+70
°
F
+74°
+58°
Niagara Falls
Thursday, 16
See 7-Day Forecast
Talented newcomer takes the prestigious crown under coach Adam Levine's tutelage
Tessanne Chin was crowned as the season-five champion of NBC's Emmy Award-winning musical competition series "The Voice" on Tuesday.
A member of Adam Levine's team, Tessanne comes from a musical family and previously sang backup for reggae legend Jimmy Cliff. She hopes her win on "The Voice" will allow her music to find a global reach.
"The Voice" is the season's No. 1 unscripted series on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in every key demographic - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 - plus kids 2-11 and teens 12-17. Through the first 12 weeks of the season, "The Voice" is averaging a 4.9 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, with 14.8 million viewers overall Monday nights, and a 4.4/12 in 18-49 and 14.0 million viewers Tuesdays, according to "most current" averages from Nielsen Media Research. "The Voice" is the No. 5 series, the No. 4 entertainment series and No. 1 unscripted series on those networks in adults 18-49 (rankings excludes sports pre- and post-game shows).
Fans can visit NBC.com's
official show site at www.nbc.com/TheVoice,
and follow along on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/
Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
Predicting who will win a reality singing competition is a little like trying to figure out Google analytics. We think we know what works and what doesn't, but at the end of the day, TV audiences are as hard to predict as search engine rankings.
Still, just as we know page traffic, links and social media factor into what we see on Google, we know a few things about what singers need to do to garner votes.
For starters, performers must have talent. The Cassadee Popes, Carrie Underwoods and Leona Lewis' of the world not only excelled on screen, but in the industry, too. In fact, not one inept singer has won "The Voice," "American idol" or "The X Factor." Say what you will about here-today-gone-tomorrow reality show champs Javier Colon, Taylor Hicks and Melanie Amaro. While it's debatable whether or not they received the marketing push needed to "make it" in music, each is undeniably talented.
But it takes more than talent to motivate voters to pick up the phone and vote. America has a type - types, actually. Singers that fit into certain molds are more likely to make it to the end and win. Versatile belters, country darlings, classic rock throwbacks - these are the performers that move audiences to take action.
When the live rounds begin on "The Voice" this week, 20 talented singers will take to the stage hoping to attract enough votes to advance and ultimately find a spot in the season's final episode.
Who will win? Well, our bold prediction is that Team Blake's three-year reign will end when one of the following is named "The Voice." Each of these singers has done - and will continue to do - what it takes to stand out from the pack.
Kat Robichaud (Team CeeLo): From her blind audition through the "Knockouts," Kat has consistently wowed the judges with her strong voice, high-kicks and unique, glam-rockin' persona. She has the chops, the look and the energy to win "The Voice."
What will it take for Kat to win "The Voice"? "Well, for me, I definitely want to show a little softer side, because I feel like ... the past three songs that I've done, they've all been pretty heavy hitting," she said. "And I do have a little - I can sing a little bit prettier than I have been, you know? But I'm looking forward to doing some more recent songs, as well. I'm excited about that."
If she wins ... "I want to make a rock 'n' roll album," Kat said. "You know, I mean, and like a really, really fun rock 'n' roll album with a - I'm sorry, excuse me, I almost cussed. Why not? With a s---load of theatrics. You know, I'm a huge fan of Queen, of David Bowie. I've said that many times. But I also really love the kind of rock 'n' roll that you get from 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' you know, and 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch.' I really love the rock operas. ... And I think that Fun, their most recent album, I heard, like, hints of that in their album. And I got really excited about that. And I'm a big fan of them.
"So, yes, that's the kind of album that I would want to put out - something that people can really have fun listening to."
>>Follow Kat on Twitter @katrowbeeshow.
Josh Logan (Team Christina): Each season, audiences get their fill of rockers. This year, Josh, whose sound is distinctly fused with R&B and soul, is the king of rock. The singer, who was gigging full-time pre-"The Voice," knows what it takes to get a crowd on its feet.
What will it take for Josh to win "The Voice"? "I feel pretty good about my performances - in looking back," he said. "I think that the key is consistency in a contest like this with so many talented people. You know, because nerves do play a large role in a game. I'm looking forward to playing an instrument in the future, because I'm a guitarist, as well. And maybe to show, like, some other sides of my voice that people just haven't heard yet. So, honestly, I think that's all I'm looking to do in the next couple of performances."
If he wins ... "I really want to work with some amazing producers," Josh said. "That's why I like to put myself out there. And find someone that knows what I do and wants me to do what I do best. And I think that's the realm of R&B-soul, kind of - something in that light.
"I want to, you know, I want to come out with some positive messages and just (something) tight; really funky at times. I mean, I like to think of my style as pretty versatile. And I'd like whatever I record ... to be just something that people want to listen on to see what I'm going to come up with next."
>>Follow Josh on Twitter @Josh_Logan.
Preston Pohl (Team Adam): Preston's distinctive deep voice has left audiences wondering why he waited so long to become a frontman. The former Seventh Day Slumber band member has been a judges' favorite since day one. In getting to the live shows, he defeated above-average vocalist Barry Black and classical music maven Lina Gaudenzi.
What will it take for Preston to win "The Voice"? "I - you know, you just really have to, once you get to this point in the lives, you know, you really have to bring it, and pour it all out on that stage, you know, and try to get America to vote for you. And that's what it's all about, and maybe America will have you back."
If he wins ... "You know, after 'The Voice,' I just really want to put out something soulful and kick it old school, and you know, record it all analog and just - then just bring some of that old warp that you don't really hear anymore," Preston said. "You know, you don't really hear - when you listen, nobody even says, 'I'm going to get a record or a CD anymore.' It's like, 'I'm just buying this single.' You know? I want to put out something that people will, you know, feel warm when they listen to, you know, and they want to listen to the whole thing front to back ... that's my goal. It's just to bring back a touch of class in the music, you know, and I think that's what people are lacking right now."
>>Follow Preston on Twitter @prestonpohl.
Matthew Schuler (Team Christina): Equal parts Trevin Hunte and Jamar Rogers, Matthew is one of the show's best singers, its happiest contestant, and the one who leaves it all on stage (dude likes to sweat!) each round. Since getting four "I Want You" chair turns in his blind audition, Matthew has heard nary a negative word from the coaches.
What will it take for Matthew to win "The Voice"? "Moving forward in the competition, James (Wolpert), Preston and I, like it's - they're really crazy, and we've got some pretty epic performances, to say the least. James and Preston, man, they're ridiculous," Matthew said. "I guess going forward, you know, the voting and you know, when I said it was going live, it's - the pressure's definitely on, you know, for us to continue to do as well as we have. But you know, I think we're all looking at it as a challenge, and it'll be fun, you know, to get up to that."
