Original coaches back in The Voice

MANILA, Philippines - The Voice (US) recently returned for its much-awaited fifth season and has concluded its blind auditions, where the coaches selected 12 finalists for their respective teams who will compete with one another for a showdown in the next round.

This season marks the return of original coaches Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera, who were replaced by Usher and Shakira last season (aired early this year). Cee Lo and Christina join Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, two of the original coaches of The Voice.

Unlike other popular reality singing competitions like American Idol and X-Factor, which choose only one winner annually, The Voice has two winners every year since it airs two seasons (starting with its second season last year).

After the blind auditions, the exciting round of the competition follows with the battle rounds. Artists of each team come face to face for a showdown then the choice of the coaches will stay and compete again with another talent for the knockout round.

The “Steal,” which was introduced in Season 3, continues this season. Coaches can get two eliminated artists from another coach. For this season, steal is carried on until the knockout round, where the coaches can get one more eliminated artist.

In the past four seasons, coaches invited artists to mentor the contestants for the battle rounds. Blake worked with Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé, Scott Hendricks, Sheryl Crow and currently for Season 5, Cher.

Adam was helped by mentors Alanis Morissette, Robin Thicke, Mary J. Blige, Hillary Scott (of Lady Antebellum trio), Adam Blackstone and presently, Ryan Tedder, lead singer of One Republic.

Christina relied on artists such as Jewel, Lionel Richie, Sia Furler, Ron Fair, Billie Joe Armstrong and the latest, Ed Sheeran. Cee Lo, meanwhile, had Baby Face, Ne-Yo, Monica, Bill Weathers, Rob Thomas, Jennifer Hudson, Pat Monahan and presently, R&B talent Miguel.

Previous winners of The Voice are Javier Colon, Jermaine Paul, Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradberry. Coach Blake has admirably scored three winners so far, while Adam has delivered the very first one.

There are four top talents chosen each finals of The Voice. Aside from the champion or winner, there is a runner-up, third place and fourth place.

For this season, actor Neal McDonough was seen giving moral support by accompanying a teenage male talent in the blind auditions. Unfortunately, however, the singer didn’t make it past that stage.

With auditions held early this year in areas like Chicago (Illinois), Atlanta (Georgia), Los Angeles (California), Houston (Texas) and New York, The Voice 5 continues its excitement as it started the battle rounds. So far, six artists won the first stage — Grey, Amber Nicole, Shelbie Z, Caroline Pennell, Tessanne Chin and Jacquie Lee.

Eliminated artists who passed the “Steal” stage were Nic Hawk, Anthony Paul and Briana Cuoco. They will all move to the knockout round, followed by the more challenging live show, where viewers can vote for their bets all the way to the finals. 

The Voice started airing in Holland and is now also being seen in Australia, UK, Spain and the Philippines. Forty-three-year-old Mitoy Yonting is the first winner of The Voice Philippines, which is sure to have its second season. The Voice (US) is hosted by Carson Daly and airs on AXN every Monday night.