Four voices left

After two months, 16 episodes, 136 songs, 2.3 million average viewers a week and four super-star judges doing some batshit crazy things, The Voice is down to four the final Voices: Karise Eden, Sarah De Bono, Rachael Leahcar and Darren Percival.

Yes, another week, another reality singing competition finale. But this one is different. For one, the judges didn't see who they got to pick in the beginning – remember those spinning chairs – and two, this one has been a ratings bonanza. OK, so not that different. But still...

In the lead-up to the two-part grand finale next week, coaches and judges Seal, Delta, Joel and Keith gathered at a press conference yesterday to share their thoughts, hopes and feelings on their experience with the show. They spoke in what might by now be called Voice-speak – that very earnest language in which coaches talk about their singing charges.

Keith enthusiastically differentiated a "singer" with a "voice", and a singer with "the voice". “We’ve got great singers, but to me the voice is the instrument that conveys everything about that person – their life experience, their pain, their soul, heart, everything comes through the voice," said Mr Kidman. "We’ve got some great singers [but] then there are singers who, like with Darren, when I hear his voice, I know who he is.”

As for advice from Joel on dealing with negative criticism the rocker explained: “The feedback you need to listen to are the people you learn to trust, and to a large extent you should always listen to your fans. The people who are buying your music and coming to your shows, their opinion does matter." He added, "The outside noise is always going to be there. People are always going to have something to say, good or bad. You have to take it with a grain of salt. For me, you always have to respect the people that are deciding if you should still be on the stage, because ultimately everything we do is decided by the people.”

Despite each coach’s enthusiasm for the show, all artfully dodged the question of whether they would be returning for a second season. Seal explaining that as a performing musician, committing to a new series was difficult for all the coaches (dum dum dum!). "Of course we would love for this experience to continue again, as artists it's changed us, but we all have a career.” Madden said, “We all want to be here, but we have no information!”.

The two part finale will see each artist performing with their coach, as well as performing their debut single live. Fans wont have to wait long for to get more of their favourites with a rushed release of the winner's original single due out on next Thursday followed by a debut album just five days later. No doubt, every song will be a well-written, independent-minded gem! OK, enough cynicism: enjoy the end of this crazy TV ride.

The finale of The Voice screens Sun Jun 17 and Mon Jun 18 on Nine.