Masters of Puppets: ‘The Voice’ Blind Auditions Conclude, With Strings Attached

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The Voice Season 12’s Blind Auditions concluded Tuesday, and while there were a few worthy additions to all four coaches’ teams, one new cast member, sadly, was not eligible — not even for a one-chair turn. It was an Adam Levine puppet, which inexplicably and without warning ended up on Alicia Keys’s hand.

True, this snaggle-toothed puppet looked absolutely nothing like the actual Adam Levine, not even back in his pimply, pre-makeover Kara’s Flowers era. This puppet wasn’t even wearing a signature striped Hamburglar sweater! But, regardless, puppets rule. They star in music videos. They play the main stage at San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival. They play South by Southwest. Spinal Tap opened for them! Season 12 could’ve been all puppets, all the time (and some would say, with the crazy contracts these contestants have to sign, all reality-show hopefuls are puppets anyway, heh heh), and I would have been totally cool with that. And if the fake, felt, terrible-likeness Adam puppet wants to be a fifth coach on Season 13, I’ll be cool with that too.

But I digress. Five actual flesh-and-blood contestants squeaked through Tuesday’s final audition rounds. To quote The Muppet Show, it’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights. Let’s get to the recap!

Vanessa Ferguson

This 31-year-old former cruise ship singer has a solid voice, aside from some underpitchy issues towards the end of her performance of the Chainsmokers’ “Don’t Let Me Down.” But she ultimately let me down. Vanessa didn’t have the vivacious personality, youthful enthusiasm, or sense of urgency that Daya brought to the Chainsmokers’ (otherwise admittedly weak) original recording, so her performance went pretty much nowhere.

But surprisingly, three out of the four coaches — everyone but Adam — didn’t let Vanessa down. Blake Shelton told her, “For you to step out there and hit that note and hold it for the length of time that you held it out there, that’s one of my favorite things about your voice. I’d love the chance to work with you.” Said Alicia: “It’s so great to hear you sing and to vibe with you.” Gwen Stefani told her, “I want to discover more about you!” Of course, Vanessa picked fellow New Yorker Alicia. Can Alicia help Vanessa bring a little more fire and excitement to the Battle Rounds? We shall see.

MEMBER OF: Team Alicia

Dawson Coyle

This homeschooled, church-raised, 17-year-old house-fire survivor seemed like a readymade breakout CCM star doing “Happiness” by NEEDTOBREATHE. He was the total package: bright and sparkling voice, cute and clean-cut image, tons of boyish energy. This was a very engaging performance, and there’s definitely a market out there for a sweet kid like this. Only Blake turned for Dawson, but it was the perfect fit nonetheless. “My favorite thing about your voice is how much absolute passion and how much of yourself you pour into your performance, man,” raved Blake. “I’ve only heard you sing one time, but, dude, I believe you!” I think America will believe in Dawson too.

MEMBER OF: Team Blake

Jozy Bernadette

Belting the Guess Who’s “American Woman” in a ’70s maxidress, Jozy was giving me full-on Season 10 Alisan “Cry Baby” Porter vibes. We need more rocker-girl energy on The Voice this season (and every season, to be honest), and Jozy delivered the goods. She could have been a little more badass, but with the right coach, her claws could really come out.

As for which coach that would be, both Adam and Gwen buzzed in. Adam admitted that he missed the rasp of the song’s original recording but told Jozy, “I think you have an incredible voice … I think that you do rock.” Gwen said, “I think there’s things that we can work on to make you stand out. This is an amazing opportunity to figure out what’s unique about you, what’s really the thing that’s gonna make you shine. I’d love to do that.” Jozy picked fellow rocksteady rocker chick Gwen, of course. Now let’s see what these two cool American women can get up to in the Battles.

MEMBER OF: Team Gwen

Sheena Brook

This 33-year-old Floridian had a very commercial look and sound, singing Sugarland’s “Baby Girl,” and she would have been perfect for Team Blake — if only Blake hadn’t already completed his lineup with the recruitment of the aforementioned Dawson Coyle. (“I’m sorry that my button doesn’t work,” he grunted.) So, Blake’s loss was gloating Adam’s gain. “There’s nothing that makes me happier than the destruction of Blake Shelton. Like, I want nothing more than to show him that I can bring a country singer all the way to the top, and that country singer could very easily be you,” Adam declared. Um, we shall see. Adam may have made it to the finale with a country singer (Josh Gallagher) last season, but I have a feeling Blake is already planning to steal Sheena away during the Battles or Knockouts. She’s definitely “the one that got away” for Blake.

MEMBER OF: Team Adam

Chris Blue

Chris came to the show with a compelling, made-for-TV backstory (close-knit musical family of seven, fiancée battling cancer and beating the odds), but Alicia — the only coach with a space left on her team — knew about none of that when she selected Chris as the final member of her team. All she knew was this exquisite voice singing “Tracks of My Tears” needed to be on Team Alicia. Showcasing a falsetto so goosebump-raising it could make even that guy from Sigur Rós weep with envy, Chris channeled all of his emotions into a phenomenal, nuanced performance. “I was kind of looking for a male voice, someone who was a little bluesy and soulful — and boom,” a delighted Alicia explained. Meanwhile, her fellow coaches glowered, all wishing they’d had the ability to turn around. Clearly in this case, good things came to those who waited.

MEMBER OF: Team Alicia

So now that the Blind Auditions have wrapped, let’s look at where the team lineups stand.

Team Adam

  • Sheena Brook

  • Nala Price

  • Hanna Eyre

  • Malik Davage

  • Kawan DeBose

  • Taylor Alexander

  • Josh West

  • Gaby Borromeo

  • Julien Martinez

  • Johnny Hayes

  • Jesse Larson

  • Mark Isaiah

Team Blake

  • Dawson Coyle

  • TSoul

  • Valerie Ponzio

  • Enid Ortiz

  • Andrea Thomas

  • Josh Hoyer

  • Micha Tryba

  • Casi Joy

  • Ashley Levin

  • Lauren Duski

  • Brennley Brown

  • Aliyah Moulden

Team Gwen

  • Jozy Bernadette

  • Sammie Zonana

  • Kenny P

  • Davina Leone

  • Johnny Gates

  • Caroline Sky

  • Troy Ramey

  • Aaliyah Rose

  • Brandon Royal

  • Savannah Leighton

  • Stephanie Rice

  • JChosen

Team Alicia

  • Chris Blue

  • Vanessa Ferguson

  • RJ Collins

  • Hunter Plake

  • Lauryn Judd

  • Jack Cassidy

  • Missy Robertson

  • Quizz Swanigan

  • Lilli Passero

  • Autumn Turner

  • Felicia Temple

  • Anatalia Villaranda

Right now, Alicia definitely seems to have the team to beat — but as Adam stated this week, all four coaches have contestants that could easily win this thing. My personal favorites are Team Adam’s Kawan DeBose, Taylor Alexander, and Josh West; Team Gwen’s Sammie Zonana, Johnny Gates, and Stephanie Rice; Team Alicia’s Hunter Plake; and Team Blake’s TSoul. But of course, it’s way to soon to declare a shoo-in just yet. This might be a very suspenseful season, and that’ll make for some good TV.

And speaking of good TV, come back next week, when the teams are mentored by John Legend, DJ Khaled, Luke Bryan, and the almighty Celine Dion (but, sadly, no puppets), and the Battle Rounds commence. See you then!

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