers will fall in love with.

Moulden was our favorite contestant in the Blind Auditions based on Shelton's observation, she has something special. She has an excited gleam in her eyes that compliments her enthusiastic performances.

She is very special BUT we don't feel she is strong enough to win the competition. If Shelton can get her to win one more challenge he will back up his claim to be a great coach for young singers. Colye continues to remain in the competition after being stolen by Alicia Keys.

The true test of who is the best coach comes from the four chair turnarounds when the contestant has the opportunity to choose who they feel would work in their best interests. This season there were seven four chair turnarounds with each coach having two contestants selecting them. Levine drew the short straw in this battle of the judges in being selected only once which as we all know makes Shelton very happy.

The four chair turnaround contestants COACHES choices were: Valerie Ponzio, 32, (Shelton); Josh West, 17, (Levine); Troy Ramey, 32,(Stefani); Casi Joy, 26, (Shelton); Autumn Turner,25, (Keys); Anatalia Villaranda, 16, (Keys) and JChosen, 29, (Stefani).

Although there are several strong singers in the competition there aren't as many outstanding voices as there were last season 11. Autum Turner stood out the most from the Blind Auditions. Her voice is the most distinctive and strong of all of the competitors. She chose the perfect song for her voice, Donna Summers "Last Dance."

Her performance was the most outstanding thus far. Based on her quality of voice she should win the title BUT it will be determined by what songs her coach Keys selects for her to sing. Turner has yet to compete in the Battle round and who Keys' chooses to challenge her will be a major factor.

The most interesting and main stream talent is West who is a working musician and has a great look, voice and presentation. He has a Jim Morrison look going for him and should appeal to the young female viewers.

This seasons talent of good but not great as it was last season, the programs best talent ever. Turner is the only performer to have a memorable performance thus far this season. From last season I have downloaded 14 most memorable performances and listen to them over and over again.

This season will be a battle of coaches as the chemistry of talent with coaches will be interesting to see what develops.

National Radio text is published in five languages, Thai, French, Russian, Khmer (Cambodian language) and English, Any of our foreign language material and our Roman Wanderaugh columns is legally available ONLY on our National Radio site. Our sports, entertainment and feature programming has been broadcast on over 1000 radio stations

© Copyright: National Radio. Any use of these materials, whole or in part, is prohibited unless authorized in writing by National Radio. Contact: nationalradio@yahoo.com All rights reserved.