Holos Krainy (in Ukrainian Голос країни; meaning The Voice of the Country) is a Ukrainian reality talent show that premiered on the 1+1 network on 22 May 2011. Holos Krainy is part of the international syndication The Voice based on the reality singing competition launched in the Netherlands as The Voice of Holland, created by Dutch television producer John de Mol. It was the second international adaptation of the programme, after the American version. There is also a children version of the same show, Holos. Dity.
Format
The Voice is a reality television series that features four coaches looking for a talented new artist, who could become a global superstar. The show's concept is indicated by its title: the coaches do not judge the artists by their looks, personalities, stage presence, or dance routines—only their vocal ability. It is this aspect that differentiates The Voice from other reality television series such as The X Factor, and Ukraine's Got Talent. The competitors are split into four teams, which are mentored by the coaches who in turn choose songs for their artists to perform. There is no specific age range and anyone can audition; if a coach likes what they hear, a button press allows their chair to spin around and face the performer, signifying that they would like to mentor them. If more than one does so, then the artist selects a coach. However, if no coach turns around then the artist is sent home.
There are five different stages: producers' auditions, Blind auditions, Battle phase, Knockout stage, and live shows.
The Blind Auditions
After the preliminary casting, which is directed by the show's music producer, the selected contestants advance to the next round - the "Blind Auditions". As part of the "blind auditions", four mentors select participants for their team without seeing them, sitting with their backs to the stage and hearing only their voices. If an artist's vocal impresses one of the coaches, while the music is playing, he turns his chair towards the stage. If one coach turns to the vocalist, then the participant automatically becomes part of his/her team, if there are several, the participant chooses which team to join. Each coach needs to recruit 14 artists in their teams for the first six seasons. In season 7, coaches' teams were raised to 16 per team. In season 13, coaches need to recruit only 10 artists in their teams.
In season 8, the rules change: a participant who has not deployed a single chair immediately leaves the stage, but this is canceled in the following season. In season 9, a "block" is introduced: a coach has the right to "block" one of the other coaches once in the entire duration of the blind auditions, that is, to prevent one coach from getting an artist into his/her team. The coaches are allowed to use it once in the entire blind auditions. Starting from season 11, the block button was removed.
The Battle Rounds
The coach divides their members into pairs. The coach provides each duet with a composition for performance, which will be performed in a special "vocal ring". After the performance, each coach listens to the opinions of other mentors and chooses the winner of the battle. The loser is initially eliminated from the show for the first two seasons, but starting from season 3, coaches have the opportunity to "steal" one participant from another team who lost a battle, saving him/her from being eliminated.
In season 7, a new rule is added - the steal room. This was first adopted in the seventh season of The Voice of Holland. If the coach "stole" one of the participants, then he goes to a special room, in which he sits on a chair corresponding to the mentor who "stole" him. If then the same mentor steals another artist, then the one currently seated will be eliminated and will be replaced by the newly-stolen artist. In season 12, the coaches are allowed to save their own artist, though they can only do it once in the entire battle rounds.
In season 13, the coaches divides into four groups (2 groups of pairs and 2 groups of trios) to sing a song together. Four contestants remain in each team and advance to the cross battles, with each battle group can have one, multiple, or no winners.