"This is what we love to do; you know, we're artists; we're musicians; and we're ready for this. So, we're excited," he said.
If he wins ... "Yeah, I actually really agree with Preston a lot. I want to make an album that's, you know, really cohesive, you know, start to finish. I really want to be a storyteller. Like, I write so much, like, all the time. Writing is therapy for me, you know, and it's why I sing.
"And I want my music to be therapy for other people. You know, I want it to encourage people. I want it to uplift people. And I love to expand their imagination to extend their minds. You know, I'm really excited about that."
>>Follow Matthew on Twitter @mschulermusic.
Tessanne Chin (Team Adam): Jamaica's Tessanne also drew four chair turns from the coaches with her blind audition, where she aptly performed "Try." Adam, CeeLo, Christina and Blake called her voice special, powerful and warm. In terms of stage command, they said Tessanne was ahead of the game.
What will it take for Tessanne to win "The Voice"? "I'm looking forward to just really, you know, improving, and, you know, expanding more musically, and seeing what other sounds I can do," she said. "And you know, really making sure to put my stamp on whatever song I do. And to just test other sides the best way I can. So that's my way looking forward."
If she wins ... "For me, it would definitely be like a pop-rock kind of island kind of vibe," Tessanne said of her intended record. "I mean, I absolutely adore Emeli Sandé's new album and people like P!nk and Adele. ... That's the kind of music I'm into. I also love Lana Del Rey.
"So you never know with me. I just want to make good music and lasting music -music that will be around for a very long time, even when I'm not."
>>Follow Tessanne on Twitter @Tessanne.
Grey (Team Adam): Grey's rockin' pop has impressed the judges thus far. The Berklee-trained wedding singer has the show's biggest head-to-head wins this season, defeating top 20 finalist Nic Hawk in the "Battle Rounds" and four-chair-turn, comeback player of the year James Irwin in the "Knockouts."
Grey was unavailable for comment following the "Knockouts," but previously told BTS, "You know, as far as, like, what's prepared me, I think it's just, you know, I constantly put myself in these uncomfortable situations. Like, I'm constantly auditioning for things, and I think the more you do that, the better you get at it, and the pressure seems to, you know, not, like, fade, but you kind of know what to expect going into it."
>>Follow Grey on Twitter @MusicbyGrey.
Olivia Henken (Team Christina): Olivia's goal in entering "The Voice" was to show she's more than a pretty face. So far, she's done just that, attracting the ear of both Christina and CeeLo in the blind audition, and then outperforming powerhouse singer Stephanie Anne Johnson in the "Battle Rounds" and versatile performer Destinee Quinn in the "Knockouts."
The country artist is no stranger to this type of platform, having entered more than 100 singing competitions.
Why Christina chose Olivia, and what the competitor will do in the live shows: "Yes, it was definitely emotional," Olivia said. "(Christina) paired us together for the country artists. And Destinee's been one of my best friends here. I think me, Shelbie and Destinee were, like, the country trio there for a while. But Christina told me that - well there's a lot that wasn't shown, also, but she said that there's something in the way I'm consistent in all my performances.
"She wished that the song I picked actually was a little bit more emotional. She said that it wasn't the song that she we would've picked for me. So that was - when she said those things, (I) obviously didn't think that I ever would win the 'Knockout.' But she said she saw something in my voice that she thinks that I can go on to the next level. And that she wants to help me with song selection.
"And we've done that so far to prepare for lives. So I'm so thankful that she still believed in me enough to keep me around. And what we've done so far to work on lives, I can see where she wanted to take me.
"But with the song selection that I chose, I can see why she thought that. She just wanted to see more emotion and me pretty much pour my heart out on the lineup there instead (of) worrying about belting.
"But it's going good so far working for lives. I'm just super, super thankful that she kept me around long enough to make it to the live (shows)."
>>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviahenken.
Will Champlin (Team Adam): Will started the season by getting four chair turns. Since then, Christina and Adam have traded him back and forth, each stealing him once. In the "Knockouts," Will flat-out floored the judges with his dynamic rendition of "When I Was Your Man."
What will it take for Will to win "The Voice"? "You know, I think that, you know, every time I progress forward, I'm always trying to go to the drawing board to see what I have to do next or what do I have to add to my element of surprise that I didn't have before. And not to lose anything or drop anything, but to just keep adding on - like you're building a kingdom, I think. I think, in my opinion, I have to - I have - I feel like I have a lot to prove, you know, and I'm going to do it. I just - I feel that, you know, it's whatever song I did, I have to make it my own, and I have to be original with it."
If he wins ... "During the break (from filming), I went home and I did some writing and producing ... like really trying to hone in and just define my sound," Will said. "It's just - it's cool. I mean, I've been producing and writing, you know, and programming beats and stuff on Ableton Live so much, in like, you know, like, I've had production and engineering experience for a long time now.
"And that's kind of what I've done before I came here, even partly as, you know, a part-time career as well. And I've just kind of like gone in and focused and just tried (to make) the most eclectic-sounding songs I could make, you know. And we're talking, like, really big dubstep beat with some banjo on it and jam with my soul, like, kind of soulful vocal sound over it. And you know, some of the verses are a little bit, like, more lyrical kind of - with melodic rap a little bit. Just kind of carving out a niche that's somewhere between, I'd say, like Alex Clare, Matisyahu, a little Timberlake and Black Keys and AWOLNATION, maybe a little bit. That's the kind of sound I'm trying to go for."
>>Follow Will on Twitter @willchamplin.
"The Voice" airs this week on Monday at 8 p.m., Tuesday at 9 p.m., and Thursday at 8 p.m., on NBC. For more on the show, visit www.nbc.com/the-voice.
>>Follow Joshua Maloni on Twitter @joshuamaloni.
•All photos in this article are by Tyler Golden/NBC.
Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
Can a shy singer, whose preferred studio is her bedroom, win "The Voice?"
Holly Henry, 19, who entered the show admittedly shy and with little performing experience, is now halfway through television's top singing competition.
In the "Battle Rounds," she was paired with Cilla Chan for a rendition of Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn." Their coach, Blake Shelton, said he was looking for someone to rise to the occasion. When the duet-duel was over, he picked Holly.
"I'm not exactly sure (why he picked me), to be completely honest, because I'm not a pop singer, and I'd never sung that song in my life," Holly said in a phone interview. "And Cilla is much more of a pop singer than me, so, I mean, if it were up to me, I would probably have given it to Cilla, to be honest.
"But I think I just worked really hard on it and tried to, like, make it so that my style came through, because I can't, like, change to be a pop vocalist, you know? I just - it's something I can't really do. So I think maybe I just sing it in my own style."
