Dan + Shay qualified as NBC's 2-for-1 offer “The voice,” but there is no better seller than the Team Legend package.
The country pop duo and coach John legend competed enthusiastically for the Nebraska singer's vocal prowess Bryan Olesen, formerly of the Christian rock band Newsboys, during the third round of blind auditions on Monday. The 49-year-old wowed with his dynamic rendition of “Love Runs Out” from A republic.
Legend has compared Olesen's captivating stage presence to the U2 frontman Bono. “You have so many assets and everything you need to be a great superstar,” he said.
Olesen also brought his daughter Jadyn on stage, and the two performed an impromptu cover of Corinne Bailey Rae's “Put Your Records On.” The duo enticed Dan + Shay to take advantage of their duo status, inviting Olesen and her daughter to sit in their two-person chair.
“Remember, we're the only ones that can fit two people in here,” Dan Smyers said, to which Legend quickly responded, “Sit next to me, Bryan. I need to whisper to you again a few sweet words in your ear.
The audacity of the Dan + Shay duo was no match for Legend's veteran status, as Olesen chose Team Legend.
“Sorry Dan + Shay, I got Bryan,” Legend said in a post-audition interview. “At least you have each other.” You can console yourself.
Reba McEntire loses her Grammy-nominated singer to Chance the Rapper after touching a message
Grammy-nominated Nā Wai ʽEhā member Kamalei Kawa'a dazzled coaches Chance the Rapper And Reba McEntire with his tender acoustic rendition of “Redemption Song” from Bob Marley and the Wailers.
The moving cover, which paid homage to Kawa'a's Hawaiian roots, struck a chord with Chance.
“Doing ‘Redemption Song’ in front of millions of people, it brought something out of me,” Chance said. “It’s a very radical song and it means a lot to all oppressed people around the world. And I think having you here and representing Pacific Islanders, indigenous people, Hawaiians… I think that's really important to the show.
McEntire was also moved by the “very spiritual” nature of the 26-year-old’s performance. “This song touched my heart,” she said. “I knew I'd heard it before, but I didn't like the way you sang it.”
But it was Chance's heartfelt praise that ultimately won out, with Kawa'a choosing Team Chance. “Chance happens with the best pitches I’ve ever heard,” McEntire said afterward. “He is sincere; he is at the heart.
Chance the Rapper says he's 'hurt' by sudden loss to Reba McEntire
Alabama singer Asher HaVon quickly earned a chair turn from Chance with his powerful rendition of “Set Fire to the Rain” from Adelefollowed by interest from McEntire and Dan + Shay.
“I could tell you're trying to win this competition, and you should. Everything you did was phenomenal,” Chance told HaVon. “I was blown away, that’s why I immediately turned around.”
But McEntire was sure to throw her cowgirl hat into the ring for HaVon, praising the 31-year-old's vocal strength. “What an incredible voice you have: your range, your power,” she said. “I couldn't wait to turn around and see what you look like, and (it was) not disappointing at all.”
HaVon chose to join Team Reba, but not before getting Chance's hopes up with a last-minute revelation.
“Chance, I really love you,” HaVon said, prompting Chance to start getting up from his seat in victory. “But I have to choose Reba.”
Chance discovered the hard way that he who gets up early does not always catch the worm. “That one hurt,” he said afterward. “Why start with my name? Start with “sorry.”
John Legend 'really disappointed' after losing four-chair singer to Dan + Shay
Singer-songwriter Madison Curbelo, who auditioned unsuccessfully for Season 20, redeemed herself with a moving, bilingual cover of “Stand by Me” from Ben E. King. The 21-year-old scored a four-chair round.
Legend was quick to acknowledge his past rejection of Curbelo in his speech to the Massachusetts singer.
“I'm fully aware that I was one of the people who didn't turn on you in Season 20. They'll point it out, so I'm saying it now,” Legend said. “I feel like you’re just ready now.”
Dan + Shay's Shay Mooney wasn't one to put the past behind him, even though he agreed with Legend's praise of Curbelo. “I'm always right, though, that's the problem,” Legend said, to which Mooney joked, “You weren't the last time she was here, but it's all good.”
“It's true when you're told no sometimes in your life, I think it pivots you and puts you on a different trajectory and gives you the opportunity to grow in those moments,” Mooney told Curbelo. “Your voice was simply impeccable.”
Now it's Legend's turn to receive a no. Curbelo chose Dan + Shay as his coaches.
“I'm really disappointed that Madison holds this grudge against me,” Legend said in a post-audition interview. “But Dan + Shay are pretty good at it. I must say that they understood this coaching thing quite quickly.
