The Voice Season 25: John and Dan and Shay Pick Their Playoff Teams

Team Legend: Nathan Chester sang Oh Darling! by The Beatles-- Reba says he had her at the beginning. Chance loved his choreography and tone. Dan and Shay said it was his best performance. John agreed and liked his conviction. Wow! Everyone was on their feet, for me, that was a masterclass performance. Nathan is a force to be reckoned with. He has so much passion and you can tell he really wants this. This performance was EVERYTHING!

Team Dan and Shay: Karen Waldrup sang Heart Like a Truck by Lainey Wilson-- Reba said she wanted Karen on her team. Chance loves how she interacts with the crowd and her confidence. Dan and Shay are proud of how she has progressed. There is no denying Karen's voice. I think she has experienced more growth than the majority of the contestants on the show this season. 

Team Legend: Kamalei Kawa'a sang No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley-- Reba loves how he conveys strength in his singing. John likes how he is honoring Bob Marley's legacy. I wish John had pushed Kamalei to diversify his song selection more. I think he has a good voice but I feel like I have heard him sing all the same type of song. 

Team Dan and Shay: Anya True sang All Too Well by Taylor Swift-- John says it felt like the right song for her and he found her performance compelling. Dan and Shay said it was their fave Anya performance. 

Team Legend: Bryan Olesen sang Africa by Toto-- John said he was glad that he used his playoff pass on Bryan cause he deserved it. He said he felt like he was at Bryan's concert. Reba called him the perfect package. Chance said he is 100% a rockstar. 

Team Dan and Shay: Olivia Rubini sang I'll Stand by You by The Pretenders-- John said Olivia you are always such a wonderful singer. You were trying to find some rock and roll in your voice but it wasn't the right place for this song. I agree with John, I didn't like how she put those random high parts in there. 

Team Legend: Mafe sang Someone Like You by Adele-- Chance said I think she should go to the lives. Shay said you're an amazing singer and should definitely go to the lives. Shay didn't like the melodic changes she made; John disagreed. Great song choice for Mafe! I loved this, she also gets into a place where she does similar song but she is special enough. 

Team Day and Shay: Tae Lewis sang Runnin' Outta Moonlight by Randy Hauser-- I thought this performance was good. I think Tae is someone you can count on to always deliver a consistent performance. Chance said he would put Tae on his playoff team. Reba said that everyone wants to hear what Tae is going to do next. Dan and Shay felt he delivered. 

Team Legend: Zoe Levert sang Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls-- Chance said it was his favorite performance. Chance said she is so captivating. Dan has loved every performance she has done. Reba said girl toy brought, your voice, your stage presence, your look, absolutely beautiful. John you gotta take her to the lives. John said Zoe is becoming a star before our eyes. She's contender for me, she's unique, she's true to herself. I love Zoe. 

Team Dan and Shay: Madison Curbelo sang Landslide by Fleetwood Mac-- Reba said I love your voice, you gave me chills. Chance said I want a copy of that performance, I want to listen to it again. John said what you did up there felt so easy. Shay said I could talk about you all night. I loved that! I was definitely getting Selena vibes but she is also all her own. That was so touching and heartfelt. 

My picks for John: Nathan, Mafe, and Zoe 

My picks for Dan and Shay: Karen, Tae, and Madison

UPDATE: 

The only one I got wrong.... I picked Mafe, John picked Bryan who I do think it actually talented. The rest I got totally right, 5/6! 

The Voice Season 25: The Knockouts Offer Some Interesting Pairings

Team Chance: Maddi Jane sang New Rules by Dua Lipa versus Kamalei Kawa sang All of Me by John Legend-- Dan and Shay said that this was two very different performances in the best kind of way. I agree, Maddi's performance was rhythmic and catchy. Kamalei offered an emotional performance and you could tell he was really feeling the song. John is often critical of people singing his song but said that he was really into Kamalei's version and reminded them that he still has a steal. Reba said Chance is on his own with this choice because she thought both of them were good. I think even though I am a Maddi fan, the stronger performance here was Kamalei. Chance chose Maddi, and Kamalei was stolen by Reba and John and picked John. 

