Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Blake Shelton lobbies a singer to join his team on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

One landed on Team Pharrell (Mark Hood), one landed on Team Adam (Jordan Smith) and one landed on Team Blake (Barrett Baber).

That’s a bit of a departure from the past when Adam seemed capable of stock-piling his team with four-chair-turn recipients.

But remember that trivia piece I posted yesterday. Don’t put too much stock in how many chairs turn during a blind audition. Lots of singers have made the finals with two or less.

If you were wondering how everyone did on iTunes after last night’s show, head here.

Judging from the new songs posted to iTunes this evening, we’ll meet 11 more advancing artist tonight and four will audition with country songs. It’ll be interesting to watch Adam and Blake duke it out for their services.

Meanwhile, I hope that high number doesn’t mean some of the advancing singers will be part of a montage package. I hate when we don’t get a proper introduction to an artist.

And if they are montaged, I hope The Voice has wised up and decides to put the entire audition performance on YouTube.

I like nearly everything about this show, but I’ve never figured out why montaged performance can’t be posted online in their entirety. I mean, you know the show has the footage. And it wouldn’t seem to require much editing to post just the performance.

Time to meet some singers …

Blind Joe, 32, Fargo, N.D.: He was born three months premature and, when he was born, there was a good chance he wouldn’t survive. He did, but never had vision. “So this is truly a blind audition,” he jokes. He says music was a huge part of his childhood. His grandfather gave him a guitar when he was a kid and he says he’s never looked back. He’s been playing small-town bars for about 10 years. He also teaches blind and visually impaired people how to use smartphones, but says his heart and soul “has always been in music.” He’ll perform “If It Hadn’t Been for Love” by the Steeldrivers. Really like the tone of his voice. And Blake turns as soon as Blind Joe hits the chorus He’s soon joined by Adam. At the last second, Gwen and Pharrell turn as well, giving him the fourth four-chair turn of Season 9. Gwen compliments the honesty and rawness of his performance. Blake says he’d be proud to introduce Blind Joe to Nashville. Blind Joe joins Team Blake.

Ivonne Acero, 17: She says she’s become known as the cantaloupe girl because she was working at a cantaloupe factory earn a trip to the Season 8 auditions, when she couldn’t turn a chair. She said as soon as that experience ended, she went back to work on her singing. But she said the pressure is on now, because she feels like she has to turn a chair. She’ll sing “Style” by Taylor Swift. And very early in the performance, Ivonne accomplishes her goal, getting chair turns from Pharrell and Gwen. They turn out to be the only ones to turn. Ivonne thanks the coaches for their kind words from last season and says that’s what prompted her to return. Gwen compliments her on the way she made the song her own. Pharrell tells Ivonne her voice “is amazing.” Ivonne joins Team Pharrell.

Gage Navarro, 21, San Diego: He didn’t get into singing until eighth grade and admits he started because he heard girls liked guys who sang. He said he had to give up music for a while when the economy tanked, and his family’s golf course went into a tailspin along with it. He doesn’t know what type of artist he is and is hoping The Voice helps him sort that out. He’s singing “There Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” This isn’t going real well, unfortunately. He adds a nice little flourish at the end, but can’t get a chair to turn. Gwen says there were lots of good things happening in the performance.

Regina Love, 51, Atlanta: She’s a radio show host who says her goal is to inspire people. “As much as I love being on the radio, my love is singing.” At one point, she got a recording contract and made three inspirational albums, but the label folded. “It broke my heart when it ended.” She says she needs a Voice coach to take her and “push me forward.” She’ll perform “Rock Steady.” Wow, big voice. Midway through a blistering performance, Adam and Blake turn. And Regina keeps right on belting. There wasn’t anything subtle about that audition. Just shear firepower. Adam says she has “an incredible talent.” Regina says she likes to make “music for your soul. If you’re sad, I’m going to make you happy.” Regina joins Team Adam.

Zach Seabaugh, 16, Marietta, Ga.: He says he started singing country music when he was a young boy and his grandfather would play Johnny Cash’s music. Growing up, he played football, but decided to pursue singing instead. He’s since won state championships for his singing. That said, he admits the biggest crowd he’s ever played for is a few hundred. He’s going to sing “Take Your Time.” His nerves are showing early in this performance. But he seems to find his stride when he hits the chorus, and displays a very nice country voice. The coaches are slow to turn, but this performance is getting better as it goes on. Blake and Pharrell turn midway through the song; they’re joined by Adam late. Adam says he looks like Superman and has a mature voice. Blake says Zack has something in his voice that “rattled the room.” Zach joins Team Blake.

