Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Two singers go home this week on The Voice, which meant the pressure was on during Monday night’s performance show.

And, wow, did the Top 10 ever respond. That was easily the best performance show of Season 15.

Below is my grade for grade summary.

And, right now, I want the name of the producer who watched Sarah Grace’s rehearsal and didn’t decide to make that the final performance of the night.

That was, simply put, magnificent.

And Kirk Jay, Kymberli Joye and Kennedy Holmes weren’t far behind on a night of stellar performances.

Remember, those who advance Tuesday will one more step away from the Season 15 finale.

Kennedy Holmes (Team Jennifer), “Me Too” — Jennifer says she picked this song so Kennedy gets a chance to show off her performance side and her young side. Kennedy says she’s exited to do something different and noted that she’s been taking dance lessons since she was young. Kennedy hit a wonky note early in that performance. And that was about the only misstep. The decision to go young and fun worked very, very well. I know this, Kennedy should be giving Kirk Jay dance lessons. That was impressive, from a vocal and performances standpoint. Grade: A–

Reagan Strange (Team Adam), “Cry” — She says she’ll be able to connect with this song because her parents divorced when she was young. Sorry, but this is not working for me. And it’s not working for Reagan either if we’re being truthful. There are way too many lines where she sounds more like she’s shouting than singing. I will say this for Reagan, she seemed much more emotionally connected this week. But there are pitch problems all over the place. So what happens if she’s most streamed again after that vocal? Answer: She advances and someone more deserving of the Top 8 goes home because of a Voice rule change. Grade: D

Sarah Grace (Team Kelly), “Amazing Grace” — Oh, my, Sarah is going to play trumpet. Guarantee that’s a first on The Voice. But first, we’re getting Sarah at her soulful best vocally. Hey, folks, this is pretty special. And Sarah’s best performance in weeks. I don’t know if I would have brought out the trumpet, because it’s interrupting a pretty dang impressive vocal. But I know it’s important for Sarah to show off her musicianship. That, folks, was one of my favorite performance of Season 15.Okay, forget Season 15. Folks, you just saw one of the best Voice performances period. Confident, different and a great vocal to boot. And that had better land her in the Top 8. Grade: A+

Kymberli Joye (Team Kelly), “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” — She scored a huge hit last week with a gospel song. So Kelly plans to keep her in that lane. This song isn’t one she’s quite as famiiar with, but says she can connect with it because she’s struggled with depression in the past. Well, at first I thought, ‘Oh, no, this ballad is going to rein in Kymberli.’ Nope, there’s no reining in that voice. Once again, she absolutely soared at the end. And, as Blake said, delivered a wonderfully controlled performance. This is called The Voice, folks, and Kymberli sure has one. Grade: A.

Chris Kroeze (Team Blake), “Callin’ Baton Rouge” — Chris says he plays this song back home in the bars where he performs and people love it. Tell you what, The Voice is on fire tonight. That was a great fun performance of a Garth Brooks song. Not only was it a fine vocal, how about the way he interacted with his fiddle player? Of Blake’s male country trio, I think Chris has been the most impressive. That performance should get him into the Top 8.Oh, and Chris is definitely a better singer than bowerl. Grade: B+

Dave Fenley (Team Blake), “When You Say Nothing At All” — After last week’s misfire, from a performance and sound production standpoint, Dave has wisely shelved the beat-boxing and going back to a straight-up country ballad. “That’s what got me here,” he says of country music. Dave has one of the most distinct voices on the show. And he’s doing a nice job here, delivering a heartfelt vocal. But this is also a little sleepy on a night that’s already featured three of four performances that weren’t. And can Team Blake possibly make it through another week unscathed? Grade: B–.

DeAndre Nico (Team Adam), “That’s What I Like” — After landing in the bottom two last week, can DeAndre possibly avoid a bottom three this week? That’s gonna take a heck of a performance. Adam has him singing a song that’s never been done on The voice before, convinced it will become a moment for DeAndre. I’m not sure this is going to be the moment Adam envisioned. Or the type of crowd-pleasing performance that will keep DeAndre safe tomorrow night. The fact that Adam picked it makes me question whether he’s been watching the same show I have for 15 seasons. DeAndre needed to bring more swag and better vocal to pull that off, let alone turn it into said moment. Grade: C+

Chevel Shepherd (Team Kelly), “You’re Lookin’ at Country” — Chevel says she would love to make an old-school country record, so she’s all in on this Loretta Lynn song choice. Kelly says her “country Tinkerbell” is ready to be a star right now. Dang, Chevel is even dressed up like an old-school Loretta Lynn. This is a little too country for me, bordering on hokey with that outfit and hairstyle. Chevel’s quite convincing as a country singer without being dressed up like a little Loretta Lynn doll. But I’m guessing this performance is going to get Chevel into the Top 8. Because she stayed in character, threw in a yodel and turned in an okay classic country vocal. Grade: B–

Kirk Jay (Team Blake), “Tomorrow” — Kirk says he loves singing ballads. And making people cry, he adds jokingly. But he say that this is the type of emotional country music he hopes to record. Kirk is back behind his keys, and he’s delivering a very good heartfelt vocal. I believe this is my favorite Kirk performance yet. He wisely stays put behind his keys and provides a tender ending. Very nicely done. Now that performance has me thinking he could be the Season 15 champ. And he carried that tune with very little musical accompaniment for the most part. Even Jennifer Hudson, who isn’t his coach, is urging fans to vote for Kirk so he can make a country album. Grade A

MaKenzie Thomas (Team Jennifer), “Because You Loved Me” — Wow, the pimp spot goes to MaKenzie. She’s taking on another power ballad. No surprise there. MaKenzie says she’s super inspired by Celine Dion and adds that this is the first secular song she ever sang outside of church. MaKenzie is doing just fine on her own, but here come the background singers. That allows MaKenzie to ab lib a bit while they carry the chorus. For better? For worse? It is nice to see MaKenzie put a couple of her own little wrinkles on that song. Combine a very good vocal with the final spot of the night, and I’d say MaKenzie is safe tomorrow night. Grade: B+