Best bets for singing stardom survive bruising ‘Battles’ round on ‘The Voice’
GOMEZ AND BERNADAS. Ready, willing and able to “go the distance.”
Now that “The Voice” has concluded its “Battles” round and each mentor has come up with his or her nine finalists, viewers are seeing the intensifying competition from a new and edgier perspective.
Our conclusion? This year’s batch of finalists is more varied and more vocally gifted than the first bunch. This must be because the tilt is now drawing contestants from a wider field of hopefuls—not just obscure newcomers, but even members of known bands and singing groups, former singing stars, etc.
In terms of musical genre and style, this year’s finalists represent a wider and deeper range, with rockers, pop stylists, folk singers and musical-theater talents all striving to out-perform one another.
This is all to the tilt’s good, and we hope that it will result in at least a few of its discoveries (or “recoveries”) becoming real singing stars and recording artists, which last year’s standouts failed to do.
For our part, we’re glad that all three of our personal choices—Patricia Gomez, Ferns Tasco and Poppert Bernadas—survived the “Battles” round, and are now ready, willing and absolutely able to do their best to “go the distance.”
But, in Patricia’s case, it was exceedingly touch-and-go for a tensifying moment, because she first inexplicably lost to Kai Honasan in their musical square-off—but Apl. de Ap, to his everlasting credit, “stole” and saved her at the very last second!
If Patricia had not been saved, it would have raised a ruckus of loud, great and grating proportions, because the heretofore unknown singer has “potential star” written all over her lovely countenance. She not only looks good, she sings exceptionally well.
More viewing tips
Right after we ran our list of regularly watched TV programs, we got a lot of appreciative feedback from readers who said they liked the list because it gave them tips that would both widen and deepen their own viewing choices. Some reactors also asked for more suggestions—and we’re happy to oblige:
Aside from the specific shows and program types we’ve already cited, we also love watching shows like “Million-Dollar Home Makeovers” and “Interior Therapy” because they teach us a lot about expensive and budget ways to beautify our homes and gardens.
We also watch “Bawal Ang Pasaway Kay Mareng Winnie” Mondays on GMA News Channel—because of host Winnie Monsod, natch. She knows her stuff and speaks her mind—what more can you ask for?
We also watch “I-Juander” and similar shows, for their inputs on folk and pop Pinoy “culture.” Plus, some “foodie” programs that scour the city and the countryside for unique or surprisingly yummy and cheap eats that tickle our tastebuds.
Also regularly viewed are “Inside the Actor’s Studio,” replays of “The Crazy Ones” for Robin Williams; “Being Human” on Jack TV; some shows on MYX, especially those hosted by VJ Chino, and the original “The Amazing Race” on AXN.
The BeTV channel similarly offers some viewable programs, like “Nashville,” “Pregnant in Heels,” “Hollywood Unzipped,” “Stylist Wars,” “Worst Cooks in America” and “Bloopers.”
Finally, with so many film channels on TV now, movie buffs who carefully vet each day’s viewing possibilities can have themselves a good time watching some classics, as well as fairly recent hits.
Last Monday, for instance, we surveyed our movie channels’ offerings and came up with these promising or proven attractions: On HBO—“Footloose,” “Superman Returns,” “House at the End of the Street” and the “Hollywood on Set” biz review.
On Cinemax, “The Bourne Legacy” and “Sudden Impact.” On Star Movies, “Jobs,” “Love and Honor.” On Cinema One, “Moral,” “El Pinoy Matador,” “Kasal?,” “Milan,” “Natutulog Pa Ang Diyos.”
On Cinemaworld, “The Best Day of My Life.” On PBO, “Sana Bukas Pa Ang Kahapon,” “Isla” and “The Lilian Velez Story.”
