Contestant stitch-up on The Voice?

Leonardo's Bride singer Abby Dobson failed to impress the judges last night on The Voice. Courtesy: The Voice Nine Network.

The Voice coach Joel Madden during the blind auditions. Picture: Channel 9

THERE was the boy who was bullied, the failed swimmer who was chasing her new dream, the grandson of Australian "entertainment royalty" and dozens of others stories of tragedy, pain or celebrity links.

While just appearing on The Voice may be a positive move, could some contestants have done without the experience?

Seal has said on the show that he feels tragedies in our lives gives us abilities "to communicate in certain ways" and Delta Goodrem thinks the pain "unlocks more creativity".

That's OK if you make it through the audition, but what about those who fail even to turn a chair?

Following ARIA-nominated singer, Abby Dobson's failure on the second last night of blind auditions, news.com.au looked at a selection of entrants who may be feeling worse off for lending their name to the hit show.

The rocker whose daughter sobbed the way through

Singer-songwriter Tib Horvath, from Adelaide, brought along his wife and daughter, who adores having a rock'n'roll dad.

Horvath, 45, belted out what some viewers deemed a "flawless performance" of Are You Gonna Be My Girl.

As his wife waited hopefully, none of the judges turned their chairs, and his daughter cried.

Delta's excuse for not turning was that she thought there were timing issues and the performance was a bit "rushed".

Ricky Martin said he was looking for something more unique. Seal said it wasn't what he was looking for.

Joel Madden thought Horvath did a "great" job and had a "great" attitude.

The boy who had a "Barry Crocker"

Wade Smith had a lot to live up to when he turned up for his audition with his great grandfather, legendary Australian entertainer, Barry Crocker.

But it wasn't to be.

The 17-year-old delivered a lacklustre version of the Tracy Chapman hit, Fast Car, while Crocker and the boy's mother and sister watched backstage.

Some fans later said Smith had endured his own "Barry Crocker", Australian rhyming slang for "shocker".

Ricky's advice to Wade was to take more singing lessons.

The ARIA nominee who risked her reputation

Lead singer of the 90s pop group, Leonardo's Bride, Abby Dobson, was risking an established reputation when she went on the show to perform a version of Aretha Franklin's Do Right Woman, Do Right Man.

Dobson, who has decades of experience and chart glory with the 1998 hit single Even When I'm Sleeping failed to connect with any of the judges.

Her distinctive tone went largely unrecognised, even by the show's only Australian coach, Delta, who called herself "an idiot" for overlooking Dobson.

Seal was "brutally honest" with Dobson, telling the Sydney singer: "It was too much song".

"That is a big song," he said. "You know, you have what it takes, and I know that you'll take this experience and you'll keep doing what you do."

The lead guitarist's daughter

Lara Parker-Kent 29, was exposed to music from a young age. Her father, Fess Barker, was lead guitarist from The Radiators.

Despite her musical experience, she had been lacking nerve and hoped that performing on The Voice would restore her confidence.

With her father, son and husband looking on, Lara launched into Livin' on a Prayer.

No one turned.

Delta claimed she was waiting to hear for some more "range", but that the performance was "wonderful".

Ricky started to say she had a lovely, subtle voice, when Lara declared she loved him.

Seal congratulated her on an original arrangement.

Joel loved her "rad" attitude and Ricky got up to giver her a hug.

The Voice host, Darren McMullen with judges Delta Goodrem, Seal, Joel Madden, Ricky Martin. Picture: Channel 9 Source:

The swimmer whose injury ended her career

Georgia Carey started competitive swimming when she was 10 and by the age of 17 was close to swimming in Olympic trials when she fell down a flight of stairs and damaged some ligaments, ending her Olympic hopes.

She decided to refocus her goals on singing, believing she was meant to have a musical career.

With her parents watching on, the attractive blonde 18-year-old sang the Sixpence None The Richer smash hit Kiss Me.

No one turned.

Joel told her she had a beautiful voice. Delta thought she needed more experience and had to control her nerves.

Seal told her it was her choice, and that she needed to put a little more conviction into the song.

The young man who sought music as an escape from bullying

High school was tough for Mark Stefanoff, 21, of Adelaide who says fellow students bullied because him because he was openly gay.

Music was his escape and he dreamed of being a singer on Broadway in the US.

Stefanoff said he would be happy if Ricky Martin turned his chair, as Ricky had just stepped off Broadway (in the revival of the musical, Evita).

Stefanoff delivered a credible version of This is the Moment, with Ricky's three fellow judges telling Martin to press his button.

None of the judges turned.

Delta's advice was to audition on Broadway, while Joel Madden told Stefanoff season two had been "so tough" to turn around.

Ricky wanted to introduce Stefanoff to his agent, and said he would be on Broadway although Stefanoff failed to win a further spot on The Voice.

TV commentator Steve Molk believes an appearance on The Voice can be a double-edged sword for some contestants.

"If you don't already have a career, then it can be back to obscurity and weekends playing with your covers band," Mr Molk said. "But you don't know. The exposure might just work.

"There are plenty of record labels watching the show for talent and if The Voice doesn't pick you up, they might."

Mr Molk said the Australian music industry had to question whether its future was in the hands of "four people who are on the twilight of their careers".

"There are people slogging it away and trying to get on a show which is looking to find the next One Direction.

"It's all fairly arbitrary. And even if you make it, you are restricted to working with one record label and be tied to the network, so your options are not so broad."

Mr Molk said Abby Dobson's failure to qualify "was not a real failure".

"She's an amazing singer and she didn't get through, so what? Her hit song is being played all over the place, so it was a great opportunity to revive her career.

"It may be a bit devastating at first for those who get rejected, but if they want to stick at it and say, 'hey, I was on The Voice', it's a great marketing tool."