The challenge was invaluable for Holly as she headed into the "Knockout" rounds, which will air this week.
"I guess it just gave me experience, because I had never done that before," she said. "I had never done a duet, and I'd never, like, shared the stage with somebody. I never even had a band, so I mean, I suppose it just prepared me."
All four coaches loved Holly's sultry voice in the blind audition, and each gave her an "I Want You" chair turn. But if she is to win "The Voice," Holly knows she'll have to work on her stage presence.
"Well, in general, since performing isn't really something I'm incredibly strong at, at least I wouldn't say so - I've never done it much - so stage presence is something that I definitely need to work on," she said. "I didn't really 'work the stage' (against Cilla). I don't know; I kind of just stand in one place and sing, so I should probably work on, like, having more of a stage presence."
Fortunately, Holly is gaining comfort - and confidence - with each performance.
"I'd say so," she said. "I still get incredibly nervous. But when I'm on the stage it's like I have no nerves, and that's kind of a new experience for me, because I've always been a very kind of shaky, nervous performer. But, yeah, I think it's definitely helped me out in that area."
One of the benefits of appearing on "The Voice," of course, is the opportunity to make fans. Holly said she enjoys chatting with the audience.
"I interact well with my fans and online in general, like a lot. That's kind of my hobby," she said. "I, like, run a blog and my Twitter is full of people at the moment. But, yes, I really like to interact with the (fans). Some of them are absolutely, literally insane, but a lot of them are incredibly good and supportive, and I feel really lucky to have the supporters that I do, to be honest."
Regardless of where she finishes on "The Voice," Holly, a Minneapolis girl, plans to make singing her thing.
"Yes, for sure," she said. "I feel like this whole experience has kind of opened my eyes to, like, the fact that I really like to do this, and it's something that I think I could just pursue and just have a time with, so for sure."
The "Knockout" rounds begin this week on "The Voice." The show airs Monday at 8 p.m. and Tuesday at 9 p.m. on NBC. Find more about the show online at www.nbc.com/the-voice.
Follow Holly Henry on Twitter @hollymaehenry.
Follow Joshua Maloni on Twitter @joshuamaloni.
Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
"The Voice" gives new meaning to '"lose the battle, win the war" - at least for those singers who are "stolen" in the show's "Battle" and "Knockout" rounds. For these performers, a loss in a head-to-head competition eliminated them from one team, and led to their selection by a second team.
While that might not sound preferable (losing is never ideal), consider this: Most singers enter the blind auditions hoping to work with either Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera or Blake Shelton. The singers who are stolen get the chance to work with two of these coaches. Such a once-in-a-lifetime experience can far outweigh a one-time hand raise.
Juhi and Will Champlin, two singers "stolen" in the "Battle Rounds" this season, seem to think so. She left Team CeeLo for Team Adam, while he joined Team Christina after spending time with Team Adam.
"Oh it's been crazy; it's awesome," Juhi said in a phone interview. "I mean, I think it's great, because going into like blind I was like, 'OK, I either want CeeLo or Adam,' and I ended up getting both, so that was a pretty good package for me."
"It was great," Will added. "I mean, I was pretty much open to like, depending on what I was going for, which coach I would pick, and ended up being Adam I went to. I kind of just aimed for edgy rock. ... And Christina was the only one that didn't turn for me at the time, but she ended up stealing me. And like the other night and which was like, 'Oh, that's awesome.' ... I just felt like it was really great. It felt great to win her ears over."
All four coaches have attained a rare level of success in the music industry, and all have taken a different path to stardom (Adam is rock; CeeLo is R&B-ish; Christina is pop; Blake is country). As such, each coach brings something new to mentoring.
"I think it's definitely differed," Juhi said. "I mean, that's the cool part about working with different coaches is they all have different styles. And they pick out certain things that the other coach wouldn't be able to pick out, and it's definitely, like, a great learning experience."
"You're going to get something from each coach that's special and different, and I don't think it's necessarily going to clash (with) what another coach would advise you and teach you, tell you what exactly - I don't think it would clash with what another coach would suggest in your performance," Will said. "So I think that it all, in my experience, it helps quite a bit to work with two different coaches."
More singers will be "stolen" this week when the "Knockout" rounds begin on "The Voice." The show airs Monday at 8 p.m. and Tuesday at 9 p.m. on NBC. Find more about the show online at www.nbc.com/the-voice.
Follow Juhi on Twitter @Juhix3.
Follow Will Champlin on Twitter at @willchamplin.
Follow Joshua Maloni on Twitter @joshuamaloni.
Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
As "The Voice" narrowed its field of competitors almost in half during the "Battle Rounds," coaches Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton began to identify standout singers. In the second episode of the show's second round, Kat Robichaud was branded as one to watch after she triumphed over R. Anthony.
"Kat, I was the only idiot that didn't turn around (for you to be on my team); you know, it's just - my biggest regret from the blind auditions was that," Adam said following Kat and R.'s performance of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." "I just love your intensity, and I love how you kind of commit."
"Kat - I mean, look at her arms," Blake said. "Even right now, just her arms, she's pumped. I got a feeling that if she's checking the mail, she does it with just like this (makes an aggressive grabbing motion). I just think, no matter what she's doing, it's that type of energy. That intensity. I give this to Kat. I really do."
"Kat, when you sing, you have this stance, and this presence, and it's kind of like a tiger. I just see that claw coming out - you just rip right through a vocal," Christina said.
Kat's coach, CeeLo, called her "a dynamo."
"I need a natural disaster like you," he said. "I need a storm like you."
The coaches' comments were in line with their remarks following Kat's blind audition. From day one, they have branded her as a wild child and a rebel rocker.
The singer said she couldn't be happier with their comments.
"I think I was just on cloud nine," Kat said in a phone interview. "There's just no feeling to describe that. I just felt so good about my performance, and I was just so happy in that moment. And it was just like high-fiving a million angels. It was unbelievable.
"And all the coaches were so generous with their comments. I really just could not have asked for more. And also I felt like ... R. Anthony was just so gracious. And he put on such an amazing performance, as well."
"I just feel really lucky to be on CeeLo's team, to have had the coaches say the things that they have said," she added. "I just love - Blake's always got the best comments about, you know, like me ripping the mailbox apart. Like where does that even come from? That's really funny. But then CeeLo called me a storm and (Christina) a tiger, and it was just one of those moments in my life that I'll just never forget. It was just awesome."
Kat entered "The Voice" looking to take the next step with her music career. She's taken advice from CeeLo and his adviser, Miguel, and she is honing her craft daily, readying to return to the stage.
