Ready to meet a brand new group of contestants on The Voice?
After being underwhelmed by the most recent casts on The X Factor and American Idol, I sure am.
Especially when I remember all the talented singers The Voice introduced us to in Season 3.
Cassadee Pope. Terry McDermott. David Nicholas. And many, many more, including some who got precious little airtime.
Earlier today, I posted blogs on Cassadee and 11 other Season 3 contestants who have released new music since Season 3 ended. You’ll find blogs on …
Beat Frequency
Celica Westbrook
Cody Belew
Devyn DeLoera
Domo
Joe Kirkland of Artist Vs. Poet
Lelia Broussard
MacKenzie Bourg
Nathalie Hernandez
Nelly’s Echo
Terry McDermott
Each blog includes a sample of their new music. If I missed your Season 3 
favorite, it’s probably because he or she hasn’t released new music yet.
But it’s possible I’ve missed someone. Please let me know if that’s the case.
As for Season 4, we’ll have Shakira sitting in Christina Augilera’s red chair and Usher sitting in Cee Lo Green’s, but I’m not expecting the show to suffer.
Based on the previews I’ve seen, it looks like the new panel of judges developed a nice chemistry pretty quickly.
Of course having jokesters like Adam Levine and Blake Shelton around will help in that regard.
And here we go …
The Morgan Twins: A pair of blonde beauties are the first auditioners. They say their dad had them try out for an all-girls group when they were about 13, and they’ve been harmonizing ever since. Clearly a double set of high heels throw off Blake’s hearing. But he and Usher turn around in an instant as the Morgan gals launch into “Fallin’.” Well, you can tell they’ve been singing together for a long time. And before the song ends, all four judges have turned around. Blake compliments them on their runs and for looking like a Double Mint commercial. Apparently the compliment worked. The Morgan Twins pick Blake. The gals say Blake seems genuine.
Mark Andrew, 27, Eden Prairie, Minn.: He works in roofing with his family’s business, but says it’s dangerous work. He used to perform in the band, but two members have passed away. He now calls them his “guardian angels.” He sees The Voice as a chance to do music full time. Mark will sing “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.” And the first guy we’ve heard from in Season 4 gets Adam’s attention almost instantly. Shakira also turns around. Again. Nice soulful tone to this guy’s voice. Adam compliments Mark on his tone and his control, but says he doesn’t think the song choice was perfect. Shakira says she loved his performance from beginning to end. And Shakira lands her first artist of the night.
Jess Kellner, 21, Austin, Texas: She’s a hairdresser by day, a musician as night. She says her mom was an alcoholic when she was growing up. She moved in with her father and step-mother, and they encouraged her to pursue her music. She says her mom is now sober and very positive. Jess will sing “Can’t Help Falling In Love Again.” She has a unique sound that prompts an almost immediate turn-around from Usher and Shakira. Shakira compliments the tone of her voice, but Adam says he heard a little too much Adele influence. And Jess winds up landing on Team Usher.
Janetza Miranda, 25, Newark, N.J.: This young woman says she grew up in a very happy Puerto Rican family. Oh, she also makes some pretty bizarre bird calls. And she says she would love to follow in Shakira’s footsteps. Janetza is auditioning with “Titanium.” And Janetza displays a big voice on the chorus, but the judges stay put. Oh, and Janetza ends her song without anyone turning around. And Adam rushes the stage to give her a hug.
Danielle Bradberry, 16, Cypress, Texas: Here’s the first of the Season 4 teens on The Voice. She says she was teased as a young girl because she had crooked teeth and would hibernate in her room and practice her singing. She’ll audition with Taylor Swift’s “Mean.” Before she hits the chorus, Usher and Blake spin their chairs. Before the song ends, they’re joined by Adam. Danielle, meanwhile, seems to have gotten noticeably stronger on that song once a couple of judges turned around. The lobbying for Danielle begins, with Blake playing the country card, Adam proclaiming Taylor’s really a pop artist and Usher calling Nashville a state. And the country singer picks Blake.
Christian Porter, 21, Stroudsburg, Pa.: He says his mom thought he was deaf when he was young because he didn’t talk. Now he says he sings and doesn’t shut up. He works as a bar musician, but says he doesn’t want to do that all his life. Guitar in hand, Christian is going to give us a unique twist on “Sexy and I Know It.” Shakira spins her chair when Christian is about halfway through his song. Christian’s fun performance finally convinces Blake and Usher to turn their chairs as well. And Christian gets one of the best crowd responses all night on The Voice. And Christian says he has to go with his gut and picks Blake as his coach.
Vedo, 19, Atlanta, Ga.: This young man said he thought singing would be a hobby when he was 13, but really became a passion once he reached high school. He was thrilled to learn Usher would be a judge because he’s singing “Boyfriend” by Justin Bieber. Vedo’s mom has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, which nearly prompted him to give up his chance to appear on The Voice. His mom convinced him to go on the show anyway. He’s about halfway through his number when Usher turns his chair around. The other mentors seem to have surrendered Vedo to Usher, realizing he’d wind up on his team anyway. Vedo displayed one of the best voices we’ve heard so far.
Leah Lewis, 15, Orlando, Fla.: Leah was adopted from an orphanage in China when she was 8 months old along with her sister. She says she grew up listening to bluegrass and her father was her musical influence. “It just feels right when I sing country music, especially blues,” Leah says. She’s hoping Blake or Usher turn around. She’s also hoping to take some of the financial burden off her dad. She’ll sing Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away.” Not bad, but not great. And none of the judges turn around. Blake said he could hear how young she was. Usher compliments her on a powerful voice.
Kris Thomas, 27, Memphis, Tenn: An R&B singer, Kris says he grew up listening strictly to gospel music, but would sneak into his brother’s room to listen to his R&B music. At one point, Kris had a record deal, released a single, but said he split with the company over creative differences. As a result, he slipped into depression and admits he began drinking too much. He’ll audition with Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You.” Kris hits a heck of a high note, prompting Shakira to spin her chair. But he’s over-singing quite a bit. Usher and Adam are surprised to find out that the singer is not a woman. And so Kris lands on Team Shakira.
James Irwin, 30, St. Louis, Missouri: He’s a carpenter by trade, but says he’s been singing since he was 5. He calls The Voice his second chance. He says he had some label interest a while back but went into a downward spiral after he and his wife lost twin daughters. They were born at 5 months and didn’t survive. He and his wife have since had a son. He’ll audition with “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved.” Unfortunately, that version of the song didn’t encourage any of the judges to move either.
Judith Hill, Pasadena, Calif.: Judith says both of her parents are musicians. She wrote her first song at 4. She had been selected to tour with Michael Jackson, practiced with him and was invited to sing at his memorial service. Now she’s looking to pursue a career as a solo performer. She’s going to sing “What a Girl Wants.” She’s barely sung a note before Usher turns around. And, over the course of the song, she’s joined by the rest of the judges. Adam calls her the first singer to come on the show and do a Christina Aguilera song as well as Christina. No doubt, she’s the best voice we’ve heard tonight. The other three coaches lobby for her services, but she selects Adam, giving him his first artist of the competition.
So, Judith was the best of the night, which is why The Voice saved her for last. Among the guys, I was most impressed by Christian Porter and Vedo.
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