For a long time I’ve wondered, what’s the point of the Block button on The Voice?
It gives coaches the chance to block their colleagues from being chosen by a singer, when there is more than one pitching for them to join their team.
But how does it help the singer?
In episode one Reuben de Melo from WA sang an Ed Sheeran song and won a four chair turn.
When all four coaches pitched for him to join his team, LeAnn Rimes used a new ‘Ultimate Block’ on her other 3 coaches, effectively ruling them out and securing Reuben for her team whether he liked it or not.
In another episode Adam Lambert blocked Kate Miller-Heidke to ensure Ruby Lafferty joined his team. The singer had no say in the outcome.
Sure it creates TV drama, but does it actually help the singer?
If a singer comes onto The Voice hoping to be coached by Guy Sebastian does it really make sense for them to walk out as part of Team LeAnn? Or if they hope to partner with Adam Lambert because his style suits their vocal, would you be happy being part of Team Kate?
The show purports to be all about the singer, but the Block button suggests it is still about TV drama.
“There’s the different layers of the competition,” Kate Miller-Heidke tells TV Tonight.
“Yes, it’s a singing competition, but it’s also on one level, a coaching competition.
“I mean, it’s a friendly competition, but it’s real, and you feel protective of your artists and you want them to win.”
The X Factor as a format also pitted judge against judge, which differs markedly from the Australian Idol format where all judges collectively pushed to improve all artists.
Despite its chair-turn conceit, Miller-Heidke says the blind audition process is when she is rooting most for the artist.
“Absolutely you’re rooting for them. I think that’s another thing that makes this show different. All four coaches are singers themselves. So there’s no one who has more empathy and I think more respect for the courage it takes to get up there and put yourself out there, than a bunch of other singers,” she said.
“I have this sympathetic nervous system thing that happens when I’m watching singers that I actually breathe with them. I’m almost like, living the moment with them.”
The Voice screens Sunday – Tuesday on Seven.
links to content on ABC
TV Tonight