"Every day I've been practicing piano for hours, because it's the next instrument that I really want to get into," she said. "I've played guitar for almost a decade. Now I want to play piano because it's - I want to center a band around me writing on the piano and playing the piano, because it's a little bit more of the glam rock I'm going for - the theater rock - with Queen and David Bowie.
"I really love Amanda Palmer and she has an enormous impact on me. And I've been a fan of hers for years. So I'm just hoping from the show I'm just going to make a lot of connections and it's going to help me network with a lot of other really amazing musicians that I can hopefully work with in the future and just create really awesome music with."
Kat said "The Voice" has put her back on track with her intended career path.
"It's what I planned on doing all along," she said. "When my band broke up about a year ago, I never had any intention of stopping - you know, not playing music anymore. I always wanted to play music. I just realized this isn't working in this capacity. I have to move on. I have to start something new. And right around that time, I got the opportunity to audition for 'The Voice,' and so I took it, because it is such a great way to network, to learn, and to grow as a musician."
Kat is headed into the "Knockout Rounds" where, she promised, "I'm just gonna' bring it; I am going to be that dynamite; I am going to be that tiger. I am going to do this!"
The "Battle Rounds" continue tonight at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 9 p.m. on NBC. For more on "The Voice," visit NBC's official website at http://www.nbc.com/the-voice.
>>Follow Kat on Twitter @katrowbeeshow.
>>Follow Joshua Maloni on Twitter @joshuamaloni.
Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
No matter the season, the coaches or the competitors, one thing remains constant on "The Voice": The "Battle Rounds" are super entertaining for the audience and completely awkward for the singers.
For fans of the show, the "Battle Rounds" are a prime opportunity to survey the field and find a singer or singers to cheer on and vote for in the live playoffs. But for the vocalists, paired up in a winner-advances-loser-goes-home format, the concept is artificial to what they find in real life. I mean, it's not as if two singers performing at a bar are told the manager's favorite gets paid while the other will be sent packing.
A prime example of the "Battle Rounds" unusual format took place last week in the duet-duel between Team Christina's Jacquie Lee and Briana Cuoco. Together, the singers complemented each other on "House of the Rising Sun," and could've passed as a full-time duo. But when the performance was over, only one could continue with Christina (Jacquie), while the other became a free agent (Bri landed with Team Blake).
"It was definitely a tricky combination, because one side is - you have to remember you're competing with them, but on the other hand, it's - you want to complement each other's voices and make the performance be the best performance, like, overall as a whole," Jacquie said in a phone interview. "So what me and Bri did was we had a discussion that when we found out we were paired as 'Battle' partners ... we said that we were going to help each other out, and our goal was to get one of us stolen so that we could both remain in the competition."
Though the "Battle" was difficult, Jacquie said she was pleased with the results.
"I think we achieved the goal, obviously, and we were just really happy about it," she said. "I mean, it's hard competing against your 'Battle' partner, because you spend so much time with them and you become their friend. So in me and Bri's scenario, we got really fortunate and I think our hard work paid off."
For the coaches on "The Voice," the "Battle Rounds" are a time to separate the good singers from the great ones.
Christina said, "I've seen so much growth in Jacquie," and called her apprentice a "lion in a kitty cat's body."
Jacquie said the second round provided an opportunity to learn from her coach, who is an iconic and successful pop singer. Christina has given Jacquie a new level of confidence.
"From the blinds to the 'Battles,' I got more comfortable with the stage, and (I sang) the beginning of my song a capella, so I definitely took more risks. ... And I think it was just a risky choice and the whole thing was just pretty risky, so that's one way I improved, is just taking risks and sort of stylizing the song and making it my own," she said. "And Christina helped me with that by pretty much giving me amazing advice to just research the song and find out the core meaning of it and, you know, find out the story and, like, ways that you can relate to it. And that is what helped me the most. And she also did give me some pretty cool ideas of, you know, pretty cool risks, because she's the queen of that."
The "Battle Rounds" continue tonight at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 9 p.m. on NBC. For more on "The Voice," visit NBC's official website at http://www.nbc.com/the-voice.
>>Follow Jacquie on Twitter @jacquieleemusic.
>>Follow Joshua Maloni on Twitter @joshuamaloni.
Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
"50 Shades of Grey" may be all the rage in Hollywood, but it only took one performance from Grey the singer to convince three coaches she can win season five of "The Voice." On the fifth and final night of the blind auditions, Grey's rendition of Kelly Clarkson's hit "Catch My Breath" drew "I Want You" chair turns from Adam Levine, CeeLo Green and Blake Shelton (who, in fact, turned a full 360 degrees).
"I like her a lot!" Blake said.
"Yeah? I like her more!" Adam said.
The coaches fought hard for Grey, 25, a wedding singer originally from Jacksonville, Fla.
"You know what? My heart's pounding right now ... and this only happens every now and then, (when) I hear a voice that I truly think has what it takes to go on and win this thing. I believe in you already," Blake said.
CeeLo called her voice, among other things, "accommodating and warm and friendly. There was just enough of everything."
"I think your voice is perfect. That's why I turned around," he added.
Even Christina Aguilera, who didn't turn her chair, said, "The cool thing about you, which is gonna' work to your advantage during the competition is that, as the song kept going on, you kept getting better.
"Maybe I missed out, but, there's always 'Battle Rounds.' "
The remarks were welcome affirmations for Grey. Though she has performed since childhood, she has struggled to find a way to make a living as a full-time touring artist.
"I work in Boston. I'm a wedding singer. I've always kind of, you know, I've (sang pretty much in weddings) for a long time and, you know, my performance experience has pretty much just been that: a whole lot of weddings, a lot of unglamorous bars, and not the prettiest side," she said by phone.
Still, when the bright lights shined and the cameras rolled, Grey knew exactly what do to.
The singer, unlike some of her competitors on "The Voice," held steady once the coaches turned for her. That cool under fire, as much as her talent, swayed Adam.
"A unique ability that singers have, sometimes, is the ability to transcend the circumstances and kind of, like, be bigger and better when the pressure is really on. And so the fact that you've gotten through this and thrived, I would be thrilled and ecstatic to steal you away from these lovely guys ... because I think that you're extraordinary. I really do," he said.
That last pitch made the difference, as Grey selected the Grammy Award-winning pop-rock star.
"Picking Adam was kind of, like, a no-brainer at the end of the day for me," Grey said. "I love his coaching style. ... He has such an open mind. ... He wants to kind of grow with you and figure you out as an artist, too. ... And he just said things that resonated with me, and it was just a no-brainer to pick him."
Heading into "The Battle Rounds" (which were pre-taped and air this week), Grey said she had to rely on her life experiences. She attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, but said that didn't help when it came time to square off with another Team Adam member.
