Aside from the wildcard who makes it through to the live shows on The Voice, season 7’s Top 12 are ready to court the public vote starting Sunday night at 7 PM on Nine. We take a look at their pros and cons. Who are you cheering for?
The Frontrunners
TRENT BELL
Team: Delta
Strengths: Trent already has a staunch fan base thanks to his time spent in boy band The Collective. He also knows what it’s like to tour and put in the hard graft to make it in the biz. Oh, and let’s face it, he’s also extremely easy on the eye!
Weaknesses: Is Trent just way too vanilla to make it all the way to the end? Delta has a job ahead of her to persuade Trent to reveal a little more of himself to audiences —and not just coast along on his good looks. He’s also got LOTS of competition this year with a record number of men through to the final rounds.
What we think: Trent’s legions of fans could give him an unstoppable advantage when it comes to voting, but will they think he’s already had his moment in the sun, thanks to X Factor?
SALLY SKELTON
Team: Joe
Strengths: Though still young, Sally has already amassed a big fan base after her stint on The Voice last year. Likely to appeal to the younger voters, she knows they have her back after what they perceived was her unfair dismissal from last year’s show.
Weaknesses: Her folksy style of singing may not appeal to those who like their Voice stars poppy and loud.
What we think: Sally’s ‘favourite’ status seems confirmed recently with mentor Joe Jonas choosing to take her as his date to the show’s launch party. You can’t buy that kind of publicity!
SHELDON RILEY
Team: George
Strengths: Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that Sheldon Riley has stage presence. But the most significant thing this 18-year-old has going for him is undoubtedly his powerhouse voice. Could he be Australia’s own Sam Smith?
Weaknesses: His big personality runs the risk of alienating audiences who might find him hard to relate to, or a little too much. The real test will come at the live performances. Will the audience embrace his flamboyant style?
What we think: Even if he doesn’t walk away a winner, Australia hasn’t seen the last of Sheldon — record companies must surely be clamouring to sign him up. His amazing, soulful voice is mature beyond his years, and his style is literally all his own (he designs his own clothes). He’s got a big future ahead of him if he wants it.
BROCK ASHBY
Team: Kelly
Strengths: This guy has some seriously magnetic stage appeal! And let’s face it— he’s sure to win plenty of, ahem, female fans. Brock already has a huge social media following, which is sure to help him in the competition.
Weaknesses: There’s a danger that Brock could coast during this competition. He needs to prove he’s more than just a pretty face and that he has the work ethic and dedication to go all the way.
What we think: Brock already looks, and sounds, like a pop superstar, and he’s already got the name thing down pat. With the right guidance from Kelly, he could have a seriously big career ahead of him both here and internationally.
SAM PERRY
Team: Kelly
Strengths: From the moment he stepped on stage at the Blinds, this loop artist has had everyone talking. Can he ride that wave of publicity all the way to the finals? It’s looking pretty darn possible.
Weaknesses: He more than proved himself during those Knockout rounds but whether Sam can maintain pace with his vocals still remains to be seen. George may have been right all along.
What we think: Regardless of whether he wins the competition, it’s hard not to see record companies falling over themselves to sign up Sam for live shows and tours. Already a successful DJ, he’s a step ahead of the others and that could see him enjoy an extremely lucrative career in years to come.
Charging up the field
BEN CLARK
Team: Delta
Strengths: Ben already knows what it’s like to work professionally in the music biz— he toured for years with opera supergroup The Ten Tenors. He’s got a great work ethic and his easy personality endears him with viewers.
Weaknesses: At 33, he’s one of the oldest competitors this year. Given the majority of voters are young, will this mean Ben will be forgotten amidst the hype of some of the younger “cooler” competitors?
What we think: Ben is well-liked, both by fellow contestants and by viewers. Whether this helps or not still remains to be seen. Perhaps he’s already had his chance at making it in the big league?
JACINTA GULISANO
Team: Delta
Strengths: That killer voice! Jacinta sure knows how to belt out a banger. Case in point? Her amazing rendition of ‘How Will I Know.’ Her vocal skills alone will see her win votes.
Weaknesses: That crippling self-doubt. Jacinta’s own worst enemy is herself, and she knows it. She needs to rise above those nerves and learn to back herself.
What we think: Jacinta needs to connect with her audience and prove that she has the star power to match that super-star voice.
BEN SEKALI
Team: Joe
Strengths: That amazing, soulful, packed-full-of-emotion voice! He’s got one of the best in the competition.
Weaknesses: Ben S has one of the smallest social media followings. Could this impact him at the judging, or will his family and church rally behind him?
What we think: Unless he pulls some remarkable performances out of the bag, this performer runs the risk of being lost amidst the noise of the competition. But if one thing’s been proven right in the past, you never can tell with The Voice.
AYDAN CALAFIORE
Team: Joe
Strengths: Ayden has so much personality, it’s hard not to fall in love with him. He’s also got a killer voice to match. Kids are going to massively rally behind ‘one of their own.’
Weaknesses: Many voters might be turned off by his lack of experience and maturity. He also runs the risk of alienating older viewers with his pop stylings and exuberant performance style.
What we think: Aydan has what it takes to make it all the way to the finals but we’re still not sure whether his age and lack of experience will hold him back. One to watch.
LUKE ANTHONY
Team: George
Strengths: Luke’s good looks and easy charm, coupled with his beautiful, soulful voice—one of the strongest in the competition—stands him in good stead to make it far in this competition.
Weaknesses: George keeps drumming down how important it is for Luke to ‘connect’ with the audiences through his songs. He’s got the voice—he just needs to work on his performance skills.
What we think: There’s something so likeable about Luke, it’s hard not to imagine him having a career as an entertainer post-show. He may not have what it takes to win the competition, but Luke could have a promising career on stage if he chose to go down that route.
CHANG PO CHING
Team: George
Strengths: This guy has a seriously committed fan base who are likely to go all-out to push him far in this competition. That aside, he’s also an amazing talent and all-around nice bloke. A triple threat.
Weaknesses: Like Ben Clark, Chang is one of the older contestants in the competition— a fact that could penalise him in the eyes of younger viewers who may struggle to connect to his ‘dad vibe’.
What we think: Chang has the ability to go all the way in this competition if he can maintain pace during the live rounds. Regardless, he’s got a big career ahead of him, and through his charity work is destined to use this Voice experience to help a host of others along the way.
BELLA PAIGE
Team: Kelly
Strengths: Bella is still young but has lots of experience under her belt thanks to stints on Junior Eurovision and The Voice Kids. She also has a big social media following, which will only help her chances.
Weaknesses: Many of the voters in this competition are young girls—could they favour giving their votes to the boys they fancy? Her poppy style may not appeal to everyone.
What we think: Bella is easy to like and has stacks of youthful enthusiasm. She has every chance of walking away with a recording career post-show, as record companies see a young star-in-the-making who is still young enough to mould.
'The Voice’ goes to live shows Sundays at 7 PM on Nine.
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