Evan McKeel, 20, Richmond, Va.: He was in kid’s choir in elementary school and joined a church choir, which is where he said he really fell in love with music. He also followed his dad’s advice and said he treats his music like a business. “I think anyone of these coaches could help me take my performance to another level,” he says. He’ll perform “Typical” by Mute Math. Interesting voice. He’s got lots of energy. Blake turns miway through the song. Eventually, all four coaches are facing in his direction. Wow, pretty impressive. Adam says he got better as the performance went on. Blake loved the energy in his performance. Gwen liked his “collision” of alternative rock and pop. Pharrell says he liked the “uniqueness” in his performance. Pharrell asks to hear a snippet of Stevie Wonder from Evan, and he complies, and sounds very good. Evan joins Team Pharrell.

Bryan Bautista, Brooklyn, New York: When he was young, he became an usher at a music venue and got to watch stars perform. That led to a performance singing the national anthem at a pro basketball game, prompting him to “take his music to the next level.” He’s going to audition with “Locked Out of Heaven.” He’s done some open mics, but is looking for The Voice to help establish him as an artist. His performance is full of energy, but he seems off key for a large portion of this. And no one turns.

Emily Ann Roberts, 16, Knoxville: She says she won a talent show at her school and fell in love with music. She says she grabs a lot of people’s attention by singing classic country. Having never taken vocal lessons, she thinks a coach could help her make a living playing music. “Today, there isn’t much meaning in music, and I want to make music that means something,” she says. She’ll sing a great song — “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. Adam turns very early in the performance. Emily Ann seems to be struggling with nerves just a bit. But she sounds fabulous on that chorus. And that’s what prompts Blake to turn his chair. Once again, it’s Adam vs. Blake for a country singer. Adam is trying to convince Emily Ann she’d have a better chance of advancing on a team with fewer country singers. Blake says Emily Ann “lit the place on fire.” And Emily Ann joins Team Blake.

Ellie Lawrence, 26, Calhoun, Ga.: She says the kind of music played in Calhoun is country, country, country. But she plays laternative rock. Her mom says she’s the only girl in town with blue hair. She says her fiance is the one who gave her the confidence to pursue music. They formed a band called One Shot Ellie. She says she’d love to work with Gwen. She launches into “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” and earns three chair turns in a heartbeat. Ellie has a really interesting sound. But there is just a touch of country in there. Hey, folks, that was one of my absolute favorite auditions of the night. Very good. Pharrell says he loved the “rasp in her voice.” Ellie joins Team Gwen.

Montage time:
* Gwen picks up Noah Jackson
* Gwen picks up Tim Atlas
* Gwen picks up Hannah Ashbrook

So, three singers had to be montaged. But we get to see Christina Grimmie push Kohl’s clothes as an in-show commercial. As though this show isn’t commercial-packed enough already.

Natalie Yaoavossi, 26, Chicago: She works as a credit card processor, but says she wound up divorcing her husband because he didn’t support her desire to pursue music as a singer with cover bands in the Chicago area. She’ll audition with “Oh, Darling.” She displays a big voice right away. Not to mention lots of passion. Wow, she was really, really good, but no one turned for her.

James Dupre: Hde became a paramedic because he didn’t think music was a practical way to go. In 2010, he started posting YouTube videos and got invited to perform on the Ellen Show. That led to a record deal in Nashville. “But I couldn’t get any traction going, so they dropped me.” He has four sons, but lives 11 hours away from them and doesn’t get to see them as much as he’d like. He calls auditioning for The Voice the highlight of his career. “Whatever happens, I want my boys to be super proud,” he says. He’ll sing “Let Her Cry” by Hootie and the Blowfish. He gets very quick chair turns from Adam, Pharrell and Gwen. Near the end of the performance, Blake turns as well, giving James the night’s third four-chair turn. Pharrell calls him “a natural.” Adam says he thinks James might be the best country singer so far this season. Adam is battling hard to lure in James. James joins Team Adam.