The Voice 26 Recap: Live Top 5 Finale Performances with Videos
The Voice 26 two part FINALE begins tonight (12/9). The Top 5 artists from Teams Michael Buble, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani and Reba McEntire will perform for YOUR VOTES and a chance to WIN The Voice. The WINNER will be revealed at the end of Tuesday’s (12/10) Grand Finale.
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The show opens with a pre-recorded clip of Snoop pal, Martha Stewart “stage managing” the opening with the coaches. VERY AWKWARD.
Carson notes that every Top 5 artist was a four chair turn. The contestants will sing twice-a ballad and uptempo song.
Danny Joseph – Team Reba – Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma by Luke Combs
Carson sits down with Danny for a chat. He talks about losing his colon due to Crohn’s disease. His coach says she loves Danny’s swampy sound. She also saved the singer. Danny wanted Reba as his coach from the start. She calls him a “showman.” The guitar is back! These interviews with Carson also serve to recap the finalists’ performances.
The bluesy swamp is where Danny belongs, with a guitar slung across his shoulders. His raspy, gritty voice is full of passion. He’s integrated with the house band and plays little lead interludes between the verses. This is the kind of stuff he needs to record. Hopefully, he’s a good songwriter.
Gwen thinks he’s got it all. She loved his last note. “He’s amazing.” Reba is thrilled like a proud parent. “You never ever disappoint me.” She begs America to vote.
Jeremy Beloate – Team Snoop – What the World Needs Now is Love by Jackie DeShannon
He chose Team Buble initially, even though Snoop turned his chair. But now, Jeremy believes he has the perfect coach. The singer shares about losing his two brothers to addiction. He makes Snoop cry. His song pick is not contemporary, but it’s a song that’s popular on singing shows.
Right off the bat, Jeremy has the Gospel Choir backing. He adds interesting falsetto runs in the second verse and beyond. He wields his theatrical voice in a unique way that makes the covers he sings his own. The performance is big, but it’s nuanced and never bombastic.
Snoop is crying, for real. Michael is so happy that Snoop scooped him up. He can’t wait to see him on Broadway. Carson jokes that Snoop needs to sign a deal to promote Kleenex.
Shye – Team Buble – One of Us by Joan Osbourne
For their other song choice, the artists write a “letter” to “music.” Yes, it’s as corny as it sounds. But the device gives the artists a chance to share aspects of their personal lives.
The song she’s performing was a HUGE hit in the 90s, but not sung on talent shows much. A youngster may not know this song at all. (Unless I’m missing some hit show it was on?). Anyway. I’m not sure the song is a great showcase for Shye’s voice at the finale. But it’s the kind of song she should record. It’s rootsy and tells an emotional story.
Reba loves Shye’s voice. She advises that Shye NOT listen to negative voices. Michael cracks that even Shye’s mic stand was intimidated by her.
Sydney Sterlace – Team Gwen – I Miss You, I’m Sorry by Gracie Abrams
Yeah. This “letter” to music concept is cringy. But again, it’s a device for the artists to reflect on their personal lives. Sydney’s little sisters are on set and share how they look up to her.
Contemporary female singer-songwriter tunes are where Sydney hits her sweet spot. Her falsetto is a little weak and she’s shaky in spots. But she does get through the wordy bridge without a hitch. Just a few more years of experience, and the 16 year old will be ready to go.
“You grew up tonight,” says Snoop. “You played the part, you looked the part.” Gwen says, “You’re fulfilling my dream.” She loves that the young singer is “growing before” her eyes.
Martha’s back with a cocktail she’s named “Snoop noggie nogg” Where is the THC?
Sofronio Vasquez – Team Buble – Unstoppable by Sia
Carson previews Sofronio’s powerhouse performances. He reveals that he auditioned a few seasons ago and did not get a turn. Huh. The singer tears up as he imagines winning the show. He wants to help his family back in Philippines. Michael believes the song is a risk, but may be worth taking. The coach brings out Sofronio’s soulful side, which is smart.
