'Voice' contestant stuns with risk-taking performance of a Billie Eilish hit

On Monday, The Voice Season 16’s top 24 – popular coach Blake Shelton’s eight contestants, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend’s six each, and increasingly unpopular coach Adam Levine’s four -- competed for spots in the top 13 Live Playoffs, and many of them played it frustratingly safe. And while it was understandable that they wouldn’t want to take a big risk at this crucial stage in the game, their conservatism made for a rather bland two hours. So kudos to the brave contestants who actually tried to shake things up, like Presley Tennant, Domenic Haynes, Mari, Oliv Blu… and especially Team Blake’s Kendra Checketts. Until this week, I had no idea that the under-the-radar Kendra -- a one-turn for Blake in the Blinds -- could sell this sort of drama. Hissing the spooky and very new Billie Eilish track “Bad Guy” in some sort of health Goth (yes, that’s a thing)/ravergirl getup that made her look like Sporty Spice after a Hot Topic shopping spree or an extra from the cult movie Tank Girl, she began the performance kneeling in some sort of octagonal neon altar, then served some Bishop Briggs realness as she bounced around, working the audience like she was playing side-stage on the Warped Tour. It was all a little awkward… but in an intriguingly messy ‘90s-rocker-chick way. It was fierce. And certainly wasn’t boring. And Kendra lent her power-vocals to the whispery Eilish tune, making the song her own. Yes, I am sure that Kendra’s choice will alienate more old-fashioned voters, particular the Team Blake voters who will gravitate towards predictable country performances by the lieks Andrew Sevener and Dexter Roberts. But Blake did quite all right with Season 13 winner Chloe Kohanski, a woman who went onstage with Man Ray-inspired glass tears affixed to her face and dueted on “White Wedding” with Billy Idol, so you never know. Besides, team quotas no longer apply this season – on Tuesday, the top eight will get through based on the votes, so technically, all of Blake’s contestants could make the top 13. As for who else will make the top 13, after the top eight advance, each coach will get one wild-card pick (so technically, there might be only one Team Adam contestant, hopefully Domenic, represented in the finals), plus Comeback Stage winner Kanard Thomas and one contestant cut during the Cross-Battles (hopefully Kayslin Victoria) will vie for that lucky 13th spot.