"You know, Berklee is great, but I feel like I don't have any kind of advantage going in, just because I've had any kind of training like that," she said. "You know, this is a really scary time. It's a really exciting time but, you know, as a performer, like, we all have our strengths and we all have the things that we need to work on. And I think that, you know, it's kind of an unnatural situation. So we all handle it differently.
"You know, as far as, like, what's prepared me, I think it's just, you know, I constantly put myself in these uncomfortable situations. Like, I'm constantly auditioning for things, and I think the more you do that, the better you get at it, and the pressure seems to, you know, not, like, fade, but you kind of know what to expect going into it. But nothing can really prepare you for a battle on 'The Voice.' So it's pretty intense."
Grey has the talent to make it past "The Battle Rounds" and "The Knockouts." Beyond that, should she advance to the live rounds, she'll have one big advantage over the rest of the field: the most remarkable, easily remembered name.
"Oh, my gosh. Honestly, my last name is terrible," Grey said, laughing. "It's so long; it's Paluszynski and, you know, it just doesn't really roll of the tongue very well. And I don't know; I've always gone by Grey. My full name is Greylyn Paluszynski, but (Grey) just kind of stuck. I don't know. Everybody was, like, 'Yeah, that's a cool name. You should stick with that.' "
And for those who are wondering, "I don't think I'm Cher or Prince or any of those people!" Grey said.
"The Voice" airs Monday at 8 p.m. and Tuesday at 9 p.m. on NBC. Find more about the show online at http://www.nbc.com/the-voice.
>>Follow Grey on Twitter @MusicbyGrey
>>Follow Joshua Maloni on Twitter @joshuamaloni
Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
As it turns out, "The Voice" can work just as well for a singer with good looks and a well-known name as it can for those vocalists without those advantages.
Briana Cuoco entered season five of NBC's "The Voice" with a fresh look and a famous sister, "The Big Bang Theory's" Kaley Cuoco. But just like every other competitor, Briana sought to be judged solely on her singing ability.
"Yes, for sure. I mean, I think people automatically think that because my sister is successful in one field of the business that I automatically have an in," she said by phone. As it turns out, her last name has made a music career more challenging than one might expect.
"I am incredibly lucky to have (Kaley), and have her support, and have been around the business for a long time. So I have that on my side, absolutely. But on the other side, I do have ... more pressure on me. I think people expect a little bit more because of that, which is a great thing, because it keeps me driven, but it also can be a little harder sometimes when people are a little extra critical sometimes, in certain cases."
Fortunately for Briana, 24, coaches Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton couldn't tell what she looked like, or what family she came from, when she participated in the "The Voice's" blind auditions.
Following Briana's rendition of Lady Gaga's "You and I," the singer netted "I Want You" chair turns from both Christina and CeeLo.
"Sometimes you are sitting in the seat and you're struck by the subtleness of a vocal, and then sometimes you're just moved by power and raw talent," Christina told Briana. "I really enjoyed it.
"It's hard to get up there," Christina said. "You've got your nerves going; all this stuff. And you held out those notes really, really strong. You made me very happy."
"I felt that same power in your voice that Christina described it as so eloquently, and I want to be closer to it, as well," CeeLo said.
Ultimately, Briana opted to go with Christina, shouting "Girl power" as she moved to embrace her new coach.
Now, having made it on the show based on her voice, Briana can rely on Kaley to generate a few more fan votes.
"I think now it's the best of both worlds, because I get her on my side as well," Briana said.
As the singer moves into "The Battle Rounds," Briana said audiences would see more of who she is as an artist.
"I hope as it progresses there's a bit of a growth," she said. "I mean, I certainly didn't think my final audition was the best performance of my life singing, so I hope the audience can see growth and see that my voice gets stronger. ... But I can perform a song and tell a story in a song. And, yes, I sing some old-school stuff and some soul and blues and I'm really excited."
"The Voice" airs Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC. Learn more about the show at http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/.
Briana is on Twitter at @bricuoco
Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
If there was a theme for "The Voice" in week two of the blind auditions, it was second chances.
For James Irwin, season five is an opportunity to prove he is better than his season four performance. Olivia Henken is using "The Voice" to show onlookers she's more than just a pretty face. Monika Leigh is returning to the stage more determined than ever after walking away from music for four years. Will Champlin, meanwhile, is hopeful audiences will overlook his famous father and give him a chance to succeed on his own musical merits.
James Irwin, 31, from St. Louis
In season four, James Irwin auditioned for "The Voice" on the heels of losing his newborn twins. Still reeling from this family tragedy, and looking for ways to make ends meet, he was admittedly distracted when singing for coaches Adam Levine, Shakira, Usher and Blake Shelton. As a result, James failed to garner any "I Want You" chair turns.
While other men would recoil in disappointment, James was bound and determined to make a go of it. He returned to "The Voice" with an unwavering desire to show he can sing.
Performing this season for Adam and Blake, as well as CeeLo Green and Christina Aguilera, James earned four chair turns.
"I don't think anyone has ever come back after not making it and had all four chairs turn around," Adam said. "I think that's the first time ever."
"I was so drawn in immediately," he said.
"From go, your very soft opening, I think you captivated all of us, and you intrigued us," Christina said. "You seem so versatile. It takes hard work and dedication. It sounds like you could almost do anything."
"I was moved" by James' "great rendition," CeeLo said.
"Whatever you did in that span of time from last time that you auditioned till now is great," Blake said. "I don't know if you did something in here (head), or in here (heart), or here (throat), whatever it is, you're ready for this thing now. You're ready to win this thing now."
"I really just kind of, you know, focused more," James said by phone. "I didn't really do any, like, vocal training or anything too much different than what I already do or have done in the past, which isn't much. I just tried to really make sure that when I went up there this time I just, like, gave it my all.
"I really, you know, just made sure that I didn't hold back and made sure I sang with a lot of emotion and I just, I tried to just sing in a way that I was like singing through those chairs that I just kind of like, you know, let them know how much I wanted it and like how, you know, how badly I was trying to get those chairs to turn around. And just, you know, trying to translate that emotion with my voice."
On stage, a humbled (and excited) James listened as each coach made a case for his services. In the end, he selected Adam.
Though James has already redeemed himself professionally - reaching a music pinnacle few see - he isn't ready to stop working at his craft. It's for that reason he teamed with the Maroon 5 singer.
"I was attracted to Adam's team just because, I mean, all of the other coaches they all, you know, said very nice things and were very complimenting, (but) I just felt like Adam was the one who was the most honest. You know, he said it wasn't ... it could have been a better performance, and I felt the same way.
"And I wanted to be with a coach that would really, you know, make me a better artist, make me a better singer and not just, you know, be like, 'Hey you were awesome. Come be on my team.' I wanted someone to keep it real, like, 'Hey man, it was a good performance. But I can make you better.' That's what I wanted to do; I wanted to be a better artist, a better singer, a better performer. That's what I always strive for. That's why I chose Adam."
