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The Voice It’s officially live!
The top 8 contestants took the stage for the first live episode of season 26, where each hopeful sang twice: a solo performance and a special duet covering a Sting classic. For the first time this season, it’s up to the United States to decide which five singers they want to advance to the finals.
If that wasn’t enough pressure for the rest Voice Contenders, Sting, who served as mega-mentor during the elimination round, accompanied the duet performances on bass. And this won’t be the last time Sting will appear. The Voice any. He teased a special collaboration with Snoop Dogg next week.
Find out which Top 8 singers accepted the challenge in their first tryout The Voice live shows.
Christina Eagle (Team Snoop)
Performance: “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain
The final country singer in the competition and Snoop’s “shining star” performed a lively rendition of the Shania Twain classic to open the live episode.
Reba McEntire praised Eagle’s cover, which was a strong start but certainly left us wanting more, as a “great representation of what this show is about: energy, fun and great talent.”
Her coach, Snoop, praised her “great stage presence (and) vocal control,” and even said she was “the embodiment of Reba.”
Jan Dan (Team Gwen)
Performance: “Open Arms” by Journey
Dan did his best with Journey’s power ballad for his single number, but the soul singer failed to make a lasting impression. Even so, the coaches were congratulated.
“That’s a Steve Perry song and the fact that you can make it your own,” Michael Bublé said, adding that he was a fan of his vocal performances.
Gwen Stefani was most affected by Dan’s overall growth, telling her protégé, “We’re on live television and you can be very composed and yourself. Every note was perfect.”
Adam Bohanan (Team Reba)
Performance: “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye
Dubbed the “one-chair wonder,” Bonahan showed off his vocal abilities with a laid-back version of the iconic Marvin Gaye song and showed off his ability to work the crowd.
Stefani liked Bonahan’s “soft” voice and complimented him for delivering a performance that seemed “so natural.” Meanwhile, McEntire said he was “contagious” and that it was his “happiness (and) joy” that moved her.
Sidney Esterlace (Team Gwen)
Performance: “When the party is over” by Billie Eilish
Is Sterlace a favorite? Even after turning 16 during the season, he proved once again that in his case, age is just a number. Their entire performance was perfect, from the song choice to the ballet dancers in the background and their high notes.
It was clear that Snoop felt the same way and told her that he always “sheds a tear” when she sings; Bublé congratulated her for deftly navigating the song’s complicated bass notes. Stefani, Sterlace’s coach, was floored by her performance: “I’m impressed… You make us all feel something and that’s what’s so special about you. Vote for her! she said.
shy (Team Buble)
Performance: “The Joke” by Brandi Carlile
Is Shye another one? Voice favorite? If it were up to the coaches, she might have sung her way to the finals with her beautiful version of the Brandi Carlile ballad. Her unique vocal tone has always been her secret weapon and it paid off on her powerful and emotional cover.
McEntire applauded her “round-bodied voice,” while Bublé, who has been outspoken about Shye’s talents from the beginning, simply described her as “the truth,” comparing her to vocal powerhouses Adele, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion.
Jeremy Beloate (Team Snoop)
Performance: “I (who have nothing)” by Tom Jones
More naturally attuned to theatrical songs, Beloate chose a different path with his version of Tom Jones. Although her performance had some missteps, she was still able to remind the coaches (and viewers) how powerful her voice can be when given the right opportunity.
Stefani rightly told Beloate, “There’s no one like you,” as Snoop pressured America to vote for Beloate: “Press those numbers…stop playing around!”
Danny Joseph (Team Reba)
Performance: “I Was Wrong” by Chris Stapleton
Joseph was on a mission to prove that he was more than a rock singer with belts. He achieved his goal by performing a country song with his own demonstrable flair, adding an interesting guitar solo in the middle that even surprised McEntire.
“You looked great, you sounded great,” he said. “I loved the things you selected to play on the guitar; it was different from rehearsals, but I loved it.”
Sofronio Vasquez (Team Buble)
Performance: “If I Can Dream” by Elvis Presley
The Voice He saved Vasquez to close the live Semifinals episode and the “Filipino phenomenon,” as Bublé called it, did not disappoint. Covering an Elvis song can be daunting, but Vásquez stood out on her version of “If I Can Dream” with her smooth voice and strong technique. s. Bublé highlighted Vásquez’s strength, alluding to some adversity in his life, saying: “Come here and take the brass ring.”
The best Sting-themed tribute
There were four special duet performances of classics by Sting or The Police, but only one stood out: Sydney Sterlace and Shye’s exquisite duet of “Fields of Gold.”
The VoiceThe voices of the younger competitors blended seamlessly, giving the audience a feast for the senses.
A look at the next episode
Only five singers will advance to next week’s finals. Viewers control the singers’ fate, and the results were revealed during Tuesday’s episode. Who will be one step closer to being crowned the newest? Voice champion?
The Voice returns December 3 at 9 pm ET on NBC.