The Voice Recap: Bono Way! Did the Blinds Just Introduce a Singer On Par With U2’s Frontman?
Night 3 of The Voice’s Season 25 Blind Auditions Monday was a mixed bag: a couple of so-so performances, a couple that were so-good and one that inspired a coach to compare the singer to Bono. Did he live up to the hype? Keep scrolling, and we’ll not only discuss, you can have a listen for yourself.
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Bryan Olesen (Team Legend), “Love Runs Out” — Grade: A- | Even before the former lead guitarist for Christian band The Newsboys started rocking out, his soulful wail had earned him three chair turns. Though he readily owned that he was probably the oldest contestant in the mix (at 49), he used his experience to his advantage, delivering the kind charismatic performance that comes from practice, practice, practice. “That was the best audition we’ve seen,” enthused John, who went so far as to liken Bryan to Bono. Was he that amazing? Lend an ear below.
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Frank Garcia (Team Dan + Shay), “Love In the Dark” — Grade: A | Seems near impossible to me that someone could sound ethereal, emotional and powerful all at the same time, but I’ll be damned if Frank didn’t do just that. Insane to think that a performance so stunning only merited one chair turn, from Dan + Shay. John could’ve had a lot of fun picking songs for that magnificent voice. “I can’t believe these guys” didn’t turn, Shay marveled. Same, man. Same.
Kamalei Kawa’a (Team Chance), “Redemption Song” — Grade: B | This prep-school Hawaiian-studies teacher’s rendition of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ classic couldn’t hold a candle to the original, but he demonstrated enough range and soulfulness to inspire chair turns from both Chance and Reba. And there was no underestimating the importance of his song choice. “It means a lot to all oppressed people around the world,” Chance noted. “Having you on here and representing Pacific Islanders, indigenous people, Hawaiians… I think it’s really important for the show to have.”
Ashley Bryant (Team Reba), “Last Name” — Grade: C+ | I could hear why Reba waited until the very end of this wannabe Carrie Underwood’s performance to turn her chair. The twang was there, but the oomph wasn’t. What’s more, there was just nothing to distinguish Ashley’s vocal from a zillion other OK country singers. Still impressive, though; after a car accident, she lost 30 percent of her hearing in one ear and had to re-learn to sing.
Asher Havon (Team Reba), “Set Fire to the Rain” — Grade: B+ | I wasn’t altogether sold on Asher’s take on Adele till he really let loose and went wild. It seemed a bit “mannered” at first. Dare I say… dull? But once the three-chair turn uncorked his reserves of passion, stretching to the outer edges of his abilities, and started to feel the song, he reeled me right in. Chance suggested that Asher had what it takes to win the whole show. (But don’t we hear that every 15 minutes?)
Jackie Romeo (Team Legend), “Flowers” — Grade: C | Nope. I fear sweet, shy Jackie will be waving bye-bye during the Battles. Her cover of former coach Miley Cyrus’ mega-hit was as unpolished as a table that hasn’t yet been made from a tree. Still, she got two chair turns — one from John, who I tend to think of as being way more discerning. Shay noted that Jackie sounded nervous but had improved as the song progressed, especially on her long notes. Maybe her performances will get better still if she lasts long enough to get more comfortable in such a large arena?
Rivers Grayson (Team Legend), “Babylon” — Grade: C+ | In an abbreviated Blind, Rivers revealed not only a willingness to rock a sleeveless sweater but a very pleasant, if not remarkable, tone. Still, the one-chair turn had wowed his coach with his subtlety and taste.
Corey Curtis (Team Chance), “Waiting On the World to Change” — Grade: B+ | With a little bit of a rasp and a lot of character in his voice, this self-described “jack of all trades in the most useless way” inspired Chance to swivel his chair almost immediately. And the rest? Not at all. John said that he’d been curious but had been waiting to hear more range; at least that was a better excuse than Reba, who just said that she didn’t wanna vie with Chance. Dan + Shay would’ve had a field day with this Mark McGrath lookalike. It’s a neat trick to get personality into a vocal, and Corey pulled it off.
Madison Curbelo (Team Dan + Shay), “Stand by Me” — Grade: A- | After describing her sound as “the color yellow,” Madison reminded us that she previously auditioned back in Season 20. This time, the Puerto Rican-American scored a four-chair turn with a bilingual version of Ben E. King’s classic. I heard “periwinkle blue” more than “yellow,” but Madison was right: Her voice does have the kind of brightness to it that makes her smile audible.
Who was your favorite Monday? Are you over the coaches saying they didn’t wanna go up against each other? And is there any way that Bryan’s daughter won’t be auditioning for Season 26? Comment away.
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