The Voice Recap: Song Choices Left Up to Super Fans

It’s one of the most fun weeks in The Voice competition—Fan Week. Super fans who have supported these rising stars choose the songs that their favorite singers will be performing. And here’s hoping they choose wisely because it’s also one of the most anxiety-filled nights of the season.

A day after their May 6 performances, the Top 13 will be pared down to just eight remaining contestants during a live elimination round.

With Coach Blake Shelton having the most team members still vying for the win, he was the first up with Gyth Rigdon.

Gyth Rigdon: “Nobody But Me” by Blake Shelton – Team Blake

JOHN: “You really carry yourself with such great star presence and your voice sounds really strong and I just like the way you own the stage. You act like you belong here.”

BLAKE: “I agree with John, you do belong here. Just to see you own the stage like you do, It’s unbelievable to me that you’re basically undiscovered talent because you perform like a veteran up there.”

Kim Cherry: “Whatta Man” by Salt-n-Pepa – Team Blake

KELLY: “If you move on from this week, I would love to hear you just sing something, maybe even like a ballad. I love your attitude and I love the rap, I think that’s what separates you apart from everybody in this competition so far, but for me personally, I’m so interested to hear you wail on some beautiful ballad.”

BLAKE: “That song choice for you was perfect. I’m so happy for you. Great performance.”

Jej Vinson: “Close” by Nick Jonas – Team Kelly

ADAM: “You’re a huge favorite of mine from the beginning. I love your tone. It’s a really different sounding voice, you’re very identifiable… you’re just one of those people I thought would be a Voice winner.”

KELLY: “I think my favorite thing about you is, yes, you were a four chair turn and it wasn’t just because you can hold down sustained notes and be a really big vocalist, but at the same time you have such style and grace with your runs. They’re not like too much. It’s so effortless. It sounds angelic, but sexy as well… I would be shocked if you weren’t in the finale.”

Andrew Sevener: “She Got the Best of Me” by Luke Combs – Team Blake

JOHN: “I just like how confident you look up there and how much passion you put into your performance. I feel like it could have used a little more finesse sometimes, but the energy was really strong and I felt your passion.”

BLAKE: “He is on 10 all the time and I think that’s why you developed this huge fan base out there because now, we know what a great singer you are, but we also get to see the guy who realizes every second that goes by, ‘Holy crap, I made it onto The Voice.’ He’s having the time of his life.”

Oliv Blu: “Smooth Operator” by Sade – Team Blake

JOHN: “Every time I see you sing, you’re making me regret that I’m your former coach. You were so impressive. This is not only the voice, this is the hair, the look, and Sade songs sound like they’re simple to sing, but it takes a lot of discipline to sing with that level of control and clarity, and you pulled it off beautifully tonight.”

BLAKE: “You sounded absolutely incredible. I also gotta say tonight, you came out of your shell and embraced what this is, this moment, how cool it is, and you became an artist on stage tonight, and I loved seeing that from you.

Dexter Roberts: “Something Like That” by Tim McGraw – Team Blake

KELLY: “I love that song pick. Thank you fans. That’s one of my favorite parts of country and why I think it does so well on this show, it’s because it’s a lifestyle. And that kind of explained that lifestyle and how we grow up, and that’s the thing that connects, not just your voice. Really strong song.”

BLAKE: “When we got into rehearsals, Dexter’s concern was is this song enough and I said, ‘I don’t know, I just know it’s what the fans want to hear you sing.’ Dude, you did a great job. That’s one of your better performances.”

Shawn Sounds: “A House Is Not a Home” by Luther Vandross – Team Legend

(First standing ovation from all four judges)

ADAM: “You’re incredible. This was your best vocal of the entire show and best of the night. Your personality and your flair and the way you perform are so much of who you are as a singer and, to me, you have that in spades, maybe even more than anybody else this season. I think you’re unbelievable.”

JOHN: “I think that was one of the best performances anybody has done this entire competition this season. I’m just honored you chose to be on my team because you would be great no matter whose team you were on.”

Celia Babini: “Shallow” by Lady Gaga – Team Legend

ADAM: “I’m happy you’re still on the show because you deserve to be here. I love watching you. Every time you perform, I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do. I’m a huge fan of yours.”

JOHN: “When I first talked to you about doing this song, you were a little concerned because it’s a lot of pressure. You know this song just won an Oscar and Lady Gaga is one of the best singers in the world, but what I talked to you about is making it your own and you really did that.”

LB Crew: “I’ll Make Love to You” by BoysIIMen – Team Adam

ADAM: “I think that you are a true talent and I’ll tell you something about this guy—he walks into the room and you just want him to be successful. You’re such a kind, good human, and I love feeling that from you every time we work together.”

Mari: “Foolish” by Ashanti – Team Adam

ADAM: “I think that this young woman is a superstar. I think that she has arrived and I feel, slowly creeping throughout the competition, you’ve come to this point now where it’s like, you’re an artist…you get up there and you’re just your own thing.”

Carter Loyd Horne: “Let It Go” by James Bay – Team Blake

BLAKE: “These fan-picked songs can sometimes, they can make me nervous. And when I saw that this was the song that fans chose for you, I was worried a little bit. I gotta say, and I said it in the package that they rolled, you take everything that gets thrown at you and you run at it head on and you give it everything you’ve got… you killed it tonight.”

Rod Stokes: “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge – Team Kelly

BLAKE: “I was thinking, dammit. This guy used to be on my team. You’re so good, man. And it’s one of those things you could see it coming, performance after performance, you just keep delivering something even more monumental than the last time. There’s a reason you’re still here.”

KELLY: “You have this God-given talent that you didn’t even have to work for, it just comes out of you. It’s a beautiful, majestic thing to behold that kind of power and passion without even trying super hard. And to be singing to your woman on live national television, that’s so nice.”

Maelyn Jarmon: “The Scientist” by Coldplay – Team Legend

JOHN: “Oh my god, America. I said it, I think she’s the best singer in the competition. That skill level is not normal. That skill level is beyond and we’re all blessed to hear it.”