.
- * Stand up *
- Give it up for our coaches!
Chance the Rapper,
Kelly Clarkson, Niall Horan,
and Blake Shelton.
- Let's do this.
- * The tracks of my tears *
* Oh-oh *
- * Let's do this *
- Wow. - Come on.
My first Battles ever. That was insane.
Blakey boy, one hell of a choice to make here.
- Language, Niall.
- Coming from a show like this,
I've stood on that stage
hearing my future.
It's a scary situation to be in.
But this evening, my contestants
really step up and take hold of their own future.
- That's my team. - My guy.
- I'm so excited to work with my first ever team
on "The Voice."
I thought it was an award show level performance.
- Was that your arrangement?
- I like to create arrangements for the vocalists
and give them positive feedback
that helps them become the artist that they want to be.
- Nothing like this
has been done before on "The Voice," ever.
- We have a thing called a Playoff Pass.
- There it is, the Playoff Pass!
- This year, for the first time ever,
we have the Playoff Pass.
It gives an artist a chance to skip the Knockout Round
and puts them straight into the Playoffs.
- Oh! - I'm using a Playoff Pass!
- A "Voice" first.
- It's amazing to be able to award someone
for a breakout performance.
- The Playoff Pass overrides the steals,
so I think this is going to be a game changer.
- * 3, 2, 1, let's do this *
- Wow! We got two steals.
The two new coaches use their one and only steal.
- I'm not even in it.
- * Let's do this *
- All right, it's first-day Battles for y'all.
Are you ready? - I'm excited.
- I am too. - It's gonna be crazy.
- Yeah.
We have the new thing this season
we've never done, the Playoff Pass.
- Oh, yeah. I'm excited about that.
And this is my last Battles that I'm ever gonna do.
- Is it? - This is your last Battle.
- Are you sad about that? - Mm. No.
- Because this is my least favorite part of this show.
- Yeah. It really stinks
to see such talented people go home.
- I would be in agreement, and I haven't even done it yet.
Have you got any fatherly advice for me?
- I'm gonna be out there.
I'm gonna be right next to you. - Yeah?
Will you hold my hand the whole way through it?
- After you've changed.
We've gotta go film this thing here in a minute.
You're not wearing that, are you?
- After you.
- The Blake Shelton fashion show.
- OK, you guys, are you ready for this?
- Yes. - Yeah.
- [vocalizing]
Here we go!
- Hi, Blake.
- How about a group team hug here? Come on.
- Yes!
- For the first time ever, we're getting to have
Battle rehearsals without an advisor.
It's nice to be able to just be one-on-one
with your team, especially first thing
after you get them on your team.
Wow, Tasha, you're the person that shocked us all.
- Really? - It's not a stretch
for EJ to choose me as his coach.
- Yeah. Makes sense. - I was blown away.
- Blinds was wild.
Growing up in Pakistan, you don't get a lot
of opportunities like this.
* And take me to your river *
* And I want to go *
- Your voice is hard to define,
which is the best thing
you could ever have going for you.
- When he said that, I was like, you're my person.
[laughs] I pick you.
I associate "The Voice" with Blake.
So to be on this team for his last season,
it's one of the biggest honors ever.
- How y'all been? - It's been good.
When I found out I was singing with her,
I was like, thank you. Like, this is such a fun duo.
- You did great, Blake.
We are very happy... - You did great.
- With our pairing and our song.
- I gave these guys "Tracks of My Tears"
by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.
- * So take a good *
- I think this song lands perfectly
in between Tasha and EJ.
There's a lot of different versions,
so there's a lot of different inspiration
they can pull from.
- * The tracks of my tears *
The song really resonates with me.
I went through some of my darkest time in my life
when my husband and I were separated because
of immigration issues, and we didn't know when we were
going to see each other again.
I listened to the song during our time of separation.
Just the uncertainty, it was really, really difficult.
- Congratulations. - Thank you!
Knowing that I have been through so much in my life
with the separation, I'm in a space where I am
healed from almost all of it.
It's such a beautiful like full circle moment.
- I mean, you guys both have such individual superpowers.
Tasha, sometimes, I think I might hear like Norah Jones.
And then there's like this soulful side of what you do.
But then your range is what really is incredible.
- Thank you, Blake.
- EJ, your voice is just so like electrifying.
And who would expect you to come in here
and sing like that?
- * Go easy on me, baby *
- I really like your heady, upper register voice.
- Your voice emotionally kind of had me on the edge.
You can make me feel that.
I can't wait to see what you can do to America.
- Having gone through all the challenges in my life,
it's a very validating moment to kind of
have this like dream experience happen.
The family I grew up in was really religious.
And thinking like I'm supposed to live my life a certain way,
it really took a toll on my self-esteem.
I eventually came out to more and more people.
It's actually been a really healing experience
for me being on the show in that sense of
I can just kind of be myself on stage.
I would love to move on to Knockouts.
Like, that would mean everything to me.
- It looks like you guys are having a blast.
It sounds like you guys are having a blast.
- The band just like gives us so much energy.
- You know, I think there's some tightening up
you guys can do at the end there.
Tasha, when you bend those notes, take--
take a--
- * Take a good *
- Just be sure that you don't bend them
and then run out of time to get to the note.
- OK, got it. - If that makes sense.
- Yeah. I love Blake,
the reigning champ of "The Voice".
He was so genuine and so intentional.
I want to make Blake proud, so going to be
working really, really hard.
- Tasha has that thing that we all can't explain.
EJ has the more shocking voice of anybody on my team.
They're both artists that I could see in the finale,
and they can both just blow the roof off of this place.
I am absolutely dreading making this decision.
* *
Wow.
There's really no other notes here.
And, by the way, this is a big deal to me.
This is the last Battle rehearsals.
- Wow!
- You know, there's no way for me to ignore the fact
that every step I'm making along the way
is the last time I'll be doing it.
Now that we have this Playoff Pass,
there's a way to just move everybody forward.
Each coach only has one.
And that means every artist has to bring it.
I've been waiting for years for something like this
because we always, as coaches, inevitably will have
a Battle where we go, oh my God,
like why did I put them together?
And so Playoff Pass gets used.
One gets to skip the Knockouts and go
straight to the Playoffs.
The other one stays and everybody wins.
- It is a really big deal to like get that Playoff Pass.
You go from Battles to Playoffs.
So I want that Playoff Pass ASAP.
- Go.
- So crazy.
[crowd cheering]
- Hey, here's my Battlers.
- Ah. - What's up?
- How you doing? Get in here.
- How's it going?
- Hi.
- We're getting ready.
- You look amazing. - Right?
- So do you, Blake. - You look OK too.
- I said, 10 out of 10.
7.5 out of 10.
[laughs]
- I could never look as good as you, Blake.
- You guys did unbelievable in rehearsal.
If you guys can just do that, we're gonna be good out there.
- My man. - See you guys. All right.
- Much love. - Bye, Blake.
[crowd cheering]
- Look how close I'm standing to Niall, girls.
Look at this. Jealous?
- Oh, my God.
- Who will win this Team Blake Battle?
EJ Michaels.
- EJ! - I remember this dude.
- Tasha Jessen.
- She looks incredibly cool.
- Oh, this is going to be good.
- The Battle starts now.
["The Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles]
* *
- * People say I'm the life of the party *
* Cause I tell a joke or two *
* Although I may be laughing loud and hearty *
* Deep inside I'm blue *
* So take a good look at my face *
* You'll see that my smile seems out of place *
* And if you look closer, it's easy to trace *
* The tracks of my tears *
- * Ooh yeah *
* Since you left, if you see me with someone else *
* Acting like I'm having fun *
* Although he may look fine, he's not really mine *
* 'Cause you're the only one *
* Take a good look at my face *
* You'll see that my smile seems out of place *
* And if you look closer, it's easy to trace *
* The tracks of my tears *
* I need you *
- * I'm masquerading, I need you *
- * My hope is fading, I need you *
- * Since you put me down *
* My smile is my make up *
Oh, this is my break up with you *
- * Baby, take a good look at my face *
- * You'll see that my smile's out of place *
- * And if you look closer, it's easy to trace *
* The tracks of my tears *
- * Oh-oh *
* Baby, take one good look at my face *
- * You'll see my smile's out of place *
- * And if you look closer, baby, it's easy to trace *
* The tracks of my tears *
* And if you look closer, it's easy to trace *
* The tracks of my tears *
* *
- That is so good.
