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‘The Voice’: Maiya Sykes Stuns With Sam Smith “Stay With Me” Audition
The gloves were off and the Arby’s hats were on when The Voice Blind Auditions continued on Tuesday (September 23) night. All four coaches were tied at two contestants apiece going into the evening, and started exercising their individual power moves/mind games to get an edge.
Gwen Stefani jumped in regularly to ask contestants, “So, who do you pick as your coach?” (which was a little presumptuous for her first season, no?). Adam Levine perched himself anywhere on his red chair other than in the seat part to physically preside over his colleagues. Pharrell Williams tried to be nice and supportive of his fellow coaches (talk about mind games!), and Blake Shelton pulled out the over-sized Arby’s hat to mock Pharrell (Kind of a Feburary joke, B, but you tried).
Amidst the usual celebrity coach shenanigans, eight more contestants were placed on teams. Here’s who made the cut:
Danica Shirey, 25 – Pennsylvania
Danica Shirey kicks off the night with a performance of Jessie J’s “Big White Room.” This is the first performance for the stay-at-home mom (who once performed at the Apollo) since her father passed away over three years ago.
The stage hiatus comes across in her shaky start, but Adam, Gwen and Pharrell don’t seem to mind. They all love her sweet tone, and overlook pitch issues.
“I think that you have one of the best voices I’ve heard in a long time,” says Adam.
“I just want to turn back around and listen again,” says Gwen. “It was just so beautiful.”
“You have such incredible technique that I would compare you to a snake charmer,” says Pharrell, who is already out-Shakira-ing Shakira with his illustrative language.
Pharrell also benefits from a Blake endorsement, which the country crooner throws in, “just out of spite.”
Whether it was the flowery words or Blake’s support, Danica chooses Pharrell.
Joe Kirk, 17 – Tennessee
Joe Kirk and his family are so adorable that it’s almost actually creepy. The members of this self-described “modern day Partridge family,” perform together, inspire one another, and apparently buy coordinating black and white ensembles together in bulk.
Joe sings Ed Sheeran’s “Lego House,” and, despite the fact that it sounds a little boy band backup singer going solo, he earns spins from all four coaches. Blake breaks out his Arby’s hat to mock Pharrell, which he’s clearly been waiting to do since hearing Pharrell would be joining the season. It’s as predictable and mindless as it sounds.
Adam uses the distraction as an opportunity to swoop in. “I feel like you’re my little brother,” he says. “To be that confident at that age; I’m blown away by you.”
“Technically, you’re a beast,” says Pharrell. “I just want to hear your melodic story and personality.”
Joe goes for the whole brotherhood thing and picks Adam, who says, “I really think we’re going to win,” as Joe leaves the stage. Hopefully he gets an honorary black vest from the Kirk fam.
Menlick Zergabachew, 19 – Maryland
Reggae singer Menlick Zergabachew dropped out of high school to pursue music. Though his protective parents (obviously) did not love this move, they still come to support him on his Voice audition. Because who wouldn’t take the opportunity for some awkward face time with Carson Daly?
Menlick sings Sublime’s “Santeria,” which oddly moves Blake to turn around first. After singing along from her chair, Gwen turns around at the very last moment.
“Bradley [Nowell]’s voice, for me, is like the best ever, so you were competing against that,” says Gwen. “Obviously, we’re already in a band together.”
“That is the most perfect, technically, performance that I’ve heard all day,” says Blake. “I wish things could have been different.”
Menlick (obviously) picks Gwen, and gets one of the Team Gwen T-shirts. Prediction: variations of these tees will eventually sell under the L.A.M.B. label for $200.
Reagan James, 15 – Texas
If Reagan James wins The Voice, she’ll still be only the second most famous reality singing competition champ from Burleson, Texas. Though it’s not her fault the young’n hails from the same hometown as Kelly Clarkson, it would just be a bit too much glory in this category for one small town.
That said, Reagan is a force (maybe it’s something in the water?), and it’s a little crazy that only two coaches turn around for her performance of Ed Sheeran’s “Give Me Love.” Blake and Gwen are ready to duke it out for the young singer, while Pharrell laments his poor choice in passing on her.
