The Voice 24 Recap: Top 12 LIVE Performances – Viewers VOTE for the first time
The Voice season 24 goes LIVE tonight, as the Top 12 artists vye for YOUR vote and a spot in the Top 9. Tomorrow night (Dec 5) eight contestants will be declared SAFE while the remaining contestants perform in for the Instant Vote and last spot.
After the Playoffs, coaches John Legend, Niall Horan, Gwen Stefani and Reba McEntire each have 3 contestants in the Top 12. Carson Daly serves as host. Chance the Rapper returns to The Voice as Top 12 mentor.
.The Voice 24 Spoilers: Top 24 and Top 12 Contestant Lists and RESULTS
The Voice Season 24 Full Schedule CONFIRMED
The Voice 24 Top 12 Ranked (Power List) – Rate the Artists!
How to Vote
Voting begins at the end of the episode. Fans can vote via the official phone app or at nbc.com/VoiceVote. Fans can vote one time per email address in the app and at NBC.com. And one vote means ONE VOTE. Pick a favorite, and vote for that ONE artist. No voting for multiple artists. For more info check out THIS LINK. The voting window closes on Tuesday morning at 7 am ET.
Jacquie Roar – Team Reba – Wildflowers and Wild Horses by Lainey Wilson
Reba calls Jacquie her “country rock diva.” And indeed, Jacquie takes on a current hit by Lainey Wilson and states that she’s not afraid to change the song up. Reba suggests that she enunciate the words better. Chance admits that he’s never heard of the song OR the artist.
Jacquie mentioned in rehearsal that it’s dangerous to mess with a song that’s still on the charts. But she’s going for it. Lainey is the female country “it” artist right now, so she is taking a risk. Nevertheless, Jacquie picked a good song for her style. She’s a confident, strong singer, tossing her hat as she hits a massive end note. She works the stage playing to the audience. It’s hard to open the show. Hopefully fans won’t forget her.
“That’s what comfortable looks like,” says Niall. “By far your best.” Gwen says, as her former coach. “You are incredible. You were so tasteful…dynamic…you were cool about it.” Reba is “crying already.” She adds, “You had fun up there!”
Nini Iris – Team Niall – Love Song by The Cure
Nini, born in the country of Georgia, shares that she recently became an American citizen. The singer picks another alt rock song, fitting with her “dark pop” brand. Chance thinks she should sing the first verse “straight. In other words, he suggests that she choose her ad libs and big notes carefully so the audience can connect to the emotion.
She transforms the song into a big torchy ballad, along with strings and crashing cymbals. She’s incredibly dramatic. She’s taking the coaches advice, working the dynamics carefully. No matter the song, Nini is always INTENSE, completely throwing herself into her performance with abandon. Balancing control with that abandon is key.
John says, “You never disappoint…you’re so powerful…magnetism and star power.” Niall says, “And the Grammy goes to!” He marvels at her ability to flip a song on its head and that she knows who she is as an artist.
Kara Tenae – Team Gwen – Love by Keyshia Cole
Kara is pretty happy to be working with a hip hop mentor. Chance gives her some good advice on how to phrase the song. “Add some swing,” he suggests. Kara shares that both of her parents survived a cancer diagnosis.
Kara style is so effortless. She makes it look easy, as she traverses a melody adding just the right adlibs and runs. As it’s been observed, she NEVER overdoes it. The only issue, is that she’s not showy at all. Her tone and intonation are so beautiful, but she’s not hitting those big dramatic notes. She comes in right under the radar.
John notes the song is a true R&B classic. “You nailed it Kara…stage presence…voice…execution.” Gwen says, “You are so unbelievably poised and confident…pure.”
Tanner Massey – Team Gwen – Thanks for the Memories by Fall Out Boy
Tanner changed up the song, because the original arrangement was too complicated for him. He calls the song the culmination of who he is as an artist. However, he seems not entirely sure of his musical direction. Gwen thinks he’s adding too many runs to a rock song. Chance suggests really learning the song before adding the runs.
Chance’s advice basically boiled down to working on his pitch and timing. With a rock band playing behind him, Tanner sounds thin. He’s NOT a rock singer. He’s taking a big risk leaving the emotional pop box, where he excels. When the band isn’t playing so loud, he comes through clearer. Maybe he should have flipped this song into a more pop sounding cover.
Reba believes he’s improved over the course of the competition. Gwen says, “You did so good! I’m so proud of you! I’m rooting for you tonight!” Apparently, Fall Out Boy is Tanner’s favorite band.
Lila Ford – Team Legend – Closer to Fine by Indigo Girls
This is such a great song. She’s behind the piano again, like her Blind Audition. John reminds Lila that she’s in her own lane. Chance directs her to make him “feel the lyrics.” Lila is thinking about standing up half way through the song. John and Chance are on board with her suggestion.
She performs a pretty version of the song. However, the original version is propulsive and passionate, which is what I like about it. It’s not a lounge song, which is how Lila is treating it. She comes alive a bit on the second chorus., but it lacks the absolute FIERCENESS of the original. Still, her tone is gorgeous. She’ll be an incredible singer if she learns to connect emotionally to what she’s singing.
