This is it. This is why I don’t follow reality TV contests, and this is my final posting on The Voice of China, which I had greatly enjoyed at the beginning for its variety in music styles.
But after a few episodes that tended to be on the frustrating side… I just… can’t take it any longer. I think the final is next episode (and Adam Lambert is supposed to be on). It was a good ride, but I do not wish to see the ending to this.
This is my line-up to the Top4:
I gotta admit that with Wang Feng being Na Ying’s coach, I thought I was going to get blown away by everyone’s performances, but seems like expectations were too high. Plus, YouTube cockblocking my watching.
Since Wang Feng was there to coach too, all of the arrangments had a lot (or, at least, a little) to do with some aspect of rock — be it rock & roll or plain rock (except for Zhang Yu Xia’s battle) — so, in the end, there was a lot of A-Mei being played and there was some extra Wang Feng going on too.
Anyway, there were only a couple of standout performances, and considering my favorites on Na Ying’s team from the beginning were Zhang Wei (张玮) [1] and Zhang Yu Xia (張玉霞) [1], I am rather ecstatic and sad. Super elated for the fact that Zhang Wei has a very good chance of being the Top4 (and may very well be the winner), and sad because Zhang Yu Xia — despite her flawless The Legend (传奇) performance in a battle vs. Li Min (李敏) — couldn’t advance any further. T_T
But, DUDE! The Zhang Wei and Ge Yu Sen (歌浴森) battle doing A-Mei’s Three Days and Three Nights (三天三 夜) was great~ Like, couldn’t pick between the two, and I was almost siding with Ge Yu Sen, but would have been perfectly content if either of those two won.
Damn. Was I just trolled? Did I just say it’s an OMG moment and had my pick of last week just eliminated??? I’m still uncertain, but it seems like Liu Yue was eliminated against her Feeling Good performance.
On episode 8, it was Harlem Yu’s turn. From his team, I had a few favorites — like Wang Yun Yi (王韵壹) [1], Wei Yu Nuo (魏语诺) [1], Jin Chi (金池) [1], and a very VERY soft spot for the Amisi Girls (阿蜜丝女孩) [1] coz their arrangement of Leehom’s Mei [MV] was so much fun xD. So I was BUMMED that I had to choose between Wei Yu Nuo and Jin Chi on the first round of battles.
At first, I thought that Jin Chi was gonna take it really easy because she has such control of her voice, but I was surprised by Wei Yu Nuo who gave her own UMPH while doing a battle performance of Aaron Kwok’s Give your Neverending Love (对你爱不完) [clip]. They were really great together and after rather two weak duos, they seemed to put themselves forward as the best of the episode with their number, until…
This The Same Moonlight (一样的月光) performance by Wang Yun Yi and Zhao Ke (赵可).
[you can check the video on bilibili or here]
and though… none of them made it after the deadly cut… with a rather weak “battle for my own” performance by Wang, they have a close to perfect performance with this. They maybe should collaborate in another project together.
I really REALLY hope Jin Chi makes it to the Top4, at least.
Next up! Na Ying’s team. It seems to be the strongest, but it also means a lot of good people are going to get cut.
First… I can’t believe The Voice of China left me with a cliffhanger.
The selection process for The Voice of China is done, and I had already picked my favorites… so it’s time for Liu Huan to sort out his picks and do a deadly — seriously, DEADLY — cut. From the first round of duo battles, my favorite performance was Quan Zhendong (权振东) Vs. Jianing Combination (佳宁组合) singing Winter is Coming (冬天来了).
[you can check the video on QQ]
The show is seriously riddled with major talent — so much that Liu Huan really feels it when he cuts people — but since everyone is so talented, I feel like everyone deserves to be there. Some VERY hard choices were made. Almost by the end of the show, when you thought you’d seen it all, Liu Yue (刘悦) went out there and gave the OMG moment of the episode (after a rather weak duo battle, if I may say).
