‘The Voice’ season 25 episode 2 recap: ‘The Blind Auditions, Part 2’
Tonight on “The Voice,” coaches Chance the Rapper, Dan + Shay, John Legend and Reba McEntire all vie to discover and coach the next singing phenomenon. Follow along with our live blog of the second night of blind auditions below.
The four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series “The Voice” returns with the strongest vocalists from across the country invited to compete in the show’s newest season, which premiered February 26 on NBC (8pm PT/ET). The show’s innovative format features five stages of competition: Blind Auditions, Battle Rounds, Knockouts, Playoffs and Live Performance Shows.
SEE Huntley on winning Season 24 of ‘The Voice’ with coach Niall Horan: ‘I did not once think that I was going to win’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Below, read our minute-by-minute “The Voice” recap of Season 25, Episode 2 to find out what happened Tuesday, February 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite artists on NBC’s long-running reality TV show, which coach you’re rooting for and who you think will ultimately join “The Voice” winners list for this 25th season. Carson Daly hosts the Emmy-winning program.
Keep refreshing/reloading this “The Voice” live blog for the most recent updates.
8:00 p.m. – “Previously on ‘The Voice’!” In the Season 25 premiere, blind auditions began. Joining Team Reba were Tae Lewis and Josh Sanders. Joining Team Chance were Dani Stacy and Nadège. Joining Team Dan + Shay were Justin & Jeremy Garcia, Ryan Argast. Team Legend has yet to recruit anyone. Let’s continue the blinds!
8:01 p.m. – With all of the coaches as an option for their team, OK3 left us on the edge of our seats waiting to decide who they’d pick. Tonight, with the help of their vocal coach on stage, they became the first artist(s) to join Team Legend!
8:03 p.m. – The next artist to take the stage for their blind audition was Nathan Chester with his bopping version of “Take Me to the River.” John was the first to jump in with a chair turn for Nathan with Dan + Shay turning theirs shortly after. Chance said he didn’t turn because he “had a vision” of him being on John’s team and working with him on his tenor range. Reba agreed that John is probably the best choice for him, but she admitted to regretting not turning around. John said that Nathan “inspires and excites” him and then got out of Nathan that he’d like to “bring back James Brown style Motown” music for his own album. Shay called him “unbelievable” and noted that the crowd was in his pocket “from the very beginning.” Dan added that he gave a “high intensity performance” and an “amazing vocal.” Between the two choices, Nathan joined Team Legend, giving John back-to-back snags.
8:12 p.m. – Ahead of her performance of “Escapism.,” Maddi Jane said that “working with a coach would be life changing,” but then she gave the coaches an atypical blind audition to consider. Once the coaches settled in for her mostly rap performance, all four chairs turned to bring her to their team. John said it was “so fun” to listen to her and to watch her perform after he turned. He likes that she has stage presence and qualified that the rap-singing that she did is “not easy.” Dan also thought it was entertaining while Shay tried to convince her he’s also a rapper. Chance noted that she had moments where her breath fell out, but when she started singing that’s when he was sold on turning for her. Reba told Maddi she was “so surprised” by her singing and how much fun she was having with her performance. Ultimately, Maddi was swayed by Chance and became his newest artist.8:25 p.m. – Family man Devon Sutterfield from Missouri was up next for his chance at finally pursuing his passion for music. He hoped that his audition of “Cry to Me” would impress a coach, but specifically Dan + Shay. When none of the coaches turned their chairs by the end, Reba let him know that she was looking for “a little more emotion” and Dan said that it was tough for him to “gain momentum” in a difficult song and Shay added that it was hard to hear his point of view in the song. John thought he should do something “more mellow” if he tries out again in the future.
8:35 p.m. – Chiropractor Donny Van Slee prepared for his audition by assessing the posture of the crew around the green room, but that was a comfortable place compared to the stage that was the largest he’d ever performed on. His rendition of “Greatest Love Story” put a huge smile on Shay’s voice immediately, but playing smartly Reba jumped in quickly with her block button on them. John and Chance sat this one out so Donny was an automatic add to Team Reba. John loved his “raspy tone” and Shay agreed that the tone is a great and important part of country music. Reba explained that she turned because she loved his voice and knew that Dan + Shay would go in for him so she had to block them.
8:46 p.m. – Karen Waldrup had a viral moment singing online that blew her career up, but this is her chance to raise her profile even more with a version of “Bye Bye.” It didn’t take long for Dan + Shay to enact their revenge on Reba by hitting their block button as they turned their chair for Karen. Once again John and Chance sat out, so it was an automatic add for Dan + Shay this time. Reba thought it was a great song choice and expressed her regret that she was blocked from being in contention. John wanted Karen to know that it’s a “sign of respect” that Dan + Shay used their only block on her.
8:58 p.m. – 21 year old Aeden Alvarez from Hong Kong by way of Chicago took the stage next with his audition of “Snooze.” Unfortunately he became the second artist of the night to leave the stage without a single chair turn. Reba said that he’s talent, but “stylistically” it was too different from her wheelhouse. Chance called his tone “so cool and really full,” but that some notes got lost because the song has so much dynamics. John agreed that SZA is a hard artist to cover and so they advised a different song if he comes back in the future.
9:10 p.m. – Following Aeden was Gabriel Goes from Honolulu looking to bring “the aloha spirit” to the stage. He played the guitar to “What I Got” and earned a late-break chair turn from Chance. John told Gabriel that he loves his energy, but had a concern that there “was not enough range” and would have liked “more movement.” As Gabriel threw out surfer lingo at the coaches, they all agreed that he’s going to be a fun person to have on the show and that they love his enthusiasm and spirit. Chance told him that he turned because it was “special” and said that when he had “more dynamics” is when he “shined.”
9:21 p.m. – The last artist of the night was Gene Taylor who was supported in the studio by his adoptive mother who rose him and his sister as a single parent with “musical enrichment in [their] lives.” John, Dan + Shay, Reba and then finally Chance all turned for his version of “Lights.” John referenced his “finesse” and wanted to be clear that he was the first to turn for Gene. Shay called his voice “unbelievable” and Dan said that he’s “such a star.” Chance said that he was “really arrested in the performance” and noted the “Southern side” to his vocal and performance. Reba liked that he “worked the crowd.” Gene made the choice to join Team Legend, capping off a strong episode for John after a slow start Monday night.
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