June 6, 2013
By Mickey Friedman
I’m worried about Adam Levine. I never thought I’d ever say that. Especially because just a few months ago I had no idea who Adam Levine was. I’d seen his group, Maroon 5, on one of those award shows but I have a hard time telling one group from another these days. Especially because they’re not the Beatles and they’re on so late. I can manage to stay up for the New York Knicks but that’s because I’ve been a Knicks fan since I was a boy and I’m addicted.
Now Adam doesn’t know me from Adam but I’ve become a fan. Probably because I can no longer watch bad news on the badly done news shows, and have turned to “Smash” and “Nashville” and “The Voice” for help. For music, hope, and joy. To rejoice.
When I tell my friends I love “The Voice” they look at me with blank stares. Everywhere else Americans in droves watch “The Voice?” Maybe it’s Rudolf Steiner’s fault? I know, that’s probably as unfair as blaming Karl Marx for Stalin. Rudolf died long before Milton Berle ever made it on the air. But somehow so many folks around here would rather kill their TV than watch some of the wonderful things it offers. Like “The Voice.”
Thanks to “The Voice” I’ve heard extraordinary singers from every corner of the country. White, black, latin, young and old. Mind-boggling voices. Urban, country, rock and roll. Coached by four very different, very talented professionals: Blake Shelton, Shakira, Usher, and my new friend Adam Levine. And even though I’m in love with Shakira, I do my very best to appreciate the gifts of the others.
Unfortunately, like most everything American these days, “The Voice” is a competition. The show begins with open auditions, and a chance for unknown singers to be appreciated, then picked by the professionals. Blake, Shakira – did I tell you what a tough-minded but sweet and sensitive woman Shakira is – Usher, and Adam pick their teams and coach their singers. Week after week, the singers sing, and week after week some are eliminated. It’s a productive but painful process. It’s been both informative and moving to watch how the professionals have helped their singers get better. It’s been sad to see some of the singers go.
At first, the coaches had to choose as two of their singers competed against each other. And it was terribly hard to choose. Keeping one while letting another go when they both did so well. But more recently the decision has rested with the TV audience. Who texted and voted online for their favorite ten, their favorite eight, their favorite six.
Last week was the worst week for me and Adam. Because two of Adam’s singers, Judith Hill and Sarah Simmons, were voted off. At this point it’s gotten so very hard to say goodbye. We watched these people grow; we’ve watched them tackle ever more challenging material. Adam lost it. When Carson Daly announced the results, Adam muttered “I hate this country.” He probably didn’t realize that his microphone was still on.
We don’t know exactly why he said it and we probably won’t ever know. But you’re just not allowed to say things like “I hate this country.” Especially not on NBC, during prime-time. Especially when you sell millions of songs, and fill stadiums. So his publicist has probably spent several days crafting an appropriate apology. Maybe we’ll hear it on Monday’s show.
Was it because Judith Hill is part black, part Asian? Because Adam asked Judith and Sarah to take musical risks? That Judith’s electric performance of Will.i.am’s #thatpower took people by surprise? Because the mostly white audience was predisposed to Blake’s country music singers? It’s hard to know. There may be no simple explanations. Because Shakira’s extraordinary singer, Sasha Allen, is black and beautiful, and the American people appreciated that. Because Usher’s Michelle Chamuel took more musical risks than anyone, and the American people got that.
For me, the best part of “The Voice” has been the music, and the music makers. To appreciate once more the extraordinarily talented people living everywhere amongst us. In our small towns and big cities. Especially the women. For at the end of the day, so many of these women are transcendent. And it is especially moving to watch them together, in duos, trios, quartets, in ensembles, weaving their different voices, taking flight together.
The worst of “The Voice” has been the mindless winner versus loser gameshow ethic that more and more defines us as Americans. What Joni Mitchell called “the star-maker machinery behind the popular song.” One minute we’re watching an angelic fifteen year old white Texan girl harmonizing with a struggling strong black mother of two from New York, New York, the next we’re trying to figure out who is better. And to hate this is to understand Adam Levine.
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June 19, 2013
P.S. Sasha went the way of Judith and when it was all over, the extraordinary Danielle Bradbury won, while Michelle Chamuel of Amherst, Massachusetts came in second. And I must say, with each performance I grew to appreciate Danielle Bradbury’s great gift. If you love music and appreciate those who make it, check out The Voice next time around.