Singer-songwriter Moushumi was a standout on the final night of blind auditions on 'The Voice' 2016
On the final night of the blind auditions for "The Voice," a fifth New Jersey talent joins the top 48 -- an Indian-American singer-songwriter from Edison who would have gotten a four-chair turnaround had Blake Shelton not just filled his team. Monday night's episode also saw the start of the battle rounds, and with one performance that had three judges vying to snag the "loser."
During the first hour, the final singers competed for a single spot on each of Blake, Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine's teams, and two spots on Pharrell Williams' team.
Jared Harder, a preacher's son from Joplin, Mo., who lived through the disastrous 2011 tornado, sings a pleasingly earnest "Merry Go Round" by Kacey Musgraves, capping it with a surprising wail, and Blake turns around, completing his team.
Moushumi, a 22-year-old daughter of Indian immigrants who studied medicine in India before deciding to try out a music career in New York. She performs a languorous version of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game," and earns almost immediate turns arounds from Christina and Adam, and as she continued to mix up the melody in an interesting way, Pharrell. Christina says she has no one like Moushumi on her team. "It's crazy that you just sort of navigated around the song and made it your own thing," says Pharrell, who calls her "super fresh." Adam says he really believes in her. She picks Pharrell.
Katie Basden from Durham, N.C., was pursuing her career in Nashville but moved back home to be with her father, who suffers from a heart condition. She's terrific singing "Midnight Rider" from The Allman Brothers Band, and Adam and Pharrell agree, followed by Christina at the end. Pharrell calls her voice "super powerful," and urged her to be strategic about her choice, given Blake's team was full. Christina pitches her soul background as similar to country, which has a lot of soul and heart. Adam notes that the song is more Southern rock, which is in his wheelhouse, and says he will fight for her. She chooses Adam.
Jonathan Hutcherson, a farm boy from Wilmore, Ky., who suffers from hearing loss, sings One Direction's "You & I," and only Pharrell turns around. Adam tells him he really connects with the vocal, which is the hardest thing to teach.
With one spot left on Christina's team, we hear from Ayanna Jahnee from Nashville, whose musical theater-loving single mother died when Ayanna was in eighth grade. She conquers Adele's "Skyfall" with appropriate theatrics, and of course Christina turns around.
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In the first of the battles, Adam pairs up Monday's Southern rocker Katie Basden and singer-songwriter Ryan Quinn, who had earned a four-chair turnaround, on Wings' "Maybe I'm Amazed." They're both pretty flawless; she infuses her country background into the song while it ever going twangy, and they both show off enormous range. Blake credit Katie for her control, and Pharrell praises Ryan's intention. Adam gives the win to Ryan, but Christina and Blake both try to steal Katie. Christina reminds Katie that she wanted Katie during the blinds, while Blake praises the fullness of her voice. Katie picks Blake.
Blake (whose guest mentor happen to be Gwen Stefani) pits pop wailer Brittney Lawrence against dancer-turned-R&B singer Paxton Ingram on "I Know What You Did Last Summer" by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello. Brittney uses the vocal to showcase her belting, while Paxton mixes it up more, and he's got a distinctive tone. Christina says Brittney can definitely belt, but would have liked to have seen more of her falsetto; she prefers Paxton. Pharrell also likes Paxton's more dynamic performance. "Paxton, you're seriously like a ninja, a vocal ninja," Blake says. While he likes Brittney's big voice, he votes for Paxton.
In Christina's battle, she brings together Bryan Bautista and Malik Heard for James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World," and they're so evenly matched -- and stellar -- it makes my head spin. Bryan has a killer falsetto, but Malik is fearless, and the duet earns a standing ovation from all the judges. "The good news in it is that you guys are getting stolen," Pharrell says. Adam says either singer would be the big fish in his pond. "You have different voices and different styles but they match up in such amazing and different ways," Christina says. She chooses Bryan.
Blake, Pharrell and Adam all buzz in for Malik. Adam says his coaching will make Malik a frontrunner, while Pharrell says he would like to empower Malik and show who he is deep inside. Blake urges him to go for someone different, but Malik chooses Pharrell.
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