The Voice 24 Recap: Playoffs Part 3 – Team John Legend rounds out the Top 12
The Voice season 24 Playoffs conclude tonight with Part 3, featuring Team John Legend. Also sitting on the coaches panel are Niall Horan, Gwen Stefani and Reba McEntire. After the respective coaches six team members perform, they choose 3 artists to move on to the live shows Carson Daly returns as host.
The coaches left the Knockouts with 5 members apiece. However, in a new twist, the coaches each chose an eliminated Knockout contestant from any team, resulting in a Top 24.
The Voice 24 Spoilers: Top 24 and Top 12 Contestant Lists and RESULTS
The Voice Season 24 Full Schedule CONFIRMED
The Voice 24 Spoilers: Battle Round Contestant Matchups and Results
AZAN – Adorn by Miguel – Team Legend’s Super-Save
Surprise! AZAN is John’s Super-Save. Niall stole her from John. And then John saved her. In rehearsal, John suggests that holding notes too long sounds “too earnest” and not swaggy. AZAN should approach the performance with “confidence and romance,” says John.
Before AZAN takes the stage, John mentions to the other coaches that she had a good rehearsal. AZAN leaving the Knockouts was surprising and a big disappointment. Good on John for bringing her back, because she’s killing this performance with slinky smooth vocals. Like Kara Tenae, Azan knows how to embellish a song without oversinging.
After the performance, John is on his feet, shouting. Reba compliments AZAN’s stage presence. “Refreshing,” she says. Niall, describing her runs as “tasteful,” calls it her best performance yet. Gwen describes the performance as “sexy and swaggy.” AZAN is so obviously excited to be called back. John wouldn’t change a thing. “You are formidable, undeniable, a real talent,” he says.
Kristen Brown – Needs You Now by Lady A
John stole Kristen from Gwen. Kristen sings this song “four times a week” she says. However, the country singer writes and producers her own songs. John reminds everyone that the Playoffs are the last time coaches will have decision making power.
Kristen’s arrangement starts off as a torchy piano ballad before turning into the country song fans are familiar with. The dramatic opening is the most original part of the song, as Kristen mostly sticks to the Lady A arrangement. The high notes are a little out of her range. I liked the first half better than the last.
Niall calls the song perfect for her. He compliments her breath control. “I’m stupid!” declares Gwen, expressing regret that she let Kristen go. She calls the performance “perfect.” Reba thinks she made “all the country folks proud.” She believes Kristen should advance. John also compliments her breath control.
Kaylee Shimizu – Put a Move on My Heart by Quincy Jones ft Tamia
John suggested Kaylee pick the challenging song, because he believed she could handle it. She does have a big voice, but the 17 year old needs to work more on vocal control. The two talked about how Kylee would connect to the song’s subject matter, which is beyond her experience. Kylee shares that she’s close to her sisters and will think of them as she performs.
Kaylee has so much going for her. The phrasing at the beginning of the song is perfect, but she’s still a little shaky when she pushes her voice into her upper register. She nails the whistle note. It’s one of her better performances. John picked well for her.
Reba can’t believe her range “You are destined for stardom.” Niall marvels at her ability to sing anything. John can’t believe the depth and range of her voice at such a young age. He compliments her lower register. Indeed, she sounded terrific on the low notes.
Taylor Deneen – Get Here – Oleta Adams
John hands Taylor a very old-fashioned song. He specifically tells her not to stray too far from the melody. This is a song that American Idol contestants in the aughts sang a lot! It’s literally a singing-show chestnut.
Again, John didn’t want her to stray from the melody. And the result is expert, competent, but inevitably boring. The performance is extremely well-delivered karaoke.
Reba compliments her voice and says it will be tough for John to make a decision. Gwen likes her unique and recognizable tone. John thinks she carries herself with elegance. “You are amazing,” he says.
Lila Forde – Angel from Montgomery by John Prine/Bonnie Raitt
NBC previewed this performance earlier today. John suggests she give the song more drama so that it feels like a journey. He illustrates by singing a snip of the song. It should be “fire” he says.
The song paints a plaintive yet emotional story. It’s about an old woman looking back on her life wistfully. In her Knockouts performance, Lila weirdly smiled her way through the emotional 70’s classic “Fire and Rain.” She has a beautiful tone and her phrasing is lovely but she has issues connecting to what she’s singing. She her her moments here, but doesn’t fully embody the song.
Niall asks the producers for another steal. “You are one of my favorite acts on The Voice,” he says. Gwen thinks Lila evokes the era without copying the original. Reba calls her the complete package. John compliments her runs that sound classic, yet modern.
Mac Royals – Untitled (How Does it Feel) by D’Angelo
John stole Mac in the Battle Rounds. The singer explains how his parents didn’t approve of non-gospel music, but he staked it out anyway. John suggests that when he sings the hook, to fully embrace the melody in full voice. John mentions how D’Angelo’s version had church and rock n roll influences. John wants him to incorporate all of it.
Mac performs like he’s been a pro for years. His ad libs and runs are expert. He sings perfectly in tune and his timing is exquisite. He goes up into his falsetto and it is sublime. He’s closing the show like a star. John is losing his mind.
Gwen is blown away. “That is a star standing next to you, Carson.” Reba thinks her former team member has grown leaps and bounds. Niall calls him tasteful, and compliments his musical instincts. John puts him up there with the best he’s been around. “I’m ready to hear a Mac record right now,” he says.
Team Legend Results
The first artist moving on is Mac Royals. The next artist moving on is Lila Forde. And the final artist is…AZÁN. She’s the only Super-Save contestant to advance to the live shows. The results aren’t entirely surprising. He could have picked Kaylee over Lila. But he likely picked the latter in order to go into the lives with a musically diverse team.
Advancing
Mac Royals
Lila Forde
AZÁN
Eliminated
Kaylee Shimizu
Kristen Brown
Taylor Deneen
The Voice 24 Top 12
BIAS – Team Gwen
Kara Tenae – Team Gwen
Tanner Massey – Team Gwen
Huntley – Team Niall
Mara Justine – Team Niall
Nini Iris – Team Niall
Jacquie Roar – Team Reba
Jordan Rainer – Team Reba
Ruby Leigh – Team Reba
Mac Royals – Team Legend
Lila Forde – Team Legend
AZÁN – Team Legend
