The Voice Australia 2024 kicked off its 13th season on Monday night with returning coach Guy Sebastian being joined by Kate Miller-Heidke, Adam Lambert and LeAnn Rimes. Up for grabs is a $100,000 cash prize and an all-inclusive recording package for the performer who can rack up enough votes from the public as the competition progresses.
The first night of blind auditions saw a mix of talent, from a 60-something-year-old rocker bringing down the house with Billy Idol's 'Rebel Yell' to nervous 19-year-old dad of two, Manawa Randall, who bravely sang LeAnn's mega-hit 'How Do I Live.' While none of the coaches opted to turn around for the young singer, Guy urged him to come back next year and Leann got up and sang the song with him for support.
While her kindness toward Manawa was praised online, LeAnn later found herself on the brunt of some criticism after using a new tactic in the series.
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For the first time ever, each coach receives one Ultimate Block - giving them the power to block the three other coaches and ensuring that the performer they want ends up on their team. The coaches also receive one Block each, giving them the power to block a rival coach from getting an artist they turned their chair for.
When Reuben De Melo from Perth got up on stage and started singing 'I See Fire' by Ed Sheeran, it wasn't long before he had all four judges turning around.
The 31-year-old dad of two is a FIFO worker who explained in his pre-taped package that's never done something like this but would love to make music his career as the nature of his current job takes him away from his family so much.
Reuben's incredible performance not only had the four coaches fighting for him, but received a standing ovation from the four stars as well as the audience.
"Reuben, wow just wow, what an amazing voice! Could listen to him all day!" an excited viewer wrote on X.
"Clapping standing from the couch! Reuben de Melo," said another.
"We have a winner. This guy can sing," a third wrote.
"Yayyy I remember staying all night at the Subiaco Saturday night markets because you were playing and I thought… this guy's the next Ed Sheeran, next time I watch him play I’ll be in a stadium!!! Finally it is happening for you," a fan wrote on Reuben's Instagram.
I could listen to Reuben all day and go to his gigs. Bloody superstar already. Amazing, unique voice too #TheVoiceAU
— Davis Harrigan (Digi) 🦁 (@DeadlineDavis) August 19, 2024
With all four coaches desperate to have Reuben on their team, the talented singer looked pretty overwhelmed until LeAnn decided to use her Ultimate Block - knocking Guy, Kate and Adam out of the running.
"The ultimate block - proving @TheVoiceAU is only really about the coaches - not the contestants. That last singer looked so disappointed to have to go with LeAnn Rimes," one person wrote on X.
"LeAnn using the UB is such a desperate move. OMG. This new twist is pathetic. What if the contestant does not like the judge?" another fan complained.
Yeah that ultimate block is not right #TheVoiceAU
— James (@Rynehelm) August 19, 2024
"Yeah that ultimate block is not right," a third said.
The UB, or even the block is detrimental to the singers as it may stop them from choosing their coach," someone said on Instagram.
"This UB button is nasty!," another added.
"That UB button is INSANITY! I have a bad feeling about this Szn!," yet another person said.
Despite the mixed opinions, Reuben said that he was very happy to be on Team LeAnn and felt that was where his music belonged.
A FIFO worker in the Western Australia mines, Reuben turned to music to cope during challenging times, including a stint in a Dubai desert prison when airport officials mistook his herbal tea for drugs. Now, he is determined to pursue his musical aspirations.
The coaches are certainly impressed with his talent with Kate calling him a true artist and telling him she thinks he can win this competition, Adam praising his performance for being "polished", "other-worldly" and "sophisticated."
Guy also said that, with the right songs, felt that Reuben could win the show while LeAnn said that she felt she had used her Ultimate Block on the "ultimate artist."
A post shared by Reuben de Melo (@reubendemelomusic)
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The judges/coaches on this season of The Voice are:
Guy Sebastian: Our very first Australian Idol winner who has shifted 7 million combined units and, has more than 1.1 billion streams world-wide. Guy also recently appeared in a Bollywood film.
Kate Miller-Heidke: Classically trained award-winning, singer-songwriter who blends the genres of contemporary pop, folk, musical theatre, and opera (she's Australia's Kate Bush!). She has released five top 10 studio albums to date.
LeAnn Rimes: LeAnn Rimes is an international multi-platinum-selling and multi-GRAMMY award-winning iconic singer-songwriter. She has sold more than 48 million units globally, won two GRAMMY Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and two World Music Awards among many other accolades.
Adam Lambert: A GRAMMY-nominated artist, actor, and leading LGBTQ+ advocate. The first openly gay artist to top the Billboard charts, Adam has released five studio albums to date and is the frontman for legendary rock group, Queen.
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