Follow James Irwin on Twitter @jameskirwinstl.
Olivia Henken, 25, from Louisville
To make it in the music business, one has to have vocal chops and marketability.
But for country singer Olivia Henken, the latter was, unfortunately, starting to cloud the former. So, she entered "The Voice" to make a name for herself as a singer, hopeful audiences will look past her looks and listen to her vocals.
On stage at the blind auditions, singing Carrie Underwood's "Two Black Cadillacs," Olivia was able to make a connection with Christina Aguilera, a singer who, despite her good looks, has unquestionably convinced audiences of her vocal prowess.
"Olivia, you have to be on my team," Christina said. "I was struck by your voice. Something in it just totally connected with me. I just felt the power."
CeeLo, too, was impressed with Olivia and encouraged her to perform different types of songs on "The Voice."
Olivia said her chosen coach, Christina, has helped reinforce what she's been working on for eight years, and that is proving she's not just another blonde country singer.
"I ... mentioned Guns N' Roses were an influence of mine and I've actually - I have a band here in my hometown. One of my bass players is actually a rock guy and my guitar player is a blues guy. So they've actually brought out, like, very different sides in me, and I think my performance - you know, the stage presence that I've learned over the years performing here at home - that it sets me apart," Olivia said by phone. "And Christina, obviously, is an amazing artist herself, and has told me numerous times throughout, you know, the journey so far that she wants to show America that there's more to me than, you know, a country artist. And I hope that with her help that I can get some (song) choices that, you know, don't necessarily just show my country side, that they can show that I can do rock, blues and some soul.
"And I just - I want to show America that there's more to me than just ... Carrie Underwood."
"I know I said last night on the show that there's a lot of blonde country singers out there, but I hope this show can help me show America that I have something different than them and, like, there's something that sets me apart. And I can't wait to hopefully show them, you know, what that is about me," she added.
Olivia has had the benefit of participating in myriad stage contests and competitions. Those events have taught her a thing or two about navigating her way through "The Voice."
"I mentioned that I've been in over 100 contests and obviously some of those didn't have the best of outcomes. And I think that losing, obviously, helps you in these kind of situations because going in, you know, you don't know if someone's going to turn for you, and you don't know if your talent's going to be validated," she said. "So I think throughout my time with the competitions and all the singing things that I've done in my life, like you just realize that you can't please everybody. And you just go out there and, as long as you do your best and, you know, show America who you are as a person, that's all I can do. All I can do is Olivia's best. So I feel like I did that on my blind audition. I told myself going out there, 'You've done this, you know, 1,000 times. Just go out there and show them that you deserve to be here.' And I hope that America - not only America thinks it, but I'm so glad that Christina and CeeLo saw that as well."
Follow Olivia Henken on Twitter @oliviahenken.
Monika Leigh, 28, from Boulder, Colo.
After fours years away from music, you'd think Monika Leigh would be a little out of practice. But if her blind audition is any indication, she's far from rusty.
"It is called 'The Voice,' and that's why I turned around, because it just seems really pure," Adam said following Monika's performance of "The Thrill Is Gone." "It's hard to sing that way, too. People over-sing; they don't have a soulfulness; they kind of get too caught up in how much they can do. But you do it in a subtle, amazing, beautiful way. I would consider you to be the centerpiece of my team."
"I love the way you sang so womanly," CeeLo said. "In the story in the song is that the thrill is gone. But you sounded so cool with that; very accepting and embracing that reality. That's what I appreciated about your voice."
"I figured out early on in your performance that all the elements of just being a technically good singer were there, and then I just fell in love with your voice," Blake said. "It's the same thing that would make me want to turn my stereo up if you came on the radio. There's just something that you have - it's just star quality, is what it is."
Monika chose Blake, who has won the past three seasons of "The Voice." Now, just a short time into her comeback, she has, remarkably, gone from more or less performing for one living room's worth of people to performing in everyone's living room on TV's top-rated vocal competition.
"I stopped in music for about four years. And there was an event in my life that kind of made me want to pursue music again, and I just decided I'd try," Monika explained. "So I did it, like open mic gigs. I tried a lot of little things in Boulder, Colo., like, just I thought of doing open mic-type (things), and next thing I know, I was like, 'I'm going to audition for "The Voice." '
"So, yes, this - 'The Voice' - was the big, the big (kahuna). That was the big thing, but trying to get into that, I just did local gigs and open mic gigs in Boulder.
But "the doors just kept opening, and I just kept walking through it," she continued. "You know, it starts out with emails saying 'Do you want to audition for "The Voice?" ' That kind of stuff, and then another little door will open, and then the next thing you know, I'm flying out to California to try and audition. And, you know, these little doors just kept opening up for me, and I just kept going through it. And I think that that's the momentum that I'm going to keep up throughout the whole show for the whole season and after that, as well."
Follow Monika Leigh on Twitter @monikaleigh1.
Will Champlin, 30, from Los Angeles
Will Champlin's father, Bill, was a member of Chicago. ... As in, the American band that sold more than 100 million albums. Bill is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who has toured the world, performing in the largest venues in front of the biggest audiences.
Talk about a musical pedigree.
But that was Bill, and Will is looking to make a name of his own.
Auditioning for "The Voice" coaches, Will proved he is a unique and talented singer in his own right.
Following his rendition of Gavin DeGraw's "Not Over You," Adam told Will, "You have a really incredible voice, bro. Like really good. Really good. I can't think of one thing that wasn't spectacular about that performance. That was incredible."
"I think you're a real talented guy," he added.
"I tell you what, that was just some powerful singing with a lot of passion, and great pocket; great pitch," Blake said.
"I think you and I could win this thing together," he added. "No question about it."
Following such high praise, Will opted to go with Adam.
"Well it was a tough choice," he said by phone. "I originally said I was - I had on my mind that I was going to go with CeeLo, because I thought that he would be able to relate to my soulful, R&B kind of roots that I came up on. And, but instinct just kind of took over, and I knew that I had to be mentored by somebody that did - that just kind of knew the market I was going for. And I just thought that ... on an instinctive level that Adam was the coach for me.
"So Adam really got it and explained to me with the right commentary that he was the guy for me."
As Will sets out to make his mark, he might have a little help from last season's voting audience. Following his audition, Adam compared Will's style to super-popular finalist Michelle Chamuel.
"I was honored to hear that," Will said. "She's absolutely a great artist in my mind, and I would love if America thought that as well. So I really think that was a great - I was honored by that comment."
Follow Will Champlin on Twitter @willchamplin.
