Julia Michaels' Issues Come to Life

This fangirling spiral was brought to you by Gwen Stefani. I know, I did it again, but go with me. I got caught up in watching interviews with Gwen talking divorce, Blake and coming up with an album out of nowhere. She talked of crying on her way to the studio. Once inside the studio, she simply said, I don’t care what comes out of this, I don’t care if it’s radio friendly, I just need to create and get whatever’s happening out. 

Several times over the interviews Gwen mentioned Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels. I decided to look them up. He’s the former glam rock frontman for Semi Precious Weapons, she’s been a professional songwriter since her early teens–producing her first hit, Miss Moving On by Fifth Harmony, at the age of 17. Together the songwriting duo are a creative force, producing such hits as Good For You and Hands to Myself by Selena Gomez, Sorry by Justin Bieber, Cake By The Ocean by DNCE and Gwen’s latest hit, Used to Love You. 

To look at either of their Instagram accounts (Julia and Justin) is to see professional magic at its finest with an unwavering friendship. And that’s what got me hooked, to connect with someone–to have  that written-in-the-stars creative collaboration–it’s a thing of beauty. 

Today, Julia took as step out on her own, out of the songwriting shadows and into the pop star spotlight with the release her own single, Issues. It’s a song she wrote that she simply couldn’t give away. I love a gal with a story, so send some love her way and download her debut track.

Crap. I Like The Voice.

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

This goes against everything I believe in. Despite the fact that Adam Levine says that The Voice is not reality TV, I still feel sullied. First, truth time: I have never watched a full episode on The Voice, but I have bingwatched YouTube videos for days since returning from the holidays. For days. In order to better understand the depths of such a spiral, may I present: A VERY SPECIAL TIMELINE OF A FANGIRLING BENDER.

TRIGGER: Gwen and Blake have been photographed canoodling over the holidays. 
INTERNAL DIALOG: I like Gwen, she's a cool, rock steady, girl power chick. That sucks about Gavin, damn those broody boys. I'm glad she's happy again. I want to see for myself.

SEARCH: Gwen and Blake, The Voice
RESULTS: Many, many YouTube video compilations of Gwen and Blake on The Voice.
INTERNAL DIALOG: Aw that's sweet, they're like high school level of crushing on one another, big, big smiles. That's cool. Oh, that Adam Levine dude, he's always seemed a little douchy to me. Eh, I'll keep watching. I like that bromance between Adam and Blake.

SEARCH: Adam and Blake, The Voice
RESULTS: Many, many YouTube video compilations of Adam and Blake flipping one another off, shutting one another down, Blake making fun of Adam's hair (sometimes lack thereof), then hugging it out. 
INTERNAL DIALOG: Way too much laughing for an internal dialog. But I should find out more about the other coaches.

SEARCH: The Voice, coaches
RESULTS: Far too many to even distill.
INTERNAL DIALOG: Crap. There's so many seasons to catch up on. There was Christina, then Shakira, then Gwen, then Christina, then Gwen. Damn. I must investigate all. Augh, then there's Cee Lo, Usher, and Pharrell. No contest there, I love Pharrell. Thank goodness Blake and Adam are on all seasons. Looks like most interactions between the coaches is happening during The Blind Auditions. I like watching their reactions during those auditions.

SEARCH: The Voice, blind auditions
RESULTS: So freaking many.
INTERNAL DIALOG: Crap. Is it possible I've reached a giant fangirling mountain even I can't climb? Okay, let's just try the best-of videos. Damn, these kids are talented. And no one's tearing them down. That's cool. I guess the artists/coaches (not judges) know how hard it is to put themselves in that situation and they respond with compassion, I can get on board with that.

WHO IS THIS SAWYER FREDERICKS? Son of bitch, that kid has a voice like John Fogerty. He looks and sounds like he's from another time and place. Agreed, Christina, 'What??!' So impressive.