Team Legend: Gene Taylor sang I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith versus Mafe sang Almost is Never Enough by Ariana Grande-- Gene is technically such a sound artist but this is a tough song to sing. Dan and Shay talked about what a great singer Gene is from a technical standpoint. Chance said Mafe did not sound like Mafe, she sounded like herself. Something I notice about Mafe is that she has great vocal control. I love how she sounds and her confidence really exudes. John chose Mafe. 

Team Dan and Shay: Karen Waldrup sang Georgia Rain by Trisha Yearwood versus Ducote Talmage-- Both of these artists have experienced some growth but I think I would need to lean towards Ducote. John continues to like Ducote's rasp, and he thought Karen's performance was beautiful. Reba loves the texture in Ducote's voice; Reba loved Karen's performance. Chance said that was Ducote's best performance to date; he thought Karen sounded like Celine Dion. Dan and Shay chose Karen to move forward. 

Team Reba: Justin and Jeremy Garcia sang You Are the Reason by Calum Scott versus Zeya Rae sang River by Bishop Briggs-- I think I would need to go with Justin and Jeremy. Chance said Zeya lacked confidence at points. John connected more with Zeya. Reba thought Justin and Jeremy did a wonderful job. She picked the brothers because she wanted something different on her team. Reba chose Justin and Jeremy.

Team Chance: Alyssa Crosby sang I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues by Elton John versus Rletto  sang Stay by Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber-- Loved Alyssa, this song was not the best pick for me, but I loved her. I think she is such a grounded artist. Rletto was so good. He literally took an upbeat song and turned it into a slow jam. It sounded like a brand new song but at the same time, Kid Laroi and Justin would love it. Dan said one of the best knockout performances of the day by you Alyssa; Rletto always bringing the heat with that arrangement. Shay said I believed every word you said. Reba said she was proud of Alyssa and would go with her because of her growth. Chance said Rletto you showed a mastery of the song. Alyssa you did great from top to bottom. Chance chose Rletto. 

Team Legend: Zoe Levert sang Cowboy Take Me Away by The Dixie Chicks versus Jackie Romeo sang Love on the Brain by Rihanna-- Both of them sounded amazing. I think I would need to go with Zoe, what she channeled was amazing. Chance said Zoe you are going to be a star, Jackie you sang the mess out of that song. Dan said Jackie you have a powerful voice and such control. Dan said Zoe you nailed your range, you remind me of Taylor Swift, you're unapologetically yourself. John said Jackie, you embraced the energy of the song, it was in control the way you handled the dynamics. Zoe, we're continuing to see you grow and you're an underdog that keeps rising to the occasion. John chose Zoe, and Reba stole Jackie. 

My recap: Kamalei is coming up in this competition, Mafe is holding strong, RLETTO is a star, and Zoe is turning into a star. 

American Idol: Update

In a MAJOR upset, Julia Gagnon made it into the Top 20 and sent my Top 10 face prediction Hailey Mia home! I am shocked! Even tonight, Julia's performance of Fantasia's, I Believe, was shaky and had pitch issues throughout. 

The Top 24 was narrowed down to 20, and Blake Proehl, Hailey Mia, KBlocks, and Elleigh Marie were all sent packing. Tomorrow night, the Top 14 will be revealed, the Top 10 will be from America's votes, and then the judges will pick four wildcards. 

I will say after hearing everyone, I need to say that I am throwing my support behind McKenna Faith Breinholt to make the Top 10. She closed the show on Day One last week when Tori Kelly mentored. I also want to add how talented a songwriter and musician Kayko is. His voice needs a lot of work but he is someone who is uber talented. 

Here are some other notable performances....

