I’m usually not much for reality TV unless it involves Padma Lakshmi, but this is kinda cool. Or horrifying, depending on how you feel about Radiohead.

It seems a UVM pre-med student, Devon Barley — who is also the music director of UVM a cappella group the TopCats, of which I was a member, many years ago — is doing quite well on NBC’s latest Star Search ripoff, the Voice. For the unfamiliar, the show, hosted by Carson Daly, is a reimagining of a Dutch TV show of the same name, in which aspiring pop singers compete for the right to be on American Idol. Or maybe to win a ton of money and a record deal. I can never remember.

The contestants are judged by a panel of pop stars, including Cee-Lo Green, Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine. In tonight’s episode (NBC, 10 p.m.), Barley squares off against another hopeful — on a stage that vaguely resembles a boxing ring, no less — to move on to the next round. This particular contest seems loosely based on the rap battle concept, with contestants alternating verses of a song. Except that instead of freeestyling, they tackle a poppy karaoke rendition of the radio edit version of Radiohead’s “Creep.” (video below) Thom Yorke must be rolling in his grave.

All kidding aside, congrats on your success so far, Devon. And best of luck tonight. 

 

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Dan Bolles is a culture coeditor at Seven Days. He joined the paper in 2007 as its music editor, covering Vermont's robust music, comedy and nightlife scenes for a decade before deciding he was too old to be going to the Monkey House on weeknights to...

7 replies on “So Very Special”

  1. I thought I was going to hate this series, but I have to admit that it’s really good. It feels like you’re watching actual singers collaborate in a way that’s far less cheesy than American Idol. It also help that Christina can sing anything at the drop of a hat and that Maroon 5 guy is totally dreamy. Good luck, Devon!

  3. Howard, I think Thom Yorke actually watches tele while sitting in a grave. And when he gets agitated, he rolls around. I’m pretty sure that’s what Dan was referring to.

  4. Devon won his battle last night. Yes, I watched it. Cee-Lo, Christina Aguleira, and Maroon 5 Guy all picked him. Of course NBC edited out half the song so I felt like I hardly heard Devon (or the woman he was “battling”) actually singing the song. Needed more time to squeeze in reality show drama, I’m sure. But at least we’ll get to hear more of him in the next round…

  6. Thom wrote “my iron lung” based on Creep, so I don’t think he cares too much about pushing it the couple inches it needed to become a pure pop song.

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