America: Starting with the acquisition of MGM...

Chapter 253, Question 252: Is this show about the contestants or the mentors?

ah.

As the opening show ended, the camera panned to the audience, who were absolutely thrilled.

How could you not be excited to watch four superstars perform for free?

Even though it was re-recorded many times during the process, it was still incredibly enjoyable.

The dance battle between the Michael and Michael siblings was particularly stunning and will undoubtedly become a classic moment in performance history.

While waving to the audience, James Corden walked to his assigned spot and began explaining the rules.

"Thank you to the four mentors for their wonderful performances."

"Next, they will conduct blind auditions, with everyone facing away from the contestants and judging whether they approve of the contestants' singing skills solely by listening to their voices."

"The judges' judgment cannot be influenced by the contestants' clothing, appearance, or even age."

"If more than one mentor selects a contestant, then the selection right will be transferred to the contestant."

"During the blind audition phase, each mentor will select eight contestants from all participants to form their own team. This process is by no means simple."

"Please remember, this is a pure music competition, and the only thing the winner can rely on is their own solid ability."

"OK! Let's welcome our first contestant!"

After the rules were explained, many viewers suddenly felt something was different, especially the rule that the right to choose was transferred to the contestants, which seemed quite interesting and intriguing.

She keenly sensed that something interesting was about to happen, and her previously scattered gaze became focused.

The scene switched to the contestant, a handsome young man wearing a hat walked over. He was nearly 190 cm tall and looked sunny and strong.

"Hi everyone, I'm Patrick Thomas, I'm 20 years old, and I'm from Nashville, Tennessee."

"Look how tall I am now, but I was actually bullied a lot when I was a kid because I was a complete bookworm back then."

"I really want to exercise with everyone, play baseball, play football, but I'm not athletic at all."

"Until I found what I love, which is singing."

James Corden: "Hi Thomas, you look great."

"Yes, everything is great, I'm just very excited."

"Then you should relax a little, because I think you'll definitely be chosen. It's not too late to get excited then."

"Haha, if I succeed, those who used to laugh at me will be drooling with envy. This is the best opportunity of my life."

"Keep it up, young man!"

"Of course, I'm ready to let millions of people hear my singing."

On stage, a melodious and gentle prelude began, and Parix started singing.

Although the mentors couldn't see him, the audience could see him clearly. When they discovered that a 190cm tall boy was singing a country-style song, many people immediately showed surprised expressions.

The camera then zoomed in on Celine Dion, who was smiling and turning to look at Mike next to her.

"Michael, I'm sure this player is a handsome guy."

"Why? How did you know?" Mike asked curiously.

"Look at them, look at these girls, their expressions say it all, he's definitely a handsome guy."

Jayz chuckled and said in a somewhat helpless yet sarcastic tone, "Women."

This scene had a sitcom-like effect, immediately amusing many viewers in front of their screens.

Many people think that Jayz is just a rapper, but he has actually acted in several comedy movies.

His performances possess the natural comedic quality that Black people have, which was one of the reasons Eric chose him as a mentor – to create variety show effects.

Otherwise, given Jay-Z's status, he is actually not a good match for the other three. His total record sales are less than 20 million copies, how can he compare with these three who have at least 100 million copies sold?

Please, Daddy Bragg, would be a better fit than him.

Celine Dion's hand was already on the red button, ready to go. Backstage, James Corden looked at the player's parents: "See? I told you he could do it."

The parents watched the screen excitedly, muttering, "One more! One more!"

"That this might really be the real end"

Bang!

When Thomas reached the climax of his song and made a trill, there was a muffled sound, and Celine Dion decisively pressed the button.

When the chair turned around, she paused for a moment, then smiled.

Many spectators immediately applauded, and Thomas's parents jumped up excitedly and hugged James Corden.

As the performance continued, Celine Dion suddenly turned her head to look at Jenny, only to see that she had also placed her hand on the red button.

The queen of comedy sketches couldn't help but change her expression, her hands moving in a series of gestures like a witch performing a spell, signaling Jenny not to film.

Jayz, who was stuck between the two, quickly leaned back.

At this point, the concert reached its second climax and was about to end when Celine Dion realized that Jenny still hadn't clapped, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief and sat up straight.

Bang!

As soon as she straightened up, Jenny slapped the camera down, leaving Celine Dion dumbfounded, like a Smurf.

Thomas's performance ended, and he finally won the favor of two mentors, with Michael and Jayz's chairs turning around.

Celine Dion was about to ask Jenny if she was deliberately causing trouble when Jayz looked at her with a startled expression.

"Sidi, you can't do that to me!"

As he spoke, he mimicked Celine Dion's gesture from earlier.

"I'm Black, and your gesture reminds me of painful memories from when I was a devout voodoo believer. It's giving me nightmares!"

He spoke in a somewhat comical, cinematic style, and his strangely sudden rise in tone immediately drew bursts of laughter from the audience.

