The Voice Playoffs Recap: Gwen Stefani Whittles Her Team Down to Just Two Singers Ahead of the Quarterfinals
After a pretty excellent start to The Voice’s Season 26 Playoffs Tuesday, Gwen Stefani was called upon to cut three of the five remaining members of her team ahead of the Top 8. But did she keep the right contestants? Not so sure about that. Read on, and we’ll discuss.
Jose Luis, “No More Drama” — Grade: A+ | For me, this was Jose’s best performance yet. He not only sang the bejesus out of Mary J. Blige’s classic, but he 100-percent lived every moment that he was on that stage. I’d never seen him so large and in charge and thrillingly comfortable in his skin. Had to suck to be the singers who had to follow that up!
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Jake Tankersley, “The Painter” — Grade: A | There was literally nothing wrong with Jake’s vocal. He sang with great feeling. The trouble was, he gave us so little in the way of stage presence that we might as well have been staring at a jukebox for three minutes. Afterwards, he said that he got emotional during his performance, but I sure didn’t see. (Did you?)
Gabrielle Zabosky, “Listen to Your Heart” — Grade: A | Man, so far, quite an excellent night. Gabrielle, who I seem to love more every time she hits the stage, even made me kinda like Roxette’s ballad (which I generally do not). She left it all on the stage: a kickass belt, an ear-catching growl and even a squeak to her voice that would have made her a star in the ’80s.
Jan Dan, “Dust in the Wind” — Grade: A- | Another solid performance. Vocally, no quibbles — plus, Jan’s expressions and movements gave us more feeling than Jake, who’d been trapped behind his guitar. Not the showiest song selection, but Jan Dan gave it some flair by doing runs Kansas never would have dreamed of. (Heck, his last one he seemed to stop and then pick up all over again!)
Sydney Sterlace, “Betty” — Grade: A- | First, whoever dressed Sydney like a Cowgirl Barbie birthday cake needs to be reminded that sometimes less is more. Beyond that, the teen’s performance was at times lovely, at other times a bit wobbly. She has a gorgeous voice and is full of potential but seemed to struggle here with some of Tay Tay’s phrasing. Technically, she might have been a B, but when she was good, she was really good.
Advancing to the Top 8 | Jan Dan, Sydney Sterlace
Eliminated | Jose Luis, Jake Tankersley, Gabrielle Zabosky
Had I been in Gwen’s shoes, I would’ve gone an entirely different way and stuck with Jose, who really came into his own in the Playoffs, and the consistently powerful Gabrielle. Jan Dan may be tasteful, but I don’t run back from the kitchen when I’m getting a snack to hear “tasteful.” And Sydney sorta feels like she’s gonna turn out to be this season’s Zoe Levert.
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What do you think of Gwen’s picks? Vote for the standout performance below, then hit the comments.
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