‘The Voice’ Season 11 Finale, Pt. 1: Sundance Goes to the Head of the Pack

Monday’s Voice episode, the final live competitive episode of Season 11, was positively jam-packed, with each of the top four contestants performing three times: one original single, one cover song, and one coach duet. All four singers had their moments, but there was one contestant, Team Blake’s country-soulman Sundance Head, who stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Yes, there was a time this season when it seemed like either golden child Wé McDonald or ex-child star Billy Gilman would easily win this show. But Sundance has quietly — OK, maybe not so quietly; he’s actually quite the powerhouse belter — risen in the ranks to become this season’s frontrunner.

Below, I’ve ranked all four contestants’ Monday performance, starting with star player Sundance and ending with this season’s far less interesting country dude, Josh Gallagher. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get to the recap, shall we?

SUNDANCE HEAD (TEAM BLAKE)

Original single: “Darlin’ Don’t Go”

The only top four contestant to write his single entirely on his own (or “with a little help from my wife and the good Lord,” that is), Sundance effectively established himself as a viable post-Voice recording artist with this autobiographical, evangelical, old-school gospel/country/rock barnstormer. Performing at an awards-show level, Sundance poured his huge heart and literally even a few tears into this tour de force, wringing authentic emotion from every word — while his wife, Misty, the “love of his life” who inspired the song, sang along in the audience. Seriously, if this had been the only song Sundance performed Monday night, he still probably would have clinched the win.

“It is beyond me how in the hell this guy has not been discovered before. This is unbelievable,” marveled Blake Shelton. I’m a little baffled myself, to be honest.

Cover song: “At Last”

Throughout this season, Sundance has always taken risks — risks that have paid off handsomely — unlike other contestants, who’ve opted for predictable song choices and/or uninventive arrangements. This is why Sundance was a genius to choose the sentimental Etta James staple “At Last” for his final cover tune. He definitely made the song his own, as they say in the biz — with a retro doo-wop arrangement that seemed to be a subtle, respectful nod to his father, ‘60s singer Roy Head, who was sitting proudly in the audience next to a misty-eyed Misty. Sundance, a failed American Idol also-ran from nine years ago, radiated pure joy during this unaffected and glorious performance, as if he realized his time to shine in the national spotlight really has finally arrived. Life is like a song, indeed.

“You were so good! We’re freaking out!” exclaimed Miley Cyrus, after which Blake added, “I could not be more excited, more happy, more proud. It’s literally like somebody reached back into time and found this classic, iconic vocalist that went undiscovered, and plopped him down on the stage in front of us, man. It’s absolutely unbelievable.”

Coach duet: “Treat Her Right”

Sundance Head and Blake Shelton are like vodka and one of Blake’s ever-present Starbucks cups. They just go together. (Sorry, Adam Levine, but I think Sundance and Blake are the new Voice bromance to watch.) I would seriously buy an entire album of duets from these two. The easy, breezy, brotherly chemistry they exhibited onstage was wonderful to behold, and the fact that they were covering “Treat Her Right,” the No. 2 hit from 1965 by Sundance’s aforementioned sobbing dad, made this even cooler. I loved the Shindig-style staging, too, which kind of made me feel like I was still watching last week’s Hairspray Live! on NBC. Surely Tracy Turnblad would approve of this retro romp!

WÉ MCDONALD (TEAM ALICIA)

Original single: “Wishes”

This was a big, blustery, divalicious empowerment anthem à la Pink’s “Perfect,” Alessia Cara’s “Scars to Your Beautiful,” or Alicia Keys’s own “Girl on Fire” — and Wé was up for the task, commanding the stage with the authority, maturity, and swagger of a true pop star. There were a couple minor pitch problems, but her lower register was still rich and magnificent. And when she confidently belted lines like “I’m a young girl looking in the mirror wondering how I’m gonna come out. … I’ve always been a day-dreamer, and every dream led me to this day. … Still a little dirty, got scars all on me, been through a lot of fights,” it was powerful. Of the four originals this evening, Wé’s was the most contemporary and radio-ready as well.

“I can’t even express how proud I am of Wé and how much grace she’s handling it with. It takes a lot of endurance to stand here every week and to stand the test of time. … I’m so proud of America for seeing what I see in you, which is individuality, diversity, and unlimited potential,” a beaming Alicia gushed.

Cover song: “Don’t Rain on My Parade”

First, the very, very good news: This was fan-friggin’-tastic. Wé was serving Rachel Berry realness with this fearless Funny Girl show-stopper, complete with nearly Streisand-level vocal acrobatics. The lady in red held nothing back and left it all on the stage. Really, if she doesn’t win The Voice this week, she could still win a Tony someday. (Note to NBC casting directors: Please put Wé in every one of the network’s live musicals from now on.)

Now, the slightly bad news: This was a major stylistic departure for Wé. Throughout the season, she has stuck mostly with either modern soul/pop (Mary J. Blige, Alessia Cara, Hozier, Rihanna) or modernized versions of classic tunes (“Feeling Good,” “God Bless the Child”). The closest she ever got to Broadway was “Home” from The Wiz, but even that had a R&B vibe. Will “Parade” be too much of a last-minute curveball for Wé’s fanbase? We shall see.

Coach duet: “Ave Maria”

How do you solve a problem like “Ave Maria”? Because this was a problem. Fortunately for Wé, the coach duets won’t count as iTunes votes this week. This was pretty shaky. While I understand producers’ desire to showcase Wé’s impressive but rarely utilized opera skills, Wé’s voice seemed too deep for “Ave Maria.” On the plus side, Wé definitely outsang her coach; Alicia noticeably struggled with her solo parts. Overall, this just didn’t work, and it wasn’t the wow moment that I’m sure producers were aiming for. I wish Wé and Alicia done something lighter, more fun and current — something to balance out the old-fashioned “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” really.

