Ranking the 'Voice' Top 4 Finalists' Original Singles
(photo: NBC)
The last time each of the top four performed original singles on The Voice was way back in Season 1. (Remember Beverly McClellan’s “Lovesick”? Vicci Martinez’s “Afraid to Sleep”? No? Perhaps that’s for the best.) But on this Monday’s Season 7 finale showdown, not only did the final four sing originals, but they debuted their own music videos, too.
Gee, maybe, just maybe, the Voice powers-that-be are serious about launching a real pop star this season. (I’m still waiting for the post-Voice music videos from Tessanne Chin and Josh Kaufman.) But why wasn’t Voice regular Pharrell Williams involved? Here we have one of the greatest producers and songwriters in modern music, sitting right there on the panel — with nothing to do, since he lost his entire team two weeks ago — and he just keeps on sitting, instead of hopping in the studio with Chris, Matt, Craig, and Damien. What a missed opportunity. Surely Pharrell had a few potential smash hits lying around that he could’ve handed over to these contestants?
That being said, I was for the most part impressed with the finalists’ singles. They sounded, you know, like REAL SONGS. And they were well matched to the singers’ respective styles. This show sure has come a long way since Season 1.
Just how much will the contestants’ originals affect Tuesday’s finale outcome (as opposed to the cover tunes and coach duets they all performed)? That remains to be seen. But regardless of who wins this week, we may be hearing one of these songs a lot in the weeks to come.
4. Craig Wayne Boyd – “My Baby’s Got a Smile on Her Face”
This song was originally written years ago for Craig’s coach, Blake Shelton, by Mark Marchetti and Stephanie Jones. Blake never got around to recording it, which is kind of a bad sign, and then he pawned it off on Craig this week. It’s surprising to me that Craig actually got the weakest song among the top four contestants, since he seems the most commercially viable and radio-ready. The guy possesses what is known in the music biz as a very “recordable” voice. “My Baby’s Got a Smile” is a fairly generic tune, but Craig sounds good singing it, and he looks good in his Instagram-filtered video singing it to a sexy, bedheaded faux love interest. And hey, at least it’s not some good-ole-boy party song about trucks and chicks and beer, which is refreshing in this “bro country” age. But, come to think of it, maybe that’s why Blake passed on this song! (Get “My Baby’s Got a Smile on Her Face” on iTunes)
3. Chris Jamison – “Velvet”
The video is cheesy in a trying-too-hard, totally-’90s way — more Justin Timberlake in an SNL “D--- in a Box” Digital Short than Justin in a suit-and-tie, if you know what I mean. And a handsome dude like Chris really deserved better lighting; he practically looks like a shadow puppet in this clip. But I am mostly digging the Timberlake-lite vibe of the track; it’s the overall right direction for Chris. (The recorded version sounds much better than Chris’s live performance from Monday, during which his famous falsetto was strained and overworked.) It almost sounds like Pharrell had a hand in this song, but he didn’t. “Velvet” was written-by-committee by Canadian pop singer Alex Lacasse, Kellen Pomeranz, and Elof (Icona Pop, Rihanna, The Voice's own Christina Grimmie). It's not exactly a hit, but it would be a perfectly acceptable deep cut on a Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, or JT album. (Get “Velvet” on iTunes)
2. Damien – “Soldier”
Damien may be the contestant with the slimmest chance of winning this week, but somehow he got a song produced by one-and-only Swedish hit machine Max Martin. It was also co-written by Johan Carlsson, who’s worked with Ariana Grande, Gavin DeGraw, One Direction, Jessie J, Maroon 5, Colbie Caillat, and Carolina Liar. Not too shabby. The result is a huge, gospel-tinged anthem (the closest thing to a traditional “coronation song” this season) that perfectly suits Damien’s massive range and belty, chest-beating delivery. Kudos to the video’s director for keeping things simple and classy, and not doing to Damien what The Voice did to the show’s last thirtysomething R&B star, Jermaine Paul, in Jermaine’s embarrassingly clubby "I Believe in This Life" video. Sometimes less truly is more. Kudos to the stagehand in charge of the actual decent lighting, too. (Get “Soldier” on iTunes)
1. Matt McAndrew – “Wasted Love”
Matt is already the odds-on favorite this season. Among the top four, he’s the only one who’s hit the iTunes top 10 three times, plus he’s never suffered a setback. (Conversely, Craig lost in the Battle Rounds; Chris had to sing for the Instant Save; Damien only made it to the finale as a fourth-place wild card.) Well, Matt’s odds just got a little better, thanks to this fantastic song — an anthemic, evangelical alt-rocker that brings to mind Sam Smith, Hozier, Damien Rice, et al. He seems to have real chemistry with his music-video love interest as well; they look adorable together, and I’m kind of shipping them right now. But, as an aside, I do have to make something clear: On Monday’s Voice episode, Adam Levine, Matt’s coach, made it seem like Matt wrote this song. He didn’t. The writers are Brandon Lowry (Lana Del Rey, Gym Class Heroes, Avicii, Lindsey Stirling); Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk; former Sick Puppies frontman Shimon Moore; and Mike Fiorentino (who’s worked with Bubba Sparxxx — yes, that Bubba Sparxxx). I am not discounting Matt — it’s unheard-of for a singing show contestant to write his/her debut single, and I didn’t expect Matt to get that opportunity. But come on, Adam, you sneaky little devil. Let’s not be misleading and act like Matt wrote his killer song while Craig had to settle for Blake’s sloppy seconds. (Get “Wasted Love” on iTunes)
Follow Lyndsey on Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Amazon, Tumblr, Vine, Spotify
