The Voice Season 26: Season 1 Contestant Kelsey Ray Auditions as Felsmere
The Voice Season 26 week 2 auditions kicked off Monday night (9/30). The show featured quite a bit of country talent this week and one of the oldest auditioners ever But the most surprising audition was from a Season 1 returnee. This is a new wrinkle to the show that I don’t believe producers announced previously. But apparently contestants can return even if they have turned a chair in a previous season.
The returnee, Kelsey Ray, now goes by moniker Felsmere. She is a 33-year-old from Vera Beach, Florida. For her first audition in 2011 she sang “American Boy” by Estelle and turned Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, and Christina Aguilera. She ultimately chose Cee Lo as her coach. However, Cee-lo eliminated her shortly after in a Battle versus The Thompson Sisters singing, “Unwritten.” She now writes all of her own music and produces it too.
Before stepping onto the stage, Felsmere shares that she was “young” and “timid” the first time she auditioned, so she hopes her new sound impresses. To put it into perspective, it’s been 13 years since Season 1, and was only 20 her first time around. She sings “Some Kind of Wonderful” by Grand Funk Railroad. Her version is smooth and soulful. It’s well-crafted and intriguing. Her vocal doesn’t show off a ton of range, so it takes a while for the coaches to buy in. She sings a few pleasing runs and it’s her adlibs that get both Michael Buble and Gwen Stefani to turn.
A “jazzy thing” going on
Gwen is surprised by the way she looks. Snoop Dogg didn’t turn, believing that he wouldn’t have won against Michael and Gwen. Reba McEntire noted that her song had “lots of action.” Gwen joked that Michael was rocking out, and hoped to help Felsmere find her identity. She has a “jazzy thing going on,” said Michael, adding that he believes she can travel between the pop and jazz worlds. Gwen fought hard for Felsmere promising she would craft even “more of a signature sound” for her. Michael uses his “international superstar,” and says if she doesn’t choose him, “there are worse things that have happened” to him. Felsmere chooses Gwen, whom she said is an influence on her. Also, because she is a songwriter like herself.
Felsmere had one of my favorite auditions of the night. Others who delivered were Dreion with his rendition of “Shining Star” which was funky and impressive vocally, and Gail Bliss, one of the oldest contestants ever at 61, who gave an interesting vocal on “If I Hadn’t Been For Love.” She didn’t initially turn chairs, but ended up earning the replay button from Snoop Dogg. Overall, this episode was not as strong as the premiere, but there was still enough talent to show that this season has promise.
