The Voice season 5 blind auditions continued this week as the coaches fought over some very promising contestants, with some having more luck than others.
Perhaps it’s because Adam has found a new enemy in three-time-champ Blake, but he has been awfully nice to former sparring partner Christina. While getting along well off stage, even so far as to collaborate on “Moves Like Jagger,” Adam and Christina have had their differences in The Voice seasons past. The situation came to a head in season 2, where they seemed to take out their differences by criticizing each other’s contestants: Team Adam’s Tony Lucca, and Team Christina’s Chris Mann.
But this season has seen Adam often coming to Christina’s defense when other coaches (namely Blake) try to talk promising contestants out of choosing her as their coach. Often these compliments are completely unprompted, but greatly appreciated by Christina. Who knows, perhaps engagement has softened Adam to his female competitor?
Early Favorites
Timyra-Joi
Season 5’s youngest artist so far, 15-year-old Timyra-Joi has been singing since before she could talk, and has struggled to pursue her dream in light of her family’s financial struggles. From her powerful performance of Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire”, you would never know that she was only 15. Her voice was so mature that the coaches were shocked to learn how young she was. Christina, Blake, and Cee Lo fought it out, and in spite of Blake pointing out that he won just last year with 16-year old Danielle Bradbery, Timyra-Joi went with Team Christina.
Briana Cuoco
This year’s “Where do I know you from?” contestant is Bri Cuoco, best known for playing broody cousin Mary Bennet in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, or perhaps for being Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco’s little sister. Kaley, a big fan of The Voice, was on hand to support her little sister/personal assistant, and said she has been waiting for this kind of opportunity to come along for her sister. No one was more ecstatic than Kaley when Christina and Cee Lo turned their chairs for Bri’s performance of Lady Gaga’s “You and I.” While both coaches were moved by Bri’s power and raw talent, Bri chose to trust in girl power and went with Team Christina.
Preston Pohl
Austin, TX-native Preston Pohl used to play guitar with a Christian rock band as a teen, but after his friend and bandmate Ron died, the band went their separate ways. This week he took center stage to perform MGMT’s “Electric Feel,” and Adam, Cee Lo, and Blake were all desperate to get the bluesy, gritty Preston for their team. In the end, Preston went with Team Adam.
Will Champlin
Will Champlin has music in his blood, as his dad Bill Champlin is in the band Chicago. He’s looking to step out of his father’s shadow, and support his wife and daughter with his own music. His performance of Gavin DeGraw’s “Not Over You” earned him three chair turns, from Blake, Adam, and Cee Lo. The coaches fought for him, but in the end, Adam’s style was most in line with Will’s, so Team Adam it was.
Stephanie Anne Johnson
Stephanie Anne Johnson has already been singing professionally, but as a lounge singer on a cruise ship, she is at sea eight months out of the year, and misses everything from holidays to friends’ weddings. She’s ready to find success back home so that she can plant her roots in one place. Her soulful performance of KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” earned her turns from both Cee Lo and Christina, and her unique style seemed the perfect choice for Cee-Lo. However, she was swayed by Christina, who told her she thinks they can learn a lot from each other.
Ashley DuBose
Single mom Ashley Dubose has been singing all her life, but has been constantly knocked down in her quest to make a living making music. She was hoping The Voice would finally be her big break, and an opportunity to make her daughter proud. Rihanna’s “Diamonds” was a risky and challenging song choice, but it paid off, earning her a four chair turn from all the coaches. All four judges were very passionate about getting Ashley on their team, and made a lot of good arguments. But in the end, it was the ceaselessly persistent winner of almost every four-chair battle, Adam Levine, that added Ashley Dubose to his team.
The Voice blind auditions will continue next Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. on NBC.