American Idol: My Predictions on the Top Ten

Tori Kelly's Mentorship: Part 1

Hailey Mia sang She's All I Wanna Be by Tate McRae: 9

Jordan Anthony sang Titanium by Sia and David Guetta: 7

Jayna Elise sang Confident by Demi Lovato: 8

Julia Gagnon sang Rumor Has It by Adele: 6

Kakyo sang How to Live Without You (original): 7

Nya sang Simply the Best by Tina Turner: 6

Blake Proehl sang Anyone by Justin Bieber: 8

Abi Carter sang Oceans by Hillsong United: 9

Quintavious Johnson sang Something in the Water by Carrie Underwood: 9

KB Richins sang Heaven by Bryan Adams: 6

Will Moseley sang Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding: 9

McKenna Faith Breinholt sang The Story by Brandi Carlile:  8

Jelly Roll's Mentorship: Part 2

Odell Bunton Jr sang Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson: 8

Elleigh Marie sang Forget You by Cee Lo Green: 5

Mackenzie Sol sang Jealous by Nick Jonas: 9

Jennifer Jeffries sang Bruises by Lewis Capaldi: 9

Emmy Russell sang Beautiful Things by Benson Boone: 8

Ajii sang Higher by Tems: 9

Kennedy Reid sang Fancy by Reba McEntire: 8

Jack Blocker sang Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves: 9 

Roman Collins sang How Sweet It Is by James Taylor/ Marvin Gaye: 9

KBlocks sang Harleys in Hawaii by Katy Perry: 7

Mia Matthews sang Daddy's Hands by Holly Dunn: 7

Triston Harper sang God's Country by Blake Shelton: 9

Here it is..... My Top 10! 

Hailey Mia

Abi Carter

Quintavious Johnson

Will Moseley

Mackenzie Sol 

Jennifer Jeffries

Ajii

Jack Blocker

Roman Collins

Triston Harper 

Sneaking into the Top 12: Emmy Russell and Jayna Elise 

The Voice Season 25: Surprisingly Jaded Beginning to the Knockouts

Team Reba: Asher HaVon sang Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton versus Tae Lewis sang Nothin' on You by Cody Johnson-- Asher sounded amazing, I love how he sang the song the way a man would sing it. The tone of his voice is incredible, the runs he did at the end, and the way he improvised and made the song his own is proof that he should continue in this competition. Tae's performance was so soulful. I can see him being on the radio and being a country star right now. Chance said it was one of the best performances he has seen on The Voice. Dan and Shay said Asher's runs were intentional, Tae stepped up. John said Asher was regal and his low notes were sang with so much power. He said Tae sang the hell out of that. John promised a spot for whoever did not get chosen. Reba voiced how proud she is of both of them. 
Reba chose Asher and everyone tried to steal Tae!! Tae chose Dan and Shay.

Team Dan and Shay: Olivia Rubini sang Tiny Dancer by Elton John versus Frank Garcia sang El Triste-- I think it's hard to sing in Spanish with a song that is not particularly well known. I think Olivia is the stronger vocalist, but I think this was the wrong song for her. I would have liked to have seen her sing something more contemporary like a Tate McRae or Olivia Rodrigo. John compliments the richness of Frank's voice and the range of Olivia's. Dan and Shay said Frank blew them away and Olivia came such a long way from rehearsals. Dan and Shay chose Olivia. 

Team Legend: Nathan Chester sang Fooled Around and Fell in Love by Elvin Bishop versus Val T. Webb sang Sweet Love by Anita Baker-- Nathan is a throwback to another time. I just love the ease of his voice and the songs he chooses for himself, he knows who he is as an artist. I think Val is great, seasoned pro, and strong voice, but I am leaning more towards Nathan, I am just more excited with his vocal and the total package. Dan and Shay loved the way Nathan got into the performance and there was something that moved them about his performance. John loved the high's of Val's performance. With Nathan, there was something cinematic about his performance, like he was living in another time and bringing that character to life. John chose Nathan. 

