To make your mark on “The Voice,” you have to leave them all on stage.
In the fourth round of Monday night’s Battle Rounds, Team Blake singers Kevin Hawkins and Hillary Torchiana swept the house with passionate coach John Legend’s rendition of “Preach.” The soulful vocals of the duo gave them a standing ovation from Legend.
Legend praised Torchiana’s vocal talent and emotional surrender. “You’re a great singer and you seem really immersed in the spirit of the song,” she said.
Meanwhile, coach Gwen Stefani gushed over Hawkins’ onstage charisma. “I wanted to watch what (Hillary) did with your body language even while she was singing, it’s amazing,” she said.
Blake Shelton seemed to be on the same wavelength as his wife on Hawkins. Although he supported both singers for their dedication to performing, he told his 28-year-old piano teacher that he had yet to scratch the surface of what he could do.
“Even though this is 100%, I still don’t think we’re seeing your full potential and that says a lot,” Shelton said.
This potential impressed Shelton as he chose Hawkins as the winner.
“We still haven’t seen all the things this guy can do and for that he won the battle for me,” Shelton said.
Here’s what else happened in Monday’s episode.
‘Sound’:Camila Cabello says she’ll ‘go home’ during Battle Rounds qualifier
‘Sound’:Blake Shelton plays singer of wife Gwen Stefani, jokes about ‘marriage counseling’
Gwen Stefani wants to give ‘love’ to Team Camila singer
Team Camila’s singers Devix and Sasha Hurtado gave an intimate, understated performance of MGMT’s indie-dance tune “Electric Feel.”
Stefani raved about Devix’s “unique” style and dynamic vocal presentation.
“I didn’t even know someone could sing so beautifully,” Stefani said. “You’d hardly ever hear a man sing so magnificently across such a wide range.”
Shelton said Hurtado is on the verge of a breakthrough in the competition, although he’s a little more confident.
“He needs a minute here to start mowing people,” Shelton said. “He has a voice and has a way of making his attack sound so you feel like it’s about to explode.”
Stefani heeded her husband’s words. Shortly after Camila Cabello declared Devix the winner of the battle, Stefani let her take Hurtado under her wing by pressing the “play” button.
“(Performance) was very good and that shows me that you need some love to push you in the right direction,” Stefani told Hurtado.
‘Sound’:Camila Cabello saved singer Steven McMorran from elimination in first battle
‘Sound’:Blake Shelton failed to convince 4-seat singer Kim Cruse with slick pitch
Blake Shelton holds singer with a voice like ‘butter’
Team Blake’s Kate Kalvach and Madison Hughes took things slow with their delicate cover of Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”
Kalvach won Cabello with his soft tone, and Cabello added that he was impressed by the 27-year-old’s growth in blind auditions.
“You leveled up with this song,” Cabello said. “You got really high grades, but you did it in a very enjoyable, tasteful way. Your voice is just butter.”
Stefani was impressed that Hughes instilled vulnerability into her performance.
“Your tone is incredible,” Stefani said. “My favorite thing about you is your ability to sing these lines so softly and emotionally. Vocally, your sweet spot is the sensitivity you have.”
But Kalvach’s heartfelt singing sealed the deal for Shelton, who chose him as the winner of the battle.
“There’s something really sweet in her voice and how connected she is with herself when she sings,” Shelton said. I can’t wait to see what Kate does in these three-way knockouts.”
‘Sound’:Blake Shelton flexes country chops to become ‘old soul’ singer, shadows Cabello and Stefani
‘Sound’:Camila Cabello loses country duo to John Legend after ‘joke’ on stage
John Legend plays Team Gwen singer with home status link
Team Gwen singers Alyssa Witrado and Ian Harrison rocked the coaches with their emotional rendition of the Billie Eilish pop-punk anthem “Happier Than Ever.”
Legend told Witrado that his song choice was right in the 19-year-old wheelhouse.
“You were pretty perfect,” Legend said. “Your voice sounded incredible. Your tone was perfect for the song.”
The versatility of Harrison’s vocal performance caused Shelton to sing the 20-year-old actor’s praises.
“At first, I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to be stuck in that sub-record the whole time,’ but then the bridge happened and that’s when you got a huge reaction from the room,” Shelton said. He was really good and the shock factor of that was the reason I chose Ian.”
Stefani chose Witrado as the victor of the battle, but that was not the end of the road for Harrison. Legend quickly hit the “play” button, allowing him to capture the Ohio vocalist for his team.
“Ian is from my hometown and it’s time to get home,” Legend said. “I really like your voice and I loved you in the blind (audition) and would love to see you on my team.”
‘Sound’:Gwen Stefani caught California singer from feud between Blake Shelton and John Legend
‘Sound’:John Legend tells four-seat singer he’s ‘tired of losing to Camila’
