The Voice 27 Blind Auditions: Adam Levine says Conor James has that “specific thing” that could win the show
The Voice Season 27 returned on Monday night (Feb 17) for the third episode of auditions. There was a brewing rivalry on the episode as Adam Levine and Kelsea Ballerini blocked each other and Michael Bublé’s pitches continued to be ridiculous. Ongoing themes of the season continued as Adam keeps on winning big, especially on the four chair turns, with his team becoming increasingly stacked. One of the singers he won over, Conor James, closed the first hour, and got quite the pitch from the veteran coach. (Read our recap)
We only briefly meet Conor, a 28-year-old from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, before he begins his performance. Conor stated that appearing on the show means to “be heard by people who would ordinarily never hear me.” He sings Dionne Warwick’s “I Say A Little Prayer” starting slow, showcasing a beautiful tone that featured impressive runs, which got Michael and John Legend to turn quickly. He showcased more range and didn’t miss a beat as the song sped up. Conor appeared to be a composed performer. I sense that this song doesn’t showcase half of what he can truly do. He eventually got Adam to turn, and towards the end Kelsea turned as well. All four of the coaches, seemingly wowed, stand and applaud Conor.
Adam Levine delivers a strong pitch
John loved the song saying Conor “really took us on a journey.” He added, “It was soulful and elegant.” After John inquired about his musical path, Conor replied that he has performed musical theater in addition to writing and producing his own music. The two connect as Conor also plays piano. Michael believes the singer could win and would love to watch Conor “bring light” into his life. Kelsea explained she was late to turn because she was “vibing” as he sang. She can tell he was “feeling it.” Adam declared Conor a “testament to true originality is blind.” He mentioned that Jordan Smith, Javier Colon, and Tessanne Chin had a “specific thing,” and believes Conor also has that. He described Conor having “limitless potential” and thinks he could win. Adam’s pitch is one of the strongest I’ve seen all season, so it’s no surprise when Conor goes with Adam.
Conor’s audition was a true highlight of the night, but Adam picked up a few other strong vocalists including a pop singer named Tyler Kae who sang “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” He blocked Kelsea to get her. His replay recipient Tinika Wyatt could also be a dark horse. She has a great voice and simply picked the wrong song, Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry,” for her Blind Audition. One other singer who impressed the coaches was the closer of the night, BD.ii who sang Miguel’s “Adorn.” Even though Kelsea blocked Adam for him, he ended up opting for John who fit more within his R&B wheelhouse.
