The Voice Season 25's top nine live semifinals aired Monday, but viewers might've thought they were watching The Masked Singer. The contestants were divided into trios for group numbers inspired by the upcoming fantasy film IF, and the season's three over-the-top entertainers — Maddi Jane, Bryan Olesen, and Nathan Chester — were nearly upstaged by a Chuck E. Cheese band of bobble-headed, bipedal imaginary friends.
Oh, and did I mention that these rock 'n' roll furries were playing a Cure song, "Just Like Heaven"? And that they looked like they'd stepped out of one of the Cure's own cosplaying music videos like "The Lovecats," "Why Can't I Be You?," or "Friday I'm in Love"? And that a pack of dancing animals then bumrushed the stage and knocked poor Bryan's mic out right of his hand?
Yep, that happened. To quote Robert Smith, it was just like a dream. A fever dream.
Sure, I know that this bonkers performance will be polarizing among Cure devotees. "There are so many diehard Cure fans out there, so I was like, 'All right, we gotta do this song justice. This is a big one, for sure,'" Maddi admitted to Music Times right after Monday's bizarre broadcast.
But I was on board with this wackiness, and I imagine there's a reason why Robert Smith signed off on it. The Cure don't get covered much on shows like The Voice, and it's probably not a coincidence that the last time I recall hearing any Cure tune other than the Adele or 311 versions of "Lovesong" performed on any U.S. singing competition, it was by Tony "The Elephant" Hawk on — wait for it — The Masked Singer Season 3:
"I was just upset that I didn't get a furry animal head, honestly. That would've been a fun experience, to roll around onstage and try to sing with that thing on," said Bryan, who chuckled as he told Music Times about that blink-and-you'll-miss it live TV snafu when "all them fuzzy characters were dancing around" and "one of them knocked my microphone out of my hand. That was fun. That was a rock 'n' roll moment. ... But it was very freeing. Even our vocal coach was like, 'I don't know if I've ever seen you guys smile as much as during that song.' That's what it felt like — it was a party."
Nathan also told Music Times that this not-on-anyone's-2024-Bingo-card Voice moment felt like an opportunity to "not take myself so seriously, because I have very few moments [during the competition] when I can genuinely just play and not worry about people judging me."
Well, hopefully not too many Voice voters will be judging these three semifinalists based solely on "Just Like Heaven," since only Gen-Xer Bryan's voice even slightly fit the new wave hit, and none of them were showcased at their very best, to say the very least. And, like I said, some fans probably didn't appreciate the ridiculousness of this surreal, Sid & Marty Krofft-like spectacle. (Monday's other group numbers — Tae Lewis, Josh Sanders, and Karen Waldrup doing Bob Dylan's "Forever Young," and Madison Curbelo, Serenity Arce, and Asher HaVon doing Coldplay's "Fix You" — were much more serious, and 100 percent furry-free.)
However, a zany Cure cover just might sway my vote, on what was another very neck-and-furry-neck Voice night. (Side note: It has been brought to my attention that the Cure's longtime guitarist, Reeves Gabrels has a side band called... wait for it.. Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends! Another coindidence? Who knows?)
Yes, winning America's vote, by whatever means necessary, was more crucial than ever, because on Monday the top nine all performed solo, and on Tuesday, four of them will be cut, less than one week before the Season 25 finale. To quote another Cure hit, which performances had viewers thinking, "Monday, I'm love," and which just had viewers feeling like Monday's blue? Read on...
Josh Sanders (Team Reba), "White Horse"
Chris Stapleton has been covered way too much on TV recently, between this show's Josh and American Idol's Will Moseley. But Josh picked this Stapleton staple because it's "fast and fun" and embodies "everything he likes about country music in one song." I have to say Josh rocked this, serving Bon Jovi/Sambora realness. And since he's the only white male country singer left this season, let's face it, he could probably club baby seals onstage while setting the American flag on fire and still earn enough votes to squeak through to the finals. But I don't know if this tune — which Reba McEntire stressed is "not a smiling song," advising Josh to act "very tough" — was an ideal choice on a hometown-dedication-themed episode. Hopefully for Josh, viewers outside of his hometown in Kannapolis, N.C., will dig his badass man-in-black performance. John Legend told Josh, "You're showing us a different side. You picked a big song with a lot of big accompaniment, and you could've gotten lost in it, but you cut through in way that showed you're a star to be reckoned with."
