"The Voice" Season 11 has just kick-started its season with four amazing judges: Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Miley Cyrus, and Alicia Keys. I mean, c'mon. If that's not enough, here's a fun fact for those Illinoisans out there...
Illinois has four amazing singers in this season of The Voice, and they are so important.
Jason Warrior was the very first person to audition for Season 11 of "The Voice." Jason is from the heart of Chicago, and sings "Living For The City" which he feels represents his experience growing up in a difficult part of the city. He mentions leaving his house and praying that he wouldn't get shot. He recalls seeing drug use and abuse in his neighborhood and seeing how it affected people. However, he knows his last name of Warrior is not a coincidence and is determined to not let the connotation of his hometown stop him from achieving his dreams. And let me tell you, he didn't. After giving a stellar performance, both Adam and Alicia turned their chairs.
Jason Warrior from Chicago, Illinois will be working alongside Alicia Keys for Season 11.
Riley Elmore is only 16 years old, but has a voice as old as (and inspired by) Frank Sinatra. Riley is from West Dundee and has a love of jazz music and plays trombone for his school. I urge you to listen to his audition with your eyes closed. No one was ready for a 16 year old to be behind this voice, and Adam and Blake were intrigued enough to push their buttons. After a mind boggling audition, Adam and Blake fought to have this style and voice on their team. Adam was so determined that he got up on stage with Riley and started singing with him. Who could say no to that??
Riley Elmore from West Dundee, Illinois will be working alongside Adam Levine for Season 11.
Sa'Rayah is a single mom from Chicago who grew up watching her mom battle her addiction to cocaine. Her experiences and her strength come out when she sings and she is just a powerhouse. Her audition was astounding and after Alicia and Miley duke it out to get her on their team, she chose someone who would challenge her and help her break out of that mold.
Sa'Rayah from Chicago, Illinois will be working alongside Miley Cyrus for Season 11.
Andrew DeMuro is a former high school special education teacher also from Chicago who left all the judges awestruck. He sang a Billy Joel classic and his voice glided over all of the notes. Both Blake and Adam turned their chairs in hopes to have Andrew join their team. Raising their hands in order to please the former teacher, they both presented valid arguments as to why he should pick them. In the end, one judge stood out.
Andrew DeMuro from Chicago, Illinois will be working alongside Adam Levine for Season 11.
SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Let me tell you. Chicago is consistently on the news for our crime, homicides, politics, and so much more. And it's not just Chicago, it's all of Illinois. From a recent survey, almost 50% of people living in Illinois want to leave.
Almost half of Illinois doesn't want to live here anymore.
Now don't get me wrong, Illinois is pretty great and I do have a sense of pride for our state. I mean, we have the Blackhawks and the Bears :)
But we can't deny the fact that things need to change. Maybe two singers on The Voice won't change anything, but maybe they will.
No matter what, we NEED to support them. We need to support one another. We need to show the country and our neighbors that we are not what they see.
We are kind. We are talented. We are different. We are the same. We are people. And we are humans. We can never forget that.
Jason and Riley, go get 'em. You have all of Illinois standing behind you.
