“She’s smoking. Are you going to go? I’ll go if you go.” Danny O’Donoghue, one of “four of the biggest names in music” appeals to fellow panelists on television’s newest talent contest, and such rhetoric is typical of a show where candidates are “chosen purely on the quality of their voice”.
Danny claims The Voice to be “a show unlike any other because it puts vocal ability first”, but the format is familiar. It plays on the big personalities of judges and singers alike. will.i.am sits cool as the American producer and songwriter, forever engaged in battle with The Script’s frontman, Danny. Jessie J offers fun and poised quirk to the proceedings, while Tom Jones remains calm – a legend and mediator. The show is as much about the actions, choices and competitiveness of the judges, as it is about the contestants. In fact, the judges are the contestants, competing with one another to build successful teams to train for ‘battle’.
Music producer will.i.am states that “the blind audition is the most unique part of the process.” Indeed, the format of the show is different from much of what has gone before. Jessie J points out that “our chairs are facing away from the stage so we have no idea what’s going on behind us.”
There is unaffected focus on the voice to avoid prejudice based on appearance. “We don’t even know what they look like. Even if they’re male or female,” states Tom Jones. The concept is an idealistic one. “We’re just hearing the voice. And they’re singing their heart out. I think that’s a beautiful way to go about it,” adds will.i.am.
But what is the music industry, if not a practice in image projection and proliferation? Many contestants comment on their preference of not being looked at, all the time forgetting the millions of viewers, and potential future stardom. It seems wrong to favour a musician without witnessing their performance style. Many artists are incredible for stage presence and their embodiment of the music.
Throughout the short history of the show, many talented artists are unsuccessful because the panel doesn’t witness their passionate performance, or pre-judge their age, gender or size. So yes: image remains a deciding factor, but now within the minds of the judges instead of in quantifiable sight.
The mere process of performing to the backs of four famous artists is daunting enough to make it a formidable competition, and the standard of singers is high. Of course entrants are handpicked by the BBC, as well as being coached for the audition, which is a familiar story. Britain’s Got Talent handpicks contestants to fill the show and The X Factor offers similarly superficial situations.
However inauthentic though, The Voice is enjoyable to watch. There is great suspense during the auditions, and now that teams have been formed, one cannot help but anticipate the ‘battles’. The diverse backgrounds of the judges are refreshing and they certainly are four impressive industry figures.
It may indeed be another televised audition, but it does invite audiences to think about music appreciation on another level - one that favours the voice.