Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Call me a traitor if you want, but I watched NBC’s new singing competition, The Voice, Tuesday night.

I figure any show that prompts Idol to let Pia Toscano sing on a rival network during primetime while Season 10 is still in progress is worth watching at least once.

A coincidence? Perhaps. But, if so, that was some coincidence in timing.

Anyway, back to The Voice, which follows the same basic formula as Idol and isn’t above using an Idol outcast (Frenchie Davis from season two) to help generate interest in the show.

Most importantly, The Voice seems to have rounded up some pretty impressive voices. And, like Frenchie, not all of them are exactly novices.

In fact, you can head to iTunes and download original tunes by some of them right now.

For instance …

The first contestant we met Tuesday was Tarrlyn Ramsey, 31, who has three gospel albums to her credit dating back to 2003. She’ll be working with Team Christina.

Singer-songwriter Vicci Martinez of Tacoma, Wash., has recorded four albums, all available on iTunes. If I can trust her Wikipedia entry, the 26-year-old tried out for the first season of Idol but backed out because she considered the contract too restrictive.

Then there’s Elenowen, the folk-pop duo consisting of Josh and Nicole Johnson, who live in her parents’ basement. Perhaps, but they also released an eight-track CD of originals in January 2010 named “Pulling Back the Veil.” They’ll be competing with Team Blake.

Like Idol, we have backstories. Javier Colon is competing to give his two young daughters a more secure future. Jeff Jenkins is inspired by his deceased mother.

Kelsey Rey appreciated the blind audition because she got picked for her voice rather than her looks. She’s always been known as the pretty girl who could sing. Then there’s a 16-year-old who goes by simply Xenia and who is battling to overcome her shyness.

Want hunks?

The Voice looks ready to go cutie for cutie with Cute Boy Idol. There’s Tje Austin, 27, of Texas, who will be working with Cee Lo Green. And there’s Patrick Thomas, 20, of Nashville, who just might win over some Scotty McCreery fans with his  smooth vocals and country-boy good looks.

Which brings us to the judges.

Idol might have Jennifer Lopez, but The Voice has its own dazzling diva in Christina Aguilera.

Then there’s Blake Shelton, whom I will take any day of the week over judge-nothing, gibberish-spouting, foul-mouthed Steven Tyler.

And, what do you know? These judges/mentors will actually be expected to judge at some point, helping eliminate their own team members.

The Voice returns next Tuesday. And, just like Idol, you can already download tonight’s performances.

This should be interesting.

And I won’t promise not to watch again.