Happy Friday, Beacon readers! Lauren Frick here, ready to bring you a Daily Roundup edition filled with one of my all-time favorite things: music competition TV shows.
Under today’s spotlight is a particular favorite of mine, NBC’s “The Voice” — also known as one of the metaphorical stress balls that helped me get through graduate school. After every late-night class, my roommate (and fellow post-graduate education survivor) and I would rush back to our apartment just so we could plop down on the couch — a bowl of some budget-pasta variation in our laps — and turn on “The Voice.” Seriously, what’s better than being tone deaf while simultaneously articulating very uneducated opinions on people’s singing voices and song choices?
For those of you not accustomed to the chair-spinning, team battle-royale-style singing competition, here’s a quick synopsis. Contestants of all ages and from all parts of the country are selected for a spot in the blind auditions, where they get a minute-and-a-half to show off their vocal chops and impress at least one of the four celebrity judges (this year it’s the American Idol Kelly Clarkson, ultimate band frontman Adam Levine, rising country phenom Riley Green and, well, the queen, Queen Latifah).
As you could guess from the moniker, “blind auditions,” the judges can’t see the performer, and their identity isn’t revealed until they hit their big red button, spinning around their comically large cherry red chair to get a front row seat to the rest of the performance. Judges then duke it out for their favorite artists, ultimately building a team that will eventually be whittled down to a single contestant who gets to wear “The Voice” crown.
Whitefish residents and Flathead Valley music enjoyers alike might have recognized a familiar face during Tuesday’s blind audition episode as Ethan Thompson, also known as Alt Bloom, stepped out onto “The Voice” stage with his proud parents watching on. (Need a quick refresher? Click here and here for our past reporting on Thompson, a North Valley Music School alum).
“Bloom was very much attached to my roots, being in nature,” Thompson said in his pre-taped introduction package for Tuesday’s episode. “And alternate felt more city, more music influence, and when they came together, it just stuck like glue. Being raised in Montana, walking outside and seeing birds, lakes, going up to the mountains, I think it super inspired my writing.”
As the lights dimmed and a spotlight poured over Thompson, he began singing his blind audition song — a stripped back, piano-centric version of Maren Morris’ “The Bones” (a rendition that garnered praise from Morris herself, who in an Instagram comment said Thompson’s voice was “AMAZING”).
It only took about 20 seconds before Queen Latifah smashed her red button, swiveling around to enjoy the rest of Thompson’s performance. All roads were leading to Queen until Riley Green snuck in a red button push in the waning seconds of the song.
“This was a no-brainer for me,” Queen Latifah told Thompson. “I have no one on my team that sounds like you. You sound amazing. You sat in that lower register and you just warmed it up for me and got it cooking, and I said that feels right. Then I came around. You started feeling the vibe. You kept going with it. You leaned into it.
“When you got into some of those higher registers, all it did was show me you had more. You just need to figure out where to place it and when to place it, and that’s easy to do with the right song and with the coaching that will be provided on Team Queen.”
Taking her pitch up an octave, two background vocalists appeared to compliment an impromptu tune from the Queen, serenading Thompson with the not-so-subtle lyrics, “If you get with the queen, she gone get you that trophy.”
While Green tried to put up a fight — complimenting Thompson’s willingness to take charge of the arrangement — in the end, there was only one choice for Thompson: Team Queen.
“It was a brand new experience that’s for sure,” Thompson told the Beacon. “I have never quite been in something like this before and it’s very impressive watching how something goes from an idea of a season to a filmed and edited show. They do an amazing job putting it all together and treating us like family.
“I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of this season and am enjoying the ride while representing my home. Looking forward to you guys seeing everyone on this show, there is some amazing talent.”
Those looking to root on the Flathead Valley native can tune in on Monday and Tuesday nights on NBC, with streaming available the next day on Peacock (and those looking to get acquainted with Thompson in the meantime can check out his EP Welcome (Back), which dropped last Friday).
Well, I’m gonna drop the mic there — here’s the rest of today’s Daily Roundup.
Commissioners Table Final Plat for Luxury Golf Club in Lakeside
Planning Director Erik Mack asked for more time to review information and determine whether the development's water and sewer systems will meet district standards
Kalispell Chamber Backs Ballot Issue to Keep Courts Nonpartisan
The chamber’s endorsement of the measure marks the second time the nonprofit has weighed in regarding initiatives on the ballot this year. While it’s supporting CI-132, the chamber has opposed another ballot initiative aimed at getting dark money out of politics.
Billboard charting classical-crossover quartet, Sons of Serendip, won the hearts of fans and judges alike as finalists on America’s Got Talent(NBC) with their ethereal and emotionally stirring interpretations of pop music, arranged with a unique blend of vocals, harp, piano, and cello. With four successful albums and heartfelt live performances, Sons of Serendip has lifted audiences both nationally and internationally. Their most notable performances include collaborations with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops, the Atlanta Pops, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Cynthia Erivo, as well as a performance for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards (FXX).
Keeping you connected to Northwest Montana.
Whether you’ve been here for decades or you’re new to the Flathead Valley, our reporting is here to help you feel smarter and in the loop about the issues most important to Northwest Montana. With your support, we can build a more engaged, informed community.
