The Voice season 21 Blind Auditions continue with returning coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend. Pop star Ariana Grande joins the panel. Carson Daly returns as host. We’ll be live blogging all the Blind Audition performances right here.
The Voice airs on Mondays and Tuesdays this season. The teams are back at 12 artists each. A top 48 will emerge by the end of the round.
The Voice 21 Contestants Spoilers – Meet the Artists! (Photos, Videos)
The Voice 21 Audition: Bella DeNapoli’s Pop Style Impresses (Video)
The Voice 21 Spoiler: Knockout Round Mega-Mentor Is THIS Chart Topper
The Voice 21 Battle Round Advisors Revealed (No More Teasing)
REMINDER: NO SPOILERS IN COMMENTS. Keep spoiler talk under spoiler posts above, thank you.
And we are back where we left off last night. Who did Holly Forbes choose as her coach? She grew up listening to Kelly Clarkson. So Holly picks Team Kelly! Ariana used her block against John Legend after Holly sang an impressive rendition of Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” On hindsight, she wishes she had used it against Kelly.
Bella DeNapoli – 22 – Long Island New York
Damaged by Danity Kane – NBC leaked Bella’s Blind Audition earlier today. In her video package, Bella shares that she comes from a big Italian family. They are LOUD and eat SUNDAY DINNER. GRANDMA’S MEATBALLS. STEREOTYPES FOR THE WIN. Her family owns an electrical contracting company. She boasts that it’s “woman facing” with her mom and aunt in executive roles. Fun fact: Wives are often CEOS of family owned companies in name only in order to qualify for minority set asides. But I digress. The family is also musical. They perform together on the weekends. They play all over Long Island.
She and her dad arranged the slowed up acoustic version of “Damaged” that she’s singing in front of the coaches. It’s an odd song choice. But Bella has a beautiful, elastic tone. As the coaches point out, she can sing in a soft folky style, while also belting out the bigger notes. Her midrange is huge, but her sweet, melodic head voice allows her to go delicate. Bella is so floored after Kelly, John and Ariana turn for her. Her excitement is infectious. Kelly says it would be “fun as hell” to pick songs with her. Unsurprisingly, Bella picks her fellow Italian Chick, Ariana.
Kelly, John and Ariana turn. Bella picks Team Ariana
David Vogel – 23 – Valhalla NY
Breathin’ by Ariana Grande – David considers Ariana his “dream coach.” In order to woo her, he flips her song “Breathin'” into an acoustic number. Ariana listens with her hand on her heart, but doesn’t turn initially. David has the look, but I’m not sure he has the voice. It’s very soft, not a ton of dynamics until the very end, which prompts Ariana to FINALLY turn. She’s the only turn.
She loved his take and is happy that she doesn’t have to compete for him. She claims to have waited to the last minute to keep others from even thinking about it. In his video package, David mentions that he plays drums and guitar. He studied audio engineering in school. He can master his own records. Also, he plays in an indie band. AND HIS HAIR IS LUXURIOUS.
Only Ariana turned
Janora Brown – 22 – Wingate NC
Angel of Mine by Monica – She got her love of singing from her mom. An older sister struggled with lupus, which damaged her kidneys. Mom donated hers, but it didn’t take, so Janora’s sister still needs a kidney. The singer’s pretty version of the song is faithful to the original. Kelly and John hit their buttons quick. She’s a little pitchy on the high notes, but her midrange is gorgeous.
John calls her version of the classic song “cool.” Kelly believes she can help Janora become a better vocalist. I’m sure she noticed that some of the notes were off. But in the end, Janora picks Team Legend.
Kelly and John turn, Jenora picks Team Legend
Kaitlyn Velez – 21 – Long Island NY
She started writing songs at 14 years of age. She’s Hispanic, but grew up in a white area. She was “super insecure.” Songwriting helped her find her identity. Now, she’s proud to be Latina. After releasing 7 songs, one song in particular, called “FoMo” went viral.
Please Don’t Go by Mike Posner – Her voice is unusual. She’s got a unique alto tone, with a little quiver. Blake and John turn at the same time. She’s got pitch problems, but she’s probably a little nervous. John loves that quivering vibrato. Kelly was a little hesitant, and was waiting for her to open up. Blake thinks she may have another way of expressing her feelings than “blowing the roof” off the joint.” Kaitlyn, shocked that Blake turned for her, chose him. His pitch to her was perfect, so I’m not surprised.
John and Blake turn. Kaitlyn picks Team Blake
Berritt Haynes – 18 – Pell City AL
Mercy by Brett Young – The performance is cut very short, but we do learn that Berritt’s trip to The Voice was made possible by Make a Wish. Initially, he wanted to sit in the audience. But COVID interfered. Then, his mother sent in an audition tape on his behalf, and it led him to actually singing for the coaches.He struggles with a heart condition that could kill him, but an operation saved his life.
Clint Sherman – Heath TX
Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison – Another montaged performance. Blake turned because he has covered the song so many times in concert. Clint shares that he recently got engaged to a “beautiful brown eyed girl” who is watching him with the rest of his family on Zoom.
Only Blake Turned for both Berritt and Clint
Kayla Lilly – 22 – Quarryville PA
Never Enough from The Greatest Showman – Kayla says her mother claims that she sang Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston songs to her during pregnancy, and that’s why she can sing. She was a single mother with four kids. She wound up at a boarding school for low income kids. She’s currently attending Temple University in Philadelphia. Kayla has a beautiful tone, but unfortunately, is off pitch through most of the song. Nerves maybe.
The coaches look sad. “I was almost there,” says Kelly. Ariana says she needs more consistently. John loved the high notes, but felt that the beginning was problematic. Kelly advises her to try not to be perfect. She “begs” her to come back. “She’s thinking too much,” she says to the other coaches.
No Turns
The Cunningham Sisters (Marie 14, Macie 15) – Hamilton OH
Never Alone by Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly – The duo points out that John Legend is also from Ohio. They view themselves as pop gospel artists. Their mother is a white redhead and their dad a Black albino. Growing up, other kids were confused by their appearance and bullied them. Dad was bullied too, and he encourages them to be strong and believe in themselves. They sound much older than they look. They sing beautiful harmonies and have a ton of potential. Kelly and John hit their buttons. Uh oh Kelly. You already have a trio!
Ariana wishes she had turned. “You’re tones are very distinct.” John crows about their shared roots. “I don’t have a group on my team and the lane is wide open on Team Legend.” Kelly promises to teach them new stuff. She begins coaching them from the chair. It’s the thing she does when she thinks she’s going to lose. But nevertheless, they pick Kelly! And she is SHOOK. Screaming in surprise, in fact. The girls are young and may not be familiar with John Legend’s adult contemporary stylings.
Kelly and John turn, the duo pick Team Legend