“I was 17 when I started my band, No Doubt,” Gwen says, employing her key strategy of reading résumé bullets. “I was so you, except for your voice is way better.”
“I know what it takes to just shine the right light on an artist,” says Blake. “We haven’t ever heard anybody like you on this show.”
The aspiring R&B singer selects Blake, but seems ready to switch to Team Pharrell if given a steal opportunity.
Taylor Phelan, 25 – Texas
Former indie rock band singer Taylor Phelan left his band, The Canes, when he and his wife had a baby. Hoping for a second chance at music success, he performs The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather,” and earns turns from all four coaches. The triple-threat dances and plays the guitar as well, which seriously pleases Adam.
“I was early, but you didn’t even notice because you were so lost in what you were doing,” says Adam, adding, “and you have awesome happy feet.”
“I felt like I could be at a festival,” Gwen says. “It felt so natural, and that’s the first time I actually felt that since I was sitting in this red chair.”
“You were so melodically articulate,” says Pharrell. “You belong on my team.”
Though Taylor went into the performance leaning toward Adam, he ultimately chooses Pharrell as his coach.
Sugar Joans, 24 – California
Initially, one feels sympathy that Sugar Joans’s parents gave her that name. After all, it’s not her fault she was named after a rejected Bond Girl pitch. Wait, what’s that? Sugar Joans is the name Sugar Joans chose for herself? Cancel sympathy and just insert a whole lot of eye-rolls.
Intentionally Named Sugar Joans performs Aretha Franklin’s “Chain Of Fools,” and if you can get over her chosen name, it’s a solid performance. It looks like all hope is lost for Sugar until Blake and Gwen turn around at the very last moment.
“Your voice is like a perfect voice,” says Gwen. “What I think we can do together is find the perfection of your vocal, but find the personality of who you are.”
“You have one of the most unique and one of my favorite voices I think I’ve ever heard ever,” says Blake.
Blake will have to enjoy one of his favorite voices from the sidelines, as Sugar picks Gwen as her coach.
Taylor Brashears, 21 – Tennessee
Food truck cashier Taylor Brashears is ready to ditch the day job and make her moonlight profession of country singer a full time gig. So, yeah: if Blake turns around, no one else has a chance.
Taylor sings Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man,” and impresses both Adam and Pharrell. They even stand a chance, too…until Blake turns around at the last moment.
“Break the mold,” Adam pleads, desperately. “Don’t forget the fact that [Blake] almost didn’t push his button.”
“I’ll listen, and I’ll learn, because your tone is so amazing,” says Pharrell. “I can’t wait to work on the album.”
“If you’re going to go down the road which is straight-ahead country, go with somebody who knows where your heart is,” says Blake, as if he even needs to make an appeal.
Predictably, Taylor joins the country coach.
Maiya Sykes, 36 – California
Closing out the night is Maiya Sykes, who is not only a successful, working singer, but also way smarter than anyone you know. The triple major Yale graduate takes on Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me,” in a total show-stopping performance. All four coaches turn around immediately, and get to watch Maiya really soar with both emotion and control.
“When you sing there is a conviction, and what excites me the most is when people have their own story. It’s about amplifying who you are” says Pharrell, who stood for most of Maiya’s performance.
“You just made my day,” says Blake. “I think you can win this show.”
“Where ever you go, you’re going to do great in the show,” says Gwen. “Your voice is ridiculous.” Then she goes on to try to bribe her with shoes and handbags.
The promise of never-ending L.A.M.B. is not enough for Maiya, who joins Pharrell’s team.
Cason Daly teases that next week The Voice will take the Blind Auditions to a whole new level…and then flashes to a contestant who is actually blind. That pit in your stomach is total dread about the possible inappropriate comments Blake will likely make about a blind contestant in the Blind Auditions. Get ready to cringe over that when The Voice continues on Monday.
Get an eyeful of even more pop music coverage, from artist interviews to exclusive performances, on Idolator’s YouTube channel.