The Voice 23: NOIVAS and Ray Urial battle singing a powerful John Lennon cover
It’s the last night of The Voice 23 Battles! Four more battles will be decided on Tuesday (April 4). NBC has dropped a preview on a hot one. Ray Uriel battles against NOIVAS for a spot on Team Chance the Rapper.
NOIVAS is a former American Idol contestant who, competing as Savion Wright, never managed to make it on to the live shows the two seasons in which he competed. Will he have better luck a decade later on The Voice?
NOIVAS and Ray perform a soulful, reggaefied rendition of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy.” Ray’s tone is sweet and high, while NOIVAS’ attack is strong. But both singers hold the stage impressively.
SNEAKY runs!
Coach Kelly Clarkson feels the matchup was “pretty even.” She compliments NOIVAS’ energy, calling it “incredible” and “so powerful” and “infectious.” Kelly adds, “your runs are really cool, really smooth.” She says, “They’re sneaky!” She would pick NOIVAS based on his Blind, but Ray based on the Battle.
Blake Shelton jokes that he feels like he’s “looking at one of my old album covers up there!” The way NOIVAS got in peoples’ faces with his singing said “pick me!” to Blake. “It’s working,” he added. He also would go with NOIVAS.
“That was phenomenal,” says Niall Horan, “To hear one of my favorite songs of all time sung by two massive voices, something completely different to what the original is.” He adds that the singers came at it from two completely different places and two different types of energy. He calls Ray’s tone “insane” and “distinctive,” adding that his runs were “so cool.” As far as NOIVAS is concerned, Niall compares the size of his voice to a wall.
Will Blake use his steal?
“This is a very difficult decision for me,” Chance admits. He likes that both singers had their own interpretation of the song that “enmeshed so well on stage.” The coach reminds Blake the he blocked him during NOIVAS’ 4-chair Blind Audition. “Not cool!” Blake shot back.
“You have such a passion and control of the stage,” Chance says about NOIVAS’ stage presence. “I know you could end up winning the whole thing.” However, he feels that Ray really held his own. It’s tough for Chance. He has already used his Playoff pass and will have to let one of the artists go.
All four coaches have used their Playoff passes. Only one steal remains. And it’s Blake’s to use. Will the loser of this Battle go to Team Blake? Tune in to The Voice on NBC Tuesday April 4 at 9 pm to find out!
