The Voice Recap: [Spoiler] Wins the Battle for Mara Justine on Night 2 of the Blind Auditions
When Mara Justine belted out Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” at the tail end of Monday’s Season 24 premiere of The Voice, John Legend, Niall Horan, Gwen Stefani and new coach on the block Reba McEntire lost their collective minds. But we didn’t find out until Tuesday’s episode which of them managed to recruit the four-chair turn, a veteran of America’s Got Talent and American Idol. (I was “meh” on Mara; have a listen below and see what you think.)
In the end, the Jersey girl picked John. Then we were off and running with Night 2 of the Blind Auditions. Who hit a high note more than metaphorically? Read on, and we’ll discuss.
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Ruby Leigh (Team Reba), “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” — Grade: B+ | This 16-year-old from a town that’s so small, it doesn’t even have a gas station earned a four-chair turn by unleashing not only a locomotive of a voice but the most amazing yodel I’ve heard in all my seasons covering the show. I do wonder, though, if she’ll be quite as big a jaw-dropper on a number that doesn’t spotlight her special skill.
Juliette Ojeda (Team Gwen), “Hopelessly Devoted to You” — Grade: A- | OK, Kelly Clarkson for sure would’ve swiveled her chair the moment she realized that this 20-year-old daughter of Cuban immigrants was covering Olivia Newton-John’s classic. Juliette’s version got a little frantic for a second there, but ya can’t fault her for energy. Plus, no matter how turbo-charged her rendition got, the three-chair turn never ran out of vocal steam.
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Julia Roome (Team Niall), “Dream a Little Dream of Me” — Grade: C | The youngest competitor this season at just 13 years old, Julia reminded me a little of Jaclyn Lovey from Season 14… and Niall of Lana Del Rey. Julia’s voice had a pretty, airy quality. Trouble was, she didn’t seem altogether sure of how to keep it in control. (I know — how many people do at that age? But still… ) Between her youth, inexperience and nerves, I don’t see a long run in her future.
Jenna Marquis (Team Gwen), “Teenage Dirtbag” — Grade: D | I could hear why Jenna managed to get a three-chair turn — she was better at the start of her Wheatus cover than… well, at any other time. Maybe the 19-year-old suffered (in my ears, anyway) from having picked kinda a tuneless, flat song. Loved her rasp, but other than that, the performance wasn’t just forgettable, it was one that I wanted to forget. (Sorry… )
Ephraim Owens (Team Legend), “Beneath Your Beautiful” — Grade: B- | As with Mara, the coaches went berserk over this charming cement mixer and his tone. I didn’t go either “ber” or “serk,” though. I appreciated what Niall called Ephraim’s angst and John called his urgency, and could hear where it would be easy to get swept away by it. But to the tune of a four-chair turn? Mm-mm. No. I suspect a lack of vocal control will do him in during the Battles.
Your thoughts on Tuesday’s auditioners? Vote for your favorite below, then hit the comments.
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