BILLY GILMAN (TEAM ADAM)

Original single: “Because of Me”

This song was originally intended for Adam’s band, Maroon 5 — which is either an honor, or kind of a bummer because it’s basically a rejected Maroon 5 outtake. Billy, probably the technically best singer of this entire Voice season, had no problem handling a song written for Adam’s superhigh range, of course. (That money note was everything!) But this wasn’t quite the hip, modern pop moment that Adam and Billy were likely hoping for. It was very Hot AC.

Then again, Hot AC radio might be a good place for ex-country singer Billy, who has been struggling to redefine himself as some sort of polished pop singer, with varying degrees of success, all season long. He just needs better songs than this, with less trite lyrics, post-Voice. Adam may have claimed that “this is probably one of the most definitive moments of Billy’s career,” but suffice it to say, there is a reason Maroon 5 passed on “Because of Me.”

Cover song: “My Way”

Well, this wasn’t exactly the Sid Vicious version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” was it? It definitely wasn’t edgy. Nor was it subtle. Billy just doesn’t do edgy or subtle. But you know what? He doesn’t have to. He shouldn’t try to be something he’s not. This grandstanding cabaret performance was more like the Joel Grey version of “My Way” — seriously, why isn’t Billy on Broadway yet, possibly alongside Wé? — but it worked. It’s ironic that while Adam was so fixated on teen crooner Riley Elmore during the early weeks of this season, he already had a stupendous singer so suited to the Great American Songbook.

“Everything this guy has been through was just poured out from his heart on that stage, broadcast to everybody, because he means what he says. He did it his way,” proclaimed Adam. “And regardless of what the outcome is, that’s such an admirable thing.”

Coach duet: “Bye Bye Love”

Unlike the overambitious and bombastic “Ave Maria” by Wé and Alicia, this Everly Brothers ditty was a perfect lighthearted, doesn’t-count-for-votes-so-just-sit-back-and-enjoy duet. Adam dominated the performance a bit, but his reedy, rocker-y voice still blended surprisingly well with Billy’s smoother tone, and the boys looked like they were having a ton o’ fun up there. I smiled the entire time.

JOSH GALLAGHER (TEAM ADAM)

Original single: “Pick Any Small Town”

Zzzzzz. I would not call this an “original” single, in the sense that nothing about it sounded very original at all. It was barely distinguishable from the Bryan/Aldean/Owen-esque bro-country fare that play-it-safe Josh has disappointingly favored all season long. Its lyrics practically could have been assembled via bro-country Magnetic Poetry refrigerator magnets, with its pandering, clichéd references to “Main Street,” a “little white church,” a “two-lane road,” a “front-porch swing,” “hand-me-down Chevys,” “bass fishin’,” and “troops.” I could not believe this was even a real song. Josh sang it passably, I suppose, but I just couldn’t get past those Mad Libs: Bro-Country Edition lyrics. (Nolan Neal, the Team Adam contestant who at one time I thought had a chance to win Season 11 before his shocking Knockout Rounds elimination, actually co-wrote this tune. Maybe Nolan wasn’t so great after all.)

Bro-country superstar Blake loved this, calling it “definitely a song that I can relate to,” but hopefully, America’s country fans will vote for Team Blake’s more interesting and imaginative Sundance instead.

Cover song: “Jack and Diane”

This bittersweet depiction of small-town high school sweethearts seemed like a genius song choice at first. John Mellencamp, sort of the Bruce Springsteen of the Midwest, is great at painting vivid pictures of everyman life in the heartland. But Josh’s interpretation of “Jack and Diane” was so surface-y. Mellencamp’s rootsy classic is actually a sad, wistful commentary about deferred teenage dreamers and faded first love. Is there any more punch-to-the-gut lyric in modern music than “life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone”? That line just kills me, every time.

But, frustratingly, Josh just played “Jack and Diane” like he was playing a Tyler Farr party song at a tailgate party, and he didn’t even bother to strum the guitar dangling, pendant-like, around his neck. I don’t care if Adam praised Josh for “bringing this song back that we’ve been missing so long.” I missed the Mellencamp version more than ever after this tone-deaf fail.

Coach duet: “Smooth”

I would not have thought a Carlos Santana/Rob Thomas pop-rock hit would have been the best choice for Josh, but surprisingly, this was his strongest performance of the night. Josh was a little stiff, but his clear, bright vocal tone worked well with Adam’s, and he at least exhibited some star quality. This wasn’t the whimsical delight that Adam and Billy’s “Bye Bye Love” duet was, but it was solid. And “solid” is basically all I can say about Josh this week.

So now, it is prediction time. Will Sundance win? I say yes. As for how the rest of the finale will play out … going into Monday’s show, I would have predicted Billy to be the runner-up, but since Wé closed the show in spectacular fashion with “Parade,” I think she’ll edge Billy out and knock him down to third place.

I still think there’s plenty of wiggle room in this finale — unlike other seasons, like Season 1 with Javier Colon or Season 9 with Jordan Smith, no one contestant seems preordained this time around — but I’m going to predict a final ranking of Sundance, Wé, Billy, and Josh.

Tune in Tuesday to see if I’m right, and to see what just might be the most star-studded, A-list finale in Voice history, with performances by Bruno Mars, the Weeknd, Kelly Clarkson, KISS, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Sting, Ariana Grande, and more.

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