I’m starting to get tired of these audition episodes, and I suspect the battle rounds will wear on me even faster. Still, there were some standout performances tonight worth mentioning.
The best singers this episode were Charlotte Sometimes, whose arresting alto stood out, and Jamie Lono, the sandwich-shop singer with a soulful, powerful tone. Mathai shows promise as well, though I’d like to hear her sing something other than Adele to get a fuller sense of her range.
Ducky – Carlisle, PA – “Tighten Up” – Ducky says he and his girlfriend won’t marry until he becomes a music star, and he believes making The Voice will change everything. His style felt generic and retro without a distinctive edge, so none of the coaches turned their chairs. CeeLo, Blake and Carson all offered comments, but it wasn’t enough to secure a spot. A likeable story, but the performance itself didn’t make an impact.
Ducky – Tighten Up – The Voice 2012 (Auditions) by IdolxMuzic
Jonathas – 23 – “U Got It Bad” – Born in Rio de Janeiro and a father to a young family, Jonathas learned English through music. He sang with confidence and charisma, prompting CeeLo and Christina to turn. His stage presence—complete with some cheesy dance moves—led Christina to compare him to past contestants she could “mold and package.” Jonathas ultimately chose Christina as his coach, joining Team Christina.
Jonathas – U Got It Bad – The Voice 2012… by IdolxMuzic
Monique Benabou – 23 – “Mr. Know It All” – From Alameda, CA, Monique shared that her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Monique was 12, and she’s motivated to pursue music to support her family. Her audition eventually earned Christina’s chair turn, though the performance didn’t stand out vocally to me; it felt safe rather than distinctive. Monique was excited to join Team Christina.
Monique Benabou – Mr. Know It All – The Voice… by IdolxMuzic
Carson Daly visited the 3rd Street Promenade to invite a street performer to audition for The Voice.
Naia Kete – “The Lazy Song” – Naia performs on the street for tips and has a quirky, instantly recognizable voice. Blake turned his chair right away; CeeLo followed later. Christina also praised the texture of Naia’s voice. Blake’s enthusiasm and vision appealed most to Naia, and she chose to join Team Blake.
Naia – The Lazy Song – The Voice 2012 (Auditions) by IdolxMuzic
Erick Macek – Bethlehem, PA – “Free Fallin’” – Erick, whose parents came from Slovakia, has a pleasing tone but limited range and dynamic contrast. Blake almost turned for him, but none of the coaches ultimately did. Christina felt his performance was too mellow, while Blake liked the tone but worried about the impact in later rounds. A lovely voice, but the audition lacked the drama to secure a chair.
Erick Macek – Free Fallin – The Voice 2012… by IdolxMuzic
Charlotte Sometimes – Wall, NJ – “Apologize” – After jaw surgery that left her mouth wired shut for six months, Charlotte developed a striking alto with an unusual, captivating tone. All four coaches turned for her, sparking a lively competition. Ultimately she chose Blake, joining Team Blake. Her voice was distinctive and memorable.
Charlotte Sometimes – Apolpgize – The Voice 2012… by IdolxMuzic
Blake now has just four spots left on his team.
Tony Vincent – “We Are The Champions” – A seasoned Broadway performer with credits on shows like Rent and Jesus Christ Superstar, Tony delivered a powerful audition that only CeeLo turned for. His theatrical presence and vocal strength made him stand out, and he joined Team CeeLo.
Tony Vincent – We Are The Champions – The Voice… by IdolxMuzic
Anthony Evans – 33 – “What’s Going On” – Son of well-known pastor Dr. Tony Evans, Anthony is a gospel singer whose audition drew Christina’s chair. His voice leaned breathy and tremulous, which divided the panel: Christina praised his runs and emotion, while I found the performance uneven. He chose Team Christina.
Anthony Evans – What’s Going On – The Voice… by IdolxMuzic
Jamie Lono – Chicago – “Folsom Prison Blues” – Working in a sandwich shop between shifts, Jamie sang with a gritty, soulful tone that surprised the coaches. He has lived through serious health challenges and family hardship, and his performance carried real emotional weight. Adam and CeeLo both turned; Jamie selected CeeLo and joined Team CeeLo.
Jamie Lono – Folsom Prison Blues – The Voice… by IdolxMuzic
Dylan Chambers – 19 – Arlington, TX – “Valerie” – With a mother who’s a voice coach, Dylan displayed moments of real talent, including a few impressive high notes. Still, he didn’t quite capture the consistent magic needed to turn the chairs; the coaches felt he needs more maturity and development for a bigger stage.
Dylan Chambers – Valerie – The Voice 2012… by IdolxMuzic
Several other contestants auditioned without turning chairs, while a few secured spots quickly.
Justin Hopkins – Redondo Beach, CA – “Babylon” – A former member of the Carson Daly house band, Justin’s rendition reminded listeners of David Gray. CeeLo turned and emphasized potential for growth, so Justin joined Team CeeLo.
Justin Hopkins – Babylon – The Voice 2012… by IdolxMuzic
Nicolle Galyon – “You Save Me” – A classical pianist looking to move into country music, Nicolle showed signs of talent despite noticeable nerves and occasional voice cracks. Adam turned and praised her unique qualities, and she joined Team Adam.
Nicolle Galyon – You Save Me – The Voice 2012… by IdolxMuzic
Quick team picks from the episode:
Ashley De La Rosa – “Shark in the Water” – Team Christina
Jordan Rager – “Chicken Fried” – Team Blake
Karla Davis – “If I Die Young” – Team Adam
Alyx – “Just Like a Pill” – Team Blake
Eric Tipton – “You Make My Dreams” – From Dallas, Eric delivered an upbeat performance but didn’t separate himself enough from the original, so no coaches turned. His audition came across as a lighter, less distinctive take on the song.
Eric Tipton – You Make My Dreams – The Voice… by IdolxMuzic
Mathai – “Rumour Has It” – Raised in a conservative Indian family and expected to pursue a medical path, Mathai opted for music instead. Her take on Adele’s song turned three chairs, and she ultimately chose Adam. She has a distinctive vocal style, though I’d prefer to hear different material to fully assess her range.
Mathai – Rumour Has It – The Voice 2012… by IdolxMuzic
By the end of the episode, Adam had only two slots left to fill on his team. Overall it was a mix of unique voices, promising talent, and a fair share of auditions that didn’t quite land—typical reality-show variety, with a few memorable performances to keep me watching.