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The top five singers of The Voice were on double duty Monday night, performing both hometown dedications and coaches’ picks throughout the two-hour episode.
With Pharrell Williams out for the remainder of the season, here’s how they handled the demand:
See more ‘The Voice’: Meet the Season 7 Finalists
Adam Levine is the only coach to still maintain all three of his singers, and he first had a seated Damien Lawson evoke vulnerability on Michael Jackson‘s “She’s Out of My Life.” Blake Shelton called it one of the series’ most perfect performances, and Williams appreciated his storytelling quality onstage. He then put his energy on a cover of Paula Cole‘s “I Don’t Want to Wait,” which Gwen Stefani described as “Peter Gabriel meets tribal.” Shelton appreciated seeing his lighter side, while Williams applauded the message of the song choice.
Team Adam’s Matt McAndrew was tasked with Ed Sheeran‘s cover of Foy Vance‘s “Make It Rain” (after Levine watched Sons of Anarchy), full of vocal spectacle. “There’s not that many rock stars that sing like that,” admitted Williams, and Stefani said she loved how he’s such a contradiction: a sweet puppy dog with a voice that gives chills. McAndrew then sailed on U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” of which Williams noted, “Bono would be so happy and so proud and so congratulatory to you.”
Returning back to his comfort zone of current songs, Chris Jamison, Levine’s saved singer, covered Maroon 5’s next single, “Sugar” (coincidentally, apparently), including the meticulous falsetto the track demands. Williams said that falsetto is the signature sound he looks forward to each week. He then crooned Bruno Mars‘ ballad “When I Was Your Man,” on which Stefani really felt his passion for performing.
Shelton’s Craig Wayne Boyd, who was assigned Merle Haggard‘s “Workin’ Man Blues,” effortlessly traversed the stage. Stefani applauded his natural ability with the audience, and Levine noted that “knowing who you are and being so consistent… that’s hard to do, ever, let alone on this show.” He then performed the hymnal “The Old Rugged Cross” with palpable authenticity, leading Williams to supportively ask him, “What does it feel like to be at the top of your game and surrender it all to God in front of the whole entire world?” Stefani noted the rich orchestration, and Levine loved how he brilliantly showed a different side of him.
See more ‘The Voice’: Meet Season 7 Coaches Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams
Stefani’s Taylor John Williams went for The Swell Season’s “Falling Slowly,” a track he tackled without much mentoring, admitted his coach beforehand. Levine commended the suitable song choice, and Shelton appreciated his highlighting of his strength and range. He then channeled one of this season’s other Taylors — universal mentor Taylor Swift — with his pop-less, strings-filled take on “Blank Space,” and Levine joked about his now-signature “taylor-ing” of tracks.
What did you think of tonight’s performances — including Shelton’s “Lonely Tonight” duet with Ashley Monroe? Sound off in the comments below!
Email: Ashley.Lee@THR.com
Twitter: @cashleelee
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