[crowd cheering]
- What did we just do?
- Insanity. - That was insane.
- That was so good.
I got to say, EJ, you came out here and I was afraid for her
because I was like, oh, he's really, really good.
And then you came in and your tone is incredible.
- Thank you so much.
- I really do feel like it was evenly matched.
That's hard, Blake.
[applause]
- I thought it was award show level performance.
- Thank you. - Wow.
- I'd agree with Kelly.
You have like an amazing individual tone,
but I would go with EJ just because
I think your stage presence is something
that this competition could use.
- Thank you so much. - Hello, guys.
That was absolutely insane.
Like, the two of you really brought that song to life.
Tasha, I'm still glad I turned for you.
I'm still sad I lost you.
- Oh my gosh.
- And, EJ, I must have had like earplugs in
that day or something because I never turned.
This is full regret.
You were phenomenal, dude.
- Thank you so much.
- Do I have to say anything-- - Yes, you do.
It's a part of your contract.
- That's the rule.
- When I hired you to do this, I specifically
put that in your contract.
- What a hire that was.
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Uh, I'd go with EJ.
- Thank you, coaches.
- Man.
- Blake, it's all up to you, buddy.
Give us some thoughts on that Battle first.
- Tasha, I love hearing everybody talk about your tone
and how special it is because there truly is
something special about you.
And it starts with the sound of your voice.
When my back was turned to you, you just go, wow.
I want to be in the Tasha business.
- Thank you so much, Blake.
- And then, EJ, I don't know that I've
ever been more shocked with somebody from the Blinds.
It's just like, where the hell did this guy come from?
I mean, this is crazy, you know.
And I'd like to sit here and go, see,
one rehearsal with Blake--
[laughter]
- In spite of that, you still did amazing.
That's incredible.
- He came in swinging, and it made for just a great duet.
That was a great performance.
- Thanks, Blake. - Thank you so much.
Thank you.
- Blake, the time has come.
Who is the winner of this Battle?
- I don't really know how to make this decision.
You'd think after all this time it would be easier,
but it's just not.
The winner of this Battle is...
Tasha.
- Tasha, congratulations!
You are moving on to the Knockouts on Team Blake.
- Tasha is just one of those special,
one-of-a-kind artists that you're lucky to get
on a season of "The Voice".
- Oh.
- You did it, buddy. - Thank you.
- Congratulations. - Thank you so much.
- Tasha's is truly like nobody else in the competition.
Her potential is absolutely endless.
- This is so amazing.
I'm so happy right now.
This is happy tears.
- Coaches, let me remind you that EJ is available to steal.
EJ, anything you'd like to say to Blake?
- I just want to say thank you for turning for me,
and I'm going forward with my music career.
- Give it up one more time for EJ Michaels,
ladies and gentlemen.
- Thank you, guys.
- What are you gonna do?
- Oh, we got a Steal!
We have two Steals!
EJ is back in the competition.
- Oh, my God!
- The two new coaches use their precious Steals.
Chance, we'll start with you.
- I turned for you.
You went with Blake, which was a decision.
[laughter]
- A decision.
- That was a choice.
- I think that with the right song choices,
you could win this whole thing.
- Thank you. - Niall?
- EJ, as I said, I'm very regretful that I didn't turn.
And to be honest, I think you did an unbelievable job,
and I definitely don't have a singer with the range
that you've got.
You would fit perfectly in my team.
- All right, EJ, our two new coaches
are trying to steal you away from Team Blake.
Who do you select as your new coach?
[crowd cheering]
[dramatic music]
@
- * This is "The Voice" *
- Welcome back to night one of the Battles.
All right, EJ, our two new coaches
are trying to steal you away from Team Blake.
Who do you select as your new coach?
- I'm not even in it.
I'm not even in it.
[crowd cheering]
- I have to go with Niall.
- EJ selects Niall Horan.
- Good work, man. - As his new coach.
EJ, we'll see you at the Knockouts.
- I only get one Steal, and I chose
to use it on EJ simply because EJ could sing anything.
It was like watching a ready-made star.
- You did it, dude.
I was truly considering using my Playoff Pass,
but I'm glad that EJ is still around.
I'm just waiting for that performance that, you know,
makes my decision impossible.
- Oh, I think Niall's amazing. Yeah.
Oh, Niall's right here. Oh my gosh.
He's right here, my man.
- Sorry to interrupt.
I'm so happy for you, man.
That was different level, like--
- Yeah. - Dude, welcome.
- So happy, my man. - Welcome.
You're not going anywhere yet. Come on.
- Heck yeah. Thank you, Niall.
- See you, man. - See ya.
Wow, yeah.
That's Niall Horan, everyone. Oh, my gosh.
- You can't lose a voice like that.
- I turned for EJ at the Blinds, and Niall did not.
And somehow he still ended up on Niall's team.
But it's OK.
I still got more chances to steal him.
- I'm headed to my first Battle rehearsals ever.
The Battle rounds are about to be crazy.
I'm really confident in this team I put together.
There's so many really original people on my team.
But I think they're really going to shine on these songs
that I picked for them for the rehearsal.
Right after the Blind Auditions,
I put a lot of thought into which
artists I wanted to pick.
Hey. - Come on in.
- I hope to bring my production prowess
in terms of like finding the right pairings.
- Here, you can just lay them out however
you want to lay them out.
- I'm going to have Mariah and Jamar.
- Excellent decision.
- I paired them together because they
both have similar tones.
- All right, let's toss it up there.
- He's 20 years older than her,
but they're both wildly talented.
- Yeah, I'm ready.
- * Don't be that way *
- My Blind Audition, I was very nervous.
- I'm just like blown away, like your tone
and your stage presence.
- So to get that recognition and that love from Chance,
I couldn't ask for something greater.
- Yo!
- What's up? What's up?
- Jamar and Mariah are both very soulful people.
Welcome back. - Nice to see you too, man.
- So I gave them "Gravity" by John Mayer
because the song has a lot emotionally within the lyrics.
And what I want to see is their interpretation on the song
from two different viewpoints.
Jamar, you did not have a guitar
the last time I saw you.
- I wanted to surprise you.
I wanted to whip it out at the right time.
- You got me. - Uh-huh. Yeah.
I wanted to incorporate the electric guitar
because I'm able to express myself a little more.
But for my Blind Audition, I was definitely channeling
the James Brown energy.
* I need you *
@ * *
- What made me pick Chance was
I believe we have a connection creatively.
- I think that you could go really far in this competition
with your tone.
- And so getting the one-on-one time and, you know,
getting some wise counsel, it's a blessing to be able
to experience that right now.
- * Oh, gravity *
- Mariah's only 17, and what she showed today
was that she's got a lot of the prowess of people
that are twice her age.
- * Oh, gravity *
- In the auditions, Jamar did such a tonally different song.
It's cool for him to show another side of himself
because that's always important to see in an artist.
Wow.
Man, it's good to hear you sing again.
- Thank you.
- Mariah, what I'd like to see from you
is like let go of the nerves,
or use them to feel the song out.
I think the strengths of it are when you do an adlib.
So just have fun with it, as corny as that sounds.
- I really like Chance's coaching
because being one of the youngest on the show,
I don't have a lot of experience.
It's a little scary.
I'm a very chill, to myself, reserved person.
I don't really have friends at all.
But I feel Chance could help me come out of my shell
and develop me in a lot of different ways
that I'm needing.
- Jamar, like, you can really pull from these lyrics
to make the song ache the way that it's supposed to.
- Yeah. - Use the experience of life
to bring the song to life.
- * Keep me where the light is *
- With the lyrics that says, "keep me where the light is,"
it's kind of a reminder that, you know,
there's always a light in every situation.
I've been playing in church for 26 years.
But one night after rehearsal, I decided, hey, I'm going
to go full time in this thing.
Just sing and write.
And so I resigned, and that was literally
like a month and a half before
I got the opportunity to come here.
It's amazing when you just step out, what can happen.
[harmonizing]
- All right. Let's go.
We're going to win an Emmy.
This is crazy.
Felt like an award show performance.
This is hard.
