Giovanni Zarrella and Ronan Keating: “The Voice” turns the friends into competitors

Giovanni Zarrella and Ronan Keating
“The Voice” turns friends into competitors

In the 13th season, alongside Shirin David (28), Bill and Tom Kaulitz (both 34), Giovanni Zarrella (45) and Ronan Keating (46) in the “The Voice of Germany” chairs. This is certainly a personal challenge for the singers. Because they have been good friends for many years, but now they have to compete for the best candidates. “We take the battle very seriously and personally,” said Zarrella during the press conference before the TV premiere on September 21st. “I felt the toughest fight was with Ronan. He is a big competitor. We come from the same generation and are similar.” They also pursue similar goals as coaches on “The Voice”.

“We understand what the other person has experienced”

Ronan Keating recalled the beginning of the friendship during the event: “We met on a show when I was performing with the Kelly Family.” After that, the two appeared on the same stages more often. “I was there with Bro’Sis, Ronan with Boyzone,” said Giovanni Zarrella, looking back at the beginning of the 2000s. “We understand what each other has experienced, we have many parallels and are on the same wavelength.” So they both had a boy band period behind them and started out as solo artists. But the men have a lot in common not only professionally, but also through their experiences as family men.

Now they can claim another thing in common with their job on “The Voice”. Keating already has experience with the show, having coached in the Australian and British editions. “I was surprised at how good the talent in Germany is,” emphasized the Irish singer. “Honestly, they are the best talent in the world.” He looks for something special in the participants. “I want to find a voice that is recognizable and unique.” He hopes for goosebumps, fireworks and someone “who will light up the room.” It’s about getting the best out of the show.

He has similar ambitions to his friend from Germany. “I want us to send a talent on a really successful journey,” said Zarrella. That’s why he sees his coaching job as a “big responsibility.” He himself is very grateful for the time he was able to experience as a candidate on “Popstars” in 2001. His wife Jana Ina Zarrella (46) has said for years that “she sees me in this chair.” She was right about that. He finds his work as a coach “incredibly fun” – and he has a “great time” with the candidates and his prominent colleagues.

Ronan Keating is often blocked

For them there is a new element in the 13th season – the block. “With the block you can take a coach completely out of the game,” explained Giovanni Zarrella. It prevents a coach from recruiting talent despite the buzzer. His friend felt this particularly often. “We were so afraid of Ronan the whole time. We didn’t know how to defend ourselves. We all had a mental picture that Ronan would take away all our talents.” He had even considered removing the international star’s chair and putting it in another room. In any case, as a coach he felt “like he was in a pit of snakes”: “Everyone wanted to take away your talents.”

And one thing is certain: despite their competition on the show, they still get along brilliantly. “My lucky charm is Giovanni. I laughed so much and enjoyed being on the show so much. I feel blessed,” emphasized Keating. Zarrella even dreams of appearing together on his ZDF show. “It would be most interesting to bring all the coaches on stage in a medley and show the diversity. Ronan and I definitely have the best karaoke skills.”

Alternately on ProSieben and Sat.1

From September 21st, “The Voice of Germany” will be shown every Thursday on ProSieben and Fridays on Sat.1 (8:15 p.m.) and on Joyn. The third episode will exceptionally come on Sunday, September 24th on ProSieben. There’s also another innovation: In “The Voice Rap by CUPRA”, Kool Savas (48) and Dardan (25) have been looking for rap talent on Joyn since September 14th.

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