Of the many competitionreality seriesout there, the talent-focused ones tend to be the most endearing. Series that enable individuals to come out and showcase their skills on TVdate back to the 1940s.There is something about witnessing people tap into their unique abilities that captivates audiences year after year.
There is such a wide variety of talents to showcase that there seems to be a series for everyone, whether they are fans of dance, vocal ability, athleticism, or something completely singular. One series in particular where you are guaranteed to see a wide variety of singular talents isAmerica’s Got Talent,a series that does not limit itselfto only one talent category. Memorable acts over the years have included vocalists, comedians, cheerleaders, ventriloquists, martial artists, impersonators, and many more novelty acts.
WhereAmerica’s Got Talentnever ceases to surprisewith the range of talents showcased on the series,The Voiceis a show that has taken an entirely different approach.As the name implies,The Voiceis a seriesthat purports to search for the singular best vocal talent they can produce each season. While on the surface, the two series share features like celebrities on a judges' panel, a host, and a serialized TV format, and it makes sense people might place them in the same category as talent shows. And yet, here are the 10 reasons thatThe Voiceis superior toAmerica’s Got Talentwhen it comes to showcasing talent year after year.
10Singular Focus on Vocal Talent
Rather than spreading the focus across any talent category possible, by honing in on one specific talent,The Voicehas the ability to deliver greatness much more consistently. A part of the structure ofAmerica’s Got Talentis the auditionscan amaze and surprise, but many certainly aren’t up to snuff when it comes to competing against other more focused acts.
And withSimon Cowellon the judges' panel, incorporating lackluster auditions that are meant to engage his sharply critical tongue is also central to the show, which can come with a certain dip in energy, as the judges bicker over how harsh he has been with the talented hopefuls on the stage.Whereas onThe Voice, with the premise of the series being an effort to find the singularly best voice possible, even the auditions that don’t go so well can typically be blamed on a case of nerves, and the judges' feedback is almost always encouraging.
9Blind Auditions
The concept of theBlind Auditions onThe Voiceis an integral part of the series. It contributes to the claim that the focus each season is purely on vocal talent.With the coaches' chairs turned around to start off the season, their first exposure to the vocalists competing each season is sight-unseen.They do not have the opportunity to pair the person with the talent until after they finish singing, or if the coach was impressed enough to turn their chair to claim the talent for their team moving forward in the season.
The Blind Auditions allow the coaches to hone in specifically on what they are hearing, without the distraction of performance and appearance. The idea that something truly excellent can stem from this sight-unseen concept is similar to the desired outcome on the Netflix seriesLove Is Blind, where the contestantsinitially get to know one anotherthrough a wall, listening only to one another’s voices.The Blind Auditions are where the contestant’s journey with their soon-to-be coaches originates, and this relationship is the backbone ofThe Voice.The contestants continue to develop their vocal skills as they bond with their coaches over the course of the season.
8Corny In the Best Way
It’s family TV, so there is a certain level of corny to be expected. But,The Voiceis corny in all the rightways. The coaches are always encouraging the talent, no matter whose team they belong to. It’s always a love-fest on the stage ofThe Voice.Perhaps the corniest aspect of the series is the skits the coaches film together behind the scenes and between auditions while recording on the sound stages of Universal Studios in Hollywood, California.
These planned moments can occasionally turn into the worst kind of cringe, since the coaches are typically known for their vocal talents rather than their acting skills.However, in Season 26, even these skits have taken on a new laid-back vibe of their own withlegendary music industry icon Snoop Dog on site, who seems incapable of being disingenuous, handling these skits like a consummate professional.
7The Coaches Encourage Repeat Auditions
Whereas on some shows the judges are expected to be brutally honest, and even mildly insulting, onThe Voicethe coaches are always encouraging. Even if a contestant does not make it through the Blind Auditions, they frequently receive helpful feedback from the coaches about how to improve their performance and are encouraged to return.
And as Season 26 contestant Felsmere demonstrates, it is never too late for a comeback. She auditioned in the inaugural season in 2011 and even made it through to the Battles before she was eliminated.Now in Season 26, her growth as a vocalist is clear, and she hit a new milestone by beating out Cozy Len in the Battles to move on to the Knockouts round.
6Carson Daly Is An Endearing Host
Carson Daly isone of America’s best knownhosts, having hosted or co-hosted shows for MTV,The TODAY Show, and Premiere Radio Networks. Fans ofThe Voiceknow that his mellow energy is a part of the charm of the series. It also often plays a significant role in his ability to regain control when the raucous coaches' panel needs to be reined in, especially during live recordings.Daly never ceases to cheeron each vocalist during the audition stage.
