Heading in to the fourth night of Blind Auditions on The Voice Season 30, Kelly Clarkson was having the most success at convincing artists to join her team. Of the six vocalists to join Team Kelly, two are four-chair turns and one is from her smart use of the new “First-In” button.
In the new twist this season, the coaches can listen to the other pitches and then, if they were the first to turn their chair for that artist, take control of the artist’s choice and bring them over to their team. So far, Kelly, Adam Levine and Queen Latifah have all pressed the button; only Riley Green had it still in his pocket.
When asked by a producer why he hasn’t used the button yet, Riley said that “it’s called strategery. For one, I like listen to the singers so I don’t always just jump in. Waiting on the right moment to.” On the first audition of the night though, he shows that he doesn’t necessarily need the “First-In” to convince the up-and-coming singers to work with him — instead, he can win out simply by letting the personal connection speak for itself. Then again, eventually it becomes necessary…
Read on for our recap of the 13 new performances from The Voice “The Blind Auditions, Part 4,” which aired Sept. 28 on NBC.
Cade Mower
Age: 35
Hometown: Bluffdale, Utah
Song: “Something in the Orange”
Chair turns: Adam, Kelly, Queen, Riley
Coaches’ comments: Using his success from last season, Adam pitched to Cade that “sometimes an unlikely pairing goes far,” noting that he can offer that spirit to their partnership. Queen counters that she would be an even stronger “unlikely pairing” for him and said she thinks he “can take this whole thing.” Riley appealed to his songwriter abilities and essentially teased a spot for him in his upcoming tour.
Result: Team Riley
Bryan Jaymes
Age: 39
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
Song: “Every Time You Go Away”
Chair turns: Adam, Queen, Riley
Coaches’ comments: Queen told Bryan that he made the song his own and was in control of the audience the entire time. Riley called his voice “smooth, soothing” and “a sound that nobody else has” enabling him to sing a song in his own way. Despite not turning her chair, Kelly applauded his range while critiquing him for not letting his runs endure longer. Adam compared Bryan to the Season 1 winner Javier Colon, saying that “if that’s a window into your creativity then that’s something I absolutely have to be a part of.”
Result: Team Queen
Allie Rae
Age: 15
Hometown: Santa Fe, Texas
Song: “Black Velvet”
Chair turns: Riley, Kelly, Queen
Coaches’ comments: Kelly said that the song gave Allie “enough space” to show her range and that she can actually belt, comparing her to Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton. Queen appreciated that she sang in her natural tone and didn’t stretch her voice in either direction. Riley liked that Allie mentioned Chris Stapleton as an influence because it shows that she can stand out by making songs her own as well. As Kelly and Queen battled hard for Allie to pick them, Riley decided that now was the perfect time for him to clock in with the “First-In” and ensure that she joins his team.
Result: Team Riley
Connor Closs
Age: 23
Hometown: Middletown, N.J.
Song: “Too Sweet”
Chair turns: Adam, Riley
Coaches’ comments: “You were amazing,” exclaimed Queen, despite not turning her chair for Connor. Riley said that he chose a tough song, but “did it justice,” and asked that he be the first soul artist to join his team. Adam’s pitch involved focusing on his “masterful job” on the chorus of the song and a mention that he thought he approached the song in the “efficient” way he would have himself.
Result: Team Adam
Serrin Joy
Age: 24
Hometown: Akron, Ohio
Song: “Be Without You”
Chair turns: None
Coaches’ comments: Kelly called out the roundness, rasp and lightness of her tone as highlights, but because there is “so much going on” in all that it seemed like she was “playing catch up” through the whole song.
Result: No team
Saade
Age: 24
Hometown: San Francisco
Song: “Oscar Winning Tears.”
Chair turns: Kelly, Queen, Riley
Coaches’ comments: Adam explained that he didn’t turn because by the time he caught on to her “theatrical” approach, he knew the other coaches had already turned and she wouldn’t have taken his turn seriously. Still, Saade said that she was hoping to be on his team. Queen offered that she can help her find songs to express herself, Riley called it “the most powerful vocal” he’s heard, and Kelly gave some advice on how she can “rein it in” on some notes instead of going big on all of them.
