Putting aside all the silly squabbles between judges, particularly Boy George and Paloma Faith, Week 4 of The Voice’s Blind Auditions was a very mixed bag of auditions.
The most notable contestants stood out not just for their voices…
Schoolgirl Heather Cameron-Hayes spent more time talking about her IQ (it’s on a par with Einstein…) than about why she wanted to win The Voice, but her song got judge Boy George more animated than a Disney cartoon…
Heather sang David Bowie’s “Life On Mars” and George quickly spun around in his seat. It turns out he’s a huge David Bowie fan (bear in mind this was filmed before David Bowie died on January 10).
Heather won over Boy George with "Life On Mars"
“I love hearing someone sing a Bowie song,” George told Heather. “It’s a mark of good taste. I first saw Bowie when I was 11 years old. I think you’re quirky and I’m definitely the King of Quirk.
“Younger contestants are going for Ricky [Wilson, who also turned] because he won last year,” George continued. “But I think when you’re young you should make brave moves and I would be a brave move. I’ve had a lot of experience… And I’ve had dinner with Bowie.”
That seemed to clinch it for Heather, who chose George as her coach.
Heather was followed by former Liberty X singer Kevin Simm, 35, who sang Sia’s “Chandelier”.
All the judges turned for Kevin, who had been terrified that none of them would. But it was George and Paloma who really fought for him…
“You have an incredible voice. Where have you been?” George asked Kevin, who then had to explain his history with Liberty X and failed career as a solo artist.
Former Liberty X singer Kevin Simm
“Now I recognise you!” George exclaimed. “Liberty X was my guilty pleasure. One thing I do know is that I understand singers and I've been doing this for a long time [at which point Paloma pretended to be snoring]. One thing Paloma hasn’t had is a hit in America,” George added.
“I think you’re phenomenal, that performance gave me goosebumps all over my body,” Paloma told Kevin.
Ricky’s pitch was straight to the point: “This is day one of your future and I’d like to be part of it,” he said.
will.i.am turned last and said it was “because I just wanted to listen”.
But Kevin listened most to Paloma and chose her as his coach.
“I respect you all massively,” he told the panel. “But one coach’s reaction got me the most and that was Paloma.”
Parrot-loving Faheem, 21, sang like a bird as far as Will was concerned and he spun around as soon as Raheem started singing “Marvin Gaye”, by Charlie Puth, ft Meghan Trainor.
“Freakin’ awesome tones,” Will told Raheem. “I can improve where you’re going.”
will.i.am couldn't resist Faheem singing "Marvin Gaye"
“I’m a sucker for female voices,” said Ricky, who also turned. “It takes an extraordinary male voice to make me turn and go up against Will.”
And Ricky lost; Faheem chose Will as his coach.
Unsurprisingly, Alaric Green didn’t choose Will as his coach after Will admitted that he accidentally hit the button to turn his seat during Alaric’s performance of Josh Groban’s “Broken Vow”.
“I was writing notes and hit the button,” Will confessed. “But the Lord works in mysterious ways…”
George didn’t turn at all and was surprised by what he saw…
“You are not what I expected to see,” he told Alaric. “You look like something from Game of Thrones.”
Ricky Wilson is convinced people will like Alaric Green
Ricky did turn and his reason was that “I just knew you were good. I know people will like you and that’s halfway to the final.”
Will Alaric make it all the way to the final?
Click here for our picture special the Blind Auditions Week 4, which reveals all the acts who got through to the next round – and those who didn’t.
The Voice continues on BBC1, Saturday, February 6, 7.15pm