WHO IS THIS JORDAN SMITH? Damn, he must have had some hard times growing up in a small town. He's got a beautiful voice and powerful, relevant message. Props to Blake for turning first. I love that BFFs, Pharrell and Gwen, turned at the same time, both leaning forward to see faster than the chairs could turn. And I love all of Pharrell's faces during this performance, especially to Gwen. Plus Adam's reaction to each impressive note, no matter how stubborn he was to finally turn around. And yes, Gwen, Jordan is kick your legs up surprising and talented. Damn, this kid needs to sing Queen (he did in the semi finals).

WHO IS THIS DANIEL ROSA? (at the 44:50 mark)? Damn, this kid's story of not backing down. Cool rendition of 'Somebody That I Used to Know'. Crap, no one's chairs are turning. Crap!! Wait!! Go, Cee Lo!! Go, Blake!! The coaches recognize him!! The coaches are screaming and hollering in joy, he's pointing at them in return while singing the chorus of 'Somebody That I Used to Know.' I'm not crying, you're crying!! His internal dialog, 'Oh god! Adam Levine is hugging me.' I love that Daniel has to collect himself on the steps for a moment, he's so damn happy. So cool. And so cool that all 4 coaches from the original audition returned to the show to see this second audition – they ALL immediately recognized him. What a cool message and total inspiration.

WHO IS THIS CASSADEE POPE? Triple chair turn around - nice!! Cee Lo, I'm going to ignore your sexist comments. Damn that stage presence – from the first performance to to the last.

These four artists sparked deep digging and searches including: full blind audition, back story, finals, semi finals, all performances, coach comments and on and on. For this reason, I'm only digging into Cassadee because bitch's well of goods was deep. 

First, if you're not going to watch any of these videos, at least watch this one of Cassadee covering Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert's 'Over You' written in honor of Blake's brother who died in a car accident when Blake was 14 (this link, a little lower res version of the performance but includes intro and coach comments). The track is so good, it will gut you. How did life exist before this track?
Cassadee's performance of the track led me on a detour: Miranda Lambert's original take on the song, her music video, Blake covering the song in concert, Blake and Miranda winning for track of the year and their acceptance speech, details of his brother's death, and other times Cassadee performed the track (on The Tonight Show, etc). After reviewing all, Cassadee's performance on The Voice is the best take on the song. Cassadee brings both a fragile sadness and a new defiance to the track. The defiance was always there in the lyrics but never quite expressed the way Cassadee does here. Amazing.

Somewhere in the mix of all this watching, I also tried to go about productive living (guilt was setting in). This included walking while rewatching videos which resulted in me dropping and yes, smashing my dear iphone. I immediately brought it to a repair shop to absolve my fangirling sins. After an hour, with significantly less cash in my pocket, I was back in action. Following her season on The Voice, Cassadee Pope had a docu-series called Frame By Frame on CMT. And yes, I watched all six episodes. I'm telling you, fangirl is relentless when she's got something to gnaw on. 

The fangirl bingwatching wrapped with investigations into the Twitter and Instagram accounts of Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell, The Voice, Cassadee Pope, and Jordan Smith. The results of this 3-day bender include: a new show to watch in The Voice, a new Twitter account to follow, @blakeshelton, because he is funny as fuck, a new track to play on repeat 'Over You' ('Gonna' is good too) and a new line to use, 'On a scale of 1 to Blake Shelton, how drunk do you plan on getting tonight?' YEEESSS.

For me, The Voice is about these performers' validation for their talents despite whatever they were told in their hometowns. It's about these performers getting the opportunity to live out their dreams. I find that incredibly inspiring. I'm also inspired by the coaches and their generosity. At such a high level of success, they are coming even more into their own, gaining even more confidence by sharing their experiences and what they've learned with others. That's something I could aspire to as well. So there it is people, they got me and they got me good. Season 10 of The Voice begins on Monday, February 29th, I know I'll be there, will you?