Team Chance: Dani Stacy sang Jaded by Miley Cyrus versus Serenity Arce sang Unfaithful by Rihanna-- Loved Dani's performance, song choice was great for her, and she made the song her own. She didn't do it exactly the way Miley does which was great, but she has some of that rasp that Miley does. It seemed that Serenity struggled a little through that. Chance said Dani you are a talented vocalist and I loved your passion on stage. Serenity you took a lot of risks, but compared to other performances, this was not as solid. Chance chose Serenity because she is passionate and was willing to go for it with her performance. 

Team Reba: Ashley Bryant sang Heads Carolina, Tails California by Jo Dee Messina versus Josh Sanders sang Wild as Her by Corey Kent-- Josh gave an awesome performance. I loved it, I feel like he took all the feedback Reba and Keith Urban gave him. I felt that performance. Ashley was great too! I feel like she has grown quite a bit in this competition. Chance said cool performance to Ashley, but I wanted more risks. Josh you took all the risks, he's leaning more toward Josh. Shay said Josh that last note was absolute fire. Dan and Shay would give the edge to Josh. John loved the cry in Ashley's voice; Josh, you stuck the landing with that note at the end. Reba said I love you both, thanks for taking the journey. Reba chose Josh. 

Team Dan and Shay: Anya True sang Runaway by Aurora versus Kyle Schuesler sang Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur-- I have to be honest, the song Anya chose did not resonate with me at all. I enjoy her as an artist and vocalist but I was not moved by that performance. I dislike the song choice but I think Kyle is a little stronger as a vocalist and understands his identity as an artist a little better than Anya. John liked Anya's tone; Kyle your voice has a magical and powerful quality. He would go with Kyle. Chance said Kyle I get excited to see you perform; Anya I really like your voice, so delicate. He'd lean towards Anya. Dan and Shay said that they needed more time. They chose Anya. Chance stole Kyle. 

Who did I love from tonight? 

Asher, Tae, Nathan, and Kyle. Serenity is talented but fell a little for me tonight. 

 

The Voice Season 25: The Last of the Battles and My Top 10!

Team Reba: Elyscia Jefferson versus Ashley Bryant sang If I Were a Boy by Beyonce-- Wow Elyscia was giving me Brandy vibes. Chance said Ashley you surprised me. Elyscia you exude star quality the way you carry yourself. Dan and Shay said Elyscia you had so much control. John said Elyscia you have cool stylistic choices, people need to see you and hear you. Ashley you sang that song, it was brilliant, it was beautiful. I actually think Ashley gave the best vocal performance of this song. Reba said Ashley, high praise from John Legend. Elyscia you did great tonight as well. Reba chose Ashley. 

Team Legend: Mafe versus Rivers Grayson sang You've Got a Friend by James Taylor-- Wow, what a gorgeous rendition of this song. They both sounded amazing. Chance said Rivers I like your tone. Mafe you have such a strong identity as a singer, you know who you are. Shay said Rivers your voice is so present. Mafe your range is everywhere. If I had to choose one, I'd choose Mafe. John said Rivers what you did was so amazing, you were low and quiet yet resonating. Mafe those runs you do are tight, modern, and interesting. John chose Mafe. 

Montaged: 

Team Dan and Shay: Anya True versus AJ Harvey sang Half of my Heart by John Mayer-- Love the song choice. Dan and Shay loved Anya's growth, and they loved how AJ stepped up. Dan and Shay chose Anya. 

Team Chance: Rletto versus Val T Webb sang Saving All My Love for You by Whitney Houston-- Wow! Wow, Wow! That was amazing. Dan called the performance iconic. Shay said Rletto you have the signature tone. I can't wait to buy your records, that was timeless. John said Rletto you have such character and vibe. Val your voice is pure and beautiful. Reba said Val, you reminded us why you got a four chair turn. Chance said Rletto you showed out, Val you are a generational talent. Chance chose Rletto. John stole Val. 