Madison Curbelo (Team Dan + Shay), "Time After Time"
It made a major impression on a young Madison when she watched The Voice Season 1 winner Javier Colon croon this heartstring-plucking Cyndi Lauper classic (13 years ago!), and she was hoping to weave a similarly magical spell tonight. And she did. Plaintively singing in a circle of amber candles, sending a lovely message to the schoolchildren she teaches back in Westfield, Mass., Madison went small and made as much of as impact as Josh did when he went big. Chance the Rapper was "blown away" by her "angelic and broken" voice, which reminded him of '90s Disney soundtracks, and Shay Mooney gushed, "You are someone who radiates light. When you sing, it doesn't stop at people's ears — it makes its way down to their hearts and down to their spirits." (Side note: Sadly, this was probably the first time Javier Colon's name has been mentioned on The Voice in 13 years.)
Serenity Arce (Team Chance), "We Can't Be Friends"
A song titled "We Can't Be Friends" seemed like an odd dedication to Serenity's hometown of Jupiter, Fla., but it was otherwise, as Chance worded it, a "good play" for her to do the acoustic version of Ariana Grande's hit. At 17 — the youngest in the competition — Serenity may possess the voice and poise of a sophisticated, grown woman, but she hasn't quite figured out what sort of artist she wants to be yet. Well, she should be this kind. Last week's cover of Olivia Rodrigo's "Traitor" felt a bit copycat, but Serenity was in her serene balladeer zone tonight. She was clearly trying to orchestrate a premature finale moment with her ice-princess/ice-cream-castle gown and silver confetti shower, and maybe she succeeded, because Reba told her, "You're a winner!" A "very proud" Chance once again praised the song choice and arrangement, saying it "gave us all a moment to take it all in and hear the lyrics and see you for real. Bravo."
Maddi Jane (Team Chance), "Greedy"
Chicago gal Maddi has always fancied herself some sort of rapper, but her coach — an actual rapper, with "Rapper" in his name, so he ought to know — advised her to stick to singing. "I wouldn't waste any opportunity. If I could sing like you, I'd sing all the time," he told her. This was sound advice. Maddi further established herself at Season 25's most confident entertainer besides Nathan, giving one of the coolest and swaggiest performances of the night, complete with choreography — but never so much that it compromised her vocals. She even pulled a falsetto out of nowhere, hitting notes that I had no idea were within her range. She started off on throne on a dramatically green-nightvision-lit circular stage, her face printed on Publisher's Clearing House-sized money behind her, and she proved that, as Chance put it, she's "a real at-heart performer." Even host Carson Daly had to exclaim that Maddi was "not messin' around!" as the studio audience chanted her name. This Tate McRae cover felt very current, very VMAs or SNL to me — maybe too current for conservative Voice voters, though we shall see — but the thrilled Chance actually called it "Grammy-level."
Nathan Chester (Team Legend), "Try a Little Tenderness"
Last week's tour de force would be tough to top, as it was the performance of the season. But Nathan, who also hails from Chicago, proclaimed, "I get such a joy from surprising the audience, and I am going to keep surprising America as best I can." This performance started off mellow (mellow by Nathan Chester standards, that is), but once he took off his eyeglasses, I knew it was on. I knew he'd taken his coach's advice to "suave it out." We got sanging vocals, we got choreography, we got hairography, we got smoke and mirrors and bells and whistles and several kitchen sinks. (Come on, NBC, I am once again asking you to give Nathan his own variety show.) "The only thing that was missing was the splits!" John quipped, although Nathan will hopefully get a chance to break out that signature move in next week's finals. Whatever happens — whether he gets to the finale or gets his own TV show or wins this show — Nathan is already a superstar. "There really aren't a lot of artists who are channeling this era the way Nathan is doing it. ... I think there's a wide-open lane for him in this industry," stated John.
