I know what you're thinking: The Voice must be just another American Idol rip-off like every other reality singing show. But I'm happy to say that assessment couldn't be more wrong.
The Voice is a friendly, yet intense, competition between the best aspiring artists the country has to offer. Not only are the contestants competing, but the judges, who pick singers to coach on their respective teams, are as well. Each contestant auditions before the four kind-of-famous judges. You might have heard of them: Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green. These judges then choose if they want the contestant on their team; but if more than one judge chooses the same singer, that contestant becomes the judge and chooses whose team they want to join. The stakes are high, as claiming the title of "The Voice" also secures the winner a contract with Universal Republic Records at the end of the season.
What sets The Voice apart from other reality singing shows is the auditions are completely blind. The judges sit in chairs facing away from the contestant so they can judge only the singer's vocals and actual talent. As such, contestants from all different backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the competition, ranging from a ranch-hand country singer to an urban opera singer. As one contestant put it, "It was the first time I've been loved for who I am."
The Voice also differentiates itself from shows such as American Idol and The X-Factor in its playful and encouraging environment. Sure, it might be entertaining to watch X-Factor's Simon Cowell deprecate, humiliate and flat out own a prospective artist, but that can't compare to the emotional growth The Voice allows its contestants. And the whole point of competitions such as these should be to embolden aspiring artists, not push them away from their dreams.
But for many, including myself, a reality show wouldn't be complete without a little humiliation, which is exactly why the high-profile judges constantly trash talk each other.
The camera follows the aspiring artists from the moment they enter the building to the moment they leave. It captures the full range of emotions experienced during their performances, as well as the ones released afterwards. Watching the reactions as winning - or losing - contestants go backstage to their families and friends is absolutely priceless. The tears, smiles, cheers and laughs definitely make The Voice worth all four chairs.
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