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YOLANDA BARBER Audition, The Voice Judges Ageist or Deaf, Amazing Singer Dissed!
Tonight, Yolanda Barber, blew the competition away on the Voice. The only problem, not one judge turned around. Are the judges ageist this season or need their hearing checked? Is it just a coincidence, that EVERYONE chosen has been under 40, and they looked Yolanda over because of her mature, rich, sultry, smooth jazz voice?
Hailing from Pittsburgh, Yolanda Barber a 55 year old former cruise singer, was laid off a few years ago and now drives a school bus. A beautiful and elegant singer, she definitely wowed fans, who protested on Twitter and Facebook about being denied by Levine, Shelton, Green, Aguilera. How could they pass on Yolanda and turn around for one bland singer after another? Haven’t they heard of Susan Boyle? How many wannabe popstars can you pass through? Hello?
First off, Astrochicks watches the Voice because the chemistry between the judges and their humorous banter. Knowing, that most likely none of the singers that make it to the finals will enjoy a hit song, like Phillip Phillips from American Idol. Yes, they may have the ratings, but I seriously doubt they are interested in finding a superstar. NBC seems to be interested in ratings.
Astrochicks is very disappointed that Yolanda Barber was passed over, on TVLine, one fan wrote: “I’ve noticed a pattern of ageism on The Voice this year. Several “mature” singers haven’t had anybody turn around, and they were actually good. Yolanda was AMAZING and one of the best I’ve heard on The Voice this season. I remember a couple of other older women (“older” being 40s and above), I think they were both music teachers, not making through when I thought they had pretty good voices (especially one who sounded a little like Stevie Nicks). I really do think this show has a little more integrity than Idol et. al., at least in these so-called blind auditions (my favorite part of The Voice), but tonight’s episode definitely has tainted the process. Sigh.”
We totally agree, come on NBC, age has nothing to do with selling records. Hopefully, somone will see how amazing Yolanda is and give her some local gigs, maybe a casino, or better yet she should try out for “America’s Got Talent.” We love you girl!
Concur! It’s outrageous that such a talented and soulful singer wasn’t chosen for a team. It would be remiss not to call the show and the judges OUT. I am a fan of the show, however The Voice lost some of its magic for me tonight. Thank you for posting this!
Yeah, I’m no recording artist or producer, but a couple of the multiple judge picks made me shake my head because they didn’t seem like strong or confident singers. The “blind” process has become something of a joke because they’re clearly avoiding mature voices in favor of youthful (aka more likely to be marketable). And did you hear the previews for next week? It seemed that they were all fighting for a loud girl who sounded tone deaf…or at least really off-key!
The judges looked like morons sitting there with these stupid looks on their face’s. My disappointment is not only that Yolanda was insulted but at that moment the panel of “Super Stars”, became one dimensional, bias,common and apparently robotic to a Justin Beiber virus.
I have to agree completely. Some of the singers they have chosen are terrible. Their pitch and vibrato are horrendous. I haven’t been a loyal fan of the Voice. In fact, a couple seasons ago or last season; I can’t remember they passed up a girl who during the battle round sang with “Pumped up Kicks.” I can only assume it was because the other girl was prettier and more marketable. I just can’t handle their blatant obvious either ageism or bias against body type and attractiveness. I think I will be over the Voice this season.
For me, the program ‘the voice’ has lost its credibility and my respect. I concur with the readers above, that Yolanda’s performance was incredible and that the reason why she was not chosen had nothing to do with her performance, but because her ‘seasoned voice’ was felt.
I called ageism a couple of weeks ago as I noticed how they passed up one talented mature singer after another in favor of teenagers (who they raved about). On top of this, Cee-lo’s commen to one of them was “That was pretty good, especially considering your age.” Followed by an after show interview with Christina who said something to effect of “It was nice to see her out there doing her thing. (Pause) “Good for her.” I would have been okay with them not choosing her, had it not become about her age.
I’ve checked the judges’ ages and found that all of them are still in their thirties. This actually explains a lot. When we’re in our thirties, we think they’re going to last forever. Getting older is what happens to other people–like those over the age of forty are from a different tribe or planet or something. That’s okay. I know differently, and in a few years, they will too.
For the record–I have teenagers and young adults in my house (two of them musicians–one who makes extra money at it) and this week none of them turned the Voice on. Their comment? “It’s got to be rigged. That or these people are all suddenly deaf.” And all of them are Cee-Lo Green fans.
Last season I bought four or five MP3s (loved Jordis and Juliet Simms). By the way, I continue to seek out their music and neither of them won. Considering I prefer country to most other styles of music, this says something about these two women. None of my teenagers or young adults bothered to purchase a single song (they just use mine.
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This is a warning shot to these people. They’ve lost the interest of one rather tenacious group of music fans. Just like adults, teenagers aren’t as interested in seeing a particular age group on the stage as they are in seeing talent rewarded.