The Voice UK is at the elimination stages prior to the Live Shows. After the blind auditions the acts have to go head to had this weekend in a singing battle, literally.
Two acts performed against each other in a makeshift fighting ring. First up were two female acts that were part of will.i.am's team. Jenny Jones v Joelle Moses – “I’m Every Woman”, originally by Chaka Khan. The act that went through was Joelle Moses which was no surprise.
Next up though was not so easy. Two male acts belonging to Danny's team fought to the singing death. Max Milner v Bill Downs – “Beggin’”, originally by Madcon. Both performed to the extreme leaving a hard decision for their mentor. In the end Danny opted to take through Max.
Two from Tom Jones' acts were next. Sam Butterly v Aundrea Nyle sang “A Little Less Conversation”, an Elvis Presley standard. Sam was selected to go to the next stage. Jessie J chose to put Kirsten Joy v Toni Warne performing “Think”, by James Brown. For this blogger Toni came out the strongest. By the end of the performance though it was a tie. Jessie J looked more than once as if she would would wet her pants in excitement..The girls got a standing audition from the audience. Jessie opted for Toni.
So back to Danny and Vince Freeman v Bo Bruce performing “With or Without You”, by U2. Vince had to try and tone his powerful rocking style down whist Bo needed to do the reverse. Predictably Bo went through. Back to will.i.am and Tyler James v Heshima Thompson performing “Yeah 3x”, by Chris Brown. Both performers were not happy with the chosen track. It was a case of suck it and see. Tyler won through.
The next two acts were from the Jessie J camp and both said they loved each other. It is a competition though and only one of them would survive. Jessica Hammond v Vince Kidd performed “We Found Love”,by Rihanna and as they say they smashed it. Vince won through.
Will.i.am's Jaz Ellington v Jay Norton singing “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, Marvin Gaye were the penultimate acts.Jaz triumphed, unsurprisingly. Ruth Brown v Deneice Pearson singing “No One”, Alicia Keys, were last but certainly not least. Tom Jones had a difficult choice. Ruth was emotional even in rehearsals. The song meant much to her after the loss of her father. So who would be the last act through from tonight's show? Both were good but Ruth has such a powerful natural voice for a girl so young. Like a young Aretha. Once again she brought tears to Tom Jones eyes. Who did he pick? Why Ruth of course.
Battles was aired on the BBC 7pm to 8.30pm Saturday April 21, 2012, Britain's Got Talent on ITV having lost the ratings war has surrendered and moved its timing slightly.
The second Battles show will be on the same channel Sunday April 22 at 7.30pm.
Tags: The Voice UK, Battles weekend, will.i.am, Jessi J, Tom Jones, Danny O'Donoghue, singing contest, BGT, BBC
The blind auditions of The Voice UK where completed last weekend. On Saturday April 21 the competition proper will begin. Each of the four judges currently has ten acts but these are to be whittled down to five each. Presumably in spite of the high drama and histrionics each judge will have an idea who will be their top performers.In order to hype up the show programmers have scheduled the Voice for two weekend shows. These will be aired on Saturday at 7.00pm and Sunday at 7.30pm
Britain's Got Talent has lost the weekend TV ratings war and looks set to be rescheduled. This is good news for The Voice UK and the BBC.
The Battle weekend will showcase the performers in the ring pitting their talents against each other. The judges will need to make their selections carefully. No matter how good each performer is though the 40 acts which will begin the first show on Saturday will be reduced to 20.
The way it will work is that each judge will divide their ten acts into five pairs. They will receive some intense coaching before they have to perform. Each pair will compete against each other. They will perform the same song, at the same time. It will be up to the judge, come mentor to choose who wins in each pairing.
| The pairings secret is out and the details are:
Team Will.i.am Heshima Thompson vs. Tyler James Joelle Moses vs. Jenny Jones Frances Wood vs. Kate Read J Marie Cooper vs. Sophie Griffin Jay Norton vs. Jaz Ellington
Team Jessie J Jessica Hammond vs. Vince Kidd David Faulkner vs. Cassius Henry Toni Warne vs. Kirsten Joy Ben Kelly vs. Ruth Ann St Luce Indie and Pixie vs. Becky Hill
Team Tom Jones Adam Isaac vs. Denise Morgan Matt and Sueleen Fletcher vs. Lindsay Butler Deniece Pearson vs. Ruth Brown Barbara Bryceland vs. Leanne Mitchell Aundrea Nyle vs. Sam Buttery
Team Danny O’Donoghue Bill Downs vs. Max Milner David Julien vs. John James Newman Aleks Josh vs. Emmy J Mac Hannah Berney vs. Murray Hockridge Bo Bruce vs. Vince Freeman
| |

Ryan O’Shaughnessy
Britain's Got Talent got off to a wacky start last week. Would it be more of the same? Of course, but intermingled with a little talent as always.
BGT was in Blackpool where the last time Simon held auditions he had a very bad time. A wet a dismal looking Blackpool looked as if it had little to offer. The first act was pretty terrible. A female singer backed by hunky male dancers. Lily and the Pineapple Chunks failed to wow the audience. Shame she could not sing and they were not hunky. On it went in this way for a fair few acts. There are a lot of misguided people in the UK.
The first talented performer was a young man playing a xylophone, at speed. Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon soon buzzed him out but thanks to David Waliams and his quirky taste he played till the end of his set. Of course Mr Walliams wanted him to go through. In the end so did Simon and in the end, mainly as the audience loved the act, he went through. Hosts Ant and Dec appeared to love the guy too.
And of course all the guys loved the next act. Simon described her as an English Dita von Teese. Beatrix von Buorbon was dressed immaculately in a red suit. With a glimpse of a tattooed leg showing maybe we should have guessed she was not what she seemed. Her prim yet erotic strip was a crowd pleaser. Of course the winner of BGT will perform in front of the Queen at this year's Royal Variety Performance. The judges did not see this as a problem. Maybe they know she will not win. As the public has the casting vote they should not know that though. Obviously Simon and David wanted to see her perform at least one more time.
Boy band The Men proved what determination can do. All admitted having done wrong in the past. All wanted a better future from one laden with debt and no prospects. Their unusual performance of Sitting on the Dock of the Bay wowed the panel and the audience. Simon was over impressed. Keep an eye out for this act.
The show's auditions moved on to London. DeJaVu was a female group of older ladies. Ouch. What can I say. Out of tune and rather embarrassing really. The following dance act was in a league of its own and easily put through to the next stage of BGT.
The final act of the day was a young man, Ryan O’Shaughnessy. He accompanied himself on guitar as he performed his own song. Good voice, good guitar and good song. An easy one to put through to the next round.
Aired on ITV March 31, 2012, between 8pm and a little over 9pm the show soon whizzed by. After the dismal start it ended up quite entertaining. More BGT will follow. Watch this space.