Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Squaring off for The Voice Season 11 crown Monday night will be Billy Gilman, Sundance Head, Wé McDonald and Josh Gallagher. (NBC Photo)

The Top 4 will compete for the Season 11 crown on The Voice this week.

Unless The Voice strays from its past format, each contestant will perform three times, entertaining us with a new cover, an original song and a duet with his or her coach.

Based on what’s happened to date, it should be a two-singer showdown between Sundance Head of Team Blake and Billy Gilman of Team Adam.

But judging from last week’s Top 3 finish in the voting, Wé McDonald has more support than her iTunes results would indicate.

And you should never count out a country singer like Josh Gallagher. Voice fans love country music.

Sundance enters the finale with the edge in bonus points.

Remember, contestants chalk up bonus points any time they land in the Top 10 on iTunes, and those bonus points carry over the final vote total.

Sundance enters the finale having hit the Top 10 three times. Billy cracked the Top 10 twice; Josh and Wé once apiece.

Here are my final rankings for Season 11.

1. Sundance Head (Team Blake Shelton): In 2007, he might not have been ready for American Idol. In 2016, he’s ready for The Voice. He’s been the most consistent of the final four and delivered one of the best performances of the group when he went bluegrass Christian of all things, covering “Me and Jesus” on Top 10 week and topping iTunes in the process. Want heart with your music? Sundance has delivered that as well, like with last week’s “Love Can Build a Bridge.” He’s topped The Voice on iTunes three of the past four weeks. (Last week: #1)

2. Billy Gilman (Team Adam Levine): He’s been a Season 11 favorite since turning four chairs with his blind audition and he’s got the most compelling backstory, striking music gold as age 11, watching his star fade, turning pop artist, coming out as gay and now trying to a second shot at stardom. He’s got the voice to do just that. In fact, he’s probably been the best pure vocalist of the remaining four. But I’ve yet to be truly moved by any of his performances since the finals began, and the winner of The Voice should be able to do that too. (Last week: #3)

3. Wé McDonald (Team Alicia Keys): Her inconsistency should rule her out as a serious contender. She’s been brilliant at times — “Take Me to Church” and “No More Drama.” She’s appeared not quite ready for a big stage at others — “Home” and “God Bless This Child”). When it comes to young female soul singers, Jacqui Lee was much better in Season 5 and finished second; Koryn Hawthorne show more progress and more consistency in Season 8 and finished fourth. And last week, she was only sixth best on iTunes among the Top 8, but somehow got voted into the finals. (Last week: #5)

4. Josh Gallagher (Team Adam Levine): Josh squeaked into the finals via last week’s Twitter save. And Adam is right about this, he’s peaking at the right time. His last three solo performances have been his best since the finals began. They had to be because he struggled mightily to find his footing when the live shows began. As recently as Top 11 week, he finished 9th on iTunes. His biggest role in the finals might be as a spoiler. Without him, the show’s substantial country voting block would belong to Sundance alone. With him in the finals, those votes might be split. (Last week: #7)

See also …
Who is The Voice leader on YouTube and social media?
A look back at Billy Gilman’s Voice performances
A look back at Josh Gallagher’s Voice performances
A look back at Sundance Head’s Voice performances
A look back at Wé McDonald’s Voice performances