Pitches were made. Blocks were played. Canadian Mounties were brought on stage. But did any of the talent trotted out by Night 3 of The Voice’s Season 27 Blind Auditions live up to the hype? Read on, and we’ll discuss.
Divighn (Team Michael), “I Got You (I Feel Good)” — Grade: B+ | Maybe this grade should be an all-the-way A. Divighn showed us range and flair (those yips!), and his voice never faltered even while putting on a heckuva stage show. But the overall impression the two-chair turn left was “fun” rather than “fantastic.” Maybe, as John Legend was, I was listening for some more “stank.” Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Jacquelyn George (Team Legend), “I Have Nothing” — Grade: A- | The sister of an alum of Christian boy band Plus One wasn’t really selling me on her Whitney cover until she hit the chorus. Then the two-chair turn unleashed a voice that was as magnificent as it was mammoth. Though Adam Levine tried to recruit Jacquelyn, he failed, perhaps because he suggested that she hadn’t stuck all of her landings.
Tinika Wyatt (Team Adam), “Sorry Not Sorry” — Grade: B | A church marriage counselor, Tinika delivered a solid Demi Lovato cover that was full of well-deployed “stank,” as John would say. But the fiftysomething still remained a no-chair turn until she sang a made-up number asking for a Blind Audition; then, Adam was moved to use his Coach’s Replay and save her from a depressing ride home.
Page Mackenzie (Team Kelsea), “Hell on Wheels” — Grade: B | Kelsea Ballerini and Michael waited until the very last second to push their buttons for Page. Why so slow? Beats me. The Nashvillian tore into the song like I do dinner after fasting for five whole minutes in a row. Perhaps the coaches were looking to hear a little more raspiness in her fierce vocal.
Conor James (Team Adam), “I Say a Little Prayer” — Grade: B | After starting off with a heavenly light touch, Conor earned a four-chair turn with a rendition of Dionne Warwick’s classic that was competent but ultimately uninspiring. Not bad at all, just maybe not four-chair-turn good. Still, the coaches were gaga for the 28-year-old. Kelsea went so far as to declare herself obsessed. Well, OK, then!
Jessica Manalo (Team Kelsea), “Unholy” — Grade: B+ | Jessica’s vocal kinda snuck up on us, didn’t it? She was good throughout her Kim Petras/Sam Smith cover, but it didn’t hit me how good she was until she was done and I realized the breadth of skills she’d shown us in one short audition. Plus, the two-chair turn’s rearrangement of the song suggested that she’ll be as interesting an artist is she will a singer.
Barry Jean Fontenot (Team Michael), “I Wish It Would Rain” — Grade: A | From the start, I was taken with this law school dropout’s rich, lived-in voice. “We should all turn around,” Adam said. Agreed. But only Michael was moved to swivel his chair and scoop up this contestant upon hearing his poised and appealing take on The Temptations. Maybe, like Adam, the others had zeroed in on a pitchy moment (that at least I missed).
Tyler Kae (Team Adam), “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” — Grade: A | Overcoming crippling anxiety to take the stage, Tyler delivered such a beautiful, slowed-down rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s classic that Adam was moved to use his Block on Kelsea (the contestant’s only other chair turn). I can only imagine how many Adele covers Tyler’s coach is going to throw her way. (Dare we hope for some Alison Moyet?)
The Voice: Every Winner — and What They’ve Done Since the Show
BD.ii (Team Legend), “Adorn” — Grade: B | After his hoop dreams ended with an injury, Brian Darden II refocused his attentions on music — good move, considering that he managed to get a four-chair turn from mostly sleepwalking though Miguel’s hit. Whether BD’s presence was lacking, his vocal was strong — and he seemed able to modulate it with the same ease that we change the volume on the stereo.
