Speaking at the launch of The Voice UK, the Black Eyed Peas star told how he thinks the UK music audience was key to Grammy Award-winner Adeleâs success.
He said: âIf Adele was American I donât think she would be as successful, America has changed so much through the years to the point where you succeed in the UK first.
âThe Black Eyed Peas â we succeeded here first, Macy Gray succeeded here first because of the appreciation for all different types of music, not just one type.â?
The I Gotta Feeling singer will join Jessie J, Danny OâDonoghue and Welsh legend Tom Jones on the panel for the talent search which will launch on March 24.
He suggested that the UK’s appreciation for diverse stars and singing talent was key to him signing on the dotted line for a part in the sow.
He said: âSo thatâs just why Iâm really excited about The Voice UK.
âI came as a blank canvas so my mind could be open to the spectrum of artists that are here in the UKâ?.
The 36-year-old star also paid tribute to co-coach, Tom Jones, and the length of his career in the fickle music business.
He said: âWe went from a place in the music industry where it really truly was just about the song and the performance and the voice.
He added: âHe witnessed the music industry in America when it was feuding black and white and how music brought two cultures together.
âThatâs why Iâm proud to be a part of this show working with a person like Tom.
âWe are in a totally different era and Iâm so proud to be sitting here with these three folks, honouring what music has always been about and getting back, full circle, to what it was always meant to be and that was âthe voiceâ.â?
Check out the latest trailer for The Voice here *grabs hairbrush-cum-microphone*:
