Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Adam Levine provides feedback to a contestant Monday night on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

Somewhere today, DeAndre Nico is smiling.

After all, he knows what it’s like to be stabbed in the back by Adam Levine on The Voice.

Sorry, but that’s what it felt like Adam Levine did to Ethan Eckenroad, Conor James and Britton Moore Monday night when The Voice aired the first of its pre-taped playoff episodes.

All three turned four chairs in the blind audition. All three opted to join Team Adam. All three have been solid throughout their time on The Voice.

And all three were eliminated on Monday’s pre-taped show as Adam advanced Kolby Cordell to the semifinals.

Kolby was the newest member of Adam’s team, a two-chair turn stolen from Team Legend in the knockout round.

I graded Monday’s performances, just as I do with every episode of The Voice at this point in the season.

I graded every other Team Adam performance higher than Kolby’s.

Then I watched them again Tuesday afternoon. And came to the same conclusion. In fact, it wasn’t even that close.

Want a distinctive voice, a trait Adam has always praised? Ethan has it. I graded his Monday night performance as the best of all five on Team Adam.

Want on-stage charisma? Conor brings it to every performance. I graded him as third best, behind Ethan and Lucia Flores-Wiseman, who also advanced.

Want solid vocals and boy-next-door appeal that could grow on Voice voters? That’s what Britton brought to the table.

Kolby? Hey, he’s got a great voice. He’s a fine person and hard worker based on comments from the coaches and mentors on Monday’s show.

But the unwritten rule on The Voice is that if you’re the stolen contestant — the newest member of a team — you’d better outperform everyone on the team if you want to advance.

Kobly’s selection didn’t even make sense from a strategic standout, because he’s unlikely to have the male R&B lane all to himself once the semifinals begin.

Remember, John Legend has Renzo in his Top 5. And Bryson Battle. And BDii. Renzo’s my new favorite to win the show after Kelsea Ballerini eliminated Jaelen Johnston and Adam tossed aside all three of his four-chair=turn guys.

i wasn’t the only one bewildered by Adam’s decision. Here’s a sampling of comments from the Instagram pages of Ethan, Conor and Britton.

On Ethan’s:

* “He was my favorite since the first day. Adam lost the voice when he didn’t chose ethan and britton. Shameless choices by Adam. I’m very sad for ethan. omg”

* “He should have gone through! We enjoyed his performance tonight so much!”

On Britton’s:

* “How do you send home the best artist on the voice! Adam, kiss your season goodbye. He was the WINNER!!”

* “My Monday evenings just freed up.”

* “Congratulations Adam Levine, you just lost The Voice!”

On Conor’s:

* “Not only was this the best performance all night but he has been the most consistent all season and should have gotten sent through to the lives!! Ugh”

* Adam just got rid of the artist with the most potential on his team, im shocked.”

Granted, you’re going to find upset fans no matter which singer is eliminated.

But having watched all 27 seasons of The Voice, I have to say, this was truly baffling.

I don’t know, maybe Adam’s been spending too much time backstage with Michael Buble.

Or maybe some of the hair dye that lightened his hair seeped into his brain.

See also …
Song by song grades for Team Kelsea
Song by song grades for Team Adam
The Voice slogs through its worst season ever