Happy new year, everyone! It's been quite a year for Reality Rocks, what with two seasons of "The Voice" going up against "American Idol" and "The X Factor"; great new albums from Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Phillip Phillips, Haley Reinhart, Casey Abrams, Paul McDonald, Chris Mann, Vicci Martinez, and many other singing-show alums; a touch-and-go season for "So You Think You Can Dance" (thankfully renewed for 2013, hurray!); and multiple TV feuds (Mariah vs. Nicki, Adam Levine vs. the Roxy, Christina Aguilera vs. Tony Lucca, L.A. Reid vs. the Over-25's, etc.).
And of course, there were all those judging-panel switchups. "Idol's" Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler getting replaced by Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, and Keith Urban; Randy Jackson almost getting demoted to "Idol" mentor; "The Voice's" Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera taking a hiatus while Usher and Shakira temporarily fill their spinning chairs; L.A. Reid and possibly Britney Spears leaving "The X Factor"; Howard Stern joining "America's Got Talent"; Sharon Osbourne quitting "America's Got Talent"...the list of personnel changes really went on and on and on in 2012.
Phew! I need a break before 2013 starts! But let's ring out 2012 on a happy (and lushly layered) note, courtesy of one of my favorite "Voice" breakout acts of the past 365 days, the Shields Brothers, with their nicely multi-tracked "Auld Lang Syne." Let's make a New Year's resolution to punch America in the face with more rock 'n' roll in 2013, and see you next year!
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