Result: Team Kelly
Everett Bounds
Age: 23
Hometown: Hesperia, Calif.
Song: “Drivin’ My Life Away”
Chair turns: Riley
Coaches’ comments: Adam said what was on all the coaches’ minds, that they knew he had a voice that was bound to choose Riley. Still, Kelly acknowledged how much she loves his voice. Riley said that he turned because Everett has an energy to his voice that wasn’t on his team up until this point.
Result: Team Riley
Sophia Liano
Age: 22
Hometown: Stuart, Fla.
Song: “I Surrender”
Chair turns: Queen, Riley
Coaches’ comments: Queen was able to get Sophia to choose her by highlighting the emotion and her ability to get the audience invested in her performance.
Result: Team Queen
Anna McElroy
Age: 26
Hometown: Mobile, Ala.
Song: “80s Mercedes”
Chair turns: Queen, Kelly, Riley
Coaches’ comments: Already frustrated that she loses every country artist to Riley, Kelly did her best to distract Anna from even looking Riley’s way by standing in front of his turned chair. Adam urged Anna to “not just go with Blake 2.0” because it’s good for her to stretch beyond the choice of a country coach. Queen called it a “beautiful performance” and said she can see her occupying different spaces in music. Riley’s best pitch was to point out that the other coaches were trying so hard to stop her from joining his team that it meant she should. In the end, Kelly earned the shock of the season when Anna chose her.
Result: Team Kelly
Julia Clark
Age: 24
Hometown: Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Song: “bellyache”
Chair turns: Queen, Adam
Coaches’ comments: “That was a whole vibe,” started Queen. “You are who I would be listening to in my car.” Adam countered by saying that he’s been waiting for someone to turn with the “whimsy and joy” of her voice. Julia chose Adam because he is in the direction of music that she wants to go in.
Result: Team Adam
Cal Cook
Age: 28
Hometown: Salt Lake City
Song: “The Dress”
Chair turns: Adam
Coaches’ comments: Adam called the vocal “razor-sharp” and loved that he seemed to care about the tone and melody of every moment of the song.
Result: Team Adam
Brett Tomberlin
Age: 29
Hometown: Locust, N.C.
Song: “Your Man”
Chair turns: None
Coaches’ comments: Riley called the “dry start” tough, but acknowledged that he got into it later on and can have a great career ahead of him if he keeps working at it. Kelly urged him to continue doing shows because the experience will fix the pitch issues.
Result: No team
Chari
Age: 31
Hometown: Atlanta
Song: “Get Here”
Chair turns: Adam, Kelly, Queen, Riley
Coaches’ comments: Adam was enthusiastic about Chari’s performance, hoping that their connection of being born in L.A. would mean something to her. Riley called her voice “flawless,” Kelly called her a gift that gave an “incredible audition,” and Queen thanked her for delivering what the whole room needed because even if she doesn’t choose her, she knows she’s where she belongs. Adam wanted Chari to know that his experience allows him to hear “the classic thing” in her that can win the show.
Result: Team Queen
The teams so far:
TEAM KELLY (8 of 12): Anna McElroy, Brianna Cameron, Brooklyn Marie, Hazel Gerson, Johnnie Kapua, Koumba Diallo, Kyle Davis, Saade
TEAM RILEY (8 of 12): Allie Rae, Cade Mower, Caroline Alexis, Everett Bounds, Ferryn & Brinkley, Harmony McKee, Joe Henley, Kenna Elpers
TEAM QUEEN (8 of 12): Alt Bloom, BigCountry, Bryan Jaymes, Chari, Marcus Ladden Jr., Mia Knight, Morgan Lett, Sophia Liano
TEAM ADAM (7 of 12): Amanda Mikkel, Cal Cook, Connor Closs, Destinee Monroe, Julia Clark, Lexi Stephens, Owen Uffens