The Voice Season 24 Battle Rounds continued on Tuesday, and when the episode began with Reba McEntire’s country contestants Dylan Carter and Tom Nitti, the odds seemed to be in Dylan’s favor – and not just because Dylan was with him his outstanding audition compared to Tom’s outstanding audition. Dylan and Reba seemed to have a special connection since the Blinds.
Reba and Dylan first linked up when the 20-year-old attempted Whitney Houston’s ambitious ballad “I Look to You,” which would have been difficult to sing even under normal circumstances. In this case, it was the song Dylan tried to perform at his mother’s funeral last year until he became too overwhelmed and collapsed. When Dylan managed to get through the entire song on The Voice and Reba, who lost her own mother in 2020, learned his backstory, she began to sob. After that powerful moment, Dylan couldn’t choose any other coach than Reba.
This week, Reba assigned Dylan and Tom for their Battles duet, “‘Til You Can’t” by Cody Johnson. The song, about appreciating loved ones before it’s too late, appeared to be chosen specifically for Dylan, whose beloved mother died suddenly of a heart block at age 47 before he could say goodbye to her. This week, Dylan admitted during rehearsals that he had taken his mother for granted and never expected to lose her so young; It was clear that Johnson’s message resonated deeply with him.
On stage, John Legend noted that Tom tended to hide behind his guitar, even though Tom had a technically superior voice with a pleasant amount of gravel and grit, while Dylan reached into the tender heart of the ballad and was “spiritual”. Harmony” with Johnson’s lyrics. Niall Horan also observed this and said to Dylan: “I could tell that song meant a lot to you. I could see it all over your face. But you persevered.”
That’s why it was so surprising when Reba chose Tom, explaining that the one-chair maverick “continued to impress” her. Gwen Stefani seemed particularly shocked by Reba’s decision, gasping, “Wow!” and wishing aloud that she had one more steal in the game so she could get Dylan on Team Gwen. I suspect that if Saves had been in play at all this season, Reba would have kept both singers, since she actually said Dylan and Tom could be the “next Brooks & Dunn” and told Dylan, “We’re going to do something.” It’s not over.”
Niall Horan is moved by Dylan Carter’s farewell speech during the Battle Rounds of Season 24 of The Voice. (NBC)
But Dylan, who once confessed that it was his mother’s dream to continue on The Voice “before it was mine,” seemed to get what he wanted from his brief Voice experience: closure. “When all four of you turned around for me, I gained all the confidence I needed and I felt my mother for the first time in a long time,” he announced Tuesday through fresh tears. “I’m going to keep chasing my dreams – keep chasing their dreams. Thank you.”
Dylan’s exit was Tuesday’s most bittersweet and emotional farewell, but two other singers also went home at the end of the hour. This is how the other battles of the evening went:
TEAM NIALL: Olivia Minogue vs. Laura Williams, “The Ghost of You (It Keeps Me Awake)”
It was a shrill mess, with the ladies’ voices clashing as they shouted over each other in vain to be heard. They didn’t seem like duet partners at all. So I was relieved that this performance was edited and I only had to listen to about 18 seconds of it. Niall let Laura go, but I have a feeling the “winner” of this battle will soon follow her out the door. Olivia Minogue may have the worthy name of a pop diva, but she’s no Rodrigo and she’s no Kylie, so she’s unlikely to survive the three-way knockout rounds – no matter how loud she sings (or screams).
WINNER: Olivia Minogue
TEAM GWEN: Eli Ward vs. Jason Arcilla, “Make It With You”
Gwen loves bread, which is why she gave her two “chilled” singer-songwriters this gentle, golden kissing classic, one of her absolute favorite songs. She worried that laid-back Hawaiian crooner Jason might actually be too relaxed, but Eli was in danger of not being relaxed enough. (The young green singer completely lost it when Gwen turned around for him at the blind auditions, and it was awkward.) Eli was doing much better this week, his nerves at bay, and he was able to hold his own against the ever-unflappable Jason claim. But Eli still gave off more of a cheesy boy band vibe, while Jason got into the proper ’70s-lite soul groove with his sexy, breathy vibrato. Gwen was impressed by Eli’s rapid growth but still worried about his consistency, so she understandably ultimately chose the contestant who was “more ready – right, now.”
WINNER: Jason Arcilla
TEAM LEGEND: Mara Justine vs. Claudia B., “Son of Preacher Man”
Dark, snarling retro diva Mara served up Joss Stone’s reality in this Dusty Springfield classic. So much sass, so much eye sex with the camera, so much smiling, so much hairography! She lived and I lived for it. And she was such a rockstar in her Suzi Quatro romper that I almost didn’t notice that the flawless and stunning Claudia was also on stage. Claudia sang very well – John emphasized that she had “done nothing wrong” – but Mara was dead. “The moment Mara walked on stage there was something star-like about her walk. …She just had this other thing,” Gwen marveled. John went for the “edgy” Mara, whose “rock energy” set her apart, but then Niall went for the steal. Maybe a good-looking pop girl like Claudia will be better off with former One Direction teen idol as her coach and have more chances to shine if she doesn’t have to fight for the spotlight against someone as charismatic as Mara.
WINNER: Mara Justine / STOLEN: Claudia B. moves to Team Niall
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