Alisan Porter during Blind Auditions on “The Voice” on Feb. 29, 2016.Tyler Golden/NBC
What is it that is attracting viewers to The Voice? The promise of spine tingling vocal performances and the excitement that comes with a four-chair turnaround, for starters.
While the talent for the current season already upped the ante (we’re looking at you Billy Gilman and We McDonald), they still have a lot to live up to when it comes to Voice alumni. Here are some examples from the first 10 seasons.
Frenchie Davis: Season 1, “When Love Takes Over”
Chris Mann: Season 2, “You Raise Me Up”
Covering Josh Groban is not an easy task, but Kansas native Chris Mann makes it look so effortless. Mann is the template for classical vocalists competing on reality shows, and every appearance he has done since — from entertaining in New York City at the Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting to his performances in The Phantom of the Opera — are nothing short of class. He is the perfect ambassador as a Voice alum, and this performance is a technical master class — the perfect final bow for his excellent run.
Amanda Brown: Season 3, “Dream On”
Easily one of the most exciting performances ever on The Voice, Brown — a former background singer for Justin Timberlake and Lenny Kravitz — moved front and center with this dynamic performance, which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. She recently appeared singing backup for Adele for the special, Adele Live in New York City.
Michelle Chamuel: Season 4, “I Knew You Were Trouble”
Season 4 runner-up Chamuel wasn’t a typical contestant, but that is what made her so great. She was an indie artist with a bookish appearance and non-flashy wardrobe by day — but on show night’s she absolutely owned it. This was evident in some of her killer performances (Pink praised Chamuel on her official website). Her magnificent delivery of Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” earned kudos from Swift herself, a Billboard Hot 100 charting position, and a spot in the finals.
Matthew Schuler: Season 5, “Hallelujah”
It ought to be a rule that Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” never be performed on a reality show again, but ever since Jason Castro performed it on American Idol, it has become the gold standard of singing competitions. Here, Yardley, Pennsylvania, native Matthew Schuler put his own stamp on the classic with a quiet reverence for the song and a sweet lilt in his upper register that still gives chills upon multiple viewing.
Christina Grimmie: Season 6, “Wrecking Ball”
Picking just one of the late Christina Grimmie‘s performances is not an easy task. Grimmie’s tragic death at her Orlando show was simply devastating. This performance of “Wrecking Ball,” which earned a four-chair turn, embodies everything about her spirit that was a light in this world-the smile, the crystal clear notes, and that run at the end that got Shelton to turn around at the last minute. It was merely a glimpse of what she had to offer, as she impressed throughout the season ending in a third place finish.
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Matt McAndrew: Season 7, “Make It Rain”
New Jersey native Matt McAndrew certainly made his mark in the seventh season of The Voice performing songs by Coldplay, Hozier, and Damien Rice. He even got to duet with his coach, Levine, for the Oscar-nominated song, “Lost Stars” and bust out his original song, “Wasted Love” in the finale (charting at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100). Simply put, McAndrew was a star waiting to happen that season, and he had a great week when he chose to perform “Make it Rain” by Foy Vance. Although he finished second, he was signed to Republic Records in 2015.
Sawyer Fredericks: Season 8, “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow”
From the first five seconds, it was inevitable that 15-year-old Sawyer Fredericks was destined to win The Voice. His delivery was pure folk, and the purity in his performance easily made him stand out as a fan favorite. This may be one of the best blind auditions ever on the show.
Jordan Smith: Season 9, “Somebody to Love”
From the moment he sang “Chandelier” in the blind auditions, Smith was the clear winner of The Voice. He was stunning then, but nothing prepared the audience for what he did with this Queen classic. This was a pitch perfect, with a falsetto that was simply stunning. Smith is set to release a Christmas album, Tis the Season, on Oct. 28. The track list includes “O Holy Night” and “Ava Maria” — is there any doubt those two tracks are going to sound magical?
Alisan Porter: Season 10, “Desperado”
Accept no substitute. Porter was outstanding in her blind audition, but her entire run is worthy of it’s own tribute package (her knockout round performance of “California Dreaming” vs. Lacy Mandigo should be studied by future Voice contestants for years to come). Watch how Porter connects to the lyrics in the verses, nailing the high notes and taking a dramatic pause towards the end. Perfection.
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