To see him side by side with the contestants' friends and family, rooting them on and encouraging the coaches to turn around, is to know what an endearing and underrated host he has been for the duration of the series. He always leads with warmth and charm, and to see him root so wholeheartedly for the vocalists auditioning demonstrates his understanding of how high the personal stakes are for each individual who comes out.
5Morgan Wallen
Now this entry falls exactly halfway down the list because therenowned country music star with a bad reputationfalls into the “love him or hate him” category. Despite the heights of where his country singing career has taken him, and the lows of his raucous behaviorlanding him in legal troubles, his vocal talents are indisputable.The superstar got his start on Season 6 ofThe Voice, and he credits the series with helping him discover who he wanted to be as a singer, and also introducing him to his management team.
His success speaks to how well the series prepares individuals for the realities of the recording and entertainment industries. Although not every contestant will reach the level of superstardom that Wallen achieved, the process of working with the coaches, rearranging songs, performing live solo and in groups, helps each vocalist to hone their craft and improve their performance abilities, which are skills they will carry through life, no matter where their career takes them.
4Guaranteed Quality of Auditions
America’s Got Talentcan risk taking on the frenetic energy displayed by many of the competitors' dizzying array of talents. The audition process is also stacked with auditions where the talents featured may be interesting, but they are certainly not at the level where any judge would even consider using their Golden Buzzer, and seem to be included to evoke a negative response from one judge or other.
Whereas onThe Voice, the search for the greatest vocalistbegins at the screening process for auditions.Those who are tapped to be included in the season are typically professional musicians in some capacity, whether they are performing as background vocalists for touring artists, recording and performing their own songs, or working day jobs as singers on cruise ships, weddings, or other entertainment capacities. Peppered in among these seasoned performers are amateur vocalists, usually with a background in choir or gospel singing, contestants who are eager to share their talents on stage, often for the first time. Occasionally, these performers can make rookie mistakes, like letting nerves affect their pitch or breath work, but even then, they are usually able to reign in the performance enough that the coaches encourage them to develop their skills and return.
3Rotating Coaches
Many people are resistant to change.The fuss overreplacing legendary host Alex Trebekon the quiz show seriesJeopardy!demonstrates how seriously TV audiences can react to shifting dynamics on their favorite series.And yet,The Voicehas found a way to make the rotating panel of coaches from season to season part of the charm of the series.Though it is disappointing when favorite longstanding coaches likeBlake SheltonorKelly Clarksonleave the show, the impressive list of rotating music industry talents that the series is able to bring onto the coaches panel makes up for the loss.
Shelton and Clarkson had an adorable competitive energy between them, and the taunting and teasing often felt like siblings bantering back and forth. WhenJohn LegendandChance the Rapperhad the opportunity to compete against each other in Season 25, it brought a whole new energy to the coaches' panel. WheneverGwen Stefanireturns, her pop-rock persona and legendary career command respect, asMichael Bubléhas discovered in his inaugural efforts as coach on Season 26 ofThe Voice.It speaks to the ingenuity of the series thatThe Voicecan take something audiences are typically resistant to and make it their strength.
2Battle Advisors and Mega-Mentors
Getting to see the vocalists onThe Voicegrow as a resultof their work with their coach throughout the season is the main strength of the series. In the latter half of the season,the series introduces additional music industry professionals as Battle Advisors and Mega-Mentors to provide their unique feedback to the artists.
This allows the coaches to listen to other professional musicians' opinions on how they are arranging the song and their vocalists' performance, which enables them to encourage unique qualities they hear in their voices. The contestants are often humbled to have the opportunity to meet and learn from such industry professionals asJames Taylor,Miley Cyrus,Taylor Swift,Ed Sheeran,Joan Jett,Keith Urban,Mariah Carey,Dua Lipa,Usher,and so many more.
1Winning Isn’t the Point
WinningThe Voiceis a significant accomplishment, considering how the series is focused on finding the best singing voice possible each season, in a pool of contestants whose vocal talents are considerably impressive. Watching the vocalists develop their skills and learn from their coaches, advisors, and mentors throughout the season is joyous.
Regardless of how soon they are eliminated, or how far they make it on the series,each contestant walks away with an undeniably unique experience that prepares them to work in the entertainment industry. Compared to other series that invite individuals on simply to showcase their skills,The Voiceis about the journey contestants go on, leaving viewers significantly invested in the contestants' performances on the series and happy to revisit the experience season after season.
The Voiceis available to stream on Peacock in the US.
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Keep Reading:‘The Voice’ Season 26, Episode 5 Recap: The Coach Replay Twist Comes to an End
