Fans go wild for Shakira
Shakira and Usher are joining The Voice, replacing Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green as hosts of the popular television program. Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will return for the show’s fourth season.
Unfortunately, according to Rollingstone.com, Shakira and Usher might not entertain as well as their predecessors. Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green brought a level of unpredictability to the show that made it consistently entertaining for viewers. Shakira can be a bit too wordy, according to the magazine, and Usher, too laid back to entertain.
But nonetheless, their talent was sure to make up for what their personalities could not provide. Shakira began the night with playing the harmonica in the opener, for a minute and twenty seconds.
When lending a contestant her criticisms or complements, she uses phrases like, “I’m haunted by the timbre in your voice,” “You already have a light within you that projects,” and “I am so passionate about you.”
The evening began with the judges performing a version of the Beatles’ “Come Together,” and then auditions began. Contestant Judith Hill had to be one of the most impressive contestants of the night, as Shakira listened. She was a member of Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” tour, and her rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “What a Girl Wants” drew audience members to their feet and judges to swivel in the bright red chairs that have become nearly synonymous with the popular show.
The first episode of the season began with the usual blind auditions. Each judge fights to gain 12 of the best contestants on his or her team. The judge’s backs were even facing the contestants, and we learned in the season opener that coaches make assumptions about the contestants based on the sounds a person makes when walking on stage.
By the end of the night, Usher partnered with two star-hopefuls, R&B singer Vedo and indie pop star Jess Kellner of Austin, Texas. Shakira partnered with Kris Thomas of Memphis, Tenn., who sang Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love.”
The second episode of The Voice will return Tuesday at 8 p.m.
