Season 7 kicks off on Monday with two new coaches, and a whole bunch of new mentors. Do they have what it takes to find the talent competition’s first superstar?
The time has come for another batch of vocalists to give their all in a performance for four backwards chairs, in hopes that their talent will make those chairs turn, leading to a season of amazing performances. This season will see two brand new coaches joining the team: Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani. But do the new coaches have what it takes to stand up to repeat champs Adam Levine and Blake Shelton? And will season 7’s new mentors be able to provide the contestants with the advice they need to move forward in the competition?
The Newbies
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams has had quite the successful ride over the past few years, appearing on such hits as Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” and Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” as well has having his own breakout hit, “Happy.” But Pharrell is much more than just a rapper/singer. He is also a songwriter, producer, musician, and fashion designer. He has been a player in the music business long before he broke out on his own, both as part of the hip-hop band N.E.R.D., and as one half of The Neptunes production team, who are basically responsible for every song you’ve ever loved. Pharrell obviously has an ear for talent, but will the mild-manner musician be able to fight for his favorite contestants, and be heard over Adam Levine’s desperate pleas?
Gwen Stefani
Everyone knows Gwen Stefani. She has been a female icon since the ’90s as the front woman of No Doubt, followed by her own successful solo ventures. She has made comeback after comeback, mastering many different styles with her unique signature voice. She is a successful businesswoman, with her own fashion line, and even a few tries at acting. Gwen obviously knows a hit when she hears it, and should be able to mentor artists in a number of different genres, from pop, to rock, R&B, etc. Gwen will also be stepping in to fill the big shoes of previous female Voice coaches: Christina Aguilera and Shakira. Both women have brought many contestants to tears, because they are such admirers of the ladies’ work. Gwen is likely to have the same effect on many pop-rock divas-in-the-making.
The Experts
Adam Levine
America has fallen in love with Adam Levine during his time on The Voice, and with good reason. Of course, he is hot. That’s hard to argue with. But he’s also funny, passionate, and relentless in his pursuit of his favorite contestants. Adam fights harder than any of the other coaches to get his hooks into a contestant, and contestants often find this attention difficult to resist. Adam has worked with some of the best contestants in The Voice‘s history, and has even won two seasons. Even when he hasn’t won, he likes to remind everyone of his relationship to the leading contestants, as was the case with last season’s winner Josh Kaufman, who started out on Team Adam, and won on Team Usher. It’s been a big year for Adam, who was named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, and even got married in July. Now that he’s settled down into married life, will he still be as passionate?
Blake Shelton
Blake is pretty much the Michael Jordan of The Voice. It’s almost like he doesn’t know how to not win. The winningest coach in The Voice history, he has won four of the show’s six seasons. Even when he doesn’t win, his contestants have done very well, and are often in it until the very end. Blake’s contestants, such as Danielle Bradbury and Cassidy Pope, have seen the most post-show success of any coach’s contestants. Blake seems to really form a bond with his contestants, and does the most of any coach to support their careers following the show. Blake represents the world of country music, and has his pick of any of the talented country artists in the blind auditions. Country fans have proven very enthusiastic supporters, and have done well in supporting Team Blake. However, after winning four straight seasons, Blake has now gone two seasons without a victory. Always the dark horse coach who pretends not to care about the competitiveness of the show, is Blake now content just to be along for the ride?
Next up: What can we expect from the season 7 mentors?
The Mentors
Little Big Town (Team Blake)
It always seems the tiniest bit unfair when one of the coaches (usually Blake) chooses a whole band to mentor his team. Definitely getting the most bang for your buck. Anyway, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook will provide four times the mentoring for Team Blake. They should prove particularly helpful for any pairs on Blake’s Team, because Little Big Town certainly knows their way around a harmony.
Gavin Rossdale (Team Gwen)
Obviously, if you have a super-hot husband, you bring your super-hot husband on your new TV show to show him off. Okay, and also Gavin Rossdale is super talented and awesome. Gavin has been a successful player in the music business since the early ’90s, both as lead singer of Bush, and as a solo artist. Will Gwen and Gavin’s marital partnership make them a great coaching team?
Stevie Nicks (Team Adam)
The Voice coaches do not shy away from bringing in the big guns to mentor their teams. Blake’s previously had Cher mentor his team, and now Adam’s brought in the legendary Stevie Nicks. Not only does Stevie have decades worth of experience and advice to give, but she has proven that she is not afraid to speak her mind. She’s already helped mentor the New Directions, and the Coven, so surely she’ll have a lot to offer Team Adam.
Alicia Keys (Team Pharrell)
Alicia Keys has one of the best voices in music today. Many Voice contestants have chosen to tackle her songs onstage, but the few lucky members of Team Pharrell will get to receive her wisdom firsthand. She and Pharrell have the potential to make a very dynamic, very smart pairing. Plus, Alicia has one of the most mellow and soothing speaking voices, so at the very least, we’ll all feel really chilled-out after their coaching sessions.
Taylor Swift
Taylor is taking up the mantle held by Coldplay’s Chris Martin last season, as the uber-mentor. She will serve as season 7’s advisor, which means she’ll be mentoring all four teams through the later battle rounds. Taylor is certainly a big “get” for the show (though it won’t be her first appearance), but it almost seems like an odd choice to make her the big advisor. Then again, the show’s addition of an advisor, on top of the coaches and the mentors already advising, is a bit silly in and of itself.
What Taylor Swift does know is how to perform and win over an audience. And by the time she’ll be stepping in to give her two cents, the singers will be pretty well whittled down to the best of the best. It will be the stage in the competition where performance makes all the difference, and Taylor will surely have some helpful hints and goofy observations.
The Voice season 7 premiere airs Monday, September 22 at 8 p.m. on NBC.