"The Voice" airs Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC. Learn more about the show at http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/.
>>Follow Joshua Maloni on Twitter @joshuamaloni.
Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni
Season five of NBC's "The Voice" kicked off with rousing performances from a new batch of singers eager to work with coaches Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton. Among the week-one standouts, audiences met:
Kat Robichaud, 29, of North Carolina
Prior to "The Voice," raspy rocker Kat Robichaud already had a backing band and the opportunity to tour. There was just one problem: She was barely making enough money to survive.
"Well, my band broke up in October. I wasn't happy with the way things were going," she said. "I was just spending so much time on the road, and we were just going in circles and just not really getting anywhere. So it was a really hard decision for me to step away from that."
Kat is using "The Voice" to relaunch her career.
"I never had any intention of not playing music. It just happened to be that, when the band broke up, the opportunity for 'The Voice' very quickly arose and I jumped on it," she said. "And if I had been with my band, I wouldn't have been able to take the opportunity, because we were constantly touring. And so if I hadn't been playing with them, you know, they wouldn't have been able to play and we wouldn't have made money."
Kat netted three chair turns from the judging panel following her high-kicking rendition of "I've Got the Music in Me."
"You remind me of all the greats, but so original; so new; so fresh; so raw. You more than entertained me; you engulfed me; you set me on fire," CeeLo said.
"I'm into her. I think she's something special," Christina said.
Even Adam, who didn't turn his chair, acknowledged, "You have a great voice."
Kat opted to join Team CeeLo.
"What I want to do with this is I want to re-emerge in the scene as a solo artist and do stuff that's more in, like, my vein of the kind of music that I like - like glam rock and theater-esque rock," she said.
Donna Allen, 54, of Hollywood, Fla.
Donna Allen knows what it takes to make it to the top of the music business, having spent her formative years working with Gloria Estefan as a member of Miami Sound Machine. The soulful singer stepped away from touring to focus on family, but has joined "The Voice" seeking a second shot at a singing career.
"Yes, I wanted to commit to my son. ... During that time, I decided to take some years off after touring for about nine years with Gloria Estefan. I just wanted to take time off for my son," she said. "I wanted to see him walk and talk and go to school and kindergarten. I wanted to be totally involved in his life.
"And now that he is 17 years old and taking Advance Placement classes in high school, I decided to go here and pursue ... my career and hoping that I can get a huge record deal, you know, to do the music I enjoy doing."
Following her performance of "You Are So Beautiful," Donna caught the eye of two judges - Adam and Christina - both of whom fought hard to acquire her services.
"That voice - it is like the heavens opening up," Christina said. "I was so moved."
"The richness and the tone I connected with immediately," she continued. "I'm wide open. I'm refreshed, and I can't wait to see where you go. But I hope that your journey is with me. I haven't won yet; I'm hungry."
"I felt like we were at the end of the season," Adam said. "And I am going to be super bummed if you don't pick me, because I love you so much. ... And I want you on my team really badly."
Donna obliged, and picked the Maroon 5 frontman.
Josh Logan, 33, of Manchester, N.H.
A growing number of singers are entering "The Voice" with little or no singing or stage experience. That's not the case with Josh Logan. The rockin' father puts in three sets six nights a week as a working musician.
For him, advancing on "The Voice" could mean a better life for his teenage son - and a workload that's a little less rough. Compared to what he's been doing, Josh said the TV gig, "It's pretty cushy, actually.
"I'll take it, man. I'll take playing one song - singing one song - over six days a week, three hours a night, any day, you know? It's a nice switch and it's definitely in the direction I want to go towards. I don't want to be playing in bars for the rest of my life, you know, especially as often as I do.
"I mean, it's been great to hone my chops and to get, you know, my voice where I needed it to be, and I made a lot of friends and gained a lot of support from that. So I'm just going to utilize all the good aspects from all the gigs that I've done, and hopefully it'll take me to the next level with this competition."
Josh's rendition of "Too Close" appealed to Adam, Christina and Blake.
"You sounded a lot like the dude who sings this," Adam said. "That's about as legit as a voice can be, really. It's crazy powerful, man."
"I happen to love that song," Christina said. "And you were like, 'I neeeeed.' You, like, yearned for that 'need.' I was like, 'He needs me!' "
"He can do anything," Blake said. "I have a man crush on you!"
"I would love to work with you," Christina said.
Josh revealed he's big into R&B and soul, and that Stevie Wonder is one of his biggest influences. With that, he selected Christina.
Matthew Schuler, 20, of Yardley, Pa.
Rugby player and sandwich maker Matthew Schuler was the first singer this season to get four "I Want You" chair turns from the judges. His version of "Cough Syrup" drew rave reviews.
"I gotta say, man, your voice is beautiful. It's beautiful," CeeLo said.
"I just jumped for joy," Adam said. "You know, we all turned around right away. And to see the joy and the passion with which you sing, dude, like that's the best part. ... I know, for a fact, that we can win this together. I know we can do it. This is the big one. This is the big one that I have to get. Have to get it; have to get you."
"I'm coming back (from a season off) with refreshed ears. I want to take this thing home," Christina said. She added, "Let me be the first female coach to win this thing. I am on your side. Please!"
With that, Matthew was sold, and picked Christina.
He explained the difficulty he faced in picking one superstar mentor over the others.
"Bro, to be honest, I actually went in thinking I was going to pick Adam or CeeLo, seriously," Matthew said. "But, like, this is a testament to the production of the show. Like our producers, everyone who works on the show, the staff, is amazing. And they're like - they're seriously there for us.
"I had one of the producers come up to me before my blind audition and was just like, you know, 'Make sure that you have an open mind going out there, you know, and picking your coach.' Because, I mean, we can get in there with preconceived notions but, I mean, we have to survive - like we have the battles coming up, we have the knockouts coming up, and we have to survive those rounds; and we need a coach that's really going to - that's really going to fight for us - who really loves us, you know, who wants to invest in us.
"And, you know, I had to go out there with an open mind and open heart. And she said really listen to what they have to say; listen to, you know, how the coaches, you know, fight for you, what they want to do with you. And, I mean, there were some tough-like bidding. Like CeeLo said, like, talking about me owning myself. Like that was - it was very intriguing. Like he almost had me with that.
"But, I mean, I don't know, there was just something about Christina. And, I mean, Adam (jumped) out of his chair; Blake coming up and giving ma high-five; like, it was insane, you know? And so it was a really tough decision.
"But I feel like, you know, Christina, like I said, that she has that motherly quality, that nurturing quality, and she's just such an amazing, amazing vocalist. And I really feel like she wants to win this season. And, you know, if she has the faith in me to think that, you know, I can bring it home for her, than I'm all for it, you know?
