It’s official! “America Loves Singing Lesbians,” as the LA Times headline regarding NBC’s hit singing competition The Voice blithely suggested. In a refreshing twist to the American Idol narrative that has conservatives and tween girls voting for the least controversial young male contestant, America has voted four times to save out lesbians Beverly McClellan and Vicci Martinez on The Voice. And on last night’s results show America’s vote by and large chose the four finalists, two of which are Beverly and Vicci. The celeberity coaches had a hand in the voting but Beverly's and Vicci's coaches, democratic in doling out their vote, pretty much evened the playing field splitting their votes 50/50 with Beverly and Vicci and their teammates, leaving it to America to make the actual call.
Of course, to say that “America loves singing lesbians,” is to also suggest that Beverly and Vicci rode to the finals based primarily on their sexuality, but the two powerhouses proved through several performances that they are forces to be reckoned with who possess supreme vocal prowess. Just give a listen to Beverly’s “Baba O’Reilly,” “I’m the Only One” and “The Thrill is Gone" and to Vicci’s “Rolling in the Deep,” “Jolene” and “Dog Days are Over” for a sampling of their vocal chops.
While it was exciting and refreshing to see that America chose Vicci and Beverly to represent their coaches’ teams, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera respectively, in the finals, it was tough to say goodbye to Christina’s other team member Frenchie Davis, who’s become a gay icon in her own right having played the lesbian character Joanne in Broadway’s Rent. It was also tough to watch Vicci’s teammate Nakia, a fierce competitor with a killer voice, who happens to be gay, leave after Thursday’s show.
Beverly and Vicci will face off against each other, Blake Shelton’s team pick Dia Frampton and Adam Levine’s pick Javier Colon. It will be a showdown between the powerhouses Beverly and Vicci and the inventive interpreters Dia and Javier, who are strong in their own right. Tune in to the final performances on June 28, and to the results show finale on June 29, to discover who America has chooses as The Voice.
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