The Voice 28 Recap: Blind Auditions 2 Live Blog with Videos
The Voice season 28 Blind Auditions continue with a new coaches lineup, including two-time winners, Niall Horan and Michael Buble, one-time winner Reba McEntire, and hoping to nab his first trophy, Snoop Dogg.
The Voice 28 Format Explained, Including Twists and Turns!
The Voice 28 Contestant Preview (16 Singers to Watch!)
We’ll be live blogging all the Blind Audition performances right here.
Yoshihanaa – 36 – Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here by Debra Cox
The singer is a single mom to two children. Her kids attend her audition. She wants to show her kids that it’s OK to chase their dreams. The singer is from Florida, but now lives in Georgia.
Right off the bat, Yoshihanaa comes across as a jazzy singer with a smooth soulful style. Snoop turns his chair first. Reba and Niall are next. She’s effortless as she works up to the big notes. Her runs and phrasing are tasteful, but also dynamic.
Michael seems sorry he didn’t hit his button. But once Snoop turned, Michael assumed it was over. “Your voice touched my heart,” says Reba, describing it as pure, crisp and angelic. Reba wants to hear the music she has already put out. Snoop says he turned “with the quickness” because he heard something he wants to work with. Niall loves the singer’s rasp. And of course, Yoshihanaa picks Team Snoop
Lucas Beltran – 19 – You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine by Lou Rawls
From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by way of Peru, the singer is a big fan of classic cars and fixing them up. He’s a fan of classic music as well. Lucas’ parents recount how mature their son is, like he belongs to a different era.
Lucas sings most of his song in darkness. He’s an old school Vegas type lounge singer, but he’s got a great tone and delivery. Kinda corny? Yeah, but he deserves a turn. And indeed, Michael and Reba hit their buttons. And the dude is only 19 years old!
Snoop wants to know how long it took Lucas to do his hair. He’s duly impressed. Niall observes that the singer looks and sounds the part. Once Michael hit his button, Niall says, he didn’t bother to hit his button. Reba believes that, “Nobody has come on this show sounding like you do,” adding that she does not stand a chance. Michael describes how he’s turned down crooners in the past because he did not hear what he heard in Lucas’ voice, before telling a charming anecdote about Tony Bennett. Of course, Lucas chooses Team Bublé
Ryan Mitchell – Carson Callback Card Artist – Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
After no chairs turned for Ryan Mitchell’s first audition, host Carson Daly used his one and only Carson Call Back Card to give the alt/rock singer another chance. After his take on a Cage the Elephant song flopped, he’s decided to cover Britney Spears. He had 24 hours to prepare.
It’s smart to choose a song that the coaches have heard before. It also shows he possesses a versatile pop sensibility. The performance shows off his range and vocal skills. Ryan can sing. I’m with Carson. It’s annoying that more alt/rock singers don’t succeed on The Voice. The coaches are holding off turning. They ain’t gonna let him fail twice. THE DRAMA BUILDS. Reba turns. Michael almost!
Carson comes out on stage to explain the new Twist. As if the coaches don’t know! I’m not sure how long he’ll last on Team Reba though. Niall should have turned. Interesting, he shares how he was in the same position on X Factor. He was on the way out the door when Simon Cowell brought him back for his manufactured group, One Direction.
Carolina Rodriguez – 19 – Cardigan by Taylor Swift
The Voice has to cast at least ONE Niall Horan stan. Carolina describes how she sleeps next to a Niall poster every night. She brings it in to her audition. She’s the youngest of three children to a single dad. Currently, she’s in “music college.”
Her voice has great tone. Niall turns right away. She sings with an alluring, breathy quality, but that doesn’t keep her from singing dynamically. However, after Niall turned she got kind of pitchy. Maybe Niall picking her freaked the singer out! Still, Snoop turned, much to Niall’s annoyance.
Carolina gushes, “I love you” and Niall laughs. “You did such a great job with that song,” he says. When she whips out the poster, he seems a little embarrassed, but he signs it for her. She jokes, “I know where you have birthmarks!” Michael quips, “Stay tuned for this incredible coach battle!” Snerk. Her sister is also a fan and comes out to meet him. No surprise, Carolina chooses Team Niall
Jacob Ryan Gustafson – 35 – Spin You Around by Morgan Wallen
Jacob works 48 hour shifts as a fire fighter. He’s been in situations where ceilings have caved in on him. He and his girlfriend have six kids between them. Currently, he plays local breweries and bars.
Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, his vocal is raspy but also nasally. Nobody is turning for Jacob, despite being a solid country singer and decent story teller. He deserved a chair turn.
Jacob brings out his girlfriend to meet the coaches. Niall confesses that he was close, and now regrets not turning. Oh boy. The guy didn’t get a turn, but still goes through with proposing to his girlfriend on The Voice stage. She says yes, of course. – No turns
Max Cooper III – 23 – Cooler Than Me by Mike Posner
When he exhibited talent at a young age, dad knew he was something special. NBC previewed this audition earlier today.
Max opens his song at the electric piano with a beautiful arpeggio. It’s obvious right away he’s got keyboard skills. The singer also possess vocal talent. His voice is sweet and high and full of personality. He’s effortless. Reba turns first. Niall is next, followed by Michael and then Snoop. It’s a 4-chair turn.
The singer and musician explains that he’s been playing piano since he was 3 years old. He copied his sister’s playing, teaching himself. Niall jokes that he is on Youtube learning how to play simple guitar chords. Reba thinks Max is “super cute”! Max’s first notes convinced Snoop to turn. Niall says, “Someone like you on the show perks ears up.” Max explains that he loves doing pop, but likes adding jazz elements. He confesses that the first song he learned was Michael’s “I Just Haven’t Met You Yet.” Welp. We know where this is going! Naturally, Michael joins Max on stage to sing a little bit of the tune as a duet, turning the song into an audience sing-along! Max picks Team Bublé! As he should.
