It’s time to roll up your sleeves: the fighting has begun The voice!
Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé got down to business on Monday as they entered the next phase of NBC’s singing competition show. With eliminations on the line for each Battle, the four coaches had the unenviable task of deciding which two performers from their teams would face off in a duet. Whoever performed better – or in some cases showed the most potential – earned the right to move on.
But being eliminated during the Battles doesn’t necessarily mean the end. With steals in the game, the other coaches can each take up to two eliminated artists and have them join their team, giving those singers a second chance to win The voice.
The first Battle episode of the season pitted six dueling pairs – two from Team Snoop and Team Gwen, and one each from Team Reba and Team Bublé – and set the stage for two hours of impressive performances, surprising decisions and two dramatic coaches . steals.”
Standout battle of the episode
If there was any doubt about Snoop as a coach, his decision to pair veteran country singer Gail Bliss with natural talent Christina Eagle for the first Battle of the season should put any concerns to rest. Gretchen Wilson’s performance of ‘Redneck Woman’ both played to their strengths: Bliss with her strong vocal tenacity, Eagle with her range and ‘bold’ stage presence. Their lively and energetic rendition excited the crowd and wowed the coaches.
McEntire applauded their “entertaining” duet and thanked them for “bring[ing] the party in the city.” Stefani couldn’t overcome Eagle’s raw talent and wondered why she hadn’t signed to a record label. “You are insanely good,” said the No Doubt frontwoman. “You can’t teach charisma and stage presence. That’s just you, you are.” Snoop thanked them for making their duet “feel like one, instead of ‘I’m competing against you,'” an essential reminder that Bliss and Eagle were ultimately singing for their lives.
While the other coaches leaned toward Eagle, Snoop had a harder time making up his mind. Ultimately, he based it on who showed “the most potential… to grow,” and that was Eagle. The rapper said it was Eagle’s “strong” voice and her ability to “control it” that impressed him.
Surprising decisions by coaches
Some battles weren’t that easy. Case in point: the battle between Team Gwen’s Sloane Simon and Sydney Sterlace. The singers are paired because they are both teenagers, sing pop and have the same singing style. Stefani gave them Billie Eilish’s hit “Birds of a Feather,” knowing that whoever “showed the most flexibility and personality and is now ready” would move on.
Simon and Sterlace’s voices blended so seamlessly that Snoop believed they “sounded like one.” Bublé thought Simon was more confident on stage, while Sterlace was visibly nervous. McEntire agreed, saying Sterlace “needed more years to develop.” Stefani mentioned Sterlace’s growth during rehearsals, noting that Simon was “more ready.” Although the panel favored Simon over Sterlace, Stefani opted for the “weird voice inside” that told her to choose Sterlace mainly because of her potential and not necessarily because of what she showed on stage. Was this the end of Simon? The voice? Not exactly…
The battle between Latin singer Kiara Vega of Team Bublé and country boy Mor Ilderton also inspired a surprising coaching decision. The emotional, harmonious performance of the duo, who were commissioned ‘Iris’ by the Goo Goo Dolls for their Battle, brought McEntire to tears. But it was Ilderton’s ‘uniqueness’ that caught the attention of McEntire and Stefani; they chose him because they agreed his raspy voice better suited the rock ballad.
The exciting race left Bublé in a dilemma. Knowing he was about to lose a talented singer, he promised to give his number to whoever he eliminated so he could continue to mentor them outside the show. That singer eventually became Ilderton, because Bublé Vega chose to move on because of the possibilities he believed she represented. Was this it for Ilderton? Hardly…
The first ‘steals’ of the season
Simon and Ilderton were the first two singers to be saved by the first ‘steals’ of the season after initially being eliminated from their respective Battles.
After Simon was let go by Stefani, the other coaches took the opportunity to steal her for one of their teams. Bublé, who missed Simon during the Blind Auditions, had the strongest argument. “I was devastated when I couldn’t get you on my team the first time,” he admitted. Sloane chose Bublé as her new coach, which made the jazz singer enthusiastic: “She is a pop star in the making.”
Once Ilderton was eliminated by Bublé, it seemed as if his time had come to an end. Bublé even scribbled his number on a napkin and handed it to Ilderton with the intention of continuing to mentor him. But the thrill of ‘stealing’ is that it can happen at any time. As Ilderton left the stage, Stefani stood up and dramatically pressed the ‘steal’ button, stunning everyone. “I just got this feeling,” she said after welcoming him to Team Gwen. “I know what to do with that man.”
Quote of the evening
“He better name his baby Gwen,” Stefani joked after learning that R&B singer Jan Dan’s wife was due to give birth on delivery day. The voice to withdraw. She crowned him the winner of his battle against 14-year-old singer Jaylen Dunham, advancing Dan to the next round.
A preview of the next episode
Night 2 of the Battles is next. That means more eliminations and possibly more steals. If the first Battle episode was any indication of what’s to come, nothing is off the table and the coaches face tougher decisions.
The voice continues Tuesday, October 22 at 8pm ET/PT on NBC.
