The Voice has already amassed some pretty amazing talent for Season 4, and there are still 16 finalists to meet.
We meet those individuals this week, as the show wraps up its blind auditions.
For those keeping count, two-time champion coach Blake Shelton still needs five singers/acts.
Rookie coach Shakira is the closest to having a full team with just three positions left.
That leaves Usher and Adam Levine with four spots to fill.
Speaking of Blake, here’s a tidbit from last night’s ACM Awards. In a post-show interview, Kelly Clarkson said Blake will sing at her wedding.
Oh, he’ll officiate, too, something he’s apparently done in the past. At weddings other than Kelly’s, of course.
The original Idol champ, who has also served as a guest mentor on The Voice, said a date for the wedding hasn’t been set.
And now it’s time to meet more singers …
Jeff Lewis, 28, Dallas, Texas: The guy works at a golf course. He was once signed to Interscope Records, but calls it a “terrible” experience because he recorded a lot of music over two and a half years that was “never really released” before it all got pulled out from under him. And he’s taking a gamble during his blind audition, singing an Usher song, “U Got it Bad.” He’s doing it on an acoustic guitar. The vocal seemed a little shaky at the start, but Jeff eventually found his stride. And he’s nearly through the song before Usher, Shakira and Blake turn around almost simultaneously. Jeff jokes that the coaches made him a “little nervous.” And, of course, Jeff joins Team Usher. Grade: C+
Shawna P., 45, Orange Beach, Alabama: She hopes to show that it’s never too late to show what you’re passionate about. Shawna said she’s wanted to be a performer ever since seeing Elvis perform at age 8. She eventually went to Nashville and performed with the Muzik Mafia, including Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich and other notable artists. She admits a lot of people would have given up on their dream by her age, but calls The Voice “Elvis epic for me.” Her audition song: “She Talks to Angels.” She quickly demonstrates a big voice with lots of grittiness and rasp. Again, a bit of a slow start, but the second half of that was really, really solid. She entices Adam and Shakira to turn around. In a bit of a surprise, she picks Shakira even though Adam compared her to Janis Joplin. Grade: B–
Caroline Glaser, 18, St. Louis, Missouri: This teen says she’s pretty new to the music scene. She writes to get out her feelings and emotions, and her performances have been restricted to coffee houses so far. On a good night, 30 people listen to her sing, she says. Caroline is a freshman at the University of Kansas and says she feels like “a fish out of water in Los Angeles.” Her audition song: “Tiny Dancer.” I really like the tone of Caroline’s voice. And a sublime “ballerina” gets Blake and Shakira to turn around. The young lady has loads of potential. It would be interesting to see what she could do over the course of the show if she hangs around long. And Caroline selects Team Blake. Grade: B–
Cameron, 24, Wayland, Iowa: This guy says he can sing, dance, write music, act — jeez, I can’t keep up with all the talents he’s listing. He works with children from troubled backgrounds. And he’s accompanied to the show by his aunt, who says he used to act like a clown but has blossomed into a talented performer. He’s auditioning with “As Long as You Love Me,” and opens with dance moves, even though the judges are facing in the opposite direction. Gee, imagine that, the guy who was dancing as much as he was singing didn’t get any chairs to turn around. Grade: C-
Michael Austin, 43, Norco, Calif: Wearing a cowboy hat and vest that shows off tattoos on both arms, Michael says he’s called “Big Country.” He’s big and he’s a country singer, after all. “I could literally ride my horses down to the local saloon. I think that adds to my character.” Oh, he’s a deputy sheriff too. “If you split me down the middle, you’re going to see half of a deputy and half of a singer,” he says. He’s played with his band, Austin Law, for the last four years. But he’s been singing and performing hardcore for the last 12, he adds. He’s auditioning with “Somebody Like You.” This big guy has a pleasant sound and gets Adam and Shakira to turn around. But the country judge stays put, whispering “it’s pitchy” to Usher. And the country guy picks Team Adam. Grade: B–
