The Voice Semi-Finals Results-Show Recap: It’s Four to the Door as Season 25’s Final Five Are Revealed
Charlie Mason
Editor
And then there were five. As the conclusion of Season 25 of The Voice drew ever nearer with Tuesday’s Top 9 results show, four contestants learned that they hadn’t made the cut but had… well, been cut.
Based on the poll that followed TVLine’s recap of Monday’s performances, Team John Legend’s Bryan Olesen and Team Chance the Rapper’s Serenity Arce were all but guaranteed to have to sing for the Instant Save (with Team Dan + Shay’s Madison Curbelo and Tae Lewis not much safer). But how the viewership at large votes isn’t always the same as the way our readers do.
How did things actually shake out? Welp, we didn’t find out until after we were treated to a performance of Chance’s “Together” (with the lyrics on screen even though his enunciation was just fine, thanks) and a two-song medley by Brazilian pop star Anitta (that hit as hard as a wet noodle). Then…
SAVED BY VIEWERS’ VOTES
Karen Waldrup (Team Dan + Shay)
Nathan Chester (Team Legend)
Josh Sanders (Team Reba)
Asher HaVon (Team Reba) — so no big surprises among the safe artists, right?
WILDCARD INSTANT SAVE
Serenity Arce (Team Chance), “Because of You” — Grade: C+ | My first impression was that Serenity sleepwalked through her Kelly Clarkson cover… but then I remembered that that’s kinda what the song is like to begin with. Ultimately, Serenity’s effort wasn’t horrible, just a bit desperate and messy with too many moments where she went big and only achieved medium.
Tae Lewis (Team Dan + Shay), “Wanted” — Grade: B | You’ve gotta give Tae some major plaudits: When the pressure is on, he delivers. He had his [bleep] together during this performance. Not sure what else he could have done to exclaim, “Look, ya bozos, it’s me. I’m the one who oughta get the ticket to the finals.” Was it the kind of effort that could win him the show? Nah. But get him through to the Top 5? Maaaybe.
Bryan Olesen (Team Legend), “Viva La Vida” — Grade: C | Clearly, there is an audience for Bryan. Also clearly, I ain’t it. But his Coldplay cover was relatively restrained — at least until he beseeched the crowd to sing along with him. In the end, Bryan seemed to me like a good idea that was questionably executed. Long-gone Ryan Argast would have fared better. (And we already knew how John felt about his team.)
Madison Curbelo (Team Dan + Shay), “Man in the Mirror” — Grade: B+ | Confession time: I despise this MJ classic. Yet I didn’t hate Madison’s take on it. Yeah, maybe it was a little emphatic. But singing for her life, that was to be expected, no? I thought for sure that the Instant Save was Tae’s to lose until Madison came on and knocked it out of a park I didn’t even expect her to get into!
Maddi Jane (Team Chance), “I’ll Never Love Again” — Grade: B | Now we had a fight on our hands. Tae was good; Madison, arguably better. But then Maddi got up there with an imperfect Lady Gaga cover that was still so passionate that I couldn’t write her off as a contender. There was a strength to this, and nuance. At this point, I had no clue which way the voting would go, but my support stayed behind Madison.
SAVED | Bryan Olesen (Team Legend)
ELIMINATED | Serenity Arce (Team Chance), Madison Curbelo (Team Dan + Shay), Maddi Jane (Team Chance) and Tae Lewis (Team Dan + Shay)
So, your thoughts on the Top 5? Drop ’em in a comment after you vote for the four singers you would have eliminated in the poll below.
Yay Bryan, awesome song choice and performance. Love him!
Bryan did an awesome job! Excellent song choice! Great job getting the audience involved. Loved it! Congratulations to Bryan!!!!
Altho I favored either Maddi Jane or Madison, my anticipation was that they, along with Serenity, were all 3 sorta in same lane & competing for same pool of votes. Which meant Brian & Tae had clearer paths; and I guessed Brian might have a bigger following. So this was not a surprise.
Bryan finally picked a good song, that was his best since the blinds.
But I wanted Tae through, I love him and I think he offers something new for country and is just a damn good singer.
Maddi Jane should have won, hands down. Next season’s judges are not for me except Reba, so, BYE Bye Voice.
She definitely gave the best performance of the four.
Set yourself on Rebas ears and fly away then…
Snoop is coming.
it should have been madison or serenity tae bryan and maddi jane were flat and pitchy
Serenity and Madison chose the wrong songs
Yes, you’re correct about song choice. All the artist were great. They all had a special dynamic. Therefore song choice was critical. I’m happy for Brian and all the artist who made it. The others will definitely have careers.
The guest singer/dance number was awful, not well written, poorly performed in every way, like a cheesy bar r-rated moment
How does Bryan keep hanging on? His performances are no better than high quality karaoke
Bryan Has a humble Charisma in his performances. He won me over when he sung Africa. Even though I was disappointed with some of his song choices and performances, he stiiill put a smile on my face.
Yes, there were better singers, but it said extra special touch. I guess that wins that extra vote.
Bryan Has a humble Charisma in his performances. He won me over when he sung Africa. Even though I was disappointed with some of his song choices and performances, he stiiill put a smile on my face.
Yes, there were better singers, but it said extra special touch. I guess that wins that extra vote.
I just cant believe that none of the 3 young ladies made it threw to the finals… it almost had me feeling this season was a little over-produced.
And I have nothing against Bryan O… he just is more the type of guy you rock out with at a Street Fair in the summer… not a major recording artist.
I was surprised Tae didn’t make it. I don’t understand why Bryan did. The 3 girls seemed all the same to me, and I’m sure their votes were split between the young female voters. It should have been Tae; I am a country fan, and he would have fit right in. Rats.
I think Nathan is the front runner—best voice, in my opinion, great stage presence, fun and unique—and I hope he wins.
Would have liked Madision to win the instant save. Perfect song choice to fit her pitch & voice — & I think she delivered it beautifully with grace, poise, & professionalism. Again, to my ears, Bryan oversang, & all the other artists not so good, in my opinion. I predict that either Karen, Nathan, or Asher will win, with Josh not far behind. We’ll see next week!
I still cannot get over that completely weird dancer/bed/bear thing from the night before.
I would have preferred Maddi over Bryan but whatever. Nathan for the win!
Though I’m not a fan of either of their genres, there are only two left that sound/deliver like radio-ready recording artists to me: Josh Sanders & Asher HaVon.
On a pure vocal level, the only contestant in the final nine that is ear candy to me is Madison Curbelo. She just has a quality of voice that makes you sit up and listen and want more. Whether she has the artistry in her to be an original artist, I don’t know.
Bryan’s a sweetheart but I would have cut him ages ago.
Nathan & Karen are obviously good singers, but nah. Enjoyable but I’d never pay to hear them.
How on earth did Bryan get saved out of all of them?!?! I was certain either Maddi or Madison would get saved… one of the worst finale lineups ever!
I was so mad that Bryan is going to final and i felt bad for chance John is going to lose again i was so upset when reba lost season 24 i am so nervous about next week i hope it going be fine
Can’t believe Bryan was saved. Thought he was off key on his performances, as we’re a majority of the contestants. Was something going on with their ear monitors?? I have to say Season 25 has been my least favorite talent-wise. It has stayed consistently weak like no other season has. Hoping it can redeem itself next season. We get Snoop, so off to a great start before it starts!
Very disappointed with the Voice for the last several years. It’s turned into a country singer show. A lot of very talented R&B, Pop and Singer Songwriters have gone home because the country singers always get voted through. They should take the vote away from America.