Adam Levine declares contestant his 'favorite singer' in 'Voice' history

We all know Adam Levine is prone to hyperbole on The Voice, laying on a thick snake-oil salesman pitch and doing/saying whatever it takes to convince contestants to join his team. But on Tuesday’s Blind Auditions episode, when he told 18-year-old Domenic Haynes, “I think you might be my favorite singer in all 16 seasons of this show," he actually may have been sincere. While Domenic’s bio package somewhat dismissively presented him as an ex-jock, novice singer, and aspiring rapper, it turned out this kid had the old soul and sandpaper-and-smoke voice of a grizzled blues journeyman. His husky yet honeyed rendition of Leon Bridges’s “Rivers” showcased a natural knack for phrasing -- he practically doesn’t even need a coach. But hopeful coach Adam turned with white-lightning speed (four seconds, he made sure to note during his sales pitch). And he hit his Block button in the process, to make sure that threatening newbie coach John Legend -- who, along with Blake Shelton, also spun around -- was out of the running. “I hate you, Adam!” John shouted. Too bad. John could’ve done wonders with Domenic. “You’re my favorite singer I've heard. Your tone is so interesting and beautiful. You made such excellent choices with every note you sang. It had so much subtlety and nuance,” raved John. “Every muscle in your body is creating that sound, that ache. It's hard not to get wrapped up in it. You have the ability to separate yourself from anybody else on this show, on the radio,” said Blake. In the end, Adam’s sales pitch -- during which he also praised Domenic's "raw soul that is missing right now from music" -- worked. Let’s hope Adam, this panel’s villain with a fairweather-coach reputation, meant what he said, because Domenic could really win this thing.