My Top 10 (in no particular order) 

Serenity Arce

Anya True

Jackie Romeo

Asher HaVon

Tae Lewis 

Bryan Olesen

Madison Curbelo

Mafe 

Alyssa Crosby

The Voice Season 25: The Battles Continue and We're "Lucky"

Team Reba: Donny Van Slee versus Josh Sanders sang When it Rains it Pours by Luke Combs-- I thinnk they're both great, personally I have been a Donny fan since day one, but Josh is likable as well. Chance says Donny is a star and he compliments Josh's runs. He says she can't lose with either. Dan and Shay liked their energy but say that Josh has better control over his vocals. John felt Josh's performance was well executed. Reba bonded with them both and doesn't want to make a decision. 
Reba chose Josh

Team Legend: Ronnie Wilson versus Gene Taylor sang When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars-- This was actually what seemed to be such an odd pairing to me, but these two turned in an amazing performance. Ronnie impressed me because he kept up with Gene who was fierce. Gene has incredible intuition. Reba loved both their tones and thought they were crazy on the high notes. Chance says that they have cool individual voices that mesh well together. Dan and Shay said some of Gene's high notes weren't legal. John thought the performance was honest, authentic, and full of heart. 

Team Dan and Shay: Kyle Schuesler versus Madison Curbelo sang Lucky by Jason Mraz-- I found the song a little boring, but I love the artistry of both Kyle and Madison. They are both amazing and I hope both of them stay in the competition. John reminded them that he turned for both of them and that he loved their beautiful performance. He'd lean towards Madison. Reba said she absolutely loved it and that the performance touched her heart. She loved Madison but preferred Kyle's tone and would go with him. Chance suggested that Dan and Shay should use their Playoff Pass. Chance said that they can both win the show. Dan believed that they both deserve to win the show. 

Team Chance: Serenity Arce versus Bri Fletcher sang Someone to Love by Lewis Capaldi-- Both of these ladies are great singers. I would give the edge to Serenity because to be that young and that talented is crazy. Shay said Serenity I believed every word, emotional and raw. He said Bri sometimes was trying to be so perfect that she felt outside of the song. Dan complimented their friendship. John said I love when I see artists collaborate together, thank you for embracing that. Bri you have a lot of range, Serenity you're very compelling, I'd pick Serenity. Reba picked up on the emotion. Serenity you channelled that into a great performance. Reba would pick Bri. Chance said Serenity you have a specific tone, you're poised and polished. Bri you're such a strong singer and you have great control. This is a tough decision.  Chance chose Serenity. 

Montaged: 

Team Chance: Dani Stacey versus Corey Curtis, Chance chose Dani 

Team Dan and Shay: Ryan Coleman versus Ducote Talmage sang Rock and a Hard Place by Bailey Zimmerman-- I genuinely enjoyed both of them. I loved the energy that Ducote brought and I think that he was more confident than Ryan. Ryan had the better control and I loved the sense of fight he brought to the battle. John loves the scratch in Ducote's voice, he loved Ryan's interaction. He'd lean towards Ducote. Reba said you guys sounded great together. She'd go with Ducote. Chance said Ryan really wanted it, you had great control. You helped Ducote. If it was my choice, I'd go Ryan. Dan and Shay talked before they made a decision and they went with Ducote. 

Team Legend: Olivia Rubini versus Jackie Romeo sang Edge of Seventeen by Fleetwood Mac-- They both have awesome voices, quite underrated. I love Jackie's tone. Olivia has such an edge to her voice. I loved the dynamics that Olivia brought to the performance. Reba said way to go, I love that song. Reba said I don't know who to choose. Chance said Jackie you have a fuller voice, Olivia, you can belt. I'd give the edge to Jackie. Dan and Shay said that was one of the most together battle rounds. John said Olivia you have a softer approach whereas Jackie your voice cuts through. John chose Jackie. Dan and Shay stole Olivia. 

Great performances, I cannot wait to pick my top 10!