John Legend's 'Voice' contestants give viewers 'chills' with a Stevie Wonder classic

The Voice's socially distanced Battle Rounds continued Tuesday night and saved the best for last with a Team John Legend battle that received a standing ovation and a whole lot of praise on social media.

Legend had given 35-year-old opera singer John Holiday and 21-year-old Julia Cooper the most difficult and technically complex song ever performed on The Voice – Stevie Wonder's "Summer Soft."

“When a song is this complex, you start with, ‘Can I learn it and just execute it technically?’ ... These two artists, with their level of musicianship and artistry, they can handle it,” asserted Legend. He acknowledged that both daunted contestants were probably thinking to themselves, “Why did John pick this?” — and his guest adviser, alternative R&B star Miguel, said, “I'm sure the first time you heard it, you were like, ‘Yo, what is going on?’” But, like, Legend, Miguel was “blown away” by what he heard during rehearsals, telling them, “Anyone who knows anything about music is going to be impressed. … Just that you’re able to handle the song speaks volumes.”

Holiday and Cooper more than handled it. In fact, viewers took to Twitter blown away by the performance. One viewer tweeted: "This version of Stevie Wonder’s “Summer Soft” needs to be recorded and made available to the public. Please." Meanwhile, the coaches each had praise of their own.

“Lordy, lordy, lordy!” gasped Legend. “That was so entertaining and so weird — in the best way ever! You two have such interesting voices!” raved Gwen Stefani. But while both voices were indeed interesting, it was obvious that Holiday’s had truly captured all of the coaches’ imaginations. “I don’t even understand how you’re real,” Gwen told him. “The vocal range, I don’t even know who to compare it to,” marveled Kelly. “You’re a force on this show. You have a gift,” added Blake Shelton.

In the end, Legend chose Holiday as the winner, but he wasn't ready to let Cooper go just yet, so he used his one and only steal to keep her on Team Legend.

Video Transcript

JOHN HOLIDAY: (SINGING) And she's gone

JOHN LEGEND: Hey!

JULIA COOPER: (SINGING) And she's gone

ALL: (SINGING) Summer's gone

NARRATOR: "The Voice"'s socially distanced battle rounds continued Tuesday night and saved the best for last with a team John Legend battle that received a standing ovation, and a whole lot of praise on social media.

JULIA COOPER: (SINGING) And he's gone

JOHN HOLIDAY: (SINGING) And he's gone

JOHN HOLIDAY: (SINGING) Summer's gone

JULIA COOPER: (SINGING) Winter's gone

NARRATOR: Legend had given 35-year-old opera singer John Holiday and 21-year-old Julia Cooper the most difficult and technically complex song ever performed on "The Voice," Stevie Wonder's "Summer Soft."

JOHN LEGEND: When a song is this complex, you start with just, can I learn it and execute it technically? And these two artists, with their level of musicianship and artistry, they can handle it.

ALL: (SINGING) Gone

NARRATOR: Holiday and Julia more than handled it. In fact, viewers took to Twitter blown away by the performance, like this person who got chills, and another viewer who also had chills tweeted, this version of Stevie Wonder "Summer Soft" needs to be recorded and made available to the public. Please.

KELLY CLARKSON: Oh my gosh.

GWEN STEFANI: Wow, John.

JOHN LEGEND: Lordy, lordy, lordy.

GWEN STEFANI: That was amazing. That was so entertaining and so weird, in the best way ever. Both of you guys have such unusual voices. In the end, Legend chose Holiday as the winner, but he wasn't ready to let Julia go just yet.

[SAVE BUTTON PRESSED]

CARSON DALY: Wow, Julia, come on back! That's the sound of a save!

JOHN LEGEND: Come on back.

CARSON DALY: John Legend uses his one and only save on Julia Cooper.

GWEN STEFANI: Yeah, Julia!