Yet another Filipino has impressed reality show judges.
Singer Jej Vinson got all judges in the US’ version of the hit talent show The Voice to turn their chairs for him in an episode broadcast yesterday (California time). This basically means that all four judges wanted Vinson on their team and are ready to coach him.
Vinson, who said he was from the Philippines but is now based in Los Angeles, sang Drake’s song “Passionfruit” during the show’s Blind Auditions.
Judge Adam Levine was so blown away that he told Vinson: “You’re a better singer than all of us!” Judge Kelly Clarkson was so moved that she approached Vinson on stage and gave him a hug after he sang.
Watch Vinson’s performance below and see why all four judges wanted to work with him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y3OcSTEh-Y
After his performance, judge John Legend was effusive in his praise for Vinson.
“That was like a wild inspired song choice because Drake is kind of like monotone normally, and I was worried that you would stay in that little zone, but then you soared,” Legend said.
He added: “You showed us these really precise beautiful runs. It’s was like you knew the note you wanted and just picked it out in the air. And you hit every single one with precision and beauty and excitement. You’ve got the whole crowd going.”
Nice!
Legend added that Vinson deserved getting all four chairs to turn for him.
On The Voice, singers perform on stage behind the judges, who sit on their chairs facing the audience. The judges do not know what the contestant looks like, which is why the performances are called Blind Auditions. If they want to coach a singer, they need to press their buzzer so that their chairs turn towards the singer. In case several judges turn their chairs, the singer gets to pick who he or she wants to work with.
While Legend was all praises, Levine had a little criticism. “Maybe the one thing you [shouldn’t] do is to be too perfect. There’s almost something surgical about how perfectly placed all of those runs are,” he said.
Levine added: “What I would wanna do as your coach if I were to be so lucky is to make sure we can get to a place where people can feel you, as well as they can hear you.”
Clarkson, however, disagreed with Levine’s criticism. “They were saying your runs are so surgical but they’re not. They’ve got finesse.” She also added that she thinks she could win the show with Vinson if he chose to work with her.
Meanwhile, judge Blake Shelton agreed that Vinson could win the show. “You know, I think everybody here is probably a little bit nervous talking to you right now,” Shelton said. “We all feel like we’re looking at the winner of The Voice this season.”
Vinson ended up picking Clarkson as his coach. He’ll move on to the Battle Round where he has to perform against another singer whom Clarkson has coached.
Should he win the competition, he’ll get US$100,000 (PHP5.220 million) and a recording contract from Universal Music Group.
Everyone, it’s time to tweet #PinoyPride!