Bryan Olesen (Team Legend), "Against All Odds"
This Phil Collins tear-jerker seemed right in Bryan's '80s wheelhouse: a breakup ballad belted by a retro rocker who just went through a painful divorce, by a 50-year-old man who against all odds has made it from Nebraska all the way to the Voice semifinals alongside pop kids covering McRae and Rodrigo. John thought this song would provide a good "counterweight" to last week's happy, high-energy Queen cover, and he wanted Bryan to make America cry. So, I was ready for this to be Bryan's big moment... but I think he fell short. His voice was strong, but he seemed so focused on the vocals that he held back emotionally, afraid to really go there and be vulnerable. The result was a dinner-theater presentation. John thought Bryan connected to the lyric, loving how Bryan "held each note with a certain patience and subtlety and grace" and claiming this was "just what Bryan need to do." But I think if America is going to vote for an '80s balladeer this week, Madison has the edge.
Karen Waldrup (Team Dan + Shay), "Stay"
This was a brilliant song choice. Even Dan + Shay had forgotten what a great song this Sugarland ballad is, and I'm surprised it's not covered more often on singing competitions. Maybe that's because it's such a challenge to sing, even for a pro like Karen. But Dan was certain it would be a "game-changing performance" for her, and he was right. Karen has never hit a bum note all season, but she's so polished that sometimes she's almost robotic. Tonight, she was very, very real. When she nearly broke down on that "why does she get the best of you?" line, it was so real, I got chills. She accomplished tonight what Bryan did not. "We wanted to challenge you with that song, because we knew in our hearts that you would deliver. ... That was the final piece in the puzzle to show America that you can do absolutely everything," said Dan Smyers. "I know it was kind of a scary song to sing because it was a vulnerable moment, but I felt it. ... Thank you for trusting us. I think it paid off," said Shay. I always figured Karen was a shoo-in for the finale, but the first time this season, I had a feeling she could win.
Asher HaVon (Team Reba), "Irreplaceable "
This Selma church singer was "filled with anxiety" over the prospect of covering an uptempo Beyoncé song, but he proved he's irreplaceable in this competition. He reminded me of Gabriels's Jacob Lusk (also known from American Idol Season 10), looking like a king — nay, a god — on that heavenly stage with those heavenly vocals, dripping in pearls and jewels. This was regal. "My dad texted me this week and said, 'Asher is The Voice.' ... I believe you're best vocalist in this competition," said John — who isn't even Asher's coach! Reba, Asher's actual coach, was "absolutely floored" by Asher's performance and told him, "Thank you for singing for God."
Tae Lewis (Dan + Shay), "Amazed"
After being jeopardy last Tuesday and winning the Instant Save, Tae got the pimp spot this week, which might keep him from being at risk again. But he also delivered a flawless vocal, bringing to new life a song that has been done to death on so many singing competitions. The entire coaching panel was, well, amazed. "There's a reason they had you close the show. They saved the best for last. That was an iconic performance. ... You deserve America's votes," declared Dan. Shay then shouted to America, "You can't send this man home! How can you not love Tae Lewis?" before telling Tae, "You have fought for every single ounce of success you have had on this show."
So now, it is prediction time, and this one is especially tough. On Tuesday's live results show, the top four vote-getters, regardless of team affiliation, will automatically advance to the finals, and the remaining contestants will then sing for the Instant Save to round out the top five. The only contestant I feel totally confident about is Karen, although I think Josh, Madison, Nathan, Asher, and Tae all have a good shot... but wait, that's six! Ugh.
Basically, I advise all nine contestants, even Karen, to have their save-me songs ready to go. And I know no matter what happens, the show is going to lose a lot of great talent on Tuesday, all at once. To loosely quote that other Cure song, after the results are revealed, Tuesday's going to be gray. See you then.
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