"I think she's really going to fight for me. And, you know, I love her, and I really appreciate everything that she's been teaching me. It's amazing. She's great. And I'm really excited to ... be on the team and to be working with her right now."
"The Voice" airs Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. on NBC. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/the-voice.
Follow these singers on Twitter:
Holly Henry, 19, of Minneapolis
Did lighting just strike twice on "The Voice"?
In season four, Blake teamed with Danielle Bradbery, a sweet, 16-year-old singer with a distinctive voice and no stage experience, and wound up winning his third straight title. On night two of this season's blind auditions, he found himself the proud coach of Holly Henry, a sweet, 19-year-old singer with a distinctive voice and no stage experience.
Like Danielle, Holly is super-likeable and ultra-marketable. Unlike Danielle, however, Holly got all four judges to turn their "I Want You" chairs in her favor.
"I was honestly, like, really blown away by their support," Holly said. "I wasn't expecting one chair, let alone all of them. So it was honestly just really shocking, and really surprising, and it just meant the world to me, you know?"
Though, prior to "The Voice," Holly mainly wrote songs and performed in her room, she thinks this TV experience is something that could work in her favor.
"Yes, well, I think that if you really love something and you're passionate about something and you have the drive, then, I mean, you can really go anywhere with it," she said. "And at this point, music is the one thing I have my eye on, you know? So I think just having a goal and striving for it (make it worthwhile)."
For her "Battle Round" performance (airing later this season), Holly took advantage of her three-time champion coach.
"Well, I think, just in general, he has made me or helped me be a lot more confident," she said. "Also, it's like the things he said; he has been so incredibly supportive, like, I honestly can't even - I don't know; he has said so many things, I can barely put it into words. But he has just always been there and he's just really approachable and just easy to be around. So, I mean, I just take everything in, you know, because I don't know, it's like he's always there for me, you know? He's a good guy."
On the show, Blake said, "Listen, because of you, I am officially excited about season five of 'The Voice' right now. I am pumped for this thing."
CeeLo said, "You have a very wonderful voice - a voice that deserves to be acknowledged by all four coaches up here. ... You have something special."
Destinee Quinn, 20, of Surprise, Ariz.
Working musician Destinee Quinn may be the most versatile performer on "The Voice." Consider: In her opening clip, Destinee was singing a soul song, "Son of a Preacher Man." In a biker bar. She described herself as a country singer. But she's opened for classic rock icon Alice Cooper.
Talk about reaching all genres of fans.
"I love music in general ... but country music is what comes naturally to me," Destinee said. "I can sing other genres, and I love singing songs from other genres because it grows me as my own kind of and just makes me a more-rounded artist, but I do really believe that country is where I'm supposed to be."
So, naturally, she'd work with "The Godfather of Shock Rock," right? It turns out, she won Cooper's talent contest and forged a connection with him.
"When I was 16, actually I was 15 at the time, Alice Cooper was hosting a talent contest, and it was open to adults and kids," Destinee explained. "And now the contest is only open to kids, but it was to benefit a foundation he has called The Solid Rock, which provides dance lessons and music lessons and tutoring and all this stuff for free for kids in the community.
"And, I mean, when I went out for it, I didn't expect to win, because I was very insecure at that time; I didn't think I was good, didn't think I had any chance. And I won. I went on to perform at the big show with him, and it was in front of 5,000 people, and that's the biggest audience I've ever performed in front of at that time, and it was just so inspiring.
"And then after that he let me open up for him more for more charity events, and then we started doing commercials together. And, I mean, just seeing how invested he is in young talent and young artists, and he does a contest every year, has been just a motivation for me to keep going and keep pursuing it."
Destinee is hoping to take her career to the next level with "The Voice." Her take on "Cowboy Take Me Away" made CeeLo and Christina turn their chairs.
"How' bout that voice? Oh my god!" Christina said. "You got me! You got me!"
"It's such a pleasant surprise," CeeLo said.
"Real talk: I love what I heard. I want to be your coach. I want to get in there, and I want to win, already!" Christina said.
"That one amazing, outstanding note toward the end, it sold me. It just sold me," CeeLo said.
Destinee mulled over their comments and ultimately opted to go with Christina.
E.G. Daily, 52, of Hollywood, Calif.
Singers often compliment the format of "The Voice." For the unknown, the bearded, the slightly out-of-shape, the show is an opportunity to be judged on singing ability, and not TV-readiness. This format also works well for someone with a well-known past, someone like E.G. Daily, who starred alongside Pee-wee Herman in the classic 1980s film "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," and did voiceover work on "The Rugrats." For her, "The Voice" is a platform to sink or swim on singing ability alone.
In the second blind audition episode, E.G. netted chair turns from CeeLo and Blake. The former was more familiar with E.G. the actress, while the latter expressed a desire to work with E.G. the vocalist. When CeeLo, Adam and Christina began talking about "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," E.G. quickly chose Blake to be her coach.
While it appeared E.G. had grown annoyed at the other coaches, she said she was just thankful she had the opportunity to succeed as a singer.
"You know, it's so to be expected," she said. "I mean, I've done, you know, I haven't - I've done a lot of music things; like, I've just been doing music things the whole time. It's just that it wasn't as popular as maybe some of the music or the animation.
"But, you know, I didn't really feel - I don't - I feel like it unfolds as it's supposed to, and for some strange reason the music thing is just sort of building underneath everything I've always done. And for it to come out now means even more to me. It feels like, today, music means more, and I feel it more, and I feel like I have so much more wisdom and peace about everything in my life, that I feel I can put that into the music. So for me to have the music come out now is such a gift - it's almost better.
"So I don't really feel annoyed, I sort of feel like everything unfolds as it is supposed to, and, for some ironic, strange reasons, you know, the music is sort of popping out more now. More people got a chance to hear how I sing, you know? For me, it has all been tied together. My career, I've always been doing music the entire time I was doing movies and the entire time I was doing animation.
"So, you know, just the public maybe wasn't noticing, but I have always been so connected. So I just think it's - what a great gift now to have it be more exposed, you know, and that I had the opportunity to have all the movie things and the animation things happen has been also a gift. I feel super-blessed in my life to have this amazing career ... that just keeps rolling."
For her audition, E.G. performed "Breathe." Of his student, Blake said, "It's not that often a singer comes along, no matter what genre they're in, that can have that much rasp in their voice, but also be able to hit all of the notes that you hit."
"The Voice" airs Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. on NBC. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/the-voice.
Follow these singers on Twitter:
Follow Joshua Maloni on Twitter @joshuamaloni
Gallery photos by Paul Drinkwater/NBC
Action photos by Tyler Golden/NBC
1859 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY 14072
Phone: 716-773-7676
Fax: 716-773-7190