Sasha Allen, 30, New York, N.Y.: Here’s a young woman who put her career on hold because she has two children, ages 7 and 7 months. A classically trained pianist, she has also sung background for Christina Augilera, John Legend and Alicia Keys (another background singer for Alicia?). She’s hoping The Voice is the place that will let her shine. She’s decided to audition with a Dixie Chicks song, “Not Ready to Make Nice,” even though she’s not a country singer. And within a couple of notes, she demonstrates the strongest voice we’ve heard so far tonight. A big note gets all four judges to spin their chairs in turn. Really, really nice vocal, all the more noteworthy because she was singing a song out of genre. Adam calls her voice “magic.” Sasha was hoping she’d get to pick between Usher and Shakira. Turns out, she picks Team Adam. Grade: A–
Matt Cermanski, 19, Phoenixville, Pa.: This guy’s uncle was a member of the Trammps, the Grammy-winning band that released “Disco Inferno,” and says he got to perform with that group on a couple of occasions. But his uncle assures us Matt’s music transcends disco. And he’s going to switch it up by singing Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.” Interesting song choice, but I’m not sure it’s working for Matt. There’s some definite pitchy-ness or nerves going on. And Matt fails to get a chair to turn. Grade: C–
Now, some rapid-fire additions to The Voice cast …
R&B singer Jamila Thompson sang “Halo” and landed on Team Usher.
College student Amy Whitcomb sang “Because of You” and landed on Team Adam.
County singer Justin Rivers sang “Summertime” and landed on Team Blake.
And pop singer Michelle Raitzin sang “God Bless the Broken Road” and wound up on Team Blake as well.
Mary Miranda, 17, Havana, Cuba: Singing since she was very young, she moved to the U.S. about four years ago. She listened to music in English to help her learn the language and says Shakira was an inspiration to her. Her father doesn’t live in the U.S, but she wears a necklace he gave her at all times. She’s singing “Como La Flor.” Wow, huge voice. Another youngster loaded with talent. The opening was brilliant. The rest was pretty darn good too. And by the time Mary finishes singing, she has three coaches facing her, Blake, Usher and Shakira. Hmm, now I wonder who she’s going to select? Sure enough, Mary joins Team Shakira.Grade: B
Grace Askew, 26, Memphis, Tenn.: She calls her genre “blun-try,” a mix of blues and country. She says she’s toured in about 40 states. But she’s reached a plateau and she says she needs some big guns to provide a boost to her career. Her audition song: “These Boots Were Made for Walking.” And Blake turns around after just a couple of lines of the song. He’s soon joined by Shakira, who must want to torment Blake. The country judge compliments her on her boots, her chrome guitar and the blues in her voice. And Grace, of course, joins Team Blake. Grade: B
Jane Smith, 18, Cincinnati, Ohio: This teen says she’s been singing since 5 or 6. Her dad was also a singer, but died from cancer. Her mom, also diagnosed with cancer, said Jane used her music to deal with his loss. Jane will sing “You’ve Got the Love.” Hello. We’ve got a singer on our hands. Unfortunately, after a really strong opening, that performance went a little all over the place. And no one turns around for Jane. But the judges invite her back to try out again. And the fact that Usher thinks she’s cute softens the blow for Jane. Grade: C-
Ryan Innes, 31, Provo, Utah: This guy says he’s played piano since age 4, but wanted to be a doctor, not a singer, earlier in life. He’s now a lounge singer who says he does everything you can do with music to make money. “I might be late to the party,” Ryan says, “but I’m going to make the most noise,” adding that “emotion” doesn’t have an age. He sings “Gravity” and gets Blake and Adam to turn around in a heartbeat. And Shakira and Usher join Ryan’s party, making him the second artist tonight to earn a four-chair, turn-around. And Ryan says the soul connection is too much to deny. He picks Team Usher. Grade: B
So, that leaves just four spots undetermined on The Voice — one on each coach’s team. Check back tomorrow night for another live blog.
Leave a reply