Ep 1. The Blind Auditions Premiere

The Voice season 5 episode 1 titled "The Blind Auditions Premiere" is the start of another season of the popular singing competition. As the title suggests, this episode features the first set of blind auditions, where contestants step onto the stage and perform a song of their choice to the judges (known as coaches), who are seated with their backs turned to them. The coaches are only able to hear the performer's voice, and if they like what they hear, they can hit a button that turns their chair around, indicating that they want to work with that contestant and potentially take them on as part of their team.

To kick off the season, the coaches – Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, and Blake Shelton – each give a short introduction and reveal what they're looking for in this season's contestants. The first performer, Caroline Pennell, takes to the stage with her guitar and performs an emotional rendition of Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen." CeeLo and Blake quickly hit their buttons, and Caroline ends up choosing to join team CeeLo.

Next up is Jonny Gray, a former Marine who shares his touching story about struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after serving in Afghanistan. Jonny's performance of "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers impresses all four coaches, and they all turn their chairs around to try and win him over. After some heated back-and-forth banter, Jonny ultimately chooses to join team Christina.

Other standout auditions from this episode include Matthew Schuler, a young singer who performs "Cough Syrup" by Young the Giant and earns a four-chair turn, and Donna Allen, a soulful singer who wows the coaches with her rendition of "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker.

Throughout the episode, viewers also get a glimpse into the dynamic between the coaches, who joke around with each other and trade barbs while trying to recruit contestants to their team. There's also a memorable moment where CeeLo ditches his signature flamboyant style for a suit and bowtie, leading to hilarious comments from his fellow coaches.

As always, "The Blind Auditions Premiere" showcases a diverse range of vocal talents, from country crooners to R&B belters to indie rockers. With each passing performance, the excitement builds as viewers are left wondering which coaches will hit their buttons and which contestants will make it through to the next round. Overall, this episode is a solid start to season 5 of The Voice, offering up plenty of memorable auditions and playful banter between the coaches.