‘The Voice’ Season 27 Episode 4 recap: Michael and Kelsea build a rivalry in four head-to-head chair turns
The Voice Season 27 continued on Monday with the fourth batch of Blind Audition performances. Adam Levine maxed out his advantages during Episode 3, blocking one artist from picking Kelsea Ballerini and then using his Coach Replay to scoop up another. He also won his fourth four-chair turn of the season. Going into day four, John Legend was the only one with a Coach Replay still to use. Returning champion Michael Bublé came into the night ready to fight hard for artists he liked, but Kelsea was not going to let him get away with any of them too easily. By the end of the night, they went head-to-head in competition for four different artists.
The first one Michael was keen on pulling on to his team was 19-year-old Texan Hailey Wright representing her Choctaw heritage with pride. Michael and Kelsea were the only coaches that turned for her performance of Freddy Fender's "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," but John called it "excellent" and Adam acknowledged that she'd be well-suited on Kelsea's team. After Kelsea highlighted Hailey's yodeling by having her sing "Blue" quickly, Michael challenged her to do something "a little off the board" and unexpected by choosing him. Ultimately, Hailey went with her gut and stayed true to her country roots by joining forces with Kelsea.
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Pictured: Hailey Wright (Photo by: Christine Bartolucci/NBC)
"I feel like it's Wonder Woman vs. me, the guy who can shoot bow and arrows" — Michael Bublé on Kelsea Ballerini
The second artist that Kelsea and Michael went head-to-head for was Dimitrius Graham based on his rendition of "Get You" by Daniel Caesar. Dimitrius' training in classical music and opera seemed like a natural connection to Michael, but he was more drawn to the "sexy and romantic" aspect of his vocal and thought the audience would really connect to it. Kelsea told him that she feels inspired by him and promised him his own lane on her team, but even though Dimitrius called her "bad" and "gorgeous," he chose Michael because he felt like his "artistry is gonna go to the next level" with him as a coach.
Pictured: Dimitrius Graham (Photo by: Christine Bartolucci/NBC)
"I don't know what the population of the United States is, but after that audition it might be double in nine months" — Michael Bublé to Dimitrius Graham
John and Adam also sat out the fight for Kaiya Hamilton after her audition of "ICU," setting up the third Kelsea vs. Michael battle of the night. Kelsea acknowledged to Kaiya that she doesn't have the kind of voice like she does — that of a "sanger" — and pleaded that it doesn't mean she can't be a good coach for her. She said that she's interested in her lower register and thinks they could work together on finding the right songs to highlight it. Michael told Kaiya that she's versatile with a lot of tricks in her arsenal with an "ability to do it all." Feeling more aligned to Michael's style, Kaiya chose to join his team.
Later in the night, Michael didn't shy away from going up against Kelsea within her own genre for Robert Hunter after his performance of Cody Johnson's "Til You Can't." Kelsea was honest with Robert that there were pitch issues in his vocal, but she was drawn to his ability to tell a story through song and thinks that she can offer him her experience as part of the "now in country." Michael tried his best to appeal to a concept that he's "now in Canadian country," but once again there was no beating Kelsea at her own game.
"Michael and I are arch nemesai... is that how you say it plural?" — Kelsea Ballerini
By the end of Episode 4, Michael also found a potential winner in Aaron Rizzo with "Drops of Jupiter" and Kameron Jaso with "This Town." John ended up using his Coach Replay on Antonio Ramsey after he challenged him to sing something slower than "Every Little Step" on the spot. John also brought Kolby Cordell with "Never Too Much," Olivia Kuper Harris with "Dream a Little Dream of Me," and Nell Simmons with "Love Hangover" on board. Adam added Fran Posla with "What the World Needs Now Is Love" and, in the only four chair turn of the night, Lucia Flores-Wiseman with "La Llorona."
The teams so far:
TEAM LEGEND (10 of 12 full) — Antonio Ramsey, Ari Camille, BD.ii, Bryson Battle, Jacquelyn George, Jordan Allen, Kolby Cordell, Nell Simmons, Olivia Kuper Harris, Renzo
TEAM BUBLé (10 of 12 full) — Aaron Rizzo, Barry Jean Fontenot, Braxton Garza, Carlos Santiago, Dimitrius Graham, Divighn, Jadyn Cree, Kaiya Hamilton, Kameron Jaso, Ricardo Moreno
TEAM KELSEA (9 of 12 full) — Angie Rey, Dan Kiernan, Hailey Wright, Iris Herrera, Jaelen Johnston, Jessica Manalo, Page Mackenzie, Robert Hunter, Tatum Scott
TEAM ADAM (10 of 12 full) — Britton Moore, Conor James, Darius J, Ethan Eckenroad, Fran Posla, Grace-Miller Moody, Hayden Grove, Lucia Flores-Wiseman, Tinika Wyatt, Tyler Kae
The four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series The Voice is in its 27th season featuring five stages of competition: Blind Auditions, Battle Rounds, Knockouts, Playoffs and Live Performance Shows. In the coaches' chairs, Michael is the defending champion after winning Season 26. He is joined by John, in his 10th season, and Kelsea, competing for the first time. Adam rejoined the panel of coaches for his 17th season after taking a hiatus following Season 16.
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