On Monday (September 23), the newest season of The Voice is set to premiere for its 26th installment. And the program will feature a slew of big-name coaches that include the likes of current champion Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani and Michael Bublé.
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To introduce the viewing public to these seminal artists—indeed, perhaps you’re familiar with two or three but not all four—we wanted to dive into a catalog of four tracks. One song from each of the coaches that remains iconic, that stands the test of time.
“Fancy” by Reba McEntire from Rumor Has It (1991)
Written by country star Bobbie Gentry, this song was made famous more recently by Reba McEntire. Lyrically, the track is about a young woman who makes her way in the world, climbing the social ladder, through prostitution. Though the subject matter is a bit sordid, it has become a classic song that’s since been covered by many artists, including Orville Peck. But McEntire made it all her on in 1991 on her LP Rumor Has It. Indeed, the country singer has a knack for taking a song and simply owning it. Just like she owned last season on The Voice.
“Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg from Doggystyle (1993)
The Southern California rapper made a name for himself on the Dr. Dre LP The Chronic in 1992. He followed that up the next year with his own signature LP Doggystyle, which included the song “Gin and Juice.” Since then, the smooth talking Snoop Dogg has become one of the biggest celebrities on Earth. He is as frequent a pitchman as Shaq and Michael Jordan, and boasts friends from Eminem to Martha Stewart. What can’t he do? And now he’s a vocal coach on The Voice despite not being known as a singer. That’s the power of Snoop.
“Don’t Speak” by No Doubt from Tragic Kingdom (1995)
Gwen Stefani rose to fame in the 1990s thanks to her rock band No Doubt. And since the release of their 1995 album Tragic Kingdom, one of its signature tracks, “Don’t Speak,” has gone on to earn billions of streams. Stefani, who went on to enjoy a successful solo career as a genre-jumping blonde bombshell, has proven time and time again she is boundary-less. With her husband, country star Blake Shelton, no longer on The Voice, she is one of the show’s biggest draws.
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé from Christmas (2012)
Throughout history, there have been a handful of male voices that have carried the torch of the holiday season with such velvety aplomb that they’ve become living legends. And currently, the Canadian-born singer Michael Bublé is the one doing just that. While he is more than just a Christmas fireside lounge singer, Bublé is also the soft crooning voice you’d want to hear when the chestnuts are in need of roasting. It will be hard for many contestants on The Voice to ignore his charm.
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