Correction appended
NBC hopes to put a new spin on the singing competition series with "The Voice," which aims to ignore contestants' physical appearance and judge them only on vocal ability. As much as I was waiting for a singing competition like "The Voice," I wonder how its winner will stack up against the total package "American Idol" turnouts in today's cutthroat music industry.
The show, which premieres on April 26, should benefit from the exacting tastes of an impressive judging roster comprised of actually talented singers: the sassy still-looking-for-a-comeback diva Christina Aguilera, the ever-soulful Cee Lo Green, the sexy and smooth Adam Levine from Maroon 5 and country artist Blake Shelton. "The Voice," hosted by the Total Request Live king Carson Daly, will search for the best singers in the country through three rounds of elimination, according to NBC's website.
"The Voice" begins with the blind audition, in which the judges turn around in their chairs before the contestants' performances and blindly choose contestants based on voice and not on appearance. The judges draft a team of contestants and coach them, pitting the singers against each other in vocal competitions. With input from audience voting during live broadcasted performances, each coach will narrow down his or her team to one singer who will compete with the other three finalists for the prize. The winner gets $100,000 and a record contract, similar to the prize awarded in "American Idol." Yet the strikingly different and refreshing premise of "The Voice" promises the winner a future different from that of past American Idols.
"The Voice" will value the performers voice above any other factor, but I wonder if the winner's career would flourish in the current music industry. "American Idol" seems to look for the whole package not the best vocals but an overall amazing performer with showmanship and good looks. Yet Kelly Clarkson's 2002 victory in the first season seemed to be primarily based on her voice. The ups and downs she has experienced in navigating the music world could serve as an indicator of things to come for the winner of "The Voice."
Certainly, Clarkson was attractive, but she was not the prettiest of the contestants. She was a decent performer, but she did not necessarily get audience members on their feet. Simon Cowell even forgot who she was at the beginning of the season. It was her voice that brought her into the spotlight.
Clarkson maintained her brunette plain-Jane image in her first release, 2003's "Thankful," which reached number one on the charts. The album had the soulful pop feel of her performances on the show. The release of her sophomore album "Breakaway" in 2004 brought a more rock-oriented sound and commercial image, featuring a dyed-blond Clarkson showcasing a slimmer, more toned body. "Breakaway" is an amazing album featuring hit song after hit song, but it also marked the first time Clarkson appeared to conform to other pop-rock artists to help along her career in the industry. Fans wanted more than her voice, and she delivered, essentially becoming a brand name artist.
After "Breakaway," Clarkson returned somewhat to her previous image with 2007's "My December," once again donning dark hair, a curvier body and an emotional yet soulful sound. "My December" caused a lot of controversy, as Clarkson switched her management due to disagreements over Clarkson's artistic vision. It was not her most successful album with only one mainstream single, "Never Again" and she received negative criticism about her weight, her live performance quality and her overall status as a current pop staple. It appeared that Clarkson was fed up with the industry's standards, yet she understood in order to be successful she had that appeal to the masses.
"All I Ever Wanted," released in 2009, was Clarkson's attempt at compromise between her own original style and the demands of the industry. For some, this recent album, which reached number one, marked Clarkson's comeback. Rather than return to her former glory, Clarkson finally found a new happy medium that satisfied herself and proved that she is a maturing and talented singer.
This was the battle faced by the most successful "American Idol," and it was a definite struggle. That the show now tends to crown idols who are better performers than vocalists explains why so many of the previously successful contestants such as Fantasia, Jordan Sparks and Adam Lambert have fallen by the wayside in the music world. Their ability to perform but inability to remain relevant as vocalists could only carry them so far in the industry. "American Idol" is now merely a machine that creates and builds artists who are poised to be flashes in the pan in the music industry.
It remains to be seen whether "The Voice" will be the beginning of a new musical revolution or the continuation of a "viewer's choice" culture. I still appreciate it when an artist aims for mass appeal while also paving their own musical path, but if an artist with a powerhouse voice just wants to sing like Aretha Franklin, Adele or Jill Scott there should be room in the industry for them too.