Michael has done a great job directing Sofronio’s performances. By teasing out his soulfulness, he’s helped grow as a singer who can do more than hit big notes. The dramatic moments are there, but overall Sofronio delivers performances punctuated by well placed runs and impeccable pacing. He’s also a dynamic and confident performer.
Reba says, “You are unstoppable today and forever on…skies the limit.” Michael calls him sweet and humble off stage. “You go into the phone booth and become Superman.”
Jeremy Beloate – Team Snoop – Dancing on My Own by Calum Scott
Jeremy delivers his “dear music” letter. He shares about how school kids bullied him. Later, he dealt with the deaths of his brothers. Music helped.
A good song choice, Jeremy performs a ballady and emotional performance of the song. His vocals are front and center. He soars and swoops the the verses. His delivery is heartfelt. He manages to make the song his own. Poor Carson coughs his way through the stage fog.
Gwen calls what Jeremy does “powerful and perfect.” Snoop calls him “brother Jeremy.” He loves how he took his time with the song.
Danny Joseph – Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
In Danny’s “music” letter, he shares about growing up in London. He and his wife met at a church conference in America.
I’m confused by the Grecian statues floating in the background. What does that have to do with Amy Winehouse? He plays a beautiful guitar solo midway through the performance. The last verse is full of urgency and pain. It’s an interesting song choice, but maybe not a crowd pleaser. Still, he delivered. He’s the most intriguing artist of the Top 5.
Snoop likes the way he puts a twist on records. Reba is very proud of him. “America should just go ahead and give it to you.” Interesting that after Danny played up his parents coming to America to watch his final performance, they weren’t on television. Maybe they wanted to stay private. Can’t blame them for valuing privacy.
Michael Buble and Carly Pearce sing “Maybe This Christmas”
Carly helped Michael mentor his Knockout contestants. And the two JUST HAPPENED to release a Christmas single. Heh.
Sofronio Vasquez – Team Buble – A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman
Sofronio shares in his “letter” to “music” about his impoverished childhood in the Philippines. He becomes very emotional reading it. Calling America home now, he works as a dental assistant in Utica.
I would have prefered a more out of the box song pick. It’s Sofronio’s most generically diva performance of the competition. It’s mostly big note after big note. But audiences may love that, especially when he teared up at the end. There is a reason singing competitors come back to The Greatest Showman songbook again and again.
Snoop calls Sofronio “big time.” He adds, “I love that you sing it for a reason. You controlled all your emotions until the end.” Michael and Sofronio agreed on the song choice. “I love you my man.”
Sydney Sterlace – Team Gwen – Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
At 16, Sydney is the youngest artist remaining in the competition. THIS is a song that gets covered on talent shows all over the world. Sydney notes that people of all ages know and love the song. Gwen urges her to put more angst into her performance.
On stage, she’s standing on a big giant bed flanked by dancers in white nightgowns. The staging for these songs are often head-scratchers. (See the floating greek statues earlier). Hah. The guitar players are also standing on beds. The song choice and arrangement is too big for her, unfortunately. She’s best when her delicate voice isn’t overwhelmed by instruments. The arrangement would have served her better stripped back.
Reba still doubts that she’s a teenager. She warns her more or less to keep her head on straight. Gwen is emotional, “Just watching you up there…you kept building it and building it.”
Shye – Team Buble – Falling by Harry Styles
Shye admits to Carson that she was surprised to be called for the finale. She picked Michael to be her coach because he seemed like a “genuine” person. Also she reveals that her composure on stage is good acting. She feels anxiety quite a bit. She wants to leave America with an idea of who she is as an artist.
This performance of a Harry Styles hit is a perfect way for Shye to end her The Voice journey. I would SO NOT BE MAD if she won season 26. Her phrasing and how she builds the song is perfect. She’s telling an emotional and powerful story, completely lost in the moment. It’s her best performance yet.
Snoop looks forward to her making real records. He hints that he’d like to sign her. “You are the truth, the real deal,” says Michael. “You need to be heard.”
The Voice season 26 finale airs Tuesday December 10 at 9-11 pm ET/PT. At 8 pm, NBC will air a recap of tonight’s performance final.
