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Season 23 of The Voice has been nothing short of thrilling, and as we approach the Battles’ final week, it is clear why this round is a fan favorite. The duet arrangement brings out the best in each artist, pushes them to new heights, and gives us some amazing covers.
The episode that started tonight featured some memorable performances, especially the all-female duets that stole the show. Team Niall’s rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was a quirky and entertaining start to the competition, showcasing the distinctive skills of Kate Cosentino, who went on to win, and Tiana Goss, who was taken by Chance the Rapper.
There was evident chemistry between those two, and they put up an outstanding and entertaining show.
Kelly Clarkson called Team Chance’s Nariyella and Chloe Abbott’s outstanding duet on Snoh Aalegra’s “I Want You Around” “one of her favorite battles” of the night. Their performance of the song was soulful and moving, and their harmonies were spot-on.
However, the all-female duets were not the only ones that stole the show. The episode came to a close with some performances that made headlines, and the two remaining Playoff Passes were up for grabs. A lot was on the line, and the specialists brought their A-game, passing on the mentors for certain difficult choices to make.
It is becoming more and more obvious that this round has been one of the highlights of the season as the Battles’ final week approaches. Each musician has flourished in the duet format, which has encouraged them to experiment with new aesthetics and creatively cooperate. That served as a wonderful reminder of why The Voice is such a cherished program and why viewers continue to tune in year after year.
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Powerful Performances
The Battle featured ALI and D. Smooth, who were paired together by Coach Clarkson because of their soulful voices. Even in rehearsals, their rendition of Allen Stone’s “Unaware” brought Kelly to tears.
Their performance was so powerful that it earned a standing ovation from their own coach, Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper. Blake Shelton even noted that he was going to miss the fact that he has “a front row seat to some of the best concerts anyone’s ever seen.”
But it was the decision-making process that added an unexpected twist to the Battle. After much deliberation, Kelly declared ALI as the winner of the Battle. As D. Smooth began thanking everyone for his time on the show, Chance the Rapper pressed his button, indicating that he wanted to steal him for his own team.
However, Kelly had other plans. She decided to use her Playoff Pass, which she had introduced in the previous episode. As per the rules of the Pass, it overrides the Steal, meaning that D. Smooth would be staying on Team Kelly. When Chance attempted to plead his case, Kelly jokingly told him that she “just doesn’t care,” emphasizing how much she valued D. Smooth’s talent.
The moment had fans on social media buzzing, with some praising Kelly’s decision to keep D. Smooth on her team, while others commended Chance’s eagerness to add D. Smooth to his own team.
Kelly was moved to tears during rehearsals, and the pair’s performance earned a standing ovation from their coach as well as fellow coaches Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper. Blake Shelton also praised the singers, saying he’ll miss having a front row seat to some of the best concerts ever seen on the show.
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The Battle
In the end, Kelly chose ALI as the winner of the Battle, but things took a surprising turn when Chance the Rapper attempted to steal D. Smooth for his team. However, Kelly used her Playoff Pass to keep D. Smooth on Team Kelly, showing just how much she believes in him as an artist.
But the surprises didn’t end there. Niall Horan had the final Battle of the night, pitting Ryley Tate Wilson against Michael B. Both singers gave a stunning performance of Giveon’s “Heartbreak Anniversary,” leaving the coaches impressed.
Despite ultimately choosing Michael B as the winner, Niall wasn’t willing to let Ryley go just yet. He used his Playoff Pass to keep the 15-year-old singer in the competition, ensuring that both of these talented artists will have a chance to compete in the Playoffs.
The Playoff Pass has been a game-changer in this season of The Voice, adding an exciting new element to the competition. It allows coaches to save an artist from elimination and automatically advance them to the Playoffs, regardless of whether or not they win their Battle.
And as we’ve seen, it can also override a coach’s attempt to steal an artist from another team. It remains to be seen whether the Playoff Pass will help or hinder these artists in the Playoffs, but one thing is for sure: it’s making for some thrilling moments in the Battles.
Tonight’s episode of The Voice season 23 Battles was a great reminder of why this round is often the best of the series.
The duet format pushes artists in new and sometimes perspective-changing ways, while also providing us with some incredible performances. With only one episode left in this round, we can’t wait to see what surprises are in store as the competition continues to heat up.
