The Voice 24 Blind Audition: Ephraim Owens’ angsty performance of Labrinth’s “Beneath Your Beautiful” earns a 4-chair turn
The Voice season 24 premiere week continues on Tuesday (Sept 24) with Night 2 featuring Ephraim Owens, whose angsty and emotional take on Labrinth’s “Beneath Your Beautiful” prompts all four coaches to hit their buttons.
Niall Horan turns first, followed closely by Gwen Stefani. John Legend waits a minute before hitting his button. And then eventually, Reba McEntire joins the party.
Ephraim is VERY excited after his performance as his wife and toddler daughter watch from off stage. But that doesn’t stop Gwen from stripping off her coat to reveal her short outfit. “Let me take this off so that you can see beneath my beautiful,” she teases. A thing she probably would not have done if husband Blake Shelton were still on the panel. “Shelton, she’s at it again,” Niall fake speaks into his smartphone.
“The word I would use for it is angst”
Getting serious, Gwen gushes, “I love your voice so much. You have this soulfulness, but this rock side to you too. I just feel superstong you should be on Team Gwen.”
“The word I would use for it is angst,” Niall remarks. “And when you feel angst in a singer’s voice that’s the best thing you can have.” He continues, “Big songs like this need big singers.” Niall nods to his X Factor origins. “I’ve been on a show like this myself. I would really appreciate if you kept me in your mind when you’re going to pick your coach. I would really love to have you on Team Niall.”
“It’s an honor to get to hear you sing,” adds Reba. “You are a firecracker. You were explosive. You were dynamic all over the stage. I would love to have you on team Reba. We would have a blast!”
John Legend is Ephraim’s inspiration
“I love that performance,” says John, “He called it angst.” John says as he gestures toward Niall, “I like to call it urgency. You were singing it like your life depended on it, which is a powerful thing to witness. It’s very mesmerizing as an audience member.” John continues, “Not only did you give us that feeling, but you were executing the song with great skill as a vocalist too.”
Not only did Ephraim’s wife freak out when she found out who was on this season’s coaching panel, but the singer confesses that John is one of his inspirations. He adds that his young daughter sings with him sometimes. After the little one joins him on stage, father and daughter sing John’s new single “Nervous” and it’s the cutest thing.
Who do you think Ephraim will choose as his coach? Tune into NBC tonight (Sept 26) at 8 pm to watch part 2 of The Voice season 24 premiere.
