If you’re free Monday night, you might want to tune into “The Voice” on NBC. University of Virginia third year-student Simone Marijic will make an appearance during the singing competition’s “blind auditions.”
Marijic, in this promotional photo for “The Voice,” is excited to watch Monday’s episode with friends and family. (Contributed photo)
That’s when the program’s famous coaches, John Legend, Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Bublé and Adam Levine, listen to contestants with their backs turned to the singer.
If, say, Legend, likes what he hears, he pushes a button that makes his chair spin to face the performer. If more than one coach presses their buttons, the power shifts to the artist, who can then choose who they want to coach them as the competition progresses.
Marijic is a member of the Virginia Belles, a popular University a cappella group founded in 1977, not long after the University began admitting women, to serve as a counter to the all-male a cappella group the Virginia Gentlemen. Marijic said the Belles set her up for success.
Pink Pony Club
Marijic’s journey on “The Voice” began a year and a half ago when she received an open call for video auditions. “I kind of did it on a whim and submitted a video of me singing ‘Gravity’ by Sara Bareilles, which is sort of my go-to audition song for anything,” she said. “I closed the email and sort of went on with my life for the next couple weeks.”
[Virginia Belles Begin The Tune of “Pink Pony Club” by Chappel Roan]
I know you wanted me to stay
But I can’t ignore the crazy visions of me in LA
And I heard that there’s a special place
Where boys and girls can all be queens every single day
[Screaming and applause]
I’m having wicked dreams of leaving Tennessee
Hear Santa Monica, I swear it’s calling me
Won’t make my mama proud, it’s gonna cause a scene
She sees her baby girl, I know she’s gonna scream
God, what have you done?
You’re a pink pony girl
And you dance at the club
[Screaming and applause]
Oh mama, I’m just having fun On the stage in my heels
It’s where I belong down at the
Pink Pony Club
I’m gonna keep on dancing at the
Pink Pony Club I’m gonna keep on dancing down in West Hollywood
I’m gonna keep on dancing at the
Pink Pony Club, Pink Pony Club
I’m up and jaws are on the floor
Lovers in the bathroom and a line outside the door
Blacklights and a mirrored disco ball
[Screaming and applause]
Every night’s another reason why I left it all
I thank my wicked dreams a year from Tennessee
Oh, Santa Monica, you’ve been too good to me
Won’t make my mama proud, it’s gonna cause a scene
She sees her baby girl, I know she’s gonna scream
God, what have you done?
You’re a pink pony girl
And you dance at the club
[Screaming and applause]
Oh mama, I’m just having fun
On the stage in my heels
It’s where I belong down at the
Pink Pony Club
I’m gonna keep on dancing at the
Pink Pony Club I’m gonna keep on dancing down in
West Hollywood
I’m gonna keep on dancing at the
Pink Pony Club, Pink Pony Club
Don’t think I’ve left you all behind
Still love you and Tennessee
You’re always on my mind
And mama, every Saturday
I can hear your southern drawl a thousand miles away, saying
God, what have you done?
You’re a pink pony girl
And you dance at the club
Oh mama, I’m just having fun
On the stage in my heels
[Screaming and applause]
It’s where I belong down at the
Pink Pony Club
I’m gonna keep on dancing at the
Pink Pony Club
I’m gonna keep on dancing down in
West Hollywood
I’m gonna keep on dancing at the
Pink Pony Club, Pink Pony Club
I’m gonna keep on dancing I’m gonna keep on dancing
Then came another email, asking for three more videos. Marijic sang “River” by Joni Mitchell and “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. Her third performance was a video of her singing Chappel Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” with the Virginia Belles. That launched her to the show’s blind auditions.
Last summer, the history and music major and public policy minor filmed her performance in Burbank, California, her home state. To shake off her nerves, one of her sisters told her to pretend she was performing with the Virginia Belles. It helped her “immensely,” Marijic said. “Being in the Belles, you kind of have to use all your muscles musically,” both as a soloist and a background singer, she said.
Will the Virginia Belle Advance?
You’ll have to tune in at 8 p.m. Eastern time to see how Marijic does. Monday’s episode is the last of the blind auditions. Next comes the battle round, a new knockout round and live performance shows. The winner, named “The Voice,” will be signed to a recording contract.
