Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Mikaela Astel and The Bundys rehearse for the battles with Kelly Clarkson on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

The first trio ever to compete on The Voice advanced Monday night.

That would be The Bundys, who were paired up with teenager Mikaela Astel in a Team Kelly battle round match.

The Background: The Bundys — Megan, Ryan and Katey — of Nashville, Tenn., auditioned with “Closer to Fine” by the Indigo Girls and turned two chairs. Mikaela, 14, of Queens, N.Y., auditioned with “Electric Love” by BØRNS and turned two chairs.
The song: “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac
The feedback: All the coaches complimented Mikaela’s vocals, though they thought the teen sounded a wee bit nervous. All the coaches loved The Bundys’ harmonies.
The outcome: Kelly advanced The Bundys, saying they seemed more ready for the live shows.
My take: Loved the song choice and I really loved the arrangement. Too often groups have failed in the battle because their harmonies become less special when they’re forced to harmonize with a Voice opponent. With this arrangement, The Bundys and Mikaela didn’t sing together until the very end. That allowed Mikaela’s unique tone to stand out. But it also allowed The Bundys to emphasize what makes their music so special.