In a family on Long Island, New York, three siblings are watching The Voice on a computer.

"Ha ha ha ha."

"OMG! Mike, Jayz is hilarious! Why didn't anyone tell me he was so funny!"

The eldest son shrugged: "I've told Carol before, but all you do is read and study all day. You never listen to me."

The younger son chimed in, "You're right, but Celine Dion, whom you like, is also great; her comedic talent is fantastic."

"Of course, Benedict Cumberbatch. If you've seen Celine Dion's previous interviews, you'll know she's a very funny singer."

"Hey! Anyone want some cookies? I just baked them. Wait, what are you looking at? Is this Lionheart.net?"

"Mom, didn't you listen to Janet Jackson when you were young? And Dad listened to Michael Jackson too. You should watch this show; it's much more interesting than American Idol."

Mom quickly waved her hands: "No, no, I work for Long Island TV, and our station has joined the anti-MGM alliance, didn't you know?"

Then she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Jason, come see your idol! You can write your paper later."

Summoned by his wife, Jason Silver ran out of his study, glanced at the screen, and shook his head: "Darling, you're aiding the enemy."

Maggie chuckled: "Who cares? Nobody knows anyway. Besides, the show is really funny. Look, they're about to start arguing, hahaha."

During the show, Mike said, "Thomas, that was awesome. Your performance was great, and your voice is perfect for country racing."

"Then why didn't you turn around for him?" Jenny, the good sister, immediately fired back.

"Well, because I think I don't sing as well as him, so I'm afraid I can't give him any pointers."

OH

Although everyone knew Mike was being modest, they still cheered and jumped for joy in response.

Seeing the 190cm tall contestant lower his head shyly, Jenny couldn't help but smile and look at him.

"You're so cute, Parix, especially when you smile."

"Thanks!"

"Don't be shy, how about taking off your hat? Let everyone have a good look at you."

"Wow, is it the audience who wants to see it or you who wants to see it?" Celine Dion joked.

"I think everyone wants to see it, what do you think?"

OH

The girls around immediately screamed.

"OK!"

Parix took off his hat, revealing a thick head of hair that was somewhat messy but exuded a wildness; he was indeed a handsome young man.

"Could you take your pants off too?" Jenny suggested.

Mike quickly lowered his head and covered his face, while the girl's scream rose another decibel.

Jayz quickly made a downward gesture: "Be more reserved, be more reserved, Jenny!"

Jenny quickly stepped aside: "Don't make that gesture at me. I'm Black too, and I used to be a member of the Voodoo Cult."

Hahahaha

The audience laughed non-stop; apart from Michael being a bit shy, the other three were clearly very funny.

The two then began a fierce battle to recruit him.

Jenny pointed to herself: "Parix, I know that in terms of style, it's obvious that another woman is a better fit for you."

"You should show me some respect, Jenny. I debuted a whole year before you, a whole year!" Celine Dion exclaimed, her eyes wide.

Hahahaha

Jenny rolled her eyes at the camera: "Okay, obviously Cidi's style suits you better, but I have advantages that she doesn't have."

"The best way for a singer to gain fame is to appear at big-name concerts, and I have a national tour this year, which you can attend."

Pelix's eyes lit up, but Celine Dion quickly stopped him: "Wait, you can't lie to this naive young man. I haven't heard that you're going on tour. Did you decide this on the spur of the moment?"

"Of course not. I may not be on tour, but Michael is. He's my brother, so I can just join his tour."

Celine Dion shrugged in surprise: "This isn't fair! They, brother and sister, teamed up against me! Director, director, I demand fair competition!"

"Cough cough."

"Actually, I'm just the producer and assistant director," Mike said casually.

Hahahaha

Michael's innocent tone immediately triggered another burst of laughter from the audience and viewers.

Of course, these were all jokes. In the end, Parix chose Celine Dion, whose style was closer to Parix's.

Then the contestants came on stage one after another, including handsome men, beautiful women, and even ugly men and women with no looks.

The four of them weren't always joking around; when it came to professionalism, they were absolutely unambiguous. If a contestant's skill level was indeed weak or they underperformed, they would politely point it out and refuse to comment.

At this point, apart from Mike's team, the other three had all recruited members, with Jayz directly taking two rappers under his wing.

Just like basketball, American rap is unique in the world. Only in this country can you see rap become part of the mainstream music scene. No other music scene can do that.

At this point, the progress bar had reached the last ten minutes or so, meaning there was only about one contestant's performance time left.

As is usually the case, the most exciting part is usually the last one. Countless viewers were glued to their screens, and within just one hour, they were already deeply attracted by this novel music variety show.

"I am Bruno Mars, I am 19 years old this year, or more accurately, I haven't reached my birthday yet, so I can only be considered 18 years old."

"I come from the beautiful resort island of Hawaii, which is my hometown."

"I've been performing on stage locally since I was a child. I love singing, and I love the feeling of being in the spotlight and being noticed."

"Now I'm here to participate in 'The Voice of America,' and I believe I can find an opportunity to showcase my talents here."

James Corden: "Bruno, did you come alone?"

"Yes."

"Okay, you're the first contestant to participate in the show alone. Where are your family and friends?"

Bruno Mars shook his head: "My family is in Hawaii, and I graduated from President Roosevelt High School last year. Then I thought I couldn't go on like this anymore. I needed to pursue my dream, which is music, so I came to Los Angeles alone."

"So you're chasing your dream all alone?"

I guess so.

James Corden patted him on the shoulder: "Brother, there are often stories like yours in movies, and I wish you all the best in achieving your dreams like the movie protagonists."

"Thanks!"

The stage lights dimmed, and the audience calmed down.

stern.

In the quiet darkness, music slowly rises, interspersed with the faint sound of wind chimes, giving the feeling of stars twinkling in the night sky.

Upon hearing the intro, Michael suddenly raised his head slightly, tilted his ear, and listened carefully for a moment before a smile appeared on his lips.

Celine Dion tilted her head and looked at him: "Michael, your fans are here."

That's right, Bruno Mars is going to sing one of Michael Jackson's hit songs, "The Man in the Mirror".

This is a slow song that expresses love for the world. If you've seen the music video, you'll find it interspersed with events such as the Ethiopian famine, the American civil rights movement, and the KKK. It's very touching.

This song undoubtedly topped the Billboard charts that year and also won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

Bruno Mars has idolized and imitated Michael Jordan since he was a child. Now that he has the opportunity to face his idol, he will naturally use his best skills to attract his attention.

"I'm gonna make a change."

"I want to make a change."

"For once in my life."

"In my life."

"It's gonna feel real good."

"I would feel good doing this."

"Gonna make a difference."

"It will be different."

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

After just four sentences, Celine Dion, Jay-Z, and Jenny all pressed the red button, looking at the unassuming little black man in front of them with some surprise.

All three of them looked surprised, never expecting such a beautiful voice to come from such a body.

"I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat."

"I saw children wandering the streets, starving."

"A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top."

"Summer's indifference, a broken bottle stopper."

"They follow each other on the wind ya know."

"They supported each other through thick and thin."

"Cause they got nowhere to go."

"Because they have nowhere else to go."

As the song progresses into the chorus, Bruno Mars's melody rises sharply with the drumbeats.

"I'm starting with the man in the mirror."

"I'll start with the man in the mirror."

"I'm asking him to change his ways."

"I asked him to change the path he had taken."

"And no message could have been any clearer."

"No other idea could be clearer than this."

"If you wanna make the world a better place."

"If you want to make the world a better place."

"Take a look at yourself, and then make a change."

"Then look at yourself, and change yourself."

Bang!

When Mike pressed the red button, the entire audience erupted in cheers. He was the only contestant to get four turns so far in the first episode.

Everyone swayed gently to Bruno Mars's song, while Michael nodded and clapped along.

A few minutes later, Bruno Mars finished his performance and bowed to the audience.

Michael turned on the microphone: "Great performance! You look like you're of mixed race. Introduce yourself."

Bruno Mars looked at Michael with some excitement, his words becoming somewhat incoherent.

"Yes, yes, I'm from Hawaii, Mike, I'm your biggest fan! A super super super fan!"

"Buddy! Everyone can tell you're Black, right?" Jayz asked with a smile.

After calming himself down, Bruno Mars replied, "Although I look a bit dark-skinned, I'm not black."

"My father is of Puerto Rican and Eastern European descent, and my mother is of Spanish and Filipino descent, so I am of four different descent."

Jayz frowned slightly, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice: "So people always say mixed-race babies are the smartest, OMG! My Beyoncé!"

Hahahaha

Everyone knows he and Beyoncé are a couple, but both of them are Black.

While everyone else was laughing, Celine Dion started recruiting people: "Bruno, you saw it too, I was the first to turn around, so I think you don't need to hesitate, join my team, I will help you find the most suitable singing path."

Seeing this, Jenny chimed in, "Bruno, your performance was obviously perfect. Even though you sang my brother's song, I still really want you. Come to me, let's win the championship together!"

"Bro, I don't know if you know anything about rap, but I'm not just a rapper. I've sung ballads too, and I think adding rap elements can make you look cool. Come to me, let's pursue happy music together!" Jayz said, opening his arms.

The three of them looked at Mike, who smiled and then walked directly onto the stage.

"Bruno, I knew you came for me, and I'm so lucky to have met you. Let's walk hand in hand to the end!"

"He cheated!" the three shouted in unison.

But feigned anger was useless, and as expected, Bruno Mars ran into Michael's arms.

The first episode of "The Voice" has come to an end.

(End of this chapter)