Niall thinks she’ll be a good songwriter. Maybe she’s a singer who connects better to her own compositions. John felt like he was at Lila’s concert. “You are so special,” he tells her.
Ruby Leigh – Team Reba – You Lie by Reba McEntire
Reba is thrilled by Ruby’s cover of her song. Chance advises her to watch her pitch in her falsetto. Reba reminds her that it’s a sad song and to not get ahead of the beat. “She does it better than me,” Reba declares.
Ruby has that little yodel in her voice. She’s singing about adult emotions, but she manages to imbue the song with pain. She’s a good actress, because no way she’s been through that kind of heartbreak at 16! Her voice is rangy, but she needs to use her head voice at times. Those transfers are the trickiest part of the song for her. But otherwise, her voice is gorgeous and full.
Niall says, “That was special the way you sold that story.” He notices that he looked over at Reba for approval. “You blew it out of the water,” gushes Reba. She’s close to tears.
Huntley – Team Niall – With a Little Help from My Friends by The Beatles
He’s dedicating the song to his supportive mother. Chance advises Huntley not to close his eyes so much.
This crowd pleasing song is a good choice for Huntley. He’s singing it in the Joe Cocker style, which suits him. he’s surrounded by the band and background singers. Huntley is so dynamic. I believe he can win the show. He’s ready-made to front a rock band. He delivers signature rock screams effortlessly. Wow.
John says, “You’re already a pro. You are so great at what you do. You just nail it.” Niall thinks Joe Cocker would be proud of his performance. “He deserves to be here right until the very end.”
AZÁN – Team Legend – Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill
Niall stole her from John, let her go, and then John brought her back as a Super-Save. John’s dad was mad that he let her go in the first place. The song has never been sung on The Voice before. John reveals that Hill gave special permissions to clear it for the show. John suggests she add a little tenderness to the song. “It should feel more like a ballad,” says Chance.
The song is a great showcase for AZÁN’s sultry style. She’s soulful, sexy and brings the emotion to a song. It may not be familiar to many The Voice fans, but AZÁN is making the song her own. She’s proving that she belongs on the Live shows.
Gwen is blown away, that AZÁN made the song her own. John notes her passion, nuance and emotion. “It was gorgeous.”
Jordan Rainer – Team Reba – Stranger in My House by Ronnie Milsap
Reba calls Jordan a “stylist.” She played piano and guitar in rehearsal. “Pick one,” says Reba. She chooses the guitar. Chance suggests she simplify the arrangement to allow her vocal to come through.
She’s accompanying herself on an electric guitar. Her signature hat and dark glasses are present. She hides behind them. On one hand she comes across as mysterious and intriguing, but it’s like she keeps the audience at arms length. That’s not a good way to entice viewers to vote for you. But she is a terrific vocalist and funny as heck.
Niall says she has a “gravitational pull” as a performer. Reba is “so proud” of Jordan. “You demand attention…you’re a star,” Reba says.
Nikki Garcia is in the house to promote the Christmas Barmageddon special on NBC at 10 pm! Ice T is a special guest. Starring Blake Shelton and Carson Daly!
Mara Justine – Team Niall – Lose Control by Teddy Swims
Niall stole Mara from John at the Knockouts. He suggests that she change a “few pitch things” in the second verse. She notes how she’s been on stage for a long time. She competed on AGT as a child. Chance had no on-camera notes for her.
Only in her early 20s, Mara performs like an old pro. She could be ad libbing all over the place, but she’s building a story here. The song becomes more intense and passionate from verse to verse. On the second chorus the rasp comes out finally. “Lose control” is NOT what’s happening here. Ironic! She could win this thing.
Niall calls her live performance the best performance of the song so far. He’s so proud of watching her growth. “You deserve to go the whole way.”
Mac Royals – Team Legend – I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt
He grew up in a trailer with a mom who gave him everything. John wants Mac to add variation to his phrasing on the chorus. Chance wants him to use his falsetto even more.
It’s a big departure for Mac to sing a bluesy ballad. Mac has so much charisma when he performs. He’s delivering this classic with emotion and heart. He doesn’t throw in a bunch of fancy runs. He concentrates on the story and the song’s utter heartbreak. Beautiful
John calls Mac an “elite talent” and notes how the singer let people in emotionally. He did really connect to that song, without oversinging.
BIAS – Team Gwen – God’s Gonna Cut by Johnny Cash
Ha ha Chance says, “You have that Dazed and Confused thing going on.” He asks him to do the “Alright Alright Alright” thing and he does! BIAS explains that Johnny Cash was born near his hometown in Arkansas. Gwen calls BIAS “country soul preacher.” Gwen wants him to be more storytelling early in the song.
Bias is a country singer, but he’s also a worship leader. He’s really a gospel singer at heart. Some of the low parts are too low for him. The best part of the song was the second chorus where he lets loose. BIAS is kind of a weirdo. But interesting. I pegged him for elimination this week, but maybe not. I wish we had longer with these artists. Just when they intrigue, the show is over.
Reba says, “My gosh you’re good!” Gwen says, “It’s like a dream that you’re on my team. You just keep being you.” She calls him the purest person she’s ever met. Yes, he should keep being his own weird self! But will his quirky personality help or hurt him?
