Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The Top 10 on The Voice include Kennedy Holmes, MaKenzie Thomas, Sarah Grace, Chevel Shepherd, Kymberli Joye, Reagan Strange, DeAndre Nico, Dave Fenley, Kirk Jay, and Chris Kroeze. (NBC Photo)

It’s a double jeopardy week for the Top 10 of The Voice come Monday and Tuesday.

This week, two singers head home, setting the stage for the following week’s Top 8 semifinals.

The Top 10 are coming off a week in which every remaining singer on the show cracked the Top 200 on iTunes.

In fact, six artists cracked the Top 25. And Kymberli Joye and Kennedy Holmes cracked the Top 10.

Here are the latest Voice Views rankings.

1. Kymberlie Joye (Team Kelly) (1): After surprising us with her song choices for three outings in a row, Kymberli returned to her gospel roots Monday night. And in the process confirmed my conclusion that she’s the best singer on the show. I’ll be stunned if she actually wins; other singers seem more popular. But she certainly deserved that Top 10 ranking on iTunes last week.

2. Kennedy Holmes (Team Jennifer) (8): How good was Kennedy’s slow-closing performance of “Greatest Love of All” last week? Well, she jumped from number eight in these rankings to number two. And if she can string together three more solos like that, my guess is that she’d win The Voice. At age 13. I’d still like to she her do something young and fun.

3. Chris Kroeze (Team Blake) (2): Look, I know Kirk Jay is the show’s favorite on Team Blake. I’ve simply enjoyed Chris’s performances more, and he turned in another solid effort this week with “Long Train Runnin’.” That said, with so many popular young singers on the show, he’s going to need to create a true Voice moment this week or next to make the finals.

4. Chevel Shepherd (Team Kelly) (4): Don’t look now, but the only female country singer left on the show is gaining fans in droves based on what I’m seeing with her social media accounts. I’ll provide another social media update on who’s gained the most fans between now and Monday. Meanwhile, I won’t be shocked to see Chevel and those big eyes of hers in the Season 15 finals.

5. Kirk Jay (Team Blake) (5): I’ve had people ask why I’m so tough on Kirk. Hey, I’ve said he’s been solid in every single performance we’ve seen, and he has. But the thing is, when the show proclaims you a front-runner and potential winner from day one, then keeps repeating that, I want to see performances I’d want to watch and hear over and over and over. I’m still waiting.

6. Sarah Grace (Team Kelly) (3): So, I’m perusing iTunes last week to see what the Top 11 would be singing and I come across a song called “What I Came For” from Sarah Grace and The Soul, released Nov. 14. And it’s very good. And makes me think, ‘Wow, I can’t wait to hear more of her original music.’ You won’t find me writing that very often about someone so young. Ms. Sarah is an artist.

7. DeAndre Nico (Team Adam) (6): Based on vocal talent, Adam’s right, there’s no way DeAndre should have been in the bottom two last week. But Adam’s the guy who advised him to make every second count during his cover of “Make Me Cry” when the more sage advice might have been to deliver a heartfelt vocal and pick his spots for the vocal acrobatics he’s so capable of.

8. MaKenzie Thomas (Team Jennifer) (9): MaKenzie comes from a gospel background too. And you have to wonder how long it will be before she decides to take us to church with one of her vocals, especially after seeing how well Christian / gospel songs have performed on the charts for other artists over the past two weeks.

9. Dave Fenley (Team Blake) (7): Now that the beat boxing is out of the way, Dave needs to get back to doing what he does best, delivering an earnest vocal with that distinctive rasp of his. He dodged a bullet by avoiding the bottom two last week, and The Voice would have shared part of the blame for a terrible sound mix during his performance.

10. Reagan Strange (Team Adam) (10): She’s been the most streamed artist in the first two weeks of the finals, so she’s likely safe this week. But before I move her up on this list she needs to: 1) sing an entire song on pitch; 2) make a better connection to what she’s singing. There’s a lot of frustration in Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated.” Reagan flashed a big smile throughout her performance.

See also
Results Night Photo gallery
Top 11 iTunes rankings
Top 11 song by song grades
Top 13 iTunes rankings