The Voice Playoffs Recap: Shocking Eliminations Cap a Night of Mostly Excellent Performances
Monday’s episode of The Voice turned Reba McEntire and Snoop Dogg’s swivel chairs into hot seats as they were called upon to cut their teams of five singers each to just two apiece. And no amount of guidance from advisers Lainey Wilson or Simone Biles would make their decisions any easier — or, in Snoop’s case, make any more sense. Read on, and we’ll discuss what went down.
TEAM REBA
Adam Bohanan, “I Think I’m in Love With You” — Grade: A | Putting an Al Green-ish spin on Chris Stapleton’s hit, Adam was casually cool, seemingly so comfortable, he could’ve been singing in the shower. And vocally? Forget it, the dude couldn’t hit a bum note if you gave him a baseball bat in a roomful of ’em.
Edward Preble, “All of Me” — Grade: A | I love this kid and his Rat Pack schtick. And here, he was not only in perfect voice — eat your heart out, Sinatra! — he was looser on stage and more charismatic than we’d ever seen. As Michael put it when Edward was done, “You’re so cute, man.” Utterly endearing.
Katie O., “Hang Tight Honey” — Grade: A | Singing Lainey’s smash, Katie was a one-woman barn burner, so fired up, she reeled me right in. As you’d expect in the Playoffs, her vocals were spot on to the point that she nailed the long note at the song’s end that even Lainey admitted gave her a hard time.
Lauren-Michael Sellers, “I Am Not OK” — Grade: A | I know y’all are going say I gave out too many A’s again, but what was I supposed to do? Boom, boom, boom, these were stellar performances. Lauren-Michael’s rendition of Jelly Roll’s hit was raw, beautifully modulated and downright inspiring.
Danny Joseph, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” — Grade: B- | Of all the people I expected might stumble in the Playoffs, Danny was so low on the list that he almost wasn’t on it. But his rockin’ rendition of the golden oldie was less exciting than bewildering, leaving him coming off more like a parody than the star that he is.
Advancing to the Top 8 | Adam Bohanan, Danny Joseph
Eliminated | Edward Preble, Katie O., Lauren Michael-Sellers
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TEAM SNOOP
Christina Eagle, “Fancy” — Grade: A | Though the country singer’s cover of Queen Reba’s classic didn’t hold a candle to the original, I couldn’t find any technical fault with it. Christina’s performance was well-modulated and dramatic, and I challenge anyone to say that the kid didn’t leave all she had on that stage.
Aliyah Khaylyn, “I Have Nothing” — Grade: A+ | Gimme a shoe to throw Jennifer Hudson style! This was [bleeping] incredible. Before Aliyah started, I wondered if her voice was going to be able to go big enough to do Whitney Houston’s smash justice. Aliyah’s answer wasn’t just “yes,” it was “Hell, yes!” Stunning.
Austyns Stancil, “Adore” — Grade: A+ | I don’t have three words to describe Austyns’ performance, I have three letters: OMG. How is it even possible that he sang a Prince number as magnificently as Prince himself? The falsetto, the audience interaction and holy crap, that incredible shriek at the end. Blown away.
Mikaela Ayira, “Love” — Grade: A- | On Keyshia Cole’s ballad, Mikaela sounded perfectly lovely — and man, she had some fun with those runs. The trouble for the 17-year-old seemed likely to be that her number wasn’t nearly as showy and exciting as Aliyah and Austyns’ were. Mikaela was good, they were great.
Jeremy Beloate, “The Impossible Dream (The Quest)” — Grade: A+ | You know Jeremy had to be freakin’ incredible if he made me overlook the fact that he performed in leather gloves like he was on his way to commit a cat burglary after the show! He was so vulnerable and his vocal, so powerful, even my goosebumps had goosebumps!
Advancing to the Top 8 | Jeremy Beloate, Christina Eagle
Eliminated | Aliyah Khaylyn, Austyns Stancil, Mikaela Ayira
Man, and I thought Gwen Stefani’s picks last week were shocking. I can see where Reba would keep Danny even after he had an off night. But WTH was Snoop smoking to pick Christina over Aliyah and Austyns? Going with Jeremy, I and my goosebumps understood. But choosing a dime-a-dozen country singer over contestants who just slayed Whitney and Prince, respectively? The gangsta holy ghost really let him down this time.