Having said that, if the competition doesn’t work for Quan Zhendong, I think he should totally get together with Jianing Combination because they had great chemistry, and I think they were the most difficult to pick from.
— EDIT —
Now that I’m chronicling my journey through The Voice of China with my opinion on Harlem Yu’s team, I guess I have to tell you my thoughts on Liu Huan’s. Surprisingly enough, I only had two favorite FAVORITES~ The first one was Liu Yue [1] and then Summer (who ended up winning this episode) [1]. But overall I thought Liu Huan’s team had a very good vocal quality.
I really REALLY REALLY am loving Chochukmo, and not because I interviewed them. I actually accepted to interview them because I really liked their first album, which you can listen to on Xiami or Bandcamp ;O
Don’t forget to check out my interview with Mike Orange from the band.
She’s like… the cutest thing EVER. She was even cuter in this 30sec commercial when she was super tiny. OMG, I just wanna squish her little face on that hahahaha.
And she’s SUCH a great actress. You just gotta watch her break YOU down on Mother. At a drop of a dime, she’ll break your heart and make you cry. She is, obviously, since then the biggest (child) actor/idol EVER. She’s done tons of commercials, sponsors, small roles on films, headed her own television dramas, guested on several talk shows, headed her own talk show or whatever…
I’m not really familiar with SunnyHil, but my curiosity was peaked when I caught a teaser for Midnight Circus that had BEG member Ga-In, just about the time when they released the video for Midnight Circus~
I dug it… kind of a mix of music that wasn’t exactly Kpop… it had something — I was caught inadvertently saying “midnight cir-CUS!” once or twice. And the video is class… really moody… almost a bit cabaret-y punk-y, but not really that… it wasn’t the Dresden Dolls, but it was interesting Kpop. xD
So I was really surprised with their MV for Pray — which once again peaked my curiosity with the teaser. There’s a certain sci-fi horror feel to it… combined with this creature that looked a bit like an orc combined with a little bit of Sloth from The Goonies.
It’s just an outstanding music video overall — such a despicable (yet so familiar) storyline! A ‘monster’ lured in with affection that’s suddenly betrayed by the people that he thought care for him. Amazing.
Dear, Bang Bang Tang members~
I stalk your douban page from time to time, even if I don’t really read Chinese characters. I heard your music once featuring on CNN’s CNNGo programming, and I was hooked.
Anyway… enough with the fan message. xD
I am aware Bang Bang Tang — not the Taiwan boyband — just get together when they feel like playing, and actually study… or I guess already have jobs. I know the indie music scene is really tough… imagine such a huge market like China.
I wish someone who sign them already. Anyone, even an international indie label. Sighs. You know, instead of debuting a new girl group a week, they should fund BBT’s album.
Suffering fan,
amy xD
Here. I leave you with the video for Bang Bang Tang (棒棒糖) – 我最爱缺陷男 (Wo Zui Ai Que Xian Nan) – My Favorite Male Defects, which was included in my Top-Rated Songs of 2010, even though it’s not a 2010 song. Only one exception to that rule. xD
There’s a pretty personality-insightful making-of article in regards of Taiwan’s first and brand-new Boi-band, who in their second single Super Lover are urging a pretty lady to not give up on love.
I think I’ve finally figured out who is who. Ha!
First, there’s leader Jin Tai (the one with the glasses). Then there’s Qiu Qiu the former dance instructor (top third on the left), Milk is the one with the blueish tones on her hair, Chris (? Zi Lun?) (the one with the humping face), and finally Chiao (Qiao) the one with the blond hair.
And I’ve already picked my favorite. LOL
You guys~~~ your music makes me really silly-grin happy
Anyone know where I can buy their albums? I know you can buy their debut over at the Modern Sky website, but buying through it is a hassle because they don’t have other payment method than wire transfer… which sucks, but understandble since there’s no Paypal~
