The voice is 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 on a Sting classic. For the first time this season, it is up to America to decide which five singers they want to advance to the Finals.
If that wasn’t enough pressure for the rest Vote contenders, Sting – who served as a mega-mentor during the knockout round – accompanied the duet performances on bass. And this won’t be the last time Sting will attend The voice or. Next week, he teased a special collaboration phase with Snoop Dogg.
Find out which Top 8 singers took on the challenge in their first taste 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 opener but certainly left us wanting more, as a “great representation of what this show is all about: energy, fun and great talent.”
Her coach, Snoop, praised her “great stage presence [and] vocal control,” and even said she was “Reba incarnate.”
Jan Dan (Team Gwen)
Performance: “Open Arms” by Journey
Dan did his best for his individual song with the power ballad from Journey, but the soul singer failed to leave a lasting impression. Still, the coaches were congratulatory.
“That’s a Steve Perry song and the fact that you can make it yours,” said Michael Bublé, adding that he was a fan of his vocal runs.
Gwen Stefani was more affected by Dan’s overall growth, telling her protégé, “We’re live on TV and you can be so controlled and so 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 skills with a relaxed cover of Marvin Gaye’s iconic song, demonstrating his ability to work the crowd.
Stefani liked Bonahan’s “smooth” voice and complimented him for delivering a performance that seemed “so natural.” Meanwhile, McEntire said he was “contagious” and that it was his “luck.” [and] joy” that moved her.
Sydney Sterlace (Team Gwen)
Performance: “When the Party’s Over” by Billie Eilish
Is Sterlace one of the frontrunners? Even after turning 16 during the season, she once again proved that age is really just a number in her case. Her entire performance was perfect, from the song choice to the background ballet dancers and her high notes.
Clearly, Snoop felt the same way and told her he was always ‘shedding'[s] a tear” as she sings; Bublé complimented her on expertly navigating the song’s tricky low notes. Stefani, Sterlace’s coach, was impressed with her performance: “I’m blown away…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 Vote favorite? If it were up to the coaches, she might have sung her way to the finals with her beautiful version of Brandi Carlile’s ballad. Her unique vocal tone has always been her secret weapon and it has paid off in her powerful, emotional cover.
McEntire applauded her “round voice,” while Bublé — who has been speaking about Shye’s talents since the beginning — simply described her as “the truth” and compared her to vocal powerhouses Adele, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion.
Jeremy Belate (Team Snoop)
Performance: “I (who have nothing)” by Tom Jones
More naturally attuned to theatrical songs, Beloate took a different path with his Tom Jones cover. Although his performance had some lapses, he was still able to remind the coaches (and viewers) how powerful his voice can be when given the right opportunity.
Stefani rightly told Beloate, “There’s no one like you,” while Snoop urged America to vote for Beloate, “Push those numbers… stop playing!”
Danny Joseph (Team Reba)
Performance: ‘I Was Wrong’ by Chris Stapleton
Joseph was on a mission to prove he was more than a rock singer. He achieved his goal by performing a country song with his own verifiable twist, adding an interesting guitar solo in the middle that surprised even McEntire.
“You looked great, you sounded great,” she said. “I loved the things you chose 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 saved Vasquez to end the live semi-final episode and the “Filipino phenomenon,” as Bublé called him, did not disappoint. Covering an Elvis song can be a challenge, but Vasquez surpassed his version of “If I Can Dream” with his smooth voice and strong technique. S. Bublé commented on Vasquez’s strength, referring to some setbacks in his life, saying, “You walk out here and take the brass ring.”
Best Sting themed tribute
There were four special duet performances of classics from Sting or The Police, but only one stood out: Sydney Sterlace and Shye’s excellent duet ‘Fields of Gold’.
The voiceThe voices of the youngest participants flowed seamlessly into each other, making the audience a feast for the senses.
A preview of the next episode
Only five singers will advance to next week’s final. The viewers will decide the fate of the singers, and the results will be revealed during Tuesday’s episode. Who will move one step closer to the throne? Vote champion?
The voice returns December 3 at 9pm ET on NBC.
