Despite a heavy focus on the coaches (Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine), The Voice actually really does manage to pull out some amazing talent. After a so-so night on Monday (Sept. 29), the fourth round of blind auditions brought out some of the strongest singers to date.
It wan an emotional night, not so much with tensions, but with beautiful, rich tones. From a performance of "At Last" at the top of the show to "Say Something" at the end, it was back-to-back heart wrenching stories and soaring notes. It may be safe to say episode four was the most talent-packed The Voice so far. Even the "bad" singers were solid enough to make this critic happy.
Even with all the solid talent, there's the inescapable part of reality TV... why are they pretending like this show was filmed over weeks when it's clear it took place over one really long day? WE SEE YOU ALL IN THE SAME CLOTHES, COACHES. You can't full me.
That weird aside aside, let's look at the best, worst and so-so performances from The Voice episode four...but really, they were all actually pretty good.
The Good:
Katriz Trinidad, "At Last": After a pretty so-so episode last night, it's incredibly refreshing for The Voice to start off with a unique, stunning performer for episode four. And that would be Katriz Trinidad. The 15-year-old Philippine kicked off the show with a take on the classic Etta James single "At Last," a hard song to really pull off. I mean, Beyoncé does it. But, the song fit Trinidad's old soul perfectly - she could have been straight out of another era. Though her years are few, Trinidad exercised an insane amount of control, moving between her head voice and a smoky alto seamlessly. She's one to look out for, on the increasingly strong Team Pharrell.
Craig Wayne Boyd, "The Whiskey Ain't Working": Call me a sucker for an old school country voice, but, man does Craig Wayne Boyd got it. There's something deep and classic about this guy. Channeling current country standout Sturgill Simpson with a snarl and growl that is so distinctively country, Boyd is all about the pizzazz. He's a perfect fit for Team Blake, and despite efforts from Pharrell, that's where he wound up.
Jean Kelley, "Already Gone": There's something about Jean Kelley that sort of just screams, "generic singer who is totally good and great but just in a very generic way." But, there's something else about her that is really vulnerable and beautiful. Maybe it was her painful backstory - a mother who passed away too soon during a family vacation - but Kelley just oozed of pain, heartbreak and raw emotion. Sometimes, it just a je ne sais quoi, and that's what's pretty captivating about her. She smartly went for Team Gwen.
Jonathan Wyndham "Say Something": And, once again, The Voice ended on a strong note thanks to Cracker Barrel enthusiast and total charmball Jonathan Wyndham. In addition to oozing chearm, Wyndham oozed nerves - with shakey hands that actually translated to his voice. Luckily enough, the wavering worked, managing to add an extra layer of emotion to the performance. And, oh, this was a stunning song choice - perfect for showing off a voice without too much flare. He's been a fan of Maroon 5 since he was 12, so he ran his way to Team Adam, despite chair turns from everybody.
The Bad:
Tanner Linford, "When You Say Nothing At All": Oh my goodness, this poor kid. Last season after a particularly inconsistent, pitchy performance of Rihanna's "Stay," Tanner Linford was unable to turn any chairs. This year he came back and almost was unable to get any coach interest... until the last second, thanks to Blake Shelton. It's hard to judge teenage singers, because the primary tone in Linford's voice was just youthfulness. He had female vibes about him (all the judges thought he was a girl) and, yeah, he just sounded like a 17-year-old. Luckily, his turn on "When You Say Nothing At All" had appropriate emotion and control, and Linford was able to snag a spot on Team Blake.
Ethan Butler, "Beneath Your Beautiful": While watching The Voice, sometimes you hear a singer's first notes or two and just kind of know what team they belong on immediately. Meet Ethan Butler, a performer destined for Team Adam (which is where he ended up). Just a few notes into his audition song "Beneath Your Beautiful," he hit a tone so Maroon 5-like, Levine could not resist the swivel of the chair, and turned around. Butler is notably a relaxed performer (though it could be song choice), easing into the notes like an old pro. He should excel with Team Adam - and sorry Blake Shelton... you never had a chance.
The So-So:
Chris Jamison, "Gravity": Shocker, this guy idolizes John Mayer and Jason Mraz. Just kidding, it's not really shocking at all. It's pretty obvious. So, you know, of course he sang "Gravity." It was smooth, seamless and really reeked of Adam Levine. His coaching choices have largely felt obvious (despite his pickiness), but that falsetto was pretty striking, and once again, reminiscent of Levine. So, he ran on over to Team Adam.
Toia Jones, "One and Only": It's incredibly hard to take on anything that Adele has ever touched, but boy, did Toia Jones try. She has a big diva voice, pulling off runs and vibrato like there's no tomorrow. But the key to making that work as a style is the exercise of control. Most amateur singers don't really have it, but Jones does. And that's incredibly fortunate - you don't want to over-sing it. Team Pharrell.
Amanda Lee Peers, "Put The Gun Down": Kicked out of the church for being gay, Amanda Lee Peers almost gave up singing... but persevered her way onto The Voice. With an incredibly unique tone, Peers was able to blend together the worlds of country, pop, rock and even a touch of soul. Yes, she was able to hit all four of the judges areas of expertise - it was impressive. But, only impressive enough for Gwen, who was incredibly tickled to have Peers on her team.
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