Monday night’s finale of The Voice served up a last chance for Season 25’s contestants to attempt to curry favor with viewers — that is, if the winner wasn’t already a foregone conclusion. Performing both numbers upbeat and down-, the Top 5 sang like their lives depended on it. Which, in a way, I suppose they did. Who delivered music to our ears? And who stood the best chance of taking the metaphorical crown? Let’s discuss.
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The Voice’s Best Performances of All Time, Ranked: The Good, the Badass and the Downright Amazing
Nathan Chester (Team Legend), “It’s Your Thing” — A+ | On The Isley Brothers’ classic, Nathan gave a performance that was so electric, it could’ve powered the whole damn stage. In addition to laying down typically flawless vocals, he worked the crowd like he was running for office and busted out enough moves to, as the coaches so often say, make it feel less like a number on a reality competition and more like a showstopper on an award show.
Josh Sanders (Team Reba), “Go Rest High on That Mountain” — B | Tackling Vince Gill’s beloved ballad, Josh delivered a vocal that was, for the most part, as smooth as a blanket laid across the stage. The audience seemed to be very much into it, too, given the number of lighters that were raised above their heads as he sang. But as pleasant as this was, it was also so dull that it made me glad that I couldn’t recap lying down; otherwise, zzz.
Asher HaVon (Team Reba), “Last Dance” — B- | When Asher started singing Donna Summer’s disco smash, I immediately thought, “Oh, this is gonna be gooood!” What I didn’t expect in the slightest was that it was going to be just good, not great. What happened? As far as I could tell, Asher tried too hard to dump out his whole bag of tricks on stage, and it didn’t help elevate the number. More troubling, he seriously whiffed on his big notes. Possibly his worst performance of the competition.
Bryan Olesen (Team Legend), “Beautiful Things” — B+ | While Asher stumbled, Bryan delivered what might have been his best performance of Season 25. Demonstrating admirable restraint on Benson Boone’s ballad, our one and only rocker built to an explosive vocal crescendo that really packed a punch. Certainly, Bryan’s rendition hit his coach hard. Relating to the feeling of loss that the song conveyed, John was reduced to tears.
Karen Waldrup (Team Dan + Shay), “What Hurts the Most” — A- | Though Rascal Flatts’ ballad is a tall order for any singer, I was sure that Karen was going to rise to the challenge. Instead, she kinda needed a stepstool now and then. On the choruses, her vocal was thrilling — downright volcanic. But on the verses, it seemed like she struggled a little bit. Maybe it was a case of too many words, not enough air? Regardless, this was overall fantastic.
Josh Sanders (Team Reba), “Boots On” — A | Well, damn! On Randy Houser’s rollicking hit, Josh didn’t just come alive, he channeled his inner Rip Wheeler, too. Vocally, he spat nails like he’d swallowed a hardware store (that’s a compliment, by the way). But what was most impressive was the personality that he unleashed. I mean, Nathan he’s not, but this was still the most attention-grabbing that I’d ever seen Josh. Maybe his coach was right and this was the number that would get him the win.
Nathan Chester (Team Legend), “A Song for You” — A+ | On Donny Hathaway’s oldie, Nathan served on a silver platter an unequivocal case for why he should win Season 25. His vocal was nothing short of perfection. Big moments, small, intimate ones… he handled them each with aplomb. And his presence… Lord! It felt like he was singing a hole clear through my heart. I know Asher is the favorite to win, but you’ve gotta admit that this was a step beyond.
Bryan Olesen (Team Legend), “Freedom! 90” — C+ | Curious choice to have the season’s only rocker sing one of George Michael’s pure-pop hits. And by “curious,” I mean “bad.” The number didn’t play to Bryan’s strengths, it in fact highlighted his weaknesses, putting front and center the cheese factor that has so often made him come off karaoke-esque. How on earth was the decision made not to give him something by Journey, Aerosmith… any act but George Michael!
Karen Waldrup (Team Dan + Shay), “I’m Alright” — B+ | Was it just me, or did Karen seem more at ease on her second number of the night, Jo Dee Messina’s tongue-twister? She looked like she was having a good time and sounded like she was born with a mic in her hand. That said, I wasn’t sure that the performance delivered enough of a “wow” to win over any viewers who weren’t already on Team Karen. Depending on how big Team Karen is, maybe that wouldn’t matter?
Asher HaVon (Team Reba), “I Will Always Love You” — A | Asher was handed a golden opportunity to make us forget the stumble of “Last Dance” with Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston’s smash and a half, and boy, did he make the most of it. This was the Asher who prompted John to say that he was the best singer of the season. He was poised and present, and turned out a vocal that was the textbook definition of “soaring.”
