The Voice 2016 Session 11 Finale Full Performance

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• published: 14 Dec 2016
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The Voice - Season 11Cover Song Billy Gilman (Team Adam), “My Way” — Grade: B | Credit where it’s due, I’m not sure Billy hit a single bum note in the night’s opening performance. But to my eyes and ears, the entire affair was so cloyingly choreographed — from the nod of the head on the a capella opening verse to the dewy-eyed voice break on the closing line — that it left me colder than a Vermont mountaintop in the middle of January Original Single Josh Gallagher (Team Adam), “Pick Any Small Town” — Grade: C | Josh’s original — which he penned with fellow contestant Nolan Neal and a second Nashville-based writer — was catchy enough, even if 90 percent of its lyrics sounded like they came directly from The Encyclopedia of Country Music Clichés.. Duet With Coach Wé McDonald (Team Alicia), “Ave Maria” — Grade: C | I’m not sure if I’m grading Wé fairly here, because in her defense, it had to be really challenging to get her vocal bearings in a duet where her coach was hitting maybe one out of every four notes. (Sorry, Alicia, “Fallin,” “You Don’t Know My Name” and “Empire State of Mind” are modern classics, but just be thankful you’re not getting graded on this one!) There were a few moments where Wé’s opera training kicked in and she was able to shine, but the closing harmonies were more cacophonous than a yellow school bus packed with four-year-olds who’ve just consumed all the sugar. Original Single Sundance Head (Team Blake), “Darlin’ Don’t Go” — Grade: A | OK, if this is the kind of self-penned ditty Sundance plans to bring to radio, then he might just turn out to be The Voice‘s No. 1 post-show export (even if he did cut his teeth back on American Idol in Season 6). Duet With Coach Billy Gilman (Team Adam), “Bye Bye Love” — Grade: B | This was a perfectly fine little duet, but an odd choice for a finale — given that the Everly Brothers chestnut is not only super repetitive, but pretty far outside the type of pop music Billy’s been saying he wants to produce in the future. Original Single Wé McDonald (Team Alicia), “Wishes” — Grade: B | All season long, Wé’s secret weapon has been her glorious, rumbling lower register, but somehow, her original single didn’t fully take advantage of that space. And while she did a nice job of connecting with the lyrics about a young girl fighting for her dreams, her pitch got a little rocky on the bridge — meaning the teenager was lucky this wasn’t her closing number. The Voice - Season 11Duet With Coach Josh Gallagher (Team Adam), “Smooth” — Grade: C+ | If you had any doubt Adam was putting all his eggs in the Billy Gilman basket, look no further than this duet choice, which — stylistically and range-wise — fit Josh about as naturally as a floral easter bonnet on Blake Shelton’s head. Duet With Coach Sundance Head (Team Blake), “Treat Her Right” — Grade: B+ | The night’s most strategically brilliant and surprisingly emotional song choice found Sundance covering his father Roy’s rollicking 1965 hit — with black and white footage of daddy dearest in the background, Cover Song Josh Gallagher (Team Adam), “Jack and Diane” — Grade: C | Adam served up a pretty perfect song choice for Josh — everybody knows/likes “Jack and Diane,” but if my memory serves, it’s never been done on a reality singing competition in the U.S. — but despite its limited range, Josh veered severely out of tune in the latter stages. Cover Song Sundance Head (Team Blake), “At Last” — Grade: B | Sundance sounded just a wee bit shaky on the upper register of this Etta James hit — and, strangely, went from fourth and last in the performance order to second. (Conspiracy theorists, discuss!) But while this was perhaps my least favorite of the Team Blake standout’s trio of finale performances, I respected the fact that he once again eschewed pure karaoke and instead boldly put a doo-woppy spin on it. Cover Song Billy Gilman (Team Adam), “Because of Me” — Grade: B | Adam handed Billy a song that was originally intended for Maroon 5, and I understood not only why he thought it might fit his protége, but also why he didn’t keep it for himself. The Voice - Season 11Cover Song Wé McDonald (Team Alicia) “Don’t Rain on My Parade” — Grade: A- | It’s no secret exec producer Mark Burnett likes a feel-good Voice story arc that begins with a four-chair turn in the Blind Auditions, features an undeniable coach-contestant connection and ends with a triumphant closing number in the performance finale that results in a shower of sparks and confetti the next evening.