I'm sure one of you guys, if not both of you guys,
are going to keep going.
So just always be you.
Well, I will see y'all at the stage.
Y'all don't really need no more notes.
Y'all got it down pat. - Thank you.
- This one's going gonna hard because
they were both like equally fire.
* *
- Who would you pick as the winner of this Battle?
@
- * This is "The Voice" *
- Welcome back to the Battles.
[crowd cheering]
- He's playing guitar.
- That's cool.
- Let the Battle begin.
["Gravity" by John Mayer]
* *
- * Gravity *
* Is working against me *
* Oh, mm *
- * And gravity *
* It wants to bring me down *
- Oh!
- * Oh, I never know *
* What makes this man *
* With all the love *
* That his heart can stand *
- * Dream of ways *
- * To throw it all away *
- * Oh *
* Gravity *
* Is working against me *
* *
- * Oh, gravity *
* Wants to bring me down, down, down, down, down *
* Oh, twice as much *
- * Twice is much *
- * Ain't twice as good * - * No, not twice as good *
- * And you can't sustain *
- * Can't sustain * - * Like one half could *
- * Oh, it's wanting more *
* That's gonna send me to my knees *
- * Just keep me where the light is *
- * Keep me where the light is *
- * Keep *
* Keep me where the light is *
- * Oh-oh *
- * Keep me where the light is, yeah *
- * Oh-oh-oh *
- * Keep me where *
* The light is *
* Light is *
@ * *
- Yeah!
[cheers and applause]
* *
- Oh, my God.
That was my favorite version I've ever heard of that song.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
- Mariah, you brought this youthfulness
and this sass to it.
You were singing and I was like,
I want to know what kind of record she would make,
and I 100% would buy it.
- Oh my gosh. Thank you. Wow.
- You've got a cool gift.
And, Jamar, my gosh.
I love that you're like playing from the beginning.
I love the ease in which you sing.
You have--
oh, it's-- it's an incredible gift.
- Thank you so much.
- I thought it was really evenly matched,
but Jamar, you stuck out a little bit more to me today.
- Jamar, we see artists a lot on this show,
you're going, how has this person
not already got a record deal?
You're ready right now.
Mariah, she's always going to be better
every time she gets on the stage.
She's at that age, you know.
The development is happening still with Mariah.
Basing it on this performance, I would pick Jamar.
If I was going to invest money in an artist right now,
I would invest a lot of money in Mariah
because I think she's going to be a superstar.
- Thank you.
- That was really special.
Mariah, you've got this sass that you can't teach.
All the dynamics, the whole way through,
the song from start to finish was just unbelievable.
- Thank you.
- To come up here and really take it
by the scruff of the neck, I thought
it was super impressive and you should be really proud of it
no matter what happens.
- Thank you so much. - And, Jamar, dude,
like, that tone is just so solid
and you can hear the years of gigging in your voice.
And it's an amazing thing to have too.
- Thank you so much.
- This is obviously a tough decision for Chance,
but if I was to lean one way, I'd lean towards Mariah.
- Thank you. - Thank you, coaches.
All right, Chance.
A tough decision coming up. Give us some thoughts.
- I'm literally shaking over here.
Like, it's so-- this is very, very difficult.
Jamar, obviously, like you are an artist's artist, you know.
Like, you-- I didn't even know you play guitar
until we got to rehearsal.
And I think that's going to be something that I want to see
through the competition.
Mariah, you just have so much control with your voice.
When you do that run and you climb
all the way up there, like every time,
it just blew me away.
You also like make me think about my daughters too
because they both love music,
and I just really feel like both of you guys
are supposed to be here.
So it's really messing with me right now to make a decision.
- It's harder than it appears.
- Yeah, it's really tough right now.
- Yeah, when it counts. Yeah.
- I don't know what to say, honestly.
- They're just so evenly matched.
- Near impossible decision, buddy.
Who's the winner of this Battle?
[suspenseful music]
@ * *
- The winner of the Battle is Jamar.
- Thank you. - Jamar, congratulations!
You're moving on to the Knockouts.
- That was emotional, man.
Jamar is a artist that's ready right now.
You deserve it, brother. I'm glad you're here, man.
The control that he kept, the choices that he made
felt like a seasoned artist
that's ready to win this whole show,
and Mariah still has time to grow.
- Congratulations, man. - I'm overjoyed.
I just came here to--
[sighs]
I just came here to have a chance.
- Mariah, anything you want to say to Chance?
- I just want to thank you.
Whew. OK.
I'm just-- I'm just happy that I even got to be here
in the first place.
And I'm not gonna stop making music
and I'm very appreciative of you.
So thank you. - Thank you.
- Give it up for Mariah Kalia.
- If I had another steal, I would have chosen Mariah.
- Awesome job.
- That was a phenomenal performance
from her and Jamar.
It's really tough seeing talented artists go home.
- She's really cool.
- Go make a record on her.
- I think that's what I'm going to do.
- You should. - Where's she from?
- She's from Florida.
She's not far from you.
- That's far from Chicago.
- Like, it's closer than Mars.
[laughing]
- Still to come...
- * Come on, skinny love *
- Mind blowing performances.
- * No *
- Oh, I don't think I'm any help here.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Kelly, stop.
- * Sometimes it lasts in love *
- That's my team!
- Now I never want you guys to not sing together, all of you.
- More Steals...
- We have a steal.
- And the first-ever Playoff Pass.
The coveted Playoff Pass!
.
- This is "The Voice".
- Welcome back.
* *
- All right, here we go, my first-ever Battle rehearsal.
Let's see what Team Niall have got for us.
Let's go.
All right.
- Gina Miles,
you will be battling Kala Banham.
- Oh, my gosh. - Oh, my god.
- God. - She's so amazing.
I think our voices are going to blend so well together.
- I love you so much. - I know.
I love you with my whole heart.
- It's a little bit of a bittersweet situation
because I really do love her and think of her as,
like, a little sister to me.
So the only solution I'm OK with
is that we give such an incredible duet,
that we both get to stay in the competition.
- Let's do it. - I'm so excited.
- Why do you think,
like, he paired us together?
- Honestly, I mean, I wasn't surprised
when I was able to watch back your Blind Audition,
and you slayed the Katy Perry song.
- * Steal your best liquor and come to the roof *
- Yeah.
- My Blind Audition was very surreal,
and I was the most nervous I've ever been in my life.
* I'd be losing you *
- I love voices with so much character like you've got.
I could sense nerves. I can see you, like,
holding the mic with two hands.
You're gonna grow into this competition.
I feel like you've got so much more to give.
- Thank you so much.
I feel like Niall was very understanding.
It really helped me coming into Battles
because I want to be known for more than just my nerves.
- When I saw your audition, Joni Mitchell
is, like, immediately is so recognizable.
- Yeah. - And, like,
the tone of your voice
is so, like, airy and beautiful.
- I never in a million years would have ever thought
that a coach would consider my voice worthy enough
to use their only block, especially Niall with it
being his first block ever.
- I just want to go grab a guitar now
and just sit down in a room and write a song with you.
- When Niall was talking to me,
I really felt like he got it.
I couldn't be happier. It still feels like a dream
when I think back on it.
- I feel like it was a perfect pairing
and, like, couldn't... - Yeah.
- Have picked a better, like, person to be my partner.
- I love you so much. - I love you too.
- Hello.
- Hello!
- Long time, no see.
I love the way you come, with, like, a jewel on there.
- Yeah.
- When I first met Niall,
he was the most sweet person ever.
And as much as he is serious about music,
he is so friendly.
- What do we think of the tune?
- So good. - So good.
- I feel like across the board,
we've got, like, good storytellers.
- Yeah. - But you two do it very well.
Then this song is just, like, a no-brainer to me.
- * Come on, skinny love, just last the year *
- Kala and Gina was an easy pairing,
two beautiful storytellers with two really soft and subtle,
beautiful voices, together in one duet.
- * My, my, my, my, my, my. *
- Skinny Love by Bon Iver, but Birdy's version.
You know, you can hear the breath in their voice.
You can hear how it's just all based on feel.
Woo-hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo. [laughs]
Ah, I picked the right song here.
- Good job. - That's so good.
- Oh, thank you.
- Those first couple of lines each in your verses,
think Birdy, especially Gina on big staring. *
* Staring at the sink of blood *
And then probably the same on your line as well, Kala.
* Right in this moment, the story told *
- Gentle, right.
- Words nearly need to be dynamic, where you come out
hard on the start of a word
and then just die it off and make them breathy.
You're both singing it really incredibly,
but it's just more about the dynamic of it.
- * I tell my love to wreck it all *
- What I love about Kala is she knows exactly who she is.
She likes to dig deep in her emotions,
which I also like to do too.
And I think that goes a long way
in a competition like this.
- * And I told you to be patient *
- What I love about Gina is she has a really soft voice
and then also can belt.
She sounded a little bit nervous in her audition.
Today, it was a different person.
- * Come on, skinny love. *
- I feel like I connect to this song
because it is a singer-songwriter song.
It's a very emotive song.
It gets to show off that side of me as an artist.
It's kind of talking about the people who will stick around
and who will end up falling behind,
eventually, in your life.
I've sort of experienced things like that.
Growing up, my mom wasn't really around.
So it was just my dad and my sister.
I really want to win for my family.
I want to show them that I made something of myself.
- Yeah, I just wouldn't get too aggressive too late.
Like, at the end, don't over-sing.
- Yeah. - Because the harmonies
can be sweet and controlled.
They don't have to be belted.
I think it makes such a difference
to just sing 20% less.
- This is a really nostalgic song for me.
I remember singing it when I was in, like,
seventh or eighth grade.
It's cool to be able to think back on how much
I've grown since those days.
I've dealt with a lot of insecurity and self-confidence
issues growing up, especially when it comes to my ability
as a performer.
Now, I'm really excited for the opportunity
to give this a real shot.
And I think all I can do is show
that I deserve to be here still.
- Thank you, my friends. - Thank you.
Thank you. - Thank you for the song
and the partner.
- I feel this Battle is a very, very tough decision.
And I half regret pairing them.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what these artists
bring to stage rehearsals.
[light music]
On your microphones, stay calm.
It's my first-ever stage rehearsal here at "The Voice".
But I've been here before.
I feel like I have. I feel at home.
I used to be in their spot every week for 10 weeks.
- * I told you to be balanced-- *
- I want Gina to come out of her shell.
I want her to feel like she belongs here.
- * And in the morning I'll be leaving *
- I really want Kala to really draw people in.
I think that's going to be really important for her
in this.
The biggest thing with those two girls is nerves.
They're self-admitted very nervous performers.
The more emotion you give it, the better it's going to be.
Keep your composure, and sing it to each other,
and just leave it at that.
And you'll be fine.
Both of them can sing.
Both of them can tell the story.
Both of them can get the emotion across.
And I think it's going to come down to whoever
.
- * This is "The Voice" *
- Welcome back to The Battles premiere.
[applause]
- [laughs]
- This Battle begins right now.
- Come on.
["Skinny Love" by Bon Iver (Birdy Cover)]
- * Come on, skinny love, just last the year *
* Pour a little salt, we were never here *
- * My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my *
* Staring at the sink of blood *
* And crushed veneer *
[applause]
- * I tell my love to wreck it all *
* Cut out all the ropes and let me fall *
* My, my, my * - OK.
* My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my *
* Right in this moment, this order's tall *
- * And I told you to be patient *
* And I told you to be fine *
* I told you to be balanced *
* And I told you to be kind *
- * And in the morning I'll be with you *
* But it will be a different kind *
* And I'll be holding all the tickets *
* And you'll be owning all the fines *
@ * *
- * Who will love you? * - Oh, my God.
- * Who will fight? *
- * And who will fall *
* Far behind? *
* Come on, skinny love *
[vocalizing]
* My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my *
- * My, my, my *
* My, my, my, my, my, my *
* My, my, my *
* My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my *
* My, my, my *
* My, my, my, my *
[cheers and applause]
- Let's go!
- That was really good.
- Yes!
Come on.
Yes. Well done.
- [laughs]
- Gina, your tone, wow.
The roundness of it, the depth of it, the storyteller in it.
Like, you have a really special gift.
And Kala,
Niall blocked me.
I didn't even have a chance to be with you.
- Correct. - So that was rude.
- [laughs] - I love your voice.
It broke my heart,
it was so beautifully sung.
For some reason, Kala, I was gravitating
towards the sweet, angelic vibe.
I actually love both your Blind songs too.
You've got great taste in music too, ladies.
And knowing how to, like, navigate
a singing competition, these are really smart songs.
- I know. - Yeah.
- Your voices sound magical together.
The thing that sucks is then you have to pick.
Either one of you, I think, could be in the finale.
I think you're both fantastic.
- Thank you so much. - Thank you.
- You guys are making great choices
in terms of dynamics and where to go big.
Kala, like, you had a little bit more control.
Pitch-wise, everything was perfect.
- Thank you.
- Gina, there were parts where
it was a little bit shaky,
but that was what, to me, gave you the edge.
It felt like a cool performance.
It was just fire.
Like, I just felt like the presence was there.
I think either one of you guys could win this whole thing.
So I would hate to be in your position.
[cheers and applause]
- This is about as evenly matched as we can get here.
I mean, Gina, where did you learn to sing like that?
Who are your heroes?
I've never heard a voice like that in my life.
- [quietly] I really love Adele the most.
She's, like, my favorite, ever.
- Never heard of her. [laughs]
- I didn't even hear what she said.
- She said Adele.
- That's not who you sound like.
You just have this whole different thing happening.
And you know, I'm the wise old man here, but--
or maybe not wise, but I'm definitely the old man here.
And man, Gina, the thought of your voice on a record
doing all those crackly weird things that you do,
I just think it would be so different.
Because of that, I'd go with Gina.
- Thank you. - Thank you, coaches.
All right, Niall, you've got the final decision.
- I've had sleepless nights leading up to this,
I'm not going to lie.
I put you two together,
shot myself straight in the foot.
The two of you have been unbelievable to work with.
Both of you can tell a story and tell it well.
And this is why this decision is the hardest.
Getting bit emotional, actually.
Gina, your tone is just phenomenal.
The fact that you can speak,
and it's like quiet as a mouse.
And then you come out and you have
that big, bold, round sound to your voice.
And as Chance said, some of that shaky stuff just--
it adds to the character.
Kala, from day one, your commitment to this
has been amazing.
And you know who you are as an artist.
I've got a really, really, really, really tough decision,
and I'm hoping someone helps me out here
because I swear to God, this has been sleepless.
Like, I didn't sleep a wink last night because of this.
Because I've been on a show like this,
and I know exactly how it feels to stand there
and know that your future is
in the hands of someone else.
[suspenseful music]
* *
- Niall, tough one for you.
Who is the winner of this Battle?
- The winner...
.
- * This is "The Voice" *
- Welcome back to night one of The Battles.
Niall, tough one for you.
Who is the winner of this Battle?
- The winner...
of this Battle...
is Gina.
- Gina, you are moving on to the Knockouts.
Congratulations for Team Niall.
- Gina and Kala's Battle, that was always
going to be a tough decision.
I chose Gina as the winner of the Battle
because of her growth.
From her first audition to now, unbelievable.
The sky's the limit for that girl.
I'm really looking forward to seeing
what Gina brings to the Knockouts.
- Good job, buddy.
- I'm so unbelievably excited.
I'm very shaky, but I'm so grateful to have won.
- Coaches, let me remind you that Kala
is available to steal.
Kala, anything you want to say to Niall?
- The way that you've given us absolutely everything
that you have to give,
it's been an absolute honor working with you.
- And you, Kala. Thank you.
- There is a Steal!
- Oh, my God. I'm gonna cry.
- Kelly Clarkson...
- We have a Steal.
- Presses her button to Steal Kala away from Niall.
- Who cares about Niall? Welcome to Team Kelly.
- Thank you so much. I'm so excited.
- Kelly Steals Kala.
Go meet your new coach.
- You're so great. Oh, my God.
I stole Kala because I've been waiting for her.
I remember her from the Blinds, and I was blocked.
So I'm really glad she's Team Kelly.
Watch out, Niall.
- I'm so glad.
That was my plan all along.
- I still have my Playoff Pass,
but I just had a feeling in my gut that Kelly
was going to steal her.
I'm glad she's still here.
- I love her. - She's so good.
- There was one word she said, and I almost cried.
I was like-- - * Who will love you *
- I was like, don't go there.
Go dead inside.
[laughs] I'm so happy.
- [sighs]
[light music]
- What?
What in the world?
Total pigs.
Shelton!
What?
Aw, gross. You know what?
You know what?
I'll put this right where it goes, where trash should be.
I wish I had a marker.
OK.
* *
Hey. - What's up?
- Y'all look so cute. - Hi.
You look so cute. - Nice to see you.
- I paired Allie and Cait because Allie
is a rocker to her core.
- * If I was in peril, go insane *
I was the most nervous I've ever been in my entire life
probably because I've never had a moment in my career
that was so defining.
- Somebody on this show that rocks.
- You have this Janis Joplin vibe,
also, Ann Wilson, Heart vibe about you.
You're a powerhouse.
And you have Cait, who has this smooth, like, effortless
kind of range about her.
- * As it were *
I just tried to lose myself in the song.
* As it were *
Before I knew it, the song was over,
and there were four coaches staring at me.
It was the most surreal moment of my life.
- I knew you were going to go big and powerful,
but I didn't know how big your range was.
Although their voices are different,
they both have incredible ranges.
And I want to have one lane for that person.
So I wanted to see who would stand out in this pairing.
I was going through a few songs for y'all,
and I kept trying to get something that was,
like, soulful and kind of cool and R&B but also,
like, could be rock and roll.
And so every time I kept coming back to that, I was like, OK.
So I picked a Roxette song, "It Must Have Been Love,"
but I did want to take kind of the '80s vibe out of it a bit
and, like, make it a little more current.
- * It must have been love *
In order for me to make it to the Knockouts,
I think that I just need to sing the song as authentically
as I can, from my perspective,
which is a little bit difficult
because it is a song about love that no longer was.
And I am very much so in love right now.
- Tell me about the love of your life.
- Mmm.
His name's Cameron.
We have the same heart.
He feeds my spirit and my soul.
* It must have been love *
Cameron gives me so much gasoline.
Whenever I have moments of doubt or insecurity,
knowing that someone believes in you,
even when you may not have the most confidence in yourself,
that in itself is enough to just
propel you forward every time.
- * Touch me now *
- Nice. - * I'll close my eyes *
- The song reminds me a lot
of what I would hear when I was at home.
My mom, obviously, loves, like, '80s pop.
I grew up in Neoga, Illinois.
It's a tiny, tiny town.
We barely have a grocery store,
one gas station,
but all my family lives there.
When I was younger, there wasn't a lot to do.
So I would sing and learn to play instruments.
And singing the song does make me miss home
and being with them.
So I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make it
to the Knockouts or maybe even get the Playoff Pass,
just for my family,
to make sure that they're proud of me.
- There's one note where I was like,
Allie, you go... * Touch me now *
Is that what you do? - Yeah.
* Touch me now, I'll close my eyes *
- Yeah. Can you--
* I close my eyes *
Can you hold it out without the vibrato on that one?
Because you come in with that really cool vibrato
the next time.
- * Dream away * - Yeah.
When you're doing it on "away,"
it sounds like, really, really amazing.
- Cool. - And a little bit of vibrato
is fine. I just think it'd be cool
because it sounds achier,
and it's such a pretty vowel, i's,
like, to open your mouth and do that.
Cait, and I'd like it to sound more intimate and storyteller,
more of, like, a...
* Lay a whisper on my pillow *
Just more that [croaks]-- Like, more
of the ache in the beginning. - Moves a little.
- Because you're going to get to exactly
where you just were. - Mm-hmm.
- It's going to get there.
- * I wake up lonely, this air of silence *
- All the little things you just did there, yeah.
- * In the bedroom-- *
- Kelly is everything that I want to be as an artist.
She's such a strong woman that still manages
to have love and kindness in every single thing
she does.
If that is not a role model, I don't know what is.
- * It must have been love *
* But it's over now *
* It must have been good *
* But I lost it somehow *
- * It must have been love *
* But it's over now *
- This is going to be one of those performances
when, like, hair, you know, everybody is flying backwards.
Like, they're powerhouse females,
and they're going to show you that.
- * Must have been love *
- [laughing]
Oh, my God.
I am so epically screwed.
Oh, I forgot how hard this is.
I literally threw my papers.
OK.
You complement each other so well
with completely different tones.
- Yes. - Mm-hmm.
- And somehow, it works.
- But it works. - Yeah.
- Cait and Allie are both very passionate singers.
- Thank you. - All right. Bye, y'all.
- Bye.
- It's just going to come down to who can sound key
and who nails their part.
.
- * This is "The Voice" *
- Welcome back.
[cheers and applause]
- I feel like I haven't done this in a minute.
No matter who I pick, it has everything to do with the fact
that I'm going to pick who I think is right in this show
for the moment.
Just have a good time, and I want you both to shine,
and let's get the other one stolen is the goal.
- It's the goal. - All right.
- That's our goal.
[cheering]
- The Battle starts now.
["It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette]
* *
- * Must have been love *
* But it's over now *
- * Lay a whisper *
* On my pillow *
* Leave the winter on the ground *
- Yeah.
- * I wake up lonely, this air of silence *
* In the bedroom and all around *
- * Touch me now *
* I close my eyes *
* And dream away *
- * It must have been love *
* But it's over now *
* It was all that I wanted *
* Now I'm living without *
- Yeah.
- * It must have been love *
* But it's over now *
* It's where the water flows *
- She's good.
- * It's where the wind blows *
* *
- * It must have been love, but it's over now *
* It must have been good, but I lost it somehow *
- * It must have been love, but it's over now *
* It's where the water flows *
* It's where the wind blows *
[both vocalizing]
- * Must have been love *
- * But it's over now *
- * Must have been love *
- * But it's over now *
* Must have been love *
- Wow.
- Yeah!
- You were so good. - You were great.
[cheering]
- You guys both just absolutely killed it
and in two different ways.
Cait, you have a little more finesse
in the way that you sing.
It's a little smoother.
And when you combine that with the big notes
that you were hitting, it was just like, whoa.
Because Allie has more of an attack.
There's this thing that happens to you
when you're singing that you're just like, oh, just--
and it's cool, though.
I don't know, Kelly. I-- - Help me.
- I don't think I'm any help to you either.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Ladies, that was mind-blowing.
I was, like, nearly pinned back into my seat.
You completely made it your own
from two different sides of the room.
It was really what a Battle should be.
It was so controlled from both of you.
The harmonies were perfect.
Kelly, I don't think I'm any help to you.
- Oh, cool. Solid.
- It was an awesome performance.
Allie, you have great control and how Blake was saying,
like, you attack it.
Like, I just-- I don't know. I love your tone.
I love your voice a lot.
And Cait, towards the end of the song,
you really took off and made it your moment.
So I would send Cait to the next round.
- Thank you, coaches.
All right, Kel, before we get a winner from you,
give us some thoughts on the Battle.
- Oh, man.
I mean, first of all, I just want to say, well done.
[cheers and applause] - Phew.
- Thank you.
- Allie, you're like an Ann Wilson, right?
Like, you're a Melissa Etheridge.
You have this whole rock vibe about you
that is so incredible.
And then Cait, I never have said this,
but Blake is right in the sense of, like, finesse.
Like, you have a-- [laughter]
I know, I know.
I just gave it to him the last season.
It's a really cool thing to have.
You're both incredible powerhouses.
Now, the crappy thing for me is that you
both rose to the occasion in a completely different manner.
Look, I love rock and roll and country and all this vibe.
And I love, like, soulful and pop and all this vibe.
So it's like y'all are both of me.
Like, I love both of you.
- The time has come.
Who's the winner of this Battle?
[suspenseful music]
* *
- Oh, man.
I'm going to-- hmm.
* *
The winner of this Battle...
is Cait.
- Cait, congratulations!
You're moving on to the Knockouts.
- Allie and Cait were incredible.
It was a hard decision.
You did an outstanding job.
But Cait has this range that is just limitless.
She has the voice to win this show, hands down.
- Thank you. Thank you, thank you.
I love Kelly so much, and I'm so grateful
that I get to continue representing Team Kelly
as I go up on to Knockouts, baby.
Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo.
- Coaches, let me remind you that Allie
is available to steal.
Allie, anything you want to say to Kelly?
- Thank you so much for this experience.
I'm so grateful to be able to see
what's going to happen next.
- Give it up one more time for Allie Keck,
ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Allie.
- I had my Playoff Pass, and I almost used it,
but these are both powerhouse singers.
I only have space for that one kind of singer on my team.
Oh, and thanks for the help, Blake and Niall.
That was really cool. - [laughs] I had no idea.
- Yeah. It was really nice.
- * It must have been love, but it's over now *
- Still to come,
with two steals and all four Playoff Passes remaining...
- * Sometimes you last in love *
- The artists fight to advance to the Knockouts...
- * Hurts instead *
- It's a fire performance.
Maybe we could switch up the arrangement just a little bit.
* This would taste *
- Whoa!
- It's almost hard to believe that was live
because I've never heard anything like that.
- And beyond.
The coveted Playoff Pass!
- Oh!
@
- * This is "The Voice" *
- Welcome back.
- OK, cowboy, the last Battle pairing ever.
- I've actually been thinking about this.
- Kason and Walker were an easy pairing for me.
I mean, these guys are both in the exact same lane.
I mean, they've got the gravelly voice.
- He's rock. - Totally.
- He's country, Southern rock.
- First time in front of Blake since Blinds.
- I'm here to see Blake.
- I'm like, dude that's kind of-- it is pretty cool.
- I know.
- This has got to be the easiest pairing for me so far.
They could actually be brothers.
- They could.
They could be related. - Yeah.
- Dude, you ready for the Battle of the big hair?
- You ready for the big hair rock battle?
- [laughs] You know what I'm saying?
The Battle of the big hair. - Let's go.
- These guys seem very evenly matched to me,
and they were both one-button turns, strangely enough.
I guess I'm the only person here that loves rock.
- During my Blind, I was so, like, awestruck
just to see, like, Blake Shelton.
* Told me how to sing *
To be able to say that Blake is my coach, huge.
Like, eight-year-old Walker was screaming.
* Black water, a jealous daughter *
Oh my goodness.
- You have a grit to what you do.
I was already thinking, like, Waylon
or even a song like "Ol' Red" or "God's Country."
I could hear all kinds of options.
- You're looking at a kid who would dress up in my boots
and my jeans and stand on the coffee table
and just holler "Ol' Red" at the top of my lungs,
thinking Blake Shelton was the coolest thing
in the whole wide world. Yes.
- How you doing? - What's up?
- How are you, sir? - Good to see you, buddy.
How's it going? - Good to see you.
- Kason? - Kason, yes, good to see you.
- How's it going, man? Good to see you guys.
- To be in the Battle rounds, honestly,
it's way more fun than Blinds.
Blinds was, like, just nerve wracking.
* 'Cause I try to see the good in life *
* But good things in life *
I do local gigs, and I've been in a band before.
Blake Shelton picking me for his team is just,
I mean, a complete 180 from what I was doing.
And it's amazing.
- The gravelly, sizzly sound, I love it, dude.
This is the last time I'm going to ever get to do this.
I wanted a rock artist.
I can't think of a better one than you.
- Definitely being his last season,
it makes it even that much more special for sure.
- I'm excited. - We are, too, man.
We've been talking about this since we got here.
- All right.
- During Blinds, we became friends.
And then after that, when we both got on your team,
and then we found out the other day
we were battling each other, I was like, dude.
- We called it.
- Have either one of you ever done this song?
"Here Without You," 3 Doors Down.
- We both have.
We go way back with 3 Doors Down.
I mean, I got into rock.
They were one of my huge influences.
So, I mean, I was pumped for this song choice for sure.
I'm from the country.
I have a country accent, but I've always been a rocker.
I just love rock and roll.
This song was-- it was perfect.
* 100 days have made me older *
I feel like being a rocker makes me unique.
This is exactly who I want to be as an artist.
3 Doors Down-- I started playing guitar
because I wanted to play the intro riffs
to their songs.
My first guitar was a guitar my dad had when he was little,
this Gibson Les Paul.
It's still the one I use.
At home, I have a strawberry farm.
My little brother and I have been doing that
for as long as I can remember.
I'm here because singing is my true passion.
I want to do it bad enough that... [laughs]
I've left my little brother and my dad
back home doing the strawberries.
And that's the thing I'm most grateful for in life
is my family.
Wouldn't be here in the first place
without their support.
I'm going for the win, no doubt about it.
- * I'm here without you, baby *
When I found out about this song, I lost my marbles.
- You will be singing "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down.
- Let's go!
Let's go, dude! Yes!
I about flipped my chair over.
I have been listening to 3 Doors Down forever.
They are from Mississippi.
And pursuing a career as a musician,
I moved in June of '21 to Nashville.
My sister lives in Mississippi. That's my best friend.
She texts me every day.
I do miss Mississippi for that reason.
* Away my love *
I want to stay here as well
because winning the Battle rounds for me,
for somebody out there to see me and be like,
this kid's got something would be life changing.
- From a singing standpoint,
it's just really great and authentic.
The only thing I'll say,
you don't want to look uncomfortable, you know?
And I'm not sure if you're used to playing guitar.
I don't think it's anything you have to overthink.
- Staring, yeah. - Yeah, just get lost
in Kason's eyes there.
- It's an easy thing to do, man.
You looked in them things? [laughter]
- Kason, the first time you guys overlap
and you're holding the note,
you got a little bit under.
So just watch your pitch on that.
And, Walker, that note does sneak up.
* Here without you, baby *
* You're still all my lonely *
- Dude, that note wears me out. - Yeah, but you do it.
But just be sure you got a full tank of air to get there.
Walker has this very authentic, rough, edgy
sound to his voice.
I think the kid has a ton of potential.
Kason also has a lot of gravel in his voice.
But he also interjects a lot of soul.
This is like a coin toss.
You know, just keep rehearsing.
Get a plan together for that ending.
And I think you guys are done here.
You know, just to go back and now do some work.
These two are perfectly matched up against each other.
And that's what's going to make this decision so hard.
They are a lot alike.
This lands in both of their wheelhouse.
And it's going to give them both a chance
.
- * This is "The Voice" *
- Welcome back to the Battles.
[cheers and applause]
- They're both on my team!
- Really?
- Oh, that's how it works. Yeah.
- Let the Battle begin.
- Thanks, Carson.
[cheers and applause]
["Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down]
- * A hundred days have made me older *
* Since the last time that I saw your pretty face *
* Whoa, whoa, whoa *
- * A thousand lives have made me colder *
* And I don't think I can look at this the same *
* *
- * And all the miles that separate *
* *
* They disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face *
- * I'm here without you, baby *
* But you're still on my lonely mind *
* I think about you, baby *
* And I dream about you all the time *
- * I'm here without you, baby *
* You're still with me in my dreams *
* And tonight, girl, it's only you and me *
- * Everything I know *
* And anywhere I go *
* It gets hard, but it won't take away my love *
- * And when the last one falls *
- Come on, son!
- * When it's all said and done *
* It gets hard, but it won't take away my love *
- * Yeah, yeah, yeah *
- * I'm here without you, baby *
* But you're still on my lonely mind *
* I think about you, baby *
* And I dream about you all the time *
- * I'm here without you, baby *
* But you're still with me in my dreams *
* And tonight, girl *
- * It's only you and me *
* Yeah *
* Oh, yeah *
* Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa *
* Oh *
- Yes, boys!
[cheers and applause]
[upbeat rock music]
* *
Oh, yes, proper solid rock performance
that we haven't seen.
Kason, I love your-- your husk.
So nice to hear that in a rock song like that.
- Appreciate it, man. - And, Walker,
for me, your voice just pierces through.
There's a brightness to the tone, but also a nice grit.
You matched up really perfectly.
It's a tough one for Blake.
- Seems like it's a tough one for you.
- It is.
I guess I would lean towards Walker.
- Thank you, Niall.
- You guys are the exact same person, yo.
- Dude, it's so weird.
- That's what we've been hearing, yeah.
- One of you guys has a hat on.
It's you. - It's me, dog.
- But tonally, it's like you said,
it's very evenly matched.
[laughter]
Look, I think--
all jokes aside, awesome performance,
and I'm going to agree with Niall that Walker
had the edge on that one, for sure.
- Thank you, dude.
[applause]
- Yes, you do have similarities,
but I think vocally you are different in the sense
that, Kason, you have a raspiness to you,
but it's a little smoother.
And, Walker, you have this grit about you,
and it's really cool.
I thought it was a really evenly-matched Battle.
- Appreciate that. - Yeah.
- Thank you, coaches.
[applause]
All right, buddy, tough decision here.
- This is like the easiest no-brainer Battle
that I've ever put together in the history
of being a coach.
You guys both killed it.
[cheering]
And this has been a blast to watch and listen to.
And you both have the raspy thing going on.
I feel like Walker has almost like a buzz
that happens with his voice.
- That-- yeah, it's really cool.
- And it just-- it does cut through.
And you kind of attack a song, where Kason--
he kind of plays with it.
What you do works for both of you.
- Blake, who's the winner of this Battle?
[dramatic music]
- I'm going to lean on my fellow coaches here.
The winner of this Battle is Walker.
- Walker moving on to the Knockouts.
Congratulations! - Love you, man.
- I love you, dude.
- Kason and Walker both gave it everything
they had on that stage.
And I felt like Walker had the edge.
Congratulations, buddy.
- Yes, sir. - Congratulations, man.
- Thank you.
- Walker has a lot of character to his voice.
And he stands out.
And I really think he's going to thrive in the Knockouts.
- You do really have, like, full texture.
- Crazy we're on Blake's team.
We're going to Knockouts, baby.
Mama, I did it. [laughs]
- Kason, anything you want to say to coach?
- I'm just thankful for the opportunity.
I mean, this stage is freaking awesome.
This crowd is awesome. So it's all good.
Got nothing but love, yeah.
- Give it up for Kason Lester, ladies, and gentlemen!
- Yeah!
- I didn't try and Steal Kason.
I'm just waiting for somebody that's
going to be able to match the intensity of my team.
I don't look at the Steal as giving somebody
a second chance.
I look at it like giving them an opportunity
to win the whole show and also putting them
where they belong, which is with the winners.
- Wow.
- Well, tell her I said hello.
- Aww.
- The only fans you have are moms, apparently.
[laughter]
- Kelly's a mom.
She loves me. - I am a mom.
Everyone is like, I don't like you,
but my mom thinks you're a hit.
- Yeah, take that, Kelly.
- Ooh!
.
- * This is "The Voice" *
- Welcome back to "The Voice."
[upbeat pop music]
- Hey. - What's up, man?
- How's it going? - Good to see you, dude.
- Good to see you, too, man. How's rehearsals going?
- Absolutely. It's going pretty well.
It's going awesome.
- Since I'm never doing this again,
I might as well give you a few tips if you got a second.
I'm just-- - Sure, yeah, I got time.
- Sometimes when the artists are rehearsing,
I close my eyes, man.
It's a perfect opportunity to take a nap.
- Yeah. - And another thing
that I like to do
is I'll pick instrumentals for my artists to sing.
You know, because you always want
to throw a curveball at them.
And another thing is you should always try
to get your worst singer to win the show.
- Right. - That's the key
right there, man. - Sweet.
Well, now I know. - OK, man.
- Thank you. Thank you again...
- Good luck, man. - For this amazing advice.
- Hey, keep that between us, OK?
Because you don't want to--
- Right, right between us.
- OK, man. I'll see you.
- Yeah, I'm not listening to any of that.
* *
- [sighs] I'm so excited to go see Coach Chance.
- I know!
- I feel like because he's such a brilliant musician,
like, he'll have some really cool ideas.
- Yes. - I'm excited.
- Me too.
- I think it's going to be cool.
- Whoo-hoo!
It feels amazing to be able to make it to the Battle round,
especially with Team Chance.
* Love you, I love you *
- Chance really proved to us
that he can help with our harmonies.
- I just wanted to see if you guys could do a three-part
harmony of this simple line.
- He's an amazing producer.
- And tell me what, and tell me what, what?
- * What could I do *
- I'm telling you, I got y'all.
I got a vision. - Chance.
- [screams]
- As soon as Chance did sing with us
and get the crowd really involved,
we knew that that was the choice.
- Absolutely.
- That was where we needed to go.
- Hey. - Hi!
- Welcome, welcome. - Give me a hug.
- What's up, man? Hey.
- I'm so, so, so grateful to work with Chance.
He's a God-given talent.
And I am so blessed to be on his team.
And he's actually, like, way taller than I expected.
- How have you guys been, first of all?
- Good. - It's good to see
you guys again. Yeah.
- I feel like it's just like a different vibe now.
- Oh, yeah, it's way more personal.
I come from, like, rehearsals in rooms like this.
This is exactly how I'm sitting.
I usually have a mic stand, a little director's chair.
- I love it. - Oh, wow.
- Yeah.
Manasseh, this is awesome for you
because you've been on the show before.
- Yes. - How does it feel?
- It feels great now that I'm in this moment.
I feel like I just overcame, like, so many obstacles.
Last season, I didn't get a chair turn.
- I'm sorry you didn't get a turn.
- Thank you.
- We do hope you come back to see us.
- Yeah.
- But that was last season, and this is a new beginning.
* I'll rise up *
* I'll rise like the day *
When Chance hit that button,
it was like I've been running a marathon,
and I've made it to the finish line.
I'm like-- [gasps]
- This is the biggest lesson of the whole show so far.
Manasseh, welcome to "The Voice"!
- He's truly a blessing for turning around for me.
I'm doing this for myself, but I feel like
my story is going to help so many others to know,
never give up, and keep going until you are heard.
- Are you guys excited for the song?
- Yes, we love it.
Like, love it. - Yeah.
- This is like a really good opportunity for you guys
to show how well you guys mesh.
Because, naturally, as a trio,
you guys are creating harmonies.
And Manasseh, you as, like, an operatic singer,
like, I feel like you can kind of, like, go big with this.
Do you guys need some help with the mic stands?
Are they, like, super tight? - I was trying.
- I swear to you... - It's OK.
- I knew how to do this. - No, it's OK.
- We're both like, let me just put this finger right here.
- Is that good?
- Yes, thank you. - Is yours set?
- Chance is a jack of all trades.
He's a musician, a producer, a writer.
- Chance, record producer and tech, mic tech.
- Yeah.
No, I actually used to be a roadie for a long time.
- And a roadie.
So it was super helpful.
- Boom. Is that better? - Yeah.
- There we go. - Thank you.
- All right, I think we should get into it.
I think we should just go into the song.
Let's try and do a quick pass of it.
- Yeah, cool.
- * I heard *
- I gave them "Someone Like You" by Adele,
which I thought was perfect for Manasseh
because she can sing big.
And I felt like Sorelle is perfect because switching back
and forth between unison and harmonies elevate the song
and played to both of their vocal strengths.
- * That your dreams came true *
* Guess she gave you things *
* I didn't give to you *
- I've paired Manasseh with Sorelle
because Sorelle's harmonies lead themselves to,
like, almost a gospel arena.
And the same thing goes for Manasseh.
She has an operatic background.
Those two things and singing big to me
always remind me of gospel.
* *
- * Never mind, I'll find someone like you *
- Singing Adele is a very tall task.
It requires a lot.
You have to feel it. - Yeah.
- I feel like I can really relate to the heartbreak
that she writes.
I'm so lucky that I'm able to have these two
amazing girls to support me.
Whether I'm sad, angry, happy, they are in my room,
at the bottom of my bed, holding my hand.
- Family is truly everything to us.
I'm going to get emotional. - I know.
- We're each other's safe space.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- And that's something that not a lot of people have.
So it's really special to be able to sing with my sisters.
- [whistles] Fire.
I think it sounds great and feels great.
Manasseh, when you start off, I think just with the fact
that we all know the song so well,
going that big early in the song
doesn't feel right to me yet.
So just remembering that dynamically
we want the song to build is, like, the main thing.
- Even though I have such a big voice, I know how to connect.
My younger self craved that love
and affection from my father
that wasn't present in my life.
There was a lot of rejection.
I get so emotional with it 'cause--
[sighs]
Music has always been the outlet for me.
I'm just so grateful.
Like, I'll never take this moment for granted.
- Sorelle, so I was thinking, like,
just to emphasize you guys' different vocal talents,
maybe we could switch up the arrangement just a little bit.
After Manasseh does the second
"I wish nothing but the best for you,"
could we try a three-part harmony
with you guys a cappella?
So we'll drop out keys and everything.
And then when we come back in,
we'll up the dynamics and have
bass come in with Manasseh.
Can we try that? all: Yeah.
- It is so cool to be on Team Chance.
- Oh, yeah, we love an a cappella moment.
- It shows off how blended we can really be
as sisters and as a trio.
And we think the audience
is really going to like it. - Yeah.
- * I wish nothing but the best *
- The challenge with this one is to find
their distinct identity and have that shine through.
It's very difficult for Manasseh
because she's competing against this trained wall of sound.
But also Sorelle has the issue of being constrained to very
rehearsed vocal parts and also being at the mercy
of your sisters.
Because if anybody is out of pitch,
it deflates the whole thing.
But I think they're also two of the strongest acts
in the competition.
So this one's going to be crazy.
[laughter] Yo!
That was just insane.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
- It's a fire performance.
- Thank you. - Y'all should record that as
a cover. - We were hoping you said that.
- I don't know.
This is going to be tough.
There's something new that they added to the show.
If I can't choose who, you know,
is the sole winner of the thing,
I can, like, give somebody a pass,
which lets them skip the Knockout Rounds...
- Well, that's nifty.
- And go straight-- yeah, isn't that crazy?
- Sounds very nice. - I like that.
- Because I'm just sitting here thinking, like,
this is going to be extremely difficult for me.
But I will see you guys at stage rehearsals,
getting to the performance of it all.
I can't wait to see you guys there.
So thank you.
- Thank you so much. - Thank you.
- * Never mind, I'll find someone like you *
* Someone like you * - I'm super excited
to be here at the stage rehearsals.
This is the time that I get to do a quick run through
of what it's going to be like with the lights
and the cameras.
These are like my favorite.
Sick.
It's cool to see it on stage with the lights
and everything.
The main thing that I was thinking, really for you,
Manasseh, was just you have all the technical stuff.
If you really, like, reach into the song and thinking
about your lyrics, how you're going
to attack it, because you got stuff
that feels so choreographed.
And you guys are sisters.
You guys have been together for so long.
I want you to stand in the fact that you are a separate force
that's, like, joining up.
But I want you to really, like, feel out--
- I got you. - Yeah.
Manasseh and Sorelle are so tuned in.
All right, I think y'all are ready.
It's actually a little bit stressful.
This is probably going to be the hardest decision
that I have to make, like, probably
in the whole competition.
Either one of them could go all the way.
I'll see y'all soon.
- See ya. - Peace, man.
- Hey, everybody, I bet you're wondering about
this blue square emoji.
It takes up 2.4% of your screen,
which surprisingly, is the same size
as the Jewish population in the United States,
and yet Jewish people are victims
of 55% of all religious hate crimes,
including vandalism, violence, and threats.
In response to rising antisemitism
in the United States, a national campaign
is launching today called Stand Up To Jewish Hate,
and they're asking you to share
the blue square emoji that's already on your phone
on social media to show your support
.
- * This is "The Voice" *
- Welcome back to "The Voice" at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Who will win this Team chance Battle?
Manasseh Samone
versus the sister trio from Ohio, Sorelle!
- Whoo-hoo!
I can't wait to hear the harms from the girlies.
- Yeah, I'm excited to hear it, Chance.
- Yes, sir.
- It's going to be pretty good.
- Let the Battle begin.
[Adele's "Someone Like You"]
- Oh, sick song choice.
- * I heard
* That you're settled down *
* That you found a girl *
* And you're married now *
- * I heard that your dreams came true *
* Guess she gave you things *
* I didn't give to you *
- * I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited *
* But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it *
* I hoped you'd see my face *
* And that you'd be reminded that for me *
* It isn't over *
* Never mind, I'll find *
* Someone like you * - * Someone like you *
- * I wish nothing but the best *
* For you, you too *
- * Oh, don't forget me, I beg *
* Oh, remember you said *
* Sometimes it lasts in love *
* But sometimes it hurts instead *
- * Sometimes it lasts in love *
* But sometimes it hurts instead *
- * Nothing compares, no worries or care *
- * Regrets and mistakes, they are memories made *
- * Oh, who would have known *
* How bittersweet *
* This would taste? *
- Oh! [laughs]
- * Never mind, I'll find *
* Someone like you *
* I wish nothing but the best *
* For you *
- * Don't forget me, I beg *
* I remember you said *
* Sometimes it lasts in love *
* But sometimes, it hurts instead *
- * Oh, sometimes it lasts in love *
* But sometimes it hurts instead *
[cheers and applause]
- That's my team!
- Wow.
* *
- Wow.
Wow, wow, wow, wow.
- Chance!
Was that your arrangement?
Oh, my God.
No one's heard that song like that.
That was really cool. - Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Sorelle, dang, that's some really intricate harmonies.
And y'all never strayed.
That was really well done.
Manasseh,
you're the reason why this show exists.
You're incredible as far as, like, the runs.
And you have, like, tone for days.
Even when y'all were singing, Sorelle,
she was over here just, like, living and breathing the song.
I don't think you can go wrong either way, Chance.
But, Manasseh, you are so good.
- Thank you.
- When the singing started, you know, separately,
I just thought, how is this going to ever blend?
And now I never want you guys to not sing together--
all of you.
Incredible arrangement.
Manasseh is everything Kelly just said.
But I want to talk about Sorelle for a minute
because I don't know that I've ever heard on this show
a group that sang with such attack,
that were so tight with each other.
It's almost hard to believe that was live.
- Honest to God. - Right?
- And so for that reason,
I would go with Sorelle because I've never
heard anything like that.
- Thank you so much. - Thank you.
[applause]
- Wow. Ladies, that was phenomenal.
I can't even believe what I just heard.
And, Manasseh, where you started that song
and where you ended it are two different planets.
Like, goosebump stuff, it was really incredible.
And, Sorelle, the block harmony sounds like a record.
Like, you would struggle to get a record
to even mix that well.
When you come in, it's like a wall of harmonies.
And I think I would lean towards Sorelle
just for that reason. - Thank you.
- Thank you so much. Thank you.
- Thank you, coaches.
Chance, you got the final word here.
Give us your thoughts.
- I'm so proud of you guys.
That was a masterful performance on both parts.
- Thank you so much. - Thank you.
- Manasseh, you are one of one.
And your ability to take notes, it all came together.
And I don't want that to be lost at all.
Sorelle, it's incredibly difficult
working with harmonics.
You have to make sure the pitch is correct
with your sisters,
and the fact that you guys are so poised and young
is something that this competition needs.
So it's a really, really tough decision.
- That is. - It is.
- Tough decision for you, Chance.
Who won this Battle?
[dramatic music]
* *
- The winner of this Battle is...
Sorelle.
- Sorelle, congratulations!
You are moving on to the Knockouts!
- Sorelle had to move on to the next round.
Their confidence on stage, their dynamics as sisters,
and the fact that they can do so many harmonics
is just something that the show needs.
They're some stars that will do wondrous things
beyond this competition.
- Incredible harmonies.
- We're heading to the Knockouts.
- With Team Chance. - Here we go!
- Coaches, I'm going to remind you that Manasseh
is available to Steal.
Manasseh, anything you want to say to Chance?
- Chance, I just want to say
that you have been truly a blessing to me.
I'm just so grateful for just being in this moment.
- Oh!
[cheering]
There it is!
The coveted Playoff Pass!
Chance the Rapper...
- Oh, my God.
- Sends Manasseh directly to the Playoffs.
- Well done.
- A Voice first.
Congratulations!
- Manasseh-- her journey is crazy.
And I think she was meant to be here at this time.
You deserve it, man. You were amazing.
And now Manasseh has my one and only Playoff Pass.
She's heads and tails above the competition in my eyes.
She has the strongest voice.
She has the experience of being on this stage before.
And I think Manasseh totally deserved
to skip the next round.
- I love Chance.
When I think about Chance, I think that he's amazing.
- Oh, you're amazing